Category Archives: Writing

How to Write Realistic Dialogue (Guest Blogger)

Posted on April 13, 2011 | 2 comments

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Well written, realistic dialogue is one of the most useful tools at an author’s disposable. Nothing else can pull a reader from a story than unbelievable dialogue. Imagine a character like Mandy Moore’s in A Walk to Remember. Now picture that character cursing. A bum on the streets won’t use large, obscure words. Neither would a small child. Here are some tips for including authentic dialogue in your novels:

1. Go to the mall or other places where lots of people go. Sit on a bench and eavesdrop.

2. Create a character sketch. In order for your character’s dialogue to be true to the character, it must reflect the character’s flaws, weaknesses, strengths, and personality. A smoker character will not rant about the evils of the big bad tobacco companies.

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3. Large blocks of dialogue, similar to large blocks of description, are boring. Pepper some action throughout dialogue scenes. People often talk with hand gestures. Include movements and other actions.

4. Use swear words sparingly unless the character demands it. Some people hide behind them or use them for release. Other characters may only use them under highly stressful situations. And if you are writing a historical piece, look up the curse words of that time period. In Woman of Honor, my high fantasy romance novel, my characters sometimes yell, “God’s Teeth!” or “God’s Wounds!”

5. While using words appropriate to locale (some regions say soda, others pop), try to avoid dating your piece with slang.

6. If you are going to use accents, make certain that they are constant throughout the novel but not overbearing.

7. Once you write a dialogue scene, read it aloud. Does it flow? Does it make sense? Does it further the story and add details to the plot?

Links:
Website: http://www.NicoleZoltack.com
Blog: http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nicole.Zoltack
Facebook Fan Page: http://tinyurl.com/Zoltack-FB-Fanpage
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/scarlett9284
Twitter: http://twitter.com/NicoleZoltack
Email: Nicole.Zoltack@gmail.com

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Posted in Blatherings, Creativity, Guest Bloggers, Just for Fun, Writing

Tagged author, books, Echelon Press, publishing, writers, Writing

The Love /Hate relationship (Guest Blogger)

Posted on April 12, 2011 | 3 comments

Young adult stories:

Teens are eating them up. As for adults…well some love them, some don’t.

I love reading young adults books, for various reasons. They are usually an easy read, without extremely complex twists and plots and 4 million characters like some of the ‘heavier’ adult books. Don’t get me wrong, I love adult books too, sometimes my brain likes a break though. Quite often they are also shorter, and written in a way that the pages keep on turning until you’ve reached the end. Rarely do I have to stop and let my brain think about concepts or ideas.

That said, they are also fun to read, full of teen angst and firsts; kisses, loves and heartbreak. I wasn’t a teen myself too long ago, most of the time I still think I am. Even though I’m an adult now, I can still relate to what it was like back then. Readings gives those ‘aww’ moments, and sometimes I cringe, remembering my own awkward firsts. I still think that is better than being reminded of parent meetings and bill payments.

Though I do love young adult books, I can’t read them continuously. The innocent first love and sappiness, the youthful reminders can only entertain me so long before I require a good solid sci fi, a twisting epic fantasy or a raunchy romance. Maybe my old age has jaded me, I tend to prefer I’ve a solid range of genre favorites.

The exact same goes for my writing. I love writing young adult stories for all of those firsts. However I also have the need to write adult books too, things can only progress so far in a young adult book. Eventually an adult story needs to come out.

Young Adult stories- love them or hate them and why? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Jen Wylie is the author of numerous short stories, including her bestselling YA series, Tales of Ever, featured in the Quake Electric Shorts program.

Also by Jen Wylie:

Jump
The Forgotten Echo
Banished
Fire Girl

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Posted in Blatherings, Guest Bloggers, Writing

Characters Across Genres

Posted on March 14, 2011 | 1 comment

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Often I am asked, “What’s your favorite genre to write?”

And often I reply, “Um. All of them!”

It’s a completely honest answer. My first published novel, released this past summer, is of the spy genre. The next book, slated for June, is a dystopian. Fantasy was the genre of the first long story I ever completed (writing with my sister, good memories). An Oregon Trail journal turned into a seventy-page piece in sixth grade. In my writing thus far I’ve also dabbled in ghost, school, contemporary, perhaps gritty (I say perhaps because I’m still not sure what that means, Google refuses to clear it up for me—perhaps I should try Bing?), murder mystery, and sibling stories.

While I know some authors prefer to stick to one or a few related genres, I enjoyed different aspects of all of them and had equal fun while writing. Therefore, the first time someone asked me about genres—a reporter for my school newspaper—led me to spend about an hour and a half in deep contemplation. (The alternative was math homework, so it worked out.) I came to the conclusion I placed more value in the characters of a story than the genre, or even the plot. The plot, to me, is a device to portray characters. My characters are the personalities I slip into or interact with (fictionally), and I work a plot around them, creating believable and changed people by “The End.” Plus, the characters supply dialogue, description, action…the plot wouldn’t happen without them!

Because the plot is a tool my characters use to propel themselves to the last page, the genre is also a secondary matter. If my characters fit best into a ghost story because one feels guilty over the death of another, then a ghost story it is. If another set of characters need disguises and secrets to best be themselves, I formulate a spy story. If the characters in my mind are best suited for overcoming severe societal challenges and barriers not yet in existence, we create a dystopia.

So, in essence, I’m not sure which genre is my favorite—or maybe all of them are, because until my next character shows up in my mind calling out, “Idea! Idea! I have an idea!!!” I don’t even know what my next genre will be.

Kieryn

www.kierynnicolas.com

http://twitter.com/KierynNicolas

http://www.kierynnicolas.blogspot.com/