Question about writing style. - Writers Forum

BrizieBoomtastic · 01-13-2008, 06:51 PM

I'm working on a [potential] book... but I noticed that I very rarely use paragraphs of information.. just a lot of dialogue.

any tips?

or is this ok?

-Brizie.

Mike C · 01-14-2008, 12:23 AM

Write a play.

JohnN · 01-14-2008, 06:37 AM

or a film script!

Just Me · 01-14-2008, 09:29 AM

It's possible to deliver plot using dialogue, but it reaches a point where enough is enough. You can only say "he said" and "she said" so many times before it starts to get annoying. Try to write something with more body to it, if not, maybe it's not the way to go.

BrizieBoomtastic · 01-15-2008, 05:45 PM

I was thinking about making it a screen write, or a play but I was thinking that I doubt I could make it long enough. But I work in my schools library and I saw the Aquamarine book and that book is SHORT!

Another problem I have is I don't know how long to make a chapter. I write freehand, and so therefore... yeah. -lol- I also write fairly big so I don't know how many pages to make a chapter.

valeca · 01-15-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

I also write fairly big so I don't know how many pages to make a chapter.

Don't count pages. Word count is how it's done.

There are no rules about chapter length. Some authors don't even use them (although I wouldn't recommend trying that to someone just starting out). A good average to work with is anywhere from 2k words to 8k. You're the writer, you decide where the best places for breaks are in your story.

lin · 01-15-2008, 07:25 PM

Exactly. Don't worry about chapters and numbers.

The idea of having mostly dialog might work if you pull it off, but it might be good to work at other things like description and narration just to be able to do it.

There is no real page limit for a screenplay, either (where they DO count by pages, not words, by the way). There is a much greater market out there for short scripts than feature length plays. 10-15 minute scripts are much sought after. VERY tough to tell how long yours is if you write longhand. You can obviously type and have access to a computer. You probably need to start entering this work into digits.

BrizieBoomtastic · 01-16-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lin

You probably need to start entering this work into digits.

hahahahaha.

No way possible can I sit still long enough to get enough done. I also get frustrated because the computer I use to type my stuff [I can't use the family computer. They say I write too much.] doesn't have spell check. I have the good old fashioned WordPad.

But I have started and like.. once every week or so I sit there for about half an hour and type stuff up.

Ilasir Maroa · 01-16-2008, 10:38 PM

How can somebody write "too much"? I don't get it...

But, if you want to write, you need to get used to long sitting sessions. Even lack of spellcheck is a paltry excuse. Half an hour is a good start, though unlike these others, I'm not so sure a script is the way to go. It was always to much formatting for me.

How much dialogue do you use exactly?

Talia_Brie · 01-17-2008, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

Write a play.

Or just stick with what you're doing. As far as I'm concerned using dialogue to get across information is a valuable skill, and one you should foster, rather than get anxious about. It maintains the pace of the story, gets the reader more involved in creating the images, and is just more fun to read.

That being said, people who write great dialogue should obviously try their hands at plays and screenplays etc at some point or other. You may find thta you love it. Of course, with the writers strike and all, I'm not sure of the moral implications of writing a screenplay.

mythologicalrealities · 01-17-2008, 08:28 PM

IWell, personally, I wish I could use more dialogue. I am useless at it. I never use the word 'said', I more plonk my dialogue in the middle of a sentance:

“Who am I?” He murmured the question aloud, beseeching the vast darkness for an answer.
“You are mine, of course. So that doesn't matter now, does it?” He was taken aback when the reply came. He strained his frail body to see where the voice came from.

You should be happy you don't have that problem.

It's just your writing style. And you're lucky, too.

strangedaze · 01-17-2008, 08:57 PM

i think your predicament is preferable to all the dense, overwritten passages of description that seems to be the norm among those new to writing. someone once told me that publishers dig books that are 50/50, dialogue and other stuff. not sure if its true or not, but i know as a reader, i love dialogue more than anything.

missmia86 · 01-17-2008, 09:08 PM

Maybe you can think of the story as lots of 'scenes' where dialogue happens, and then the 'voice' of your story "turning to the reader" as it were to "fill them in".

Like at a party if you were listening to a conversation and then your best friend/husband/girlfriend, whatever, turned to you and explained something that happened in the past/someone's habits/what they thought of the situation, etc.

I know how confusing it can be jumping from dialogue to narration and back again, and sometimes I find envisioning it like this to help.

But as strangedaze said, dialogue is definately a good thing and if you can do it well, good on you because it is hard to make dialogue authentic.

Just don't be afraid to speak to the reader and make sure you know the voice (who is narrating? What relationship do they have to the reader? How would they speak to the reader?)

Hope this helps a bit?
xoxo

Peejaydee · 01-19-2008, 02:47 PM

Keep your own writing style. It's what marks you out as you. Every reader has their own preference and no doubt there will be readers out there that will like your style. Make sure your content, subject and dialogue is interesting and sparkling, that way you can make up for any perceived lack of diversity in the writing. By all means experiment with a more mainstream style but don't change for the sake of a market.

Look at the different writing styles out there. Take James Ellroy for example. He's held in very high regard, yet his writing style is unique, stilted and generally an acquired taste; difficult to read. I gave up on Ellroy as his style interfered with my understanding of the plots. I'm clearly in the minority, but this goes to show that your style will have an audience - it just might be a niche market, that's all.

BrizieBoomtastic · 01-25-2008, 09:10 PM

Thanks everyone for your input. I noticed that when I write in 1st person, I have a lot more paragraphs, and less dialouge.

So maybe... I'll stick to 1st person.