The only time I find myself using the word "seem" or its equivalent is when I'm in one character's POV, trying to describe (whether showing or telling) the actions of another character.
What's their motivation, why are the doing or saying what they do?
The currently occupied chaarcter can't really know, but by observation of body language, tone of voice etc they can make an educated guess.
So, the other person my "seem to reconsider" or may "seem to be preoccupied by their recollections", because the POV'er can't really know for sure.
Is that what you mean, or is it something else entirely?
Yes, you've got my point and the example you use is great, because that is exactly the challenge of writing without the 'seem' modifier. It is especially difficult in this very situation.
I would think it should only be used when describing something the character isn't sure is there.
Take this bit from very early in my story. A bit description heavy, but its meant to add a bit more suspense to the first encounter...
"A few moments later a five foot tall, twenty foot long, bipedal, feathered reptile clicked into view at the T-junction in the tunnels to Keth’s left. Its black scales and feathers seemed to glimmer with hidden turquoise and red-gold highlights as it turned its serpentine neck toward Keth."
This is an excellent choice to discuss, especially since it is in the beginning of your story where you are desperately wanting to grab that reader's attention. In your point of view, which is 3rd from a narrator's viewpoint, there isn't a seemed. It either glimmers or it doesn't. The point of view might be wrong in the observation, but to the narrator it glimmers. At least in my opinion, using 'seemed' steps your reader away from the action, whereas not using it places the reader in the narrator's shoes with more intimacy. Think of reporting the glimpse of a hummingbird's irridescent ruby throat and colors--it does glimmer. Yes, it doesn't in reality glimmer with its own energy, but from a practical standpoint--it does glimmer. I don't think you would say, "The hummingbird seems to glimmer." unless you were writing scientific non-fiction. In a short story, you would say, "It glimmered." And you would do this because you want the glimmer to mean something to the reader.
*sighing* because I know I'm not explaining this right... But to me as an editor, the difference in intimacy with the reader is worlds different and far more satisfying without the 'seem' modifier.
"Roger figeted and drummed his fingers on the table."
Both convey basically the same message, but the second one uses actions to describe Roger's state of mind, and is therefore considered "stronger" writing. I could be dead wrong, though--Meg?
(And I agree, if you need to convey a character's uncertainty, you need less-than-definite terminology to do so, so "seems" should be okay in that instance.)
Dead on example Liz. Yet, I would argue that conveying a character's uncertainty is definitely not a place for 'seem' modifier. Consider it a matter of trust in your reader and it doesn't have to be long. Look at Liz' example 8 words to replace 3. You gain invaluable engagement with the reader. You are asking the reader to step up to the plate and make the leap to the character's uncertainty. The 'seem' modifer is a cheat in my humble opinion, while Liz' example is a writer earning his/her keep and doing it right.
I'm willing to bet that more than one agent does a simple word search for seem and if they find a lot? Reject letter.
Rob, I've read some of your work and, like Shecky said, rules are made to be broken. I trust your writing! In this case, the narrator is still making mental decisions. It might be effective to have those non-concrete contradictory assumptions rolling one off the other in rapid recession. I'd love that wild ride! Yes, it would drive me crazy, but also extremely sympathetic to the character, whereas too many of those seems for several pages would make me mad at the author? Does that make sense? I'd consider it an honor to share that ride with the character, but irritating to be held off by the narrator. I mean the narrator is having to
act and respond on what he thinks each statement is or action that happens.
*sigh* again, I'm not expressing this well. Let me just say, that I would absolutely love to read this work and get lost in translation hand in hand with the characters, but if it were several pages of 'seems' where I was observing instead, then I might walk away from it?
To be honest Rob, the seem would be okay, even good, but can you imagine the awesome impact on the reader the other way? Freaking award level maybe...
BUT it is the author's choice and rules are made to be broken. I kinda trust you on that Rob... :-)
