6
Sep
Inspiration – Assignment #2
I love writing dialogue. In fact, it’s probably one of the things I do best. But there are still days I want to pull my hair out because everything my characters are saying seems trite or stilted. (Helpful hint: When your own characters’ conversations make you yawn, you have a problem.)
So, when I get stuck, how do I get those creative juices flowing again?
I listen.
One of the best ways to figure out how to write dialogue is to pay attention to how people talk–not just what they’re talking about, but also how they’re saying it. When you’re chatting with your co-workers, pay attention to how their style of conversation is a reflection of their various personalities. If you’re sitting in a coffee shop, listen to conversations going on around you–especially if those present represent a segment of the population about which you are writing (spoiled suburban teens, high-powered executives, firefighters on a coffee break, etc.). The more often you do this, the better you’ll get at writing dialogue that reflects your characters’ personalities and circumstances.
If you’re uncomfortable eavesdropping in a coffee shop or dissecting everything your friends say, try watching a few really well-made movies with snappy dialogue and make notes as you’re watching. A few of my favorites for aural voyeurism:
1) Gosford Park
2) Jaws
3) Orange County
4) Serenity
5) Tombstone
6) The Godfather
7) Steel Magnolias
8 ) Henry V (or really any fabulous adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s plays)
9) Fargo
10) Pretty much anything by comedy legends, Monty Python.
I read.
This seems like it should be a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many writers don’t bother reading much. I don’t know how someone trying to perfect his/her craft can get a feel for dialogue that works (or doesn’t) without reading what other people have written. There are certain writers who are masters at incorporating believable, engaging, and necessary conversations in their works.
Also, keep in mind that not everyone carries on a conversation in the same way. Some people are very direct and stay on topic; others live in Tangent Land. Do you have fave author whose dialogue leaves you in stitches or who seems to be able to show you everything you need to know about a character simply by how he talks to those around him? Next time you read this fave of yours, pay attention to how she pulls it off–you just might learn something!
I write.
Again, this should be a big “Duh,” but you’d be surprised…
When I was in grad school I didn’t have much time to write anything particularly long and involved (such as a novel), so instead I tried writing what I called “snippets.” Essentially, these were just short vignettes that told a story using nothing but dialogue. And I mean nothing–no speech tags, no narration, no description. The point was to use only what the characters were saying to tell the reader absolutely everything s/he needed to know about the characters, the setting, the action taking place–and to do so in a way that seemed naturally-occurring in the course of the conversation.
It’s harder than it seems, but it’s a great way to hone your craft.
So, here’s your assignment:
Write your own snippet of 3-5 pages that tells your readers everything they want to know about characters, setting, and the conflict between them. Then give it to a few beta readers and ask them to describe what’s happening in the snippet. If you’ve done well, they won’t even notice that dialogue is all that’s on the page. And if they aren’t able to sort it all out, get some feedback to figure out why. Revise the snippet incorporating any feedback you find valuable and give it to them again until they “get it.”
Good luck and happy writing!
31
May
Inspiration – Assignment #1
Walk among the dead.
No, I’m not talking about hanging out with your local zombies. I’m talking about taking a stroll through a cemetery–preferably one that’s old and full of history.
As you walk, read the names on the tombstones, the dates that defined their lives, the inscriptions of hope and faith that their loved ones carved in stone. The minute one of them really grabs hold of your imagination, start writing.
Write anything. Jot down your impressions in a 15 minute free writing session, write a poem, start a character sketch for a short story, write a back-story for the person buried at your feet. Just go with whatever form your creativity takes at that very moment. You might be surprised at the result.
Several years ago, I did this exercise in a secluded, nearly forgotten cemetery in rural Southern Indiana. I walked for probably half an hour before one of the tombstones really caught my attention. It was small and simple, a tiny marker for the grave of a six-month-old girl who had lived and died in the late 1800s.
So, what about this particular tombstone inspired me? Two things. The first was that the little girl shared the same unusual first name as my sister. Second was the inscription on the headstone, which I found utterly heartbreaking.
It was such a visceral reaction, I grabbed my notebook and let my thoughts and feelings flow. In the end, I captured my intense emotional response in a poem narrated from the mother’s point of view.
The poem was published a few months later.
So, go ahead and give it a try. Walk among the dead for a little while and see what they have to say. You never know where your stroll through the past could eventually lead.
Happy writing!
4
Jan
Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of ads for workshops and webinars on building suspense and creating tension in a scene. I can certainly understand why this topic would be in such high demand–creating suspense isn’t easy! And although I’m still honing my skill in this area as well, I thought I’d share a couple of tricks I’ve learned that work pretty well for me.
Whenever I’m struggling with a suspense scene, I think back to the film class I took as an undergrad. In order to illustrate how a successful scene is more than just the action on screen, we had to watch several suspenseful scenes from such iconic films as Psycho, Jaws, and Friday the 13th, and then watch them again without the sound. And let me tell you, the infamous shower scene in Psycho isn’t nearly as chilling without the music and sound effects.
The same thing can be said about a written scene. The action itself might be flawlessly written, but if there’s nothing else to give it texture, it’s going to fall flat.
When I have a scene that just isn’t working for me, I refer back to the silent shower scene assignment and ask myself what’s missing in my own scene. Obviously, I can’t add a musical score to manipulate my readers’ responses, but I can describe the sound of the floorboards creaking behind the protagonist, the sudden chill that causes the hair on the back of her neck to rise, the heaviness in the air when she suddenly realizes she’s not alone, the bitter taste in her mouth as she tries to swallow her panic, the shadowy movement she sees out of the corner of her eye, the thundering of her pulse in her own ears.
Just like creating suspense on film, it’s all about incorporating the senses and capturing what your character sees, hears, smells, tastes. When this is done well, your readers are no longer just casual observers. Suddenly, they can relate to what your character is experiencing. Odds are good they’ve never crept through the dark, dank halls of a deserted insane asylum with something evil lurking deep within the shadows, but I guarantee they’ve been afraid and know how it feels. Remind them of that as they’re reading, and their hearts will start pounding just as hard and fast as your protagonist’s.
Now, all that being said, here’s an assignment for you (if you’re up to it):
1) Pick a particularly suspenseful scene from one of your favorite novels–just make sure it’s a book you own and not the library’s copy!
2) Underline, highlight, and scribble in the margins, marking all the words and phrases that elicit strong responses. (If you don’t want to mark up a book, jot everything down on a separate piece of paper. Your call.) Essentially, the point is to dissect the scene and get a good look at its guts.
3) When you’re satisfied that you’ve identified everything that got your blood pumping, read the scene again omitting everything you’ve marked. I guarantee you’ll feel the difference.
4) Now, take what you’ve learned and apply it to your own work. 
I hope you find this exercise useful! If any of you give it a try, let me know how it works out for you. And check back soon for another tip. In the meantime–happy writing!
19
Apr
My sister is expecting her first child in a few weeks and still hasn’t settled on a middle name. Debate over the perfect middle name has been waging for months between the expectant mama and papa — with those of us on the outside lobbying for our favorites. My sister has her preference, of course, but she has yet to find the name that really clicks for both her and her husband. Luckily, she still has a little time…
Just like with naming a baby, choosing a name for a character can make all the difference in how readers accept her as part of the reality you’ve created. I mean, really — can you imagine Scarlett O’Hara by any other name? Would she have become the iconic Southern belle we all hate to love if she’d been named something less flamboyant and dramatic? Okay, maybe — but she wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun!
Before I even begin to write a story, I spend a considerable amount of time coming up with the names of my characters. Typically, this process involves a lot of research on origins, meanings, pronunciations, and popularity at given points in history. I know, I know. I use the word research and people cringe, but the process of researching names doesn’t have to be onerous or boring — I promise!
Although there are oodles of books and websites that list the standard baby names and their meanings, don’t be afraid to shake things up and try an unusual source. Sometimes a character demands a name that’s a little out of the ordinary. In that spirit, here are just a few of my favorite resources for finding the perfect moniker when Tom and Jane just won’t do:
Irish Names from Ancient to Modern
www.namenerds.com/irish
I’m a total etymology nerd and will happily admit that I own a copy of the Oxford English Dictionary expressly for looking up word origins — for fun! Irish Names from Ancient to Modern is a perfect one for getting my nerd on. Incidentally, Moose’s real name appears on the list of Traditional Irish Names — I’ll let you guess which one it might be.
And the best part? Backtrack to the root website (www.namenerds.com) and you’ll find links to sister sites: Welsh Names from Mythic to Modern, Scottish First Names, and Unusual, Unique & Creative Names.
Name that Goth!
http://home.comcast.net/~jeniphir/babynames.html
If you’re looking for names that deviate from perennial favorites Jacob and Emma, give Name that Goth! a go. I actually stumbled upon this one when I was looking for a suitable name for an angel and immediately fell in love with the various lists grouped together by theme. Sadly, it doesn’t look like Penny Dreadful has updated the site in quite a while. Some of the links are broken, but the remaining categories still offer some fabulous choices.
How do I say…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/livinginwales/sites/howdoisay/names/index.shtml?a
This website is hosted by BBC Wales and is very handy if you have a character whose name should call to mind faeries and elves and dragons and… well, you get the picture. And, true to its title, you can click on the names to hear the actual Welsh pronunciation (trust me, you’ll need it).
These are just a few of my favorites, but I’m always looking for fun sources to try and will post updates as I come across new ones. If you have others you’d like to share, feel free! Who knows — perhaps my niece will benefit from your suggestions. 
