tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post6776188485539576839..comments2024-03-10T04:29:20.044-04:00Comments on Mad Genius Club: Dialogue, it'll make or break your book.Sarah A. Hoythttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17478124095732219352noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-4075853170716805002010-06-17T18:58:22.384-04:002010-06-17T18:58:22.384-04:00I got surprised last night. Looks like the scene ...I got surprised last night. Looks like the scene is going to stay. I was setting up another scene in my mind and that darned werelion pranked the POV character again... and made the first prank all better at the same time. POV character still is going, "what an ass"... it's becoming a term of endearment I think.<br /><br />The characters... they is all crazy.C Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-90594405857492832162010-06-16T21:36:46.633-04:002010-06-16T21:36:46.633-04:00Dialouge is everything. It demonstrates character....Dialouge is everything. It demonstrates character. No need to tell us. Let them speak for themselves.. <br /><br />"You killed my brudda. Now, prepare to die!"<br /><br />=]Anthony J. Langfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027216695415849158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-37835945346268904282010-06-16T19:52:20.839-04:002010-06-16T19:52:20.839-04:00Now, now, Sarah. Tell the truth. Not Dinner has ...Now, now, Sarah. Tell the truth. Not Dinner has Kyrie. :P<br /><br />Seriously though, you've reminded me that animals tend to be integral in folks lives. I'll have to give it some thought.C Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-62472611117065639432010-06-16T18:56:46.336-04:002010-06-16T18:56:46.336-04:00Chris
Kyrie is a were panther. She has Not Dinne...Chris<br /><br />Kyrie is a were panther. She has Not Dinner.Sarah A. Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17478124095732219352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-27401768266400696082010-06-16T18:10:46.813-04:002010-06-16T18:10:46.813-04:00Synova... considering there he's a werelion th...Synova... considering there he's a werelion the kitten comment has me giggling. :)C Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-62631565576811690692010-06-16T15:27:20.807-04:002010-06-16T15:27:20.807-04:00If the uber mega hero is an ass it could work to s...If the uber mega hero is an ass it could work to substantiate his uber mega hero status. This is non-intuitive, I know. But think of tech geeks. Back when the industry was crazy the more slovenly (though perhaps we hope bathing wasn't neglected) someone was the more a person figured they knew what they were doing... or else why would any employer put up with it? What chance did a tech wizard have to get a hair cut or shave?<br /><br />So the uber mega hero might have people around him who tolerate the annoying habits that wouldn't normally be tolerated because they know, even if a new person doesn't, that this person has always come through for them... that his actions don't really match his words or how he presents himself.<br /><br />Or in a pinch, have him pick up a kitten to cuddle in the middle of being an ass.<br /><br />The power of kittens should never be discounted. ;-)Synovahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01311191981918160095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-8080272007743723822010-06-16T15:20:12.171-04:002010-06-16T15:20:12.171-04:00I'll leave it for now and revisit when it'...I'll leave it for now and revisit when it's time to rewrite. Who knows, perhaps the scene will work.C Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-26841871891287840762010-06-16T13:49:22.169-04:002010-06-16T13:49:22.169-04:00Chris, I think it's traditional for the hero a...Chris, I think it's traditional for the hero and heroine to dislike each other at first glance.<br /><br />And having the hero wake up the next morning and say, "Dear God, please tell me I am not remembering being a complete ass yesterday" can garner some sympathy from readers who've stuck their feet in their mouths themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-43210705602291499442010-06-16T12:52:47.044-04:002010-06-16T12:52:47.044-04:00Rowena,
I think the scene actually works, but I r...Rowena,<br /><br />I think the scene actually works, but I really hesitate to leave the POV character's (and through her the readers) first opinion of the uber-mega hero of the book be (as the POV character herself thinks at the end of the encounter) "what an ass!".<br /><br />It's funny, but how to recover the opinion of him as a nice guy is probably a task beyond my writing skills at this point.C Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-69326992489451250222010-06-16T12:52:38.201-04:002010-06-16T12:52:38.201-04:00Rowena,
I think the scene actually works, but I r...Rowena,<br /><br />I think the scene actually works, but I really hesitate to leave the POV character's (and through her the readers) first opinion of the uber-mega hero of the book be (as the POV character herself thinks at the end of the encounter) "what an ass!".<br /><br />It's funny, but how to recover the opinion of him as a nice guy is probably a task beyond my writing skills at this point.C Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-29765001834039620582010-06-15T22:11:50.517-04:002010-06-15T22:11:50.517-04:00Chris, I like it best when the dialogue contains s...Chris, I like it best when the dialogue contains subtext.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-77331806318895740342010-06-15T22:10:36.570-04:002010-06-15T22:10:36.570-04:00Kate so glad to have made you laugh. We all need t...Kate so glad to have made you laugh. We all need to laugh more.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-84705950330181677112010-06-15T22:05:43.979-04:002010-06-15T22:05:43.979-04:00LOL, Sarah.
I bet you're scary when you'r...LOL, Sarah.<br /><br />I bet you're scary when you're angry.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-77089486841452387402010-06-15T22:04:28.696-04:002010-06-15T22:04:28.696-04:00C Kelsey, sorry to hear the scene didn't work....C Kelsey, sorry to hear the scene didn't work. It sounded like fun with him teasing her and leaving ambiguity to his meaning.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-265982472271656192010-06-15T19:31:58.539-04:002010-06-15T19:31:58.539-04:00Its always flowed pretty easily for me and general...Its always flowed pretty easily for me and generally I think its done the trick, although anything can be improved. I have not noticed any difference between the beginning and end in terms of how this works for me and how well it fits the character.<br /><br />Dialogue is often ignored as a way to show character, convey information and propel the story.Chris McMahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883058490702361466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-29884216574752125042010-06-15T18:36:52.357-04:002010-06-15T18:36:52.357-04:00Ah! Says Sarah. I always said you were Miles Cal...Ah! Says Sarah. I always said you were Miles Calverley!<br /><br />(Edges away from literary Onanism. Not touching that with a ten foo... uh... ah.)Sarah A. Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17478124095732219352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-77582582236383210032010-06-15T18:30:55.533-04:002010-06-15T18:30:55.533-04:00Dave, "literary onanism" followed by &qu...Dave, "literary onanism" followed by "pregnant pause"? ROFLMAO! :PC Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-8978291799019927202010-06-15T18:22:30.456-04:002010-06-15T18:22:30.456-04:00My biggest problem with dialogue is that I'm a...My biggest problem with dialogue is that I'm a smart alec. I seldom say things with one meaning, double or treble entendres are quite normal, as are cross references, and repartee is what we do... which is all very well if one of your characters does it, or even a couple, if you're morally opposed to literary onanism. But two realities emerge (he says after a pregnant pause) firstly, the book starts to read like a conversation between mini-mes, (or Miles Calverly talking to Miles Calverly and later meeting and arguing with Miles, about Miles... by which stage the reader craves kilometres) and secondly it's just out of character and jars the reader by its unreality. The world is not full of people who play with words and joke about everything.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12315551718688781746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-78363631215098197482010-06-15T17:49:40.874-04:002010-06-15T17:49:40.874-04:00Kate,
Yes that was a very good post. As a freque...Kate,<br /><br />Yes that was a very good post. As a frequent gamer it opened my eyes as to how secondary dialogue works in video games, and why it works the way it works. <br /><br />His mention of RDR was great. That game had a story so well written that since I've finished it I've been positively dying to watch "Winchester '73" just to get a story and some acting that was somewhere near what that game had. Which goes to show that great dialogue can leave you desperately wanting more.C Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-83648020582868955232010-06-15T17:42:43.137-04:002010-06-15T17:42:43.137-04:00The link about bad dialog is worth reading for all...The link about bad dialog is worth reading for all sorts of reasons. I nearly broke something trying not to laugh when the writer got to the possibility of the fuckopalypse in the game he'd done dialog for, and a little later I was thinking "Whoa. That's a damn good point" about the way the policies actually end up working with game ratings (and movie ratings).<br /><br />I'm still mulling that one over.Kate Paulkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034983693134240754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-58786125678807444812010-06-15T17:10:16.376-04:002010-06-15T17:10:16.376-04:00LOL, Sarah. :PLOL, Sarah. :PC Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-45985608391810314102010-06-15T17:03:15.004-04:002010-06-15T17:03:15.004-04:00Sorry, Chris. I meant Jason. And he knows where ...Sorry, Chris. I meant Jason. And he knows where we were sitting, too. Pete's Kitchen! :)Sarah A. Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17478124095732219352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-39762145279005256402010-06-15T16:59:45.706-04:002010-06-15T16:59:45.706-04:00Chris,
"Oh, please!" She glared at the y...Chris,<br />"Oh, please!" She glared at the younger writer acros the diner table. "What do you mean you don't know how to break up dialogue?"<br />He sighed. "I just don't. Like, does he look from left to right, or right to left or... or what? Why does G-d hate me so much?"<br />She zipped up her leather jacket and started gathering her things. Her mouth was set in disapproval. Her hands kept pausing in their scrabble for purse, keys, notebook, as though she were trying to find the cigarrette he knew for a fact she'd given up more than a quarter century before. <br />"What?" he said. "You're not even going to talk?"<br />"Look," she said, looking at him, straight in the eye, her mouth setting grim and straight between words, like a closed trap. "Look. You're going at it all wrong. You're only thinking of it from the point of view of 'something goes here'. Think instead of actions that underline words." Her fingers stubbed a phantom cigarrette on the table top. "It doesn't matter if he looked from left to right or right to left. It matters he looked away from her." Her expression softened, minimally, her gaze suddenly maternal. "Maybe I was a bit over the top. I've forgotten what it's like to be where you are. I'm sure I was worse."<br />And then, before he could say anything, she was gone, a blur in black jeans and black leather jacket, walking fast between the isles of formica-top tables and out the door of the diner. The parting jingle from the bells behind the door echoed in the warm spicey-smelling air long after she left.Sarah A. Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17478124095732219352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-31844163378606095202010-06-15T16:42:05.360-04:002010-06-15T16:42:05.360-04:00Rowena,
I like to spend days just letting the cha...Rowena,<br /><br />I like to spend days just letting the characters yammer away at me. Then I get a very good idea of almost everything about them. They still surprise me when I actually write the dialogue though. I have a character I'm working on now, I wrote a scene where he was speaking with the POV character. I figured he'd play it pretty straight and be all charming and gentlemanly. Nope. He teased her and then the conversation ended without her knowing if he was being serious or not. I have to rewrite the scene eventually because that doesn't work. It is enormously funny though.C Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-55162699501269066032010-06-15T16:30:58.834-04:002010-06-15T16:30:58.834-04:00Synova, I LOVE Firefly. I think it is brilliant on...Synova, I LOVE Firefly. I think it is brilliant on so many levels. <br /><br />I mentored on writer who was a social worker in her day job. She had everyone emoting as a social worker would. So her hard bitten mercenary said 'I know how you feel ...'<br /><br />When I pointed this out to her she was horrified.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.com