Ask SD Tracy Harper #24

Ask SD Tracy Harper #24
All questions are anonymous. If you know who is asking the question and wish to leave a comment, please respect their rights to remain anonymous.

Q:  SD, I was told by a friend of mine that when two characters come together that the first one to say the first word leads the conversation. Is that true?

A:  No. The character who leads the conversation is the one you want to lead the conversation. The only rule of thumb in writing dialog is that it moves the story along, adds to the emotion you wish the reader to experience, and showcase your characters as different individuals with two different points of view. Oh, and one last thing. At the end of the conversation, please have a conclusion why they were talking to one another in the first place. I’ve read conversations that had no reason to even get started, let along take away the feeling that the last ten or fifteen minutes wasn’t a waste of time. Make your conversations have meaning no matter who lights the fuse and make your character’s conversation interesting enough that the reader is a happy eavesdropper. I hope this helps. SD

Q:  SD, what is the best way of describing surroundings?

A:  I would say by using three of your major senses. Imagine you have the scene you are writing before you. Now close your eyes and try to hear what should be present. Next place your hands over your ears and look around from your left to right and picture the shapes, colors, and distance of everything. And lastly, shut off your sight and hearing so you can appreciate the smells. You will be surprise how many special personal memories are tied to smell. It could be the smell of a pot of coffee percolating in the morning, or that glass of wine at night. How did you feel when the smell of the first glass of eggnog, cinnamon tea, or hot chocolate for the holidays is handed to you? Let’s not forget the turkey, dressing, and hot pie, or gingerbread cakes and cookies filled every corner where you live. I just made myself hungry. I hope this helps. SD

Q:  SD, I’ve recently been told that I’ve been repeating myself with situations and characters. What can I do to change this?

A: I don’t know an easier way to say this, so I will just say it unfiltered. STOP DOING IT! I hope this helps. To give you other advice is to change who you are. What I see in your full question is that there are characters and situations that you have near and dear to your heart. These moments and characters have yet to have a clear conclusion. This would be a reason why you keep bringing them up and history repeating itself. Sit down, list each character and all their traits you could possibly think they have and should have, and lastly write the situation in three acts. The opening act is the dream, the second act is the dream itself, and the third act of the final emotion of that dream. Once that dream is over, wake up and look to dream again. One of the reasons why you are repeating is that you have much more to say, or you believe you have more to say. The question that needs to be answered is quite clear, is there more to say or is there nothing left to say or are you just trying to cover up that you have writers’ block. If you are writing the same thing over and over again, it’s a good possibility that you do. Look at some of my earlier articles (Shameless Plug) and go visit other writers help blogs and website to find more tools to help you through this dry spell. Although, your problem isn’t as bad as it might seem for now, but you should be active in getting through it. A dream is still a dream until it is the only dream you dream because soon that dream will become a nightmare. I hope this helps. SD

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