tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post114459785393573648..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: The Elements of DialogJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-57802535118078082192010-07-25T16:25:33.135-05:002010-07-25T16:25:33.135-05:00Though there are a few typos...this article was ri...Though there are a few typos...this article was right on. Thank you.Laurenhttp://www.lacewords.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-42712813737505142102008-07-02T06:50:00.000-05:002008-07-02T06:50:00.000-05:00A good resource. Many good points to keep in mind....A good resource. Many good points to keep in mind.<BR/><BR/>I love your tag line.<BR/><BR/>"There's a word for a writer who never gives up... published."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144735966187325162006-04-11T01:12:00.000-05:002006-04-11T01:12:00.000-05:00There was two much action int he first two days, s...There was two much action int he first two days, so I had to make it three days, which threw off a lot. Like pulling a thread in a sweater.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144726030212849742006-04-10T22:27:00.000-05:002006-04-10T22:27:00.000-05:00What's so hard about adding another day? All you ...What's so hard about adding another day? All you have to change is...EVERYTHING.<BR/><BR/>Damn. Are editors sadistic sometimes or what?Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144722524926282962006-04-10T21:28:00.000-05:002006-04-10T21:28:00.000-05:00No offense, Joe, but maybe that's why your editor ...<I>No offense, Joe, but maybe that's why your editor came down hard on your most recent manuscript.</I><BR/><BR/>No offense taken. But the jokes I cut had nothing to do with Herb, and my editor didnt' come down hard on my manuscript in the least bit. I changed very little, but it was difficult to change because it involved adding another day tot he story, which screwed up the overall timing.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144709189398547742006-04-10T17:46:00.000-05:002006-04-10T17:46:00.000-05:00Lee,I know what you mean. It's tough to find the ...Lee,<BR/><BR/>I know what you mean. It's tough to find the right balance between drama and humor sometimes.<BR/><BR/>To me, Herb seems quite a bit like Lula in Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels. Sometimes I wonder if their sole purpose as characters is to provide comic relief. In both cases, the overeating jokes get tired pretty quick and the characters do come off as cartoonish sometimes.<BR/><BR/>No offense, Joe, but maybe that's why your editor came down hard on your most recent manuscript.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144693387588479892006-04-10T13:23:00.000-05:002006-04-10T13:23:00.000-05:00Lee--I just wrote an essay all about understanding...Lee--I just wrote an essay all about understanding humor. I'll post it tomorrow.<BR/><BR/>Mark--Herb is the one that planted the powder, so he knew it contained sugar.<BR/><BR/>Martha--You're right. I'll change it too "It shuldn't be too natural."JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144692861130395072006-04-10T13:14:00.000-05:002006-04-10T13:14:00.000-05:00"It can't be too natural." You mean it CAN be too..."It can't be too natural." <BR/><BR/>You mean it CAN be too natural, right? As in, there's such a thing as dialgoue being "too natural"?<BR/><BR/>I like replacing dialog tags with action in order to further the scene. Every "he said" can be replaced with "he dropped the anvil on her head" or something of that nature, heightening conflict.Martha O'Connorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17915815056340085345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144691668657999152006-04-10T12:54:00.000-05:002006-04-10T12:54:00.000-05:00Wow, some of these guys are SOOOO serious and lite...Wow, some of these guys are SOOOO serious and literal. Makes me wonder how they get the humor in their own books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144687699472542352006-04-10T11:48:00.000-05:002006-04-10T11:48:00.000-05:00Reading dialogue aloud. That's an important one. ...Reading dialogue aloud. That's an important one. In fact, you should probably read EVERYTHING aloud. <BR/><BR/>My wife will tell you that when I'm working I'm always mumbling, and it's true. I always read aloud as I write.<BR/><BR/>I think I've been exposed to too many books on tape.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and if you want to learn to write dialogue, pick up FLETCH by Gregory MacDonald. It's practically ALL dialogue -- and one of the best crime thrillers written.Rob Gregory Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11952008139132652259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144685569370691962006-04-10T11:12:00.000-05:002006-04-10T11:12:00.000-05:00Sorry for all the typos in that previous post...Sorry for all the typos in that previous post...Lee Goldberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13442268370192897461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144685493692203952006-04-10T11:11:00.000-05:002006-04-10T11:11:00.000-05:00Jude,I'm aware what the "funny part" was...what I'...Jude,<BR/><BR/>I'm aware what the "funny part" was...what I'm curious about is using it the make the rest of the scene go down easier. What would the scene be like without the "funny part?" Would ie better, worse, or just different? How does humor make the drama more dramatic? Or does it? Is humor actually a tool to make the characters more human? Or does it work against the reality and the drama? these are issues writers deal with every day...balancing the drama and the humor... and I'm just curious about Joe's take on in. <BR/><BR/>I've walked that line myself many times in TV shows and books (especially with THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE) and it's not easy. MONK is another one that's hard ... there's a real danger of the character turning into a cartoon (or Inspector Clouseau). I think one reason MONK works is the delicate balance between humor and pathos.Lee Goldberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13442268370192897461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144680773219622702006-04-10T09:52:00.000-05:002006-04-10T09:52:00.000-05:00Lee,I'm assuming the "bit of humor" is when Herb d...Lee,<BR/><BR/>I'm assuming the "bit of humor" is when Herb dips back into the baggie for another taste.<BR/><BR/>You have to know a little bit about Herb to get the joke.<BR/><BR/>I think it might have been interesting to see Colin's reaction to Herb's double dipping.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144679769662113912006-04-10T09:36:00.000-05:002006-04-10T09:36:00.000-05:00For me, dialogue is easier than description.Inform...For me, dialogue is easier than description.<BR/>Informative post, Joe. Thanks :)Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06106410070220667314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144670911958260932006-04-10T07:08:00.000-05:002006-04-10T07:08:00.000-05:00Real people don't talk exactly the same way in all...Real people don't talk exactly the same way in all situations either.Bernitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264585685253812090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144646339591214212006-04-10T00:18:00.000-05:002006-04-10T00:18:00.000-05:00Hi Justin---You'll probably wind up being a cop. G...Hi Justin---<BR/><BR/>You'll probably wind up being a cop. Got lots of cops in the new one.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144644689381754062006-04-09T23:51:00.000-05:002006-04-09T23:51:00.000-05:00Could you expand on this comment:"Plus, I threw in...Could you expand on this comment:<BR/><BR/>"Plus, I threw in a bit of humor to make it go down a little easier."<BR/><BR/>I'm doing a panel on Humor in Mysteries at the Palm Springs Book Festival and I'd love to use that quote...along with what you meant by it.Lee Goldberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13442268370192897461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144642135876864842006-04-09T23:08:00.000-05:002006-04-09T23:08:00.000-05:00I love writing dialogue. A lot of my pages end up...I love writing dialogue. A lot of my pages end up looking like this one, Joe, with lots of white space. I'm glad it seems to be in style now, because that's the way I naturally write, with short paragraphs and very little description.<BR/><BR/>That said, I think it's important to note that we're not writing screenplays. We owe the reader SOME description. We need to anchor the scene in the readers mind, using all five senses.<BR/><BR/>I think it's good to throw in a "beat" every few lines of dialogue, showing action, emotion,<BR/>facial expression etc. I've read books where the dialogue goes too long without a break, and I tend to get lost or even bored sometimes.<BR/><BR/>Plus, when I open a book and see TOO much white space, I hesitate to shell out the dough. Something psychological about paying for a bunch of blank pages.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1144637616930340712006-04-09T21:53:00.000-05:002006-04-09T21:53:00.000-05:00How's my raped child pornographer going to talk? C...How's my raped child pornographer going to talk? <BR/><BR/>Can you give me a N****r Jim accent a la Mark Twain? If not, an Anthony Burgess-esque Clockwork Orange-ian "viddy well ill, my droogies" is also competely acceptable.<BR/><BR/>JBAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10996771273232767374noreply@blogger.com