tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post984232559604191332..comments2024-03-28T16:20:46.168-04:00Comments on Alex J. Cavanaugh: Listen to the Voice of an ExpertAlex J. Cavanaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-73833865371275528832010-08-29T10:42:02.520-04:002010-08-29T10:42:02.520-04:00Great advice :) I've often found that dialogue...Great advice :) I've often found that dialogue sometimes feels like it's been added by an author as filler, and has no bearing on the story or the characters at all. I like the pointer that every line of dialogue should tell the reader a little something about the character and/or the world they live in. I find dialogue more difficult to write than the narrative, so I'll have to keep all these in mind :)Jamie Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168603412367448706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-29229070782716511992010-08-28T07:04:50.226-04:002010-08-28T07:04:50.226-04:00Silent movies kinda floated away with the ark. And...Silent movies kinda floated away with the ark. And yeah dialogue in a movie assists character driven scenes.<br /><br />Flood a book with dialogue, blackout a backdrop you got yourself a script and no scenic value for a movie.pseudonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03694933068747872081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-64598331100604965632010-08-27T08:12:30.062-04:002010-08-27T08:12:30.062-04:00Dialogue is one of my weaknesses as well but I'...Dialogue is one of my weaknesses as well but I've been trying to get better and whatever doesn't work the first time can change into something fantastic later. Luckily I have two cps who are amazing at dialogue.Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915603693944523761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-81299086178814761932010-08-26T15:43:19.189-04:002010-08-26T15:43:19.189-04:00Clarissa is a fountain of information! Now why cou...Clarissa is a fountain of information! Now why couldn't I stop myself from the part, nobody wants to read? I'm your puppet...Pat Tilletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17699973774273291205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-73490162965790089702010-08-26T13:47:56.934-04:002010-08-26T13:47:56.934-04:00Ironically, I am a total vegetarian, but not one o...Ironically, I am a total vegetarian, but not one of my characters is a vegetarian!L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-9501329687212689502010-08-26T10:59:20.733-04:002010-08-26T10:59:20.733-04:00Thanks for providing these tips from Clarissa, Ale...Thanks for providing these tips from Clarissa, Alex, Pointers like these can assist across all forms of narrative, including scriptwriting.The Man-Cavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18148994596635513600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-14250729059801781872010-08-26T09:58:33.237-04:002010-08-26T09:58:33.237-04:00Clarissa DOES have great advice! It's funny. ...Clarissa DOES have great advice! It's funny. I WRITE in dialog... meaning my first drafts are always super dialog heavy. I think it's because it is the best way to show relationships (as opposed to telling about them)--same with personality quirks. It took a while to learn though, not to put in every 'well' or 'um'... or stuttering or stumbling over words? don't do much of it.Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-72823523439588352482010-08-26T09:23:38.914-04:002010-08-26T09:23:38.914-04:00I love Clarissa's blog - she's full of gre...I love Clarissa's blog - she's full of great advice. <br /><br />Thanks Alex and Clarissa!Talli Rolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780882465745107715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-46691570508182824582010-08-26T08:53:10.965-04:002010-08-26T08:53:10.965-04:00Thanks for the interesting post. My first draft ha...Thanks for the interesting post. My first draft had no dialogue. I played around and my characters couldn't stop talking after that. It certainly improved the storyline.Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-31943262937741536292010-08-25T22:27:59.100-04:002010-08-25T22:27:59.100-04:00Thanks Alex and Clarissa! Good post. Since I was t...Thanks Alex and Clarissa! Good post. Since I was turned on to Clarissa's blog I have found it very entertaining and educational. Who knows, I may even write something someday! Worthwhile that is :)Chuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13676928110297819368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-5266205828257781352010-08-25T22:13:35.508-04:002010-08-25T22:13:35.508-04:00great tips...I like using dialogue to give the rea...great tips...I like using dialogue to give the reader a bit more insight into the character. thanks for thisNikki (Sarah)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13731200601840020130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-35685260369143756962010-08-25T22:11:18.991-04:002010-08-25T22:11:18.991-04:00I've visited Clarissa's blog numerous time...I've visited Clarissa's blog numerous times. Its a winner. Thanks for having her. Dialogue that rambles is wasting the reader's time. Then again, during my re-edit I needed to add dialogue. Too much typing out what was happening. <br /><br />On the flip side, when I did write dialogue, my editor brough to my attention I like to write long sentences. And I'm redundant. So there is an art to finding that balance. And a good editor helps too.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stephentremp.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Stephen Tremp</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-85456402516739261522010-08-25T21:52:42.261-04:002010-08-25T21:52:42.261-04:00Wow Alex, you are getting POP-U-LAR!
Dialog is t...Wow Alex, you are getting POP-U-LAR! <br /><br />Dialog is tough, but she does a great job breaking it down.Cheeseboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02358419997798632644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-79763669575290844112010-08-25T19:42:26.768-04:002010-08-25T19:42:26.768-04:00Walter, I kind of agree with you about slang, but ...Walter, I kind of agree with you about slang, but in some cases it does help keep dialog a little more realistically topical to the setting of the story. But overuse can make the language difficult to understand.<br />In the case of Huck Finn, I think it is the use of dialect and not slang that makes it difficult to read. It was easy for me once I adapted to it. A few years ago my wife, for whom English is a second language, read Huck Finn and was very challenged by the dialect. I was rereading the book at the same time as she was reading it so I could help her with the difficult passages. Besides, I hadn't read it in a long time and had forgotten how darn funny it is.<br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a>Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-40920642788475651672010-08-25T19:26:07.304-04:002010-08-25T19:26:07.304-04:00What about slang? I try to keep slang out of my d...What about slang? I try to keep slang out of my dialogue, even if you lose realism, because I do not like to read slang. Ever read Adventures of Hunk Fynn? It may be a classic, but it is tough to read.<br /><br />Also, slang needs tobe updated, and it is impossible to stay up to date on the latest slang.Walter Knighthttp://www.waltknight.yolasite.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-51433500259519197472010-08-25T19:25:31.231-04:002010-08-25T19:25:31.231-04:00Clarissa knows her stuff!Clarissa knows her stuff!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-83475676019695222702010-08-25T19:12:53.152-04:002010-08-25T19:12:53.152-04:00Great advice...I think it needs tweeting. :)Great advice...I think it needs tweeting. :)Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-75003691610317265042010-08-25T18:59:49.255-04:002010-08-25T18:59:49.255-04:00Nice work, Clarissa. great advice coupled with a g...Nice work, Clarissa. great advice coupled with a great example. :)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-32614311139879412482010-08-25T18:59:08.570-04:002010-08-25T18:59:08.570-04:00Hi Alex,
Thanks for dropping by! Dialogue is my w...Hi Alex,<br /><br />Thanks for dropping by! Dialogue is my weakness. I appreciate the tips.Unspokenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16065870952905767595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-20107307920017226252010-08-25T18:03:24.277-04:002010-08-25T18:03:24.277-04:00I laughed out loud at Clarissa's example of ho...I laughed out loud at Clarissa's example of how not to write dialogue! I enjoy writing dialogue and can always use more tips on how to make it better. Thanks.Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-9019258584496406872010-08-25T17:41:54.345-04:002010-08-25T17:41:54.345-04:00Great advice and samples of awfulness. I can alway...Great advice and samples of awfulness. I can always work on my dialogue. <br /><br />That's so cool you wrote a whole book of dialogue!Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-24811341455020382172010-08-25T17:20:36.296-04:002010-08-25T17:20:36.296-04:00Clarissa, thanks so much for visiting! And I can&#...Clarissa, thanks so much for visiting! And I can't read description-heavy books, either. Dialogue is much more interesting.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-21703452642454148762010-08-25T17:13:41.761-04:002010-08-25T17:13:41.761-04:00Great tips, Clarissa. Thanks for hosting her, Alex...Great tips, Clarissa. Thanks for hosting her, Alex.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-57277016863925024142010-08-25T16:58:23.787-04:002010-08-25T16:58:23.787-04:00Great ideas, Alex and Clarissa! Actually, I love w...Great ideas, Alex and Clarissa! Actually, I love writing and reading dialogue. Thanks for the suggestion of writing several pages of dialogue. If I ever seriously take up writing as a profession, those are excellent ideas.<br />RubyGrammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-31289524859178572372010-08-25T16:37:59.647-04:002010-08-25T16:37:59.647-04:00LOL! That was a PERFECT example of really bad, inf...LOL! That was a PERFECT example of really bad, info-dump, dialogue. Love the advice...especially the part about making it end.<br /><br />Great post!Raquel Byrneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12870113745683162915noreply@blogger.com