tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post8750211099477495772..comments2024-03-27T18:06:04.484-04:00Comments on Murder by 4: Dialog vs. NarrativeMarta Stephenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126647102399666578noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-47072297373927700782011-03-01T14:21:44.391-05:002011-03-01T14:21:44.391-05:00Well said, Ron. One technique I use to see if whol...Well said, Ron. One technique I use to see if whole segments flow for dialogue and narrative is to read aloud to myself. My family may think I'"m nuts sometimes, but if I "stutter when I'm reading a passage, it's likely a reader will do the same. It's a great smoothing technique.<br /><br />It's also interesting that while I worked extra hard on starting out my first five novels with "grab 'em quick hooks" without too much narrative, and I did get some awards for these, that the most acclaim I'm getting so far is for the one book where I said, "to hell with all that," and I just let myself go. There is a bit of poetic description describing Sam Moore's morning in the first chapter of Healey's Cave, although the pace picks up fast and there is a mystery introduced in that chapter as well. But I thought I'd throw off the restrictions of all the "rules" I'd learned, and voila, an approach that got me an actual "literary" award seemed to appeal to the judges. <br /><br />It's so weird. But that's what's fun. Playing with the options, tossing them around, and even straying off course once in a while. It keeps us busy, and sometimes offers a surprise!Aaron Paul Lazarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-27481155499049040472011-03-01T14:14:57.889-05:002011-03-01T14:14:57.889-05:00Good one, Ron.
Balance between dialogue and narra...Good one, Ron.<br /><br />Balance between dialogue and narrative is terribly essential, but so is rhythm. That wonderful beat, the pulse of the sentence that only the right number of syllables can create. <br /><br />As much as I love dialogue, I too write my share of narration and to be honest, I probably work harder at the narration than the dialogue because it has to be tight.<br /><br />One problem I have with some writer’s narrative is that if not checked, it becomes too inflated, too heavy on description and like you said, it drags the story to a screeching halt. In stead of volume, use action words to make the narrative sing, and beats to get rid of unwanted tags.Marta Stephenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14126647102399666578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-16293205176259588392011-03-01T12:37:21.622-05:002011-03-01T12:37:21.622-05:00Ron:
Thanks for the great post! This addresses on...Ron:<br /><br />Thanks for the great post! This addresses one of my continual struggles. Getting that pacing right and avoiding that proverbial "middle sag" in my WIP.<br /><br />I think a healthy balance between dialogue and narrative goes a long way in keeping the reader/writer relationship alive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-50298914712156552622011-03-01T11:47:25.284-05:002011-03-01T11:47:25.284-05:00Thanks, William. I appreciate that very much. and ...Thanks, William. I appreciate that very much. and for what it's worth, I am enjoying the daylights out of your novel and will be reviewing it here shortly. Well done!Ron Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18044196718964566438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-57711345766562867432011-03-01T04:21:22.842-05:002011-03-01T04:21:22.842-05:00Exceedingly well-written article, if I may say. I ...Exceedingly well-written article, if I may say. I appreciate how you don't tell the writer what to do, but suggest what to avoid. And I agree that anchoring is so important. I lose patience if I have to keep track of who's speaking in a page and a half of straight dialogue!William Topekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16232651804806266234noreply@blogger.com