  Short Stories
This week: Always Improving Edited by: Legerdemain  
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The purpose of this newsletter is to help the Writing.com short story author hone their craft and improve their skills. Along with that I would like to inform, advocate, and create new, fresh ideas for the short story author. Write to me if you have an idea you would like presented.
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Always Improving
I was working on a scene in my writing this week and felt some of my dialog really needed a pep talk, while searching around for advice, I came across an article titled "10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Dialogue" by Ali Luke after advice from Lorna Fergusson. (I'll link it at the end of the newsletter.) I thought the ten ways were great advice and wanted to pass them on to you in copied paraphrase, please read the article for more detail:
#1: Watch Your Dialogue Tags - Normally, the word “said” will do just fine.
#2: Ground Your Dialogue in a Scene - Every conversation that takes place needs to be somewhere.
#3: Use Dialect and Accents with Caution - If you have a Scottish character, they don’t need to sound like a Burns poem. (I  'd.)
#4: Don’t Let One Person Speak for Too Long - If your characters have long blocks of speech, break those up.
#5: Realistic Doesn’t Mean Real - Dialogue is supposed to give an impression of real speech; it’s not supposed to be a transcript of how we really talk.
#6: Give Your Characters Distinct Speech Patterns - One good trick is to take just the lines of dialogue in your short story or novel – cut out the action and dialogue tags – and see whether you can work out who said what.
#7: Don’t Put Exposition in the Dialogue - Avoid having characters tell one another things that they logically should already know.
#8: Use Silence as Well as Words - Sometimes, what’s not said is more powerful than what is said.
#9: Get in Late, Leave Early - You don’t have to begin the conversation at the first word and end at the last.
#10: Punctuate Your Dialogue Correctly - You want your story or novel to be as professional as possible.
We all hear these things from time to time, it's great advice. It's up to you if you want to take the time and really dig into your work and edit it to a professional level. I think you always owe it to your readers to give them the best you can create. Whether you're just starting out or have many works published, giving your reader the best you can shows you care, and that's one more step toward connecting with them and have them as loyal readers. Write and edit on!
This month's question: What advice from above do you need to work on? What's your weakness?
Please visit this article for the full reading: http://writetodone.com/10-easy-ways-to-improve-your-dialogue/
Lorna Fergusson's website is here: http://www.fictionfire.co.uk/index.htm
I'm not promoting or profiting from them, just thought it fair to share what I learned.
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Excerpt: My husband, Chet, slipped his hand around my waist so he could share in the view, and whispered, “Do not get your hopes up, Alyce. They are not always as welcoming as they seem.” I didn’t answer, I knew his words to be true.
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Excerpt: "If you're not here when I get home, I'm going to accuse you of having an affair." Calvin pressed his lips on Mia's forehead then headed for the door.
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Excerpt: “You ever wonder how Pavlov’s dog felt?” he said, twisting his cane. “Growing to expect the food, and then being given only that stupid bell? You ever think maybe the dog felt betrayed, maybe humiliated?”
Excerpt: She walked back to her bedroom. All her supplies were in her suitcase. She'd taken a three day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico to recharge her creative batteries. Such vibrant landscapes! Such lush wineries! The paintings she'd done would fetch the next six months rent.
Flipping the latches, something felt 'off.' She opened the case and gasped, horrified. Where were her canvases? Her paints? Her brushes? She couldn't blink. She clutched her chest. Sweat beaded on her brow. Curse the water nymphs!
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Excerpt: A world of tacky neon lights and midlife crisis sports cars disappeared as the oak door closed behind him then stood guard. Inside, he savored the faint smell of moss, stone, and skin. It was perfume. It was olfactory ambrosia, and the sight of his beloved row of prized rooms under the curve of wine cellar ceilings was an aphrodisiac for his eyes.
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Excerpt: Snow crunched beneath his feet and blood leaked out of his wound and down his fingers to drip scarlet on the pristine snow. Madara growled softly and clutched his wounded side tighter. He was covered in bleeding wounds, but the one on his side was the worse. “I don't see why you won't let me heal it,” Hashirama said. He was standing a few feet before him, long hair dancing lazily in the frigid mountain wind.
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Excerpt: “Halfway to home,” replied Jess. The phrase had become routine during missions, and Jess knew the statement was Chaz's way of encouraging him to keep going. There was a time when Jess would've easily given up. He used to be a very shy ant whose body was weaker than the other workers in the colony. But when Queen assigned Chaz to be his mentor, Jess slowly gained confidence by watching and learning from his new friend.
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This month's question: What advice from above do you need to work on? What's your weakness?
Last month's question: How do you like to begin your stories?
A*Monaing*Faith  tells us: I like to start with action and a lot of interesting questions. Why is she there? Who are they running from? What is the big deal?! Love it...keeps you wanting more.
The hook is so important! L~
Nwriter  advises: Get a head start by shocking, frightening, intriguing, amusing-or hitting them over the head! See that your hook elicits some kind of an emotional response.
Shanachie sends: Generally speaking I begin my stories with dialogue or action. Once in a while (depending on the type of story), I'll begin with a narrative. But I like to jump right into it. I can always go back and add the narrative later when I've hooked the reader.
brom21 asks: What you said was brief but quite helpful. It is also very important. The last thing that we as writers want to do is bore the reader. I’ve found that things that would stick out in real life, such as an eight foot tall man or a person riddled with piercings and tattoos, will make the reader curious. I have a question too; is it a good idea to hook the reader with description of something really breathtaking and beautiful?-perhaps something like an immense castle or a shining diamond? Thanks for the newsletter!
Okay to start that way, but not pages and pages of description. L~
Howler of the Moon wrote: I usually begin my stories with an action that a character is performing or a piece of dialogue.
Quick-Quill  says: I have to admit my biggest problem and argument is that first line. I will not put down a book based on the first line,paragraph or page. I will give the author the benefit to at least hook me by the first chapter. I pick up a book based on what I read on the back. The first chapter better keep me hooked. I just finished a book with a great first line and blurb. All through the book was the line He isn't who you think he is I wanted a mystery. What a got was an alcoholic's tale that disappointed me at the end. I kept waiting for something momentous and it never happened.
I read the summary too! I'm glad you give the story some time.  I'm not that patient. L~
BIG BAD WOLF is hopping  informs: It all depends on the situation. Plunking the character into what seems to be a near-death situation, like finding themselves in deep water, is a good start.
blunderbuss queries: Thank you so much for highlighting my Flash Fiction story, which has already received reviews. I have a question - Is it wrong (unwise) to begin the hook with dialogue? I have been advised against this - but it is proving irresistible at the moment!
Pages and pages of dialog without meeting the characters makes it difficult for your readers to connect with them. L~
QueenOwl ~ A New Day Dawns sends thanks: Right on. I wholeheartedly agree. It's difficult to keep the reader's interest. When there's no hook right at the start.
Zeke admits: I like to start my stories with an event that could cause a problem.
kevint sent: Needed this reminder and great advice, thank you.
Thank you, and everyone who reads and responds to my newsletter. It's an editors reward to know our issues have readers! L~ |
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Short Stories: July 30, 2014 Issue [#6458]
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