But I Want To ...

Ellipsis: (plural ellipses; from the Ancient Greek: ἔλλειψις, élleipsis, "omission" or "falling short") is a series of marks that usually indicate an intentional omission of a word, sentence or whole section from the original text being quoted. An ellipsis can also be used to indicate a pause in speech, an unfinished thought, or, at the end of a sentence, a trailing off into silence (aposiopesis). When placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, the ellipsis can also inspire a feeling of melancholy longing. The ellipsis calls for a slight pause in speech or any other form of text.  {credit Wilipedia}

Our local writing group had a crit session last night, focused on short stories we're writing for a specific project.  I had finished a first draft and offered it up for review.  On the plus side, the story, pacing and characterization were well received.  But I had my hand slapped repeatedly for my overuse of...ellipses.
The problems was in my dialog.  The crit conversations went something like this.

Helpful Critiquer:  "Use a comma here, or even a semicolon."

Me: "Um, okay.  But I don't think that gives me enough of a pause."

HC: "Then use a period.  Break it up into one word sentences to show the emphasis on each word."

Me: "Uh huh, I've used that method.  But I don't want emphasis here.  I want hesitation.  Uncertainty.  In my head I hear it like this: 'I don't think...maybe we shouldn't...are you sure we can do this?'"

HC: "Hmm.  Okay.  I see your point.  But you still can't have this many ellipses.  You need to figure out another way to write it."

Argh!

This isn't a new one for me.  I know I have a tendency to overuse this form of punctuation.  But it gives me exactly the dialog pacing I'm looking for.  Who decided we had to limit the use of ellipses anyway?  Such a nice, harmless little collection of dots to incur such wrath.  I once had a writer friend threaten to pull the ellipses from my WIP and beat me with them.  (You know who you are.  *waves*)

How about you?  Do you have a favorite form of punctuation, or maybe a word or a phrase, that does exactly what you want it to do, so that you tend to overuse it.  Even when the rules say you can't.  How do you work around it?

Special note:  Be sure to visit me on Monday when I'll have a special announcement on an exciting new release.

Have a fabulous...uh...weekend.  *winks*

Groaner of the Day: A young man put himself through law school as a semi-professional prizefighter.  He was actually a very good a boxer and was being urged to stay with it instead of becoming a lawyer.  As he prepared to take the bar exam, he knew it was time to make the big decision but he was havng a terrible time.  He just couldn't decide between boxers or briefs.