Publishing Series: #5 Revising by Adding Dialog

Once you have completed your first draft, there are several ways to begin your revisions.

One of the first places I look for are areas that I can expand with dialog. Dialog shouldn't be there just to have characters talk, however. Good dialog moves the plot along, while at the same time helping to define your characters. 

Mark Twain said, "Don't say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream." What he meant was look for places where you told the reader something. Maybe you say your character was worried or pleased about something. Instead of saying it, let the character say it. It is often why I work to keep characters traveling together, so they have someone to talk to.

And dialog needs to sound authentic. While you are out and about during your day, listen to people talk. Really listen. The spoken language isn't usually stiff and formal. People hem, they haw. They don't speak in complete sentences. And people usually don't monolog. If your characters are having a discussion, don't let one of them take over unless it is essential to the plot, and even then, intersperse it with comments or body language from the other characters.

Remember, each character needs to sound unique. This is where character traits come into play. What is important to that character will come out in what they have to say.

Writing good dialog takes practice. I have often thought that my experience as a reporter has helped my dialog sound authentic. I spent years writing down exactly what people said so I could quote them in articles. I spent time listening to the rhythm and nuances of language and how it was punctuated. It was time well spent.

Next Up: Adding Description

 

Publishing Series: #4 The First Draft

 As author Terry Pratchett says, "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story."

That was an absolute stress reliever and eye-opener for me.

When your outline is done, just start writing. At this point you don't need a fancy beginning or a tear-jerking ending. Don't worry too much about correct spellings, punctuation, or capitalization -- although fewer errors in these categories will save you time later. Don't worry about word count or length. Just tell yourself the story.

Push through. Sometimes, I must confess, I combine my first and second drafts, but more about the second draft later.

Don't necessarily even worry about dialog unless you immediately hear the conversation in your head.

There will be many places where your story will be expanded in a second draft -- places to describe, places to add dialog, parts to rearrange.

This doesn't mean do a slipshod job. Tell the story as well as you can. This first draft can take several months to complete, so be patient.

But when you get bogged down, just repeat that mantra: Just tell yourself the story.

Next Up: Adding Dialog

Publishing Series: #3 More on Outlining

You have your idea.

No matter how well you think you know your story, some type of outlining is a must. I know -- Stephen King swears he does not use an outline, but face it. We're not Stephen King. If the hero's journey won't work for you, look for another style of outline. There are tons of them out there.

A writer friend of mine, Martin Wilsey, uses the following one. I like it and referred to it -- although I don't think I used it faithfully -- in my first two novels.

1. Fill in the blanks:  When [INCITING INCIDENT OCCURS], a [SPECIFIC PROTAGONIST] must [OBJECTIVE], or else [STAKES].

2. Write a paragraph describing each part:
   a. The Setup
   b. Rising Action
   c. The Resolution

3. Now break down the 3 parts by bulleting points under each of the acts below.

The Setup: (Start with your paragraph from above)

    Act 1 - The Setup

    Act 2 - Something Bad Happens

    Act 3 - The Protagonist/Antagonist Identified

The Rising Action: (Start with your paragraph from above)

    Act 4 - The Push - The Door to Act 5 (It's a one-way door, no turning back)

    Act 5 - Go for the wrong goal

    Act 6 - Reversal - It is the low point, reveals the Achilles heel of the nemesis

Resolution: (Start with your paragraph from above)

    Act 7 - Go for New Goal - The clock is ticking - protagonist has a new plan.

     Act 8 - Wrap it Up, New goal is achieved.
     Act 9 - The denouement. Closure. The End.

I personally love Act 4 and 5 -- the no turning back and going for the wrong goal. It adds much needed tension to a story line.

Just remember, whatever outline model you choose, there is no reason to follow it faithfully. If you closely examine any of the Harry Potter stories, it is clear J.K. Rowling used the Hero's Journey outline, but there are events that are rearranged or missing. That's okay. As long as it works in the end!

Next Up: The First Draft