tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post6698367835840726031..comments2023-05-22T10:56:58.915+01:00Comments on Chloe Tells Tales: A Writer's Guide to Overwriting: Speech TwoChloehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183206722136871230noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-11539923891164672292012-10-10T17:36:51.106+01:002012-10-10T17:36:51.106+01:00I suspect it depends on the genre, in part. And th...I suspect it depends on the genre, in part. And the structure, of course. And the POV. And now I'v given myself a headache!DThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803989273524731892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-6230795463534418672012-10-09T19:54:39.786+01:002012-10-09T19:54:39.786+01:00I agree - with short dialogue it's impossible....I agree - with short dialogue it's impossible. I was thinking about something similar today though with my WIP. Being narrated by five different people, each chapter is given a name instead of a number (Rosemary, Ben etc. etc.) to show who's talking. I was wondering at what point in the novel would it be possible to stop naming chapters at all and the reader should know who's narrating within one sentence. Good test of characterisation!Chloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00183206722136871230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-62547274689487949272012-10-09T18:49:57.932+01:002012-10-09T18:49:57.932+01:00That's a great tip. I was once told that the r...That's a great tip. I was once told that the reader - and the author - ought to be able to tell who's speaking without it being signposted. I'm not sure that's possible, or even preferable all the time, with short and snappy dialogue.DThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803989273524731892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-69478439728136208912012-10-09T12:29:57.872+01:002012-10-09T12:29:57.872+01:00I used to think I found it really hard, but severa...I used to think I found it really hard, but several editors now have complimented me on it. So I think I find it a lot easier now, but still need to be a strict editor with myself!<br /><br />Reading out loud is a must for me. It also helps work out whether you need to add a tag to make it clear who's speaking.Chloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00183206722136871230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-79540272620743131832012-10-09T12:27:02.064+01:002012-10-09T12:27:02.064+01:00For me dialogue is the easiest thing to write. Not...For me dialogue is the easiest thing to write. Not that it's always good, but I don't usually have to think to hard about it.<br /><br />I like your exit/entrance rule. I'll have to do a check on that. The biggest thing for me is reading it out loud. It helps you find those little mistakes and the places where you should maybe add a pause.Suzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502606950280751205noreply@blogger.com