The second purple-prose punctuation problem is the exclamation mark. If you consider the exclamation mark noisy and loud, you'll probably get rid of it. I often tell students, "The most obvious mark of insecure writers is the use of the exclamation mark. They shout a lot because they don't trust their ability to communicate effectively."
(And yes, in my early writing days, I seasoned my manuscripts with exclamation marks.) Here are a few examples from my students.
• It came from below them!
• Jean shivered!
• Of course he would not give it back!
• How luxurious the life of a bride would be!
Don't use the exclamation mark—
unless nothing else works.
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