Character Development

Writing Dialogue – Dialect

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Dialogue is one of my favorite tools in the writing arsenal. You can do so much with it and if done correctly it will keep your story moving forward by showing not telling. One of the key components in dialogue is dialect.

Dialect allows you to differentiate between characters and get a better understanding about who they are. You can learn a lot about a person based on their accent, grammar, and choice of words. Dialect done properly suggests- education level, social status, race, and ethnicity.

Examples of dialect used to differentiate race, social class, education i.e.

gonna vs. going to

kinda vs kind of

holler vs hollow

don’t matta vs It doesn’t matter.

If you have a character from abroad throw in some regional slang (Scottish say-aye for yes and bairns for children).

The next time you read a book take a close look at your characters and their dialect. You will learn a lot. The fact that you didn’t even think about it while reading the novel is a plus for the author. It was seamlessly woven into the story.

Hope this gives you something to think about when writing dialogue. Remember to differentiate through dialect, and the dialect should match your characters position in society. Also remember to be consistent with speech patterns, unless an evolution in speech pattern is an integral part of the story (Flowers for Algernon, My fair lady).

Something to think about!

-Jan R

Writing Dialogue – Dialect

Show Don’t Tell

Writing your first novel-Some things you should know, , Leave a comment

Of everything I’ve learned on my journey, and there’s been a lot, Action does not equate to showing. I was dinged early in my writing because I seemed to have a love affair with telling versus showing.

In my mind, if the character was moving or doing something active, I was showing. While that’s partially true, and you do want your character moving, Action isn’t always equated to showing.

Here’s an example.

*She raced through the street with her adversary in hot pursuit. Capture was not an option.

This sentence does paint a picture in your head, but you’re on the outside watching. (Telling) You need to be walking this out through your character’s eyes. Get into their head. Use those senses. How is this chase impacting him/her?

**Her heart nearly beat out of her chest, and she struggled to breath as her footsteps quickened. The sound of her pursuers grew louder with each passing second. She glanced back and forth looking for a way of escape. Capture was not an option.

Not sure if this is the greatest of examples, but it is enough to give you an idea of the point I’m trying to convey.

By using senses and getting into the character’s head, you become a part of the scene, walking it out with them.

Another plus is you just doubled or tripled your word count 🙂

Something to think about.

-Jan R

Show Don’t Tell

Dialect-Use it Wisely but Use it!

Writing your first novel-Some things you should know, , Leave a comment

Dialogue is one of my favorite tools in the writing arsenal. You can do so much with it and if done correctly it will keep your story moving forward by showing not telling. One of the key components in dialogue is dialect. Use it wisely but use it. One thing you want to avoid is coming across offensive or stereotypical(racist). 

Dialect allows you to differentiate between characters and get a better understanding about who they are. You can learn a lot about a person based on their accent, grammar, and choice of words. Dialect done properly suggests- education level, social status, race, and ethnicity.

Examples of slang, nonstandard syntax, or grammar to suggest race, social class, education i.e.

gonna vs. going to

kinda vs kind of

holler vs hollow

don’t matta vs It doesn’t matter.

If you have a character from abroad throw in some regional slang (Scottish say-aye for yes and bairns for children).

The next time you read a book take a close look at your characters and their dialect. You will learn a lot. The fact that you didn’t even think about it while reading the novel is a plus for the author. It was seamlessly woven into the story.

Speech pattern is important as well, but it’s less about dialect and more about consistency and knowing your character. If your character is……

  • terse                –   short burst of speech
  • angry               –   speaks through clinched teeth
  • nervous            –   stammers or rambles
  • domineering    –   silent and threatening or rages

If you’re writing science fiction you can develop you own language and your own rules. There are no limits. Just be consistent.

Hope this gives you something to think about when writing dialogue. Remember to differentiate through dialect, and the dialect should match your characters position in society. Also remember to be consistent with speech patterns, unless an evolution in speech pattern is an integral part of the story (Flowers for Algernon, My fair lady).

-Jan R

Dialect-Use it Wisely but Use it!

Editing – Where Do I Begin?

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Being a first time Author, I had no idea how complex the editing process was.  My idea of editing included spell check, making sure punctuation was used appropriately, and everything was in the right tense (past, present…).

As I stated in an earlier blog, my novel was rejected the first time for having grammatical and structural errors as well as the dreaded dragging dialogue.  Keep in mind this wasn’t the complete manuscript. The agent would have probably found far worse if she had read more of it.

When you begin editing and you will,  you’ll want to take a closer look at everything. You may need to do some research, take classes, or do tutorial type seminars online. Below is a sample of the types of questions you should be asking as you read through your work.

  • How’s the flow of your dialogue? Is it necessary? Does it move your story forward or just sit like a rock taking up space and killing the moment?
  • How is the pacing? I like novels that move at a faster pace, however I know you have to slow them down occasionaly so the reader can catch their breath.
  • Does your plot make sense, does it flow throughout the story with smooth transitions from chapter to chapter?
  • What about your character development? Have you created real, likable Characters? Can your reader identify with them?
  • Word choice-is there a better way to say something?
  • Are you showing and not telling?
  • Have you mastered emotions you are trying to convey? Can you feel the tension rising?

Ask others to read your work as well, or if you would prefer not to do that then join a group online. Scribophile would be an excellent choice. I am a member of their group. Thousands of want to be authors are on the site, and they will read and critique what you have written. They would love the opportunity to interface and exchange information.

I wouldn’t rule out hiring and editor. I am currently working with a developmental editor. They can be pricey, but they have an editor’s eye and sees things that you don’t.

-Jan R

Editing – Where Do I Begin?

Is Your Main Character Likeable?

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Your lead character doesn’t have to leap tall buildings in a single bound, and he doesn’t have to stop speeding bullets with his bare hands, but he darn well better know the difference between right and wrong, and he better be kind to animals, and it sure wouldn’t hurt any if he brushed his teeth regularly.  Dean R. Koontz – How To Write Best Selling Fiction

I think you get the picture. Your main character needs to be likable and relatable. It would help if he had a few flaws as well. Nobody’s perfect.

Something to think about 🙂

-Jan R

Is Your Main Character Likeable?

Character Development

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There are a few things you need to keep in mind when creating characters, whether they are your protagonists or antagonists.

Sure, you are the author, and you can use your imagination to make your characters be or act anyway you like, but there are some guidelines you should follow when writing.

-Make sure they behave the way they are supposed to. Don’t force them to fit a narrative.

-Your characters have to be in some type of conflict. Happily ever after doesn’t fly until the very end.

-Your characters must grow like real people who are faced with adversity in life. We learn and grow. This should be reflected as the novel moves forward.

-Even the most passive protagonist must in the end choose to do something. Hopefully your protagonist isn’t passive at all. Give them character. Make them strong, caring, and likeable. They are the hero after all.

-Have your character do what’s true to them. Sweet Mary Sue is not going to go out and rob a bank. Mean ornery Billy Bob is not going to smile and ask how you are doing.

-It also would be nice if the characters were capable of surprising you occasionally.

Some things to think about 🙂

-Jan R

Character Development

Don’t Forget Those Minor Characters!

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Don’t forget those minor characters

Your main characters may need some work, but for this particular blog I would like to focus on those ‘fly by’ characters that step into your novel, do what you want them to do, and then disappear never to be heard of again.

I received a critique a while back in regards to four minor characters in my novel. “A lot of new characters have been introduced, and they all run together in my mind. I think more time needs to be spent developing these characters as individuals rather than some generic group of friends.”

The lady that provided the critique was right. I didn’t provide any description of these characters. Except for the fact that they had names, you would have had no idea which one I was using in the scene. I didn’t think descriptions were necessary. They served one purpose and one purpose only. They did their job and disappeared.

Well shortly after receiving the critique,  I bumped into an article on Minor Characters in the Writers Digest I was reading. Maybe somebody was trying to tell me something.

According to Elizabeth Sims, who wrote the article, if the person is important enough to exist in the world of your story, let your readers picture that existence.

When you introduce minor characters, you should have one or better two details.  He was as wide as he was tall, and talked with a lisp.

Even characters who exist in passing should exist in the readers eye. For a literally glancing description, make it visual. The freckle faced boy stuck his tongue out at us, then turned to go inside.

If you have a group-Pan the crowd and then zoom in. Give one or two details describing them all, and then move in to one person as the representative.  The demonstrators walked down Main street waving their signs and shouting obscenities.  “Where is  Mayor Blackman? ” shouted a tall, gray haired man at the front of the line.

-Jan R

Don’t Forget Those Minor Characters!

Something To Think About # 1

Writing your first novel-Some things you should know, Leave a comment

SupermanflyingYour lead character doesn’t have to leap tall buildings in a single bound, and he doesn’t have to stop speeding bullets with his bare hands, but he darn well better know the difference between right and wrong, and he better be kind to animals, and it sure wouldn’t hurt any if he brushed his teeth regularly.  Dean R. Koontz – How To Write Best Selling Fiction

I think you get the picture. Your main character needs to be likable and relatable. It would help if he had a few flaws as well. Nobody’s perfect.

Something to think about 🙂

-Jan R

 

 

 

Something To Think About # 1

Help Your Reader Connect!

Writing your first novel-Some things you should know, , , 7 Comments

500-words_TestI just read through and edited my novel for God knows the number of times, I’ve lost count. That’s a problem in itself. I should be more efficient and effective with my time, but I’ll save that issue for another blog.

While my work is grammatically and structurally sound, the scenes flow, and there are no obvious plot holes, something’s missing, and I need to figure out what it is.

I followed all the rules, but it takes more than rules to pump up that novel and make it interesting enough for someone to want to purchase. You need to cover all of the basis, not just the technical ones.

I went back and did something I haven’t done in six months. I hate to confess, but I haven’t been reading. I love historical romances and have at least twenty sitting on a shelf that I haven’t read. Why? I don’t have the time.

I picked up one of them this past weekend and began reading. What was it about the novel that was drawing me in? What was it this novel had, that mine didn’t?

One thing that jumped out at me was character development. I have distinguishable and I think likable characters, but the depth that you get from introspection, from getting into the characters’ heads, is missing. I’m lacking that something that helps the reader connect with the characters and care about what happens to them.

I know my characters. I don’t need an explanation for why Josh did what he did. I don’t need to include what motivates him for myself. He is real to me and I care about him. I know everything about him. But my reader doesn’t.

My reader only knows what I tell them. You have to make those characters come alive and be as real to your reader as they are to you. Give them some details ( don’t over do it with mindless chatter-that creates another issue). Help them to understand your characters and why they act the way they do. Yes, you want the characters to be likable, but there’s so much more.

I’m getting off on a tangent. This blog was supposed to be about reading, and I’m morphing it into what I discovered when I picked up that novel. I guess that’s okay.

Hope you were able to take something from this blog.

-Jan R

Help Your Reader Connect!

Empathy Is A Must

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582dab8d5a4e7If you want to draw your reader in, you have to figure out a way to get them to empathize with the main character in your novel. They have to connect. Help them to see and feel what your character is going through.

In order to do this, you need to change the focus from the us/them mentality. People don’t listen to facts because of their own personal bias. They accept or reject them depending on whether they line up with their beliefs/agenda or not. Think about the USA today and the divide between the Democrat and Republican parties. Ouch! Maybe not!

You have to change your methodology and come in a little sneaky. Instead of lining your prose up from the us/them point of view, you want to look at things from your main character’s point of view. Your reader will be pulled in immediately, not because of the facts of the situation, but because they empathize with the feelings of the character. They are seeing things through his/her eyes.

I’m not a Malcolm X fan, but if you pick up the book entitled Malcolm X you will be pulled into his story immediately. It was an autobiography that followed his life and the events that brought him to the beliefs that he strongly supported and fought for.  The story allowed you to look into his head. You could see what he saw and feel what he felt. You may not have agreed with his point of view, but you understood where he was coming from and empathized with him.

That’s the same technique you would use in a novel to draw your reader into the story. You have to present things from your character’s point of view. You reader has to see what they see, feel what they feel, and experience situations as they would.

Something else to think about.

-Jan R

Empathy Is A Must