Dialogue, Narrative and Setting Descriptions
This leads to my dilemma. I’ve had crit partners who have said, “Oh, I want to read more of the town and the people.” Then, I’ve had, “Your dialogue is fun. Can’t there be more?” Then, “Too much food and wine. I don't need to know the particular street in Rome. I step out of the story.”
I have spent a lot of time thinking through the balance, worrying about how to have it all- snappy dialogue, action that moves the story, and also not create a travelogue.
Has this happened to you? What are the processes you go through to have it work for your story? Each of us has writing unique styles, but I think this challenge is there in most works of fiction.
5 comments:
It all oomes down to plot and characters, so I focus on talking heads initially. Just spit out the dialogue and action, then go back and layer in the setting details, metaphors, descriptions to add richness. But for me if I focus on the layers first, then the pace slows and the dialogue and characters get lost. And as much as we love our settings, the story must come first. the rest is all gravy :-))
Good points, Kari. I think I tend to try and do it all at once. Maybe that adds to my confusion, hence my readers comments. I am working on a new story and am at the point where I easily try your approach.
Ooh, Cassy, you've made me so hungry for spaghetti and meatballs!!
I hear you about blending in descriptive narrative with dialogue. I have always said dialogue is my strongest suit while I suck at descriptive narrative. My hero is Clive Cussler who writes underwater spy stories. Ugg, you say. On the contrary, the man does most of his descriptions and explanations in snappy dialogue. By the time I'm through with his book, I have had a marine biology lesson and didn't even realize it. Matter of fact, in my RS, I even used some of his contraptions to save my heroine.
So, I agree you have to be careful. We spend a lot of time researching and we all want everyone as excited about what we learned as we are. But too much sounds like a history lesson.
Great post, Cassy. I'm getting ready to start editing, and I will be checking to see if my narrative and dialogue are balanced.
Sounds like a chianti would work with the mushrooms.
I agree with you Kari about layering in. This way I can spend the time on the details and not lose the forward momentum of the story.
Good luck with the editing, Liz. Lindsay, thanks for stopping by. I'm already thinking about how my layering will work with my story.
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