tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post111057045729267836..comments2024-03-22T05:18:29.555-04:00Comments on Romance Bandits: Yada Yada YadaLoucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-24448520574860003262008-06-02T22:15:00.000-04:002008-06-02T22:15:00.000-04:00I like dialog. I tend to write a lot of it, mostly...I like dialog. I tend to write a lot of it, mostly because I think what you say reveals a lot more about you than anything else. But you're right, the whole book CAN'T be dialog or you turn into Hemmingway. :)Sonja Fousthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00874425238467467926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-3072442146176326872008-06-02T20:27:00.000-04:002008-06-02T20:27:00.000-04:00I'm a dialogue girl. I'm the type of reader that s...I'm a dialogue girl. I'm the type of reader that skims most description and narrative and enjoy the character interactions the most. If the dialogue work, that books a keeper for me and then I go back and read it in its entirety.E. Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18438137647382700931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-86474164177712861162008-06-01T16:09:00.000-04:002008-06-01T16:09:00.000-04:00Terry, don't tell me that! I keep hoping maybe it ...Terry, don't tell me that! I keep hoping maybe it will improve with time. Aiyee.Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-36950692068708209082008-06-01T09:15:00.000-04:002008-06-01T09:15:00.000-04:00My son's 36 and "cut to the chase" is still my mos...My son's 36 and "cut to the chase" is still my most frequently used phrase when we talk (on the phone -- sometimes it's easier just to put the phone down, picking it up at intervals and saying, uh huh.)Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-71825970096368705862008-06-01T08:42:00.000-04:002008-06-01T08:42:00.000-04:00Peggy, I had one of those sons, too! He is 22 now ...Peggy, I had one of those sons, too! He is 22 now and STILL wants to tell me about things in excruciating detail. Only now, he also wants to show me websites and video clips about it. Ack! <BR/><BR/>I love it that he talks to me, but there were times when I just wanted it to STOP!! *g*Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-22160794349193212712008-06-01T08:40:00.000-04:002008-06-01T08:40:00.000-04:00Christine, that's a great take on your process. Ye...Christine, that's a great take on your process. Yes, I think layering things in later is rather a luxury, isn't it? The first spew of words - the hard part - is over and now you can linger. *g* I'll have to keep that firmly in mind!Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-7099479059093149442008-06-01T03:23:00.000-04:002008-06-01T03:23:00.000-04:00To much dialogue in a story remindsme of my son co...To much dialogue in a story reminds<BR/>me of my son comeing home from school telling me a story about his<BR/>day.by the time he told me every single word tom , dick and harry<BR/>had to say i was ready to pull <BR/>my hair out.i'm not sure i got the<BR/>point of his story.or if he forgot<BR/>what he trying to tell me in the<BR/>first place.peggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02053510523804439809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-71100097556657870102008-05-31T23:46:00.000-04:002008-05-31T23:46:00.000-04:00Hi Caren, thank you so much for the lovely complim...Hi Caren, thank you so much for the lovely compliment about Scandal's Daughter. <BR/><BR/>Hmm, do I find narrative a chore? Interesting question. I suppose I tend to write my books mainly in dialogue and introspection and I always have to go back after the first draft and add background colour to all the scenes and more movement or maybe an activity or a more intersting setting to the heavy dialogue scenes. I don't know that it's a chore, just something that doesn't come when I'm getting down what's in my head. I do enjoy layering in detail when I can take my time with it later. Does that make sense? Yada yada yada.LOL I'm babbling!Christine Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260589566405262159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-65063347431600445142008-05-31T23:31:00.000-04:002008-05-31T23:31:00.000-04:00Well, y'all, I know it's only 8:30 on the west coa...Well, y'all, I know it's only 8:30 on the west coast, but it's 11:30 here and I'm knackered. Thank you for chatting with me, everyone. See you tomorrow!Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-1554738663399830102008-05-31T23:25:00.000-04:002008-05-31T23:25:00.000-04:00Terrio, so sorry to hear you are lobsterfied! I ho...Terrio, so sorry to hear you are lobsterfied! I hope you had a great time, though. I do love a water park, especially the BIG slides! <BR/><BR/>I wouldn't worry too much about the obsessing or the analyzing (or lack thereof). One thing I know for sure is that EVERYONE has a different process.<BR/><BR/>As to that color-coding thing, let me know how that works out for you. That is so NOT ME. I've tried index cards and scene outlines and sticky notes on story boards and color-coding different story elements. All it ever did for me was make me feel like a total loser because it didn't work for me.<BR/><BR/>A writer I know says there are only two things in writing: works and doesn't work. So, if the color-coding works for you, use it to the fullest! If you try it and is doesn't work, throw away the markers and never think of it again. It's liberating to realize your process doesn't have to be like anyone else's. <BR/><BR/>I embrace that fully. *g*Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-21713525043329175742008-05-31T23:06:00.001-04:002008-05-31T23:06:00.001-04:00This has been a great discussion. I spent my day ...This has been a great discussion. I spent my day at a water park and now I'm Terrio the lobster. Dang this hurts.<BR/><BR/>Y'all always make me feel better about my over-obsessing and my lack of analyzing. Wait, can you do both of those? Or do they cancel each other out?<BR/><BR/>I've seen revision methods where you highlight each aspect of your writing in a different color. One for dialogue, one for actions, one for narration, and so on. Then you can actually see if you have a ton more of one color than the others.<BR/><BR/>It's an interesting way to sort of see your writing in a different way and to know where you might need to add to reach that balance. Which seems to be the word of the day.<BR/><BR/>For the record, I haven't tried it but I might when I get to revisions.Terri Osburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-36425356564206837632008-05-31T23:06:00.000-04:002008-05-31T23:06:00.000-04:00Joanie, thank you, dear heart! I forgot I tormente...Joanie, thank you, dear heart! I forgot I tormented you with the full ms of Kick Start. I'm glad you liked it. That heroine was more like me (at least at first) than any other I've written. I felt so sorry for her and really wanted her to have a happy ending. She may see publication yet!<BR/><BR/>But oh, my. We have to suck in our GUTS?! That could be the hardest part. Can't we just do something benign like girding our loins? I mean, the cabana boys are all taking the day off, so there's plenty of extra loin-girding material laying around. ;-)Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-55282441317178404602008-05-31T23:02:00.000-04:002008-05-31T23:02:00.000-04:00Susan, another dialogue girl! I think if you're wr...Susan, another dialogue girl! I think if you're writing in third person, dialogue is more critical. Even using deep POV, we're not in the character's head so much, so dialogue let's us know what's going on.<BR/><BR/>Plus, if your characters are anything like YOU, they must have oodles and gobs of witty banter. You're dead funny! I can't wait until you're published so I can read ALL YOUR BOOKS!Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-48488923917522040122008-05-31T23:00:00.000-04:002008-05-31T23:00:00.000-04:00Peggy, very well said. Less is often more. I read ...Peggy, very well said. Less is often more. I read a sneak preview of a book by an author I really enjoy today. I adore this author, honestly! But when I was reading her pages I thought (not for the first time), "Man, she uses a lot of WORDS."<BR/><BR/>Now, I'm a big fan of words. Obviously, since I post so much and at such LENGTH. But this author I love uses about 4 times as many words as the average writer to say something. It's her style. Many, many people love this style. I have loved this style. Except now, I think I might love more if it were used in moderation. *sigh*<BR/><BR/>I used to be so NON-CRITICAL as a reader! I miss those good old days.Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-47782281900914907582008-05-31T22:57:00.000-04:002008-05-31T22:57:00.000-04:00Fedora, I am of the considered opinion that work (...Fedora, I am of the considered opinion that work (the four-letter word) is simply a device concocted by The Man to keep me down. Does what I do there really make a difference in the world? No. Is my job mission critical to anyone in the universe? No. <BR/><BR/>OTOH, it pays fairly well and allows me to take nice vacations and go to conference. Overall, it does what I expect a job to do. If it just didn't interfere with writing and blogging. Gah!<BR/><BR/>And if you move to Raleigh, it will be BIG trouble for the whole Triangle area, I'm sure. *g*Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-39152253995470339922008-05-31T22:54:00.000-04:002008-05-31T22:54:00.000-04:00Christie, thank you for the 411. Manufacturing is ...Christie, thank you for the 411. Manufacturing is often a challenge to the nose. I'll never forget trips from Nashville to Panama City Beach when I was a girl. We always knew when we hit Birmingham in the middle of the night. Paper mill! Worst. Smell. Ever! (Except for the tannery, but I don't even like to THINK about that one. *shudder*)<BR/><BR/>Twenty pages of set-up? Holy moly! I think it's asking a lot for a reader to hang in a whole chapter waiting for the story to begin. You'll have to let us know after you finish whether you think it was really necessary. I'm fascinated!Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-80373635964207950822008-05-31T22:51:00.000-04:002008-05-31T22:51:00.000-04:00Kirsten, I'm still fascinated by the skim reading ...Kirsten, I'm still fascinated by the skim reading thing. You know I have ZERO ability to do that. *g* <BR/><BR/>I suppose if you achieve a lovely balance of narrative and dialogue, even if someone is skimming they will still get some of each. <BR/><BR/>I'm curious. Does skimming dialogue feel different from skimming narrative? It seems reading one would still be a different experience from reading the other, just as if you were reading the old school way.Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-75508428641718880222008-05-31T22:47:00.000-04:002008-05-31T22:47:00.000-04:00Pat, the websites must be rubbing off on you for s...Pat, the websites must be rubbing off on you for sure. You are much better informed than I ever was as a reader. Of course, if I hadn't started writing, I would probably still be bumbling around not even realizing author's HAD websites. <BR/><BR/>I can be stupendously clueless at times. I'm glad you are not! ;-)Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-59936779775981428462008-05-31T22:45:00.000-04:002008-05-31T22:45:00.000-04:00Jo, I wondered if teaching English all those years...Jo, I wondered if teaching English all those years tainted the classics for you. How could it not? It makes sense to me that your poor brain would want a break. <BR/><BR/>Hey, that fits in with my bon bon theory perfectly! Your snappy, dialogue-driven favorites are like truffles to be gobbled up and remembered fondly. I love that!Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-69272584231053489522008-05-31T22:42:00.000-04:002008-05-31T22:42:00.000-04:00Helen, I'm glad I'm not the only one with the scre...Helen, I'm glad I'm not the only one with the screen in my head! *g* <BR/><BR/>I think a lot of contemporary writers - well, me anyway - tend to think the town they are writing about (often their hometown or one they have lived in) isn't too special. Either that, or they think it's the best town EVER and everyone should know it as they do (like the book Joan encountered about Chicago). <BR/><BR/>It's important to realize people living in far away lands <B>want</B> to know what it's like. Like you, darling Helen! I wish you could come to Raleigh. We would have a grand old time! Of course, this is home for me so I see little that is special about it, but other people think it's great. I have to weave the things that are special about it into my books. It's a challenge when it's hard to "see" the special in what lies all around you. But I try!Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-35397956142819291892008-05-31T22:37:00.000-04:002008-05-31T22:37:00.000-04:00Jeanne, I just got back from seeing "Iron Man". It...Jeanne, I just got back from seeing "Iron Man". It was GREAT!! And I thought I saw you in the Co-Cola line. *g* <BR/><BR/>You're right. I CAN analyze things, but it's not my first inclination. I managed to become a logical thinker for engineering, but it took concerted effort. Also, during those years, I read NOTHING for pleasure.<BR/><BR/>Man, was I ever glad when I graduated! *g*Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-54706407980507795152008-05-31T22:36:00.000-04:002008-05-31T22:36:00.000-04:00What Claudia said, Posh.And thank you ONCE again f...What Claudia said, Posh.<BR/><BR/>And thank you ONCE again for the kind words about my Romans. <BR/><BR/>I've read Kick Start. I LOVED it and believe me with talent like that there is no way it won't find a publishing home.<BR/><BR/>No guts, no glory..isn't that the saying? So join me in pulling in our guts (not an easy chore since I just HAD to have a Oreo Blizzard tonight) and let's write and submit!Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12566704374877697300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-9346498149110608792008-05-31T21:47:00.000-04:002008-05-31T21:47:00.000-04:00Hi, Caren! Great topic today. I wonder about thi...Hi, Caren! Great topic today. I wonder about this question myself all the time. I like dialogue personally--I hear it in my head before the narrative for sure, & yes, in early drafts people do ask what the heck these people are doing, where they are, what they look like, etc. because I haven't fleshed any of that out. But until I let them have their conversation, I don't know the answers myself. It all comes up in the conversation. So I try to achieve a balance in the final draft, but when push comes to shove, I always lean on dialogue to do the heavy lifting both in my writing & in my reading.Susan Seyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18033511012283092945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-31791766892277862672008-05-31T20:17:00.000-04:002008-05-31T20:17:00.000-04:00as a reader i want to some description of the char...as a reader i want to some description of the characters<BR/>that is inportant to the story.<BR/>but not to the point that the book<BR/>gets boring.ithink the description and dialogue needs to balance out.<BR/>i guess some time less is more.peggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02053510523804439809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-50127050518885125562008-05-31T19:28:00.000-04:002008-05-31T19:28:00.000-04:00Hmm... yes, I can see how work can put a crimp int...Hmm... yes, I can see how work can put a crimp into a lot of otherwise excellent plans ;) I'll be sure to let you know if we have plans in the future that involve Raleigh--watch out, world! :)Fedorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10879033776125666713noreply@blogger.com