• Home
  • blog
  • Writing
  • Helpful Hints for Writers of Fiction
  • WHAT OTHER WRITERS HAVE TO SAY
  • AUDIO ESSAYS-STORIES-AND MORE
  • Photography
  • Rory and El Paso
  • Pierre and the Baker
  • About
  • Connect
Robert Stephen, writer, photographer, storyteller
  • Home
  • blog
  • Writing
  • Helpful Hints for Writers of Fiction
  • WHAT OTHER WRITERS HAVE TO SAY
  • AUDIO ESSAYS-STORIES-AND MORE
  • Photography
  • Rory and El Paso
  • Pierre and the Baker
  • About
  • Connect
Robert Stephen, writer, photographer, storyteller

THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF Writing
​a Fictional Book

"IT'S A LUXURY BEING A WRITER,
​ BECAUSE ALL YOU EVER THINK ABOUT IS LIFE."

​AMY TAN






                       THE PROCESS CONTINUES                         EVOLUTION-DIALOG

7/13/2016
To skilled writers, those who have published several books, they are aware of the importance of dialog in their stories. To myself, and hopefully a few other new writers, it is part of the ongoing process, or learning curve.

As I begin editing, re-writing, embellishing the next book, and eliminating various lines or sections of the book, I noticed how flat it was. It lacked the element of which we live every day. It lacked enough dialog to help move the story. It is easy to see, difficult to achieve.

I first finished the book a few months ago and put it down since My DIARY My LOVE required most of my attention. I am glad that it did, because when I went back to the second book I wanted to kick myself. It was a story that one would tell sitting around and having a casual conversation about nothing special. Why, because the characters lacked the ability to truly express themselves.  

What happens when one of your characters walks into Starbucks and stands in a line behind six other people? The line moves forward and after 20 minutes, because the author notes the clock on the wall, passes. He orders his or her latte and as he picks it up he accidentally bumps into someone and drops his drink, which explodes when it hits the floor.

Okay, a page maybe, two barely, three there would be far too many words and most of us would put the story down. However, now add dialog that the character has with the person standing in front of him. Another individual, in the same line, overhears the conversation and a serious or comical argument ensues.  

A normal event, getting coffee, possibly becomes a part of the book that readers find disturbing or hilarious or just plain enjoyable. I have already begun hearing from some of the few readers who have my first book and I am pleased with the comments about various events in the book that they found funny, which was my intent. It was very gratifying.

I have to credit some of my growth to YouTube. Why, because I listened to several well-known authors, giving several interviews, full of helpful information. I was never great at sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher, and maybe that's good or maybe it's not. Time will tell.

Regarding the ability to create dialog or improving dialog in a book, the most helpful information I have received personally has been listening to YouTube to Audio Books. For no other reason than to listen to the interactions of the characters and to mentally see how those characters come alive. I am not advocating for anyone to do this, I am just sharing my journey at becoming an author.

Thank you,

Robert Stephen
Picture
                                                                                       NO DIALOG

                                                                  DIALOG

Picture
Comments

    Author

    Robert Stephen.
    What makes a writer? What do you envision when you think about that question?

    Someone sitting by an open window looking out over the ocean, desert, mountains? Rainy day, foggy, sunny? 

    My definition of a writer of fiction. A person who drives himself or herself to the edge of insanity when writing a story to the best of their ability that you the reader find entertaining.

    I can honestly say my life has been interesting, far from boring.  Land baron, restaurateur, photographer, artisan, author. A life full of ups and downs. A life full of stories.

    Along the way I've met hundreds of people, some interesting, some not. Some dangerous, some beautiful, some kind, and some cruel. During my lifetime I've even had my heart run over a couple of times, but when all of it is said and done I wouldn't trade it in. 


    Writing has always been inside of me, but the siren never called to me. I wasn't ready until one day in October of 2015 when life said, "Start writing."

    Writing is a long journey, full of many perils, but don't be afraid it is an exciting adventure! 

    join my mailing list

    Archives

    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly