C - Contractions

One question that has been tossed around among fellow writers is the use of contractions.  When is the right time to use them? Is there ever a right time to use them? How much is too much?  From what I have found, it seems like it's all in the opinion of who you are asking.

I've seen traditionally published authors like Nicholas Sparks, Diana Palmer, Lee Child, etc who do use contractions tastefully.  I feel that if a writer doesn't overdo it than it is definitely acceptable.  One area I find contractions especially okay in is dialogue, especially when you have a particular way a character speaks.  In my first book, Modern Day Drifter, the setting is Texas.  If I wrote the dialogue with no contractions whatsoever it would be very unrealistic.  Let's face it -- We Texans (me included) are extremely lazy talkers.  Contractions are spoken everyday in almost every conversation.  Even my book, Through Smoke, had contractions.  Everyone speaks them.

And as stated, if they are used in the rest of the story, I feel they are okay as long as they are used in moderation.  If there were no contractions the flow would be compromised and it would be a little too "professional", if that makes sense.  I guess it's a matter of writing opinions.  I dare you all to think about contractions the next time you are writing, whether it is your blog, your novel, or anything.  You'd be surprised at how much they are used without us knowing! ;-)