tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post4398139144766246802..comments2024-03-29T09:08:53.181-04:00Comments on The Write Conversation: Fiction Techniques for Non-fiction Writers—Write Dialogue CorrectlyEdie Melsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-60706523238093094492013-07-17T21:29:16.814-04:002013-07-17T21:29:16.814-04:00Edie, Thank you for sharing these. Great review! C...Edie, Thank you for sharing these. Great review! Can't wait to read more!Dawn M. Hamsherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17782257750640888264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-61158177487045268952013-07-16T23:02:40.902-04:002013-07-16T23:02:40.902-04:00Perfect timing and very helpful, Edie. :)Perfect timing and very helpful, Edie. :)Cathy Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09387472095598640704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-51500287364138954062013-07-16T21:37:36.250-04:002013-07-16T21:37:36.250-04:00When I was writing more non-fiction, using fiction...When I was writing more non-fiction, using fiction techniques resulted in a dramatic increase in acceptances. The practice helped me when I switched gears to fiction.<br /><br />Susan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-79400633680453772072013-07-16T19:18:09.898-04:002013-07-16T19:18:09.898-04:00Another recommendation/suggestion I would give is ...Another recommendation/suggestion I would give is to make sure you mix it up with the tags and beats, or neither. Sometimes it's clear who's talking - especially if it's one-on-one - and you don't want the dialogue to get bogged down in tags and beats. Make sure there's variety. I recently judged a writing contest and I could tell one of the entrants had been told not to use tags. Whenever there was a lengthy back-and-forth conversation, it would be several sentences in a row of dialogue-beat, dialogue-beat, dialogue-beat, which quickly felt sing-song-y and tiring and distracting. Even a beat-dialogue thrown in would have been a nice change of pace. Still, you don't have to have someone doing something every time they speak. ~sharynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03900618724766476779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-45588883525714649312013-07-16T19:12:57.068-04:002013-07-16T19:12:57.068-04:00Edie, I love this post. I think I'm going to r...Edie, I love this post. I think I'm going to really get a lot out of this series. One question though. Will these steps work in the devotions I write since a lot of them have dialogue when I'm telling a story to illistrate a point? Love you!Jamie Britthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01137889974210281622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-80897483985377771392013-07-16T19:06:45.424-04:002013-07-16T19:06:45.424-04:00Thanks for this helpful tips! As you know, a lot o...Thanks for this helpful tips! As you know, a lot of my devotions have dialogue in them especially when I'm telling a story to illistrate a point. Do they work in that as well? Love you!Jamie Britthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01137889974210281622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-52302058989641683142013-07-16T15:44:32.076-04:002013-07-16T15:44:32.076-04:00Edie,
I write a lot of feature articles, which fa...Edie,<br /><br />I write a lot of feature articles, which fall into the non-fiction category. It's been my observation that non-fiction requires heavier attribution, since we're dealing with quotes rather than dialogue. Sometimes, though,the "he said, she said," seems a bit redundant. If the alternative is using interruptive attributions (tags), is it still better to stick to "said"? Usually I'll use the individual's name, then use "he" or "she" if I quote him again in the same paragraph, or alternate the subject's name with "he". I'd like to hear your thoughts.Lori Hatcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-16621101607429396032013-07-16T15:31:12.962-04:002013-07-16T15:31:12.962-04:00Always good to review these rules! Thanks Edie!Always good to review these rules! Thanks Edie!Dee Dee https://www.blogger.com/profile/12568993522822927873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-23639716773568176042013-07-16T12:31:27.516-04:002013-07-16T12:31:27.516-04:00Steph, another great question! What I outlined in ...Steph, another great question! What I outlined in the post is the basics of dialogue. Your example is more advanced and is done correctly. It should all be contained in one paragraph. <br /><br />If the thief had interjected anything, then that would have necessitated a new paragraph for what the thief said, then another new paragraph when the cop continued speaking.<br /><br />Thanks so much for taking time to comment! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-72268342415184716232013-07-16T11:55:48.127-04:002013-07-16T11:55:48.127-04:00As you pointed out, two different speakers get two...As you pointed out, two different speakers get two separate paragraphs. But what about including another person's action in a speaker's paragraph? For example: <br /><br />"Stop right there!" The cop pointed his gun at the thief. The thief hesitated. Gun shaking, the cop yelled louder. "Stop or I'll shoot." <br /><br />Or should that be three separate paragraphs?Stephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09888191800120017375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-22843001645434758982013-07-16T11:44:49.291-04:002013-07-16T11:44:49.291-04:00Ellen, great question! This is the source of some ...Ellen, great question! This is the source of some debate in our industry. The old school thought is that it's good to throw a ' be said' into the dialogue for variation, but all the editors I've spoken with encourage writers to use only beats or at least keep the tags to a bare minimum. <br /><br />One word of warning, be careful that the beats move the story forward and give the reader info about what's happening. Just throwing in an action beat without good reason can make your dialogue sound stiff.<br /><br />I hope this helps, Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-38973394528288247402013-07-16T11:38:38.203-04:002013-07-16T11:38:38.203-04:00Robin, I'm so glad this came at a time to help...Robin, I'm so glad this came at a time to help! Thanks so much for stopping by, blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-47931556326860951792013-07-16T11:15:07.800-04:002013-07-16T11:15:07.800-04:00I can see how the speaker beats are more effective...I can see how the speaker beats are more effective than tags in showing what a scene looks like. Is there a time, or circumstance when it's better to use a tag instead of a beat? Ellen Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05474986203062305511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-40314959738072766152013-07-16T11:11:15.269-04:002013-07-16T11:11:15.269-04:00Bless you and your perfect timing! Ever since BRMC...Bless you and your perfect timing! Ever since BRMCWC, I've been working to include dialogue into my memoir correctly. This is a perfect resource for me to print out and keep by my laptop.<br /><br />Thanks again ... you're the best!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com