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damonp304 Β· 1 year ago
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Two Strikes And Dayna Abraham Still Wrote Calm The Chaos | SummitPressPublishers
🌟What happens when the agent with whom you have a relationship turns down your firsts proposal AND tells you your credibility is in question? If you're Dayna Abraham, you keep going. You write a new proposal that gets you a 6-figure book deal AND you write the book in less than 6 months. Because your mission and vision are bigger than self doubt. www.calmthechaosbook.com
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blogtey45 Β· 11 months ago
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5 Reasons to Create the Book Before the Course | SummitPressPublishers
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ranjith11 Β· 1 year ago
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Writers Need To Read | SummitPressPublishers
In this video, I will talks about writers should read because it helps writers to become better at their craft. Watch this short video, writers need to read, by the channel SummitPressPublishers, and get to know more about it.
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march10 Β· 2 years ago
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After publishing with Summit Press, what will happen next? When will you receive royalty payments, what kind of additional support will you get? Watch this video, what to expect now by SummitPressPublishers, and get to know more about it.
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thewriteadviceforwriters Β· 4 months ago
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Master Dialogue Writing Techniques for Engaging Fiction (For Writers)
(Beware, long post!)
As fiction writers, we all know that effective dialogue is essential for bringing our stories and characters to life. After all, the way our protagonists, antagonists, and supporting players speak to one another is one of the primary ways readers get to know them on a deep, intimate level. Dialogue reveals personality, uncovers motivation, and propels the narrative forward in a way that felt narration simply can't match.
But nailing natural, compelling dialogue is easier said than done. It's a craft that takes serious skill to master, requiring writers to have a keen ear for authentic speech patterns, a nimble handle on subtext and implication, and the ability to strike that delicate balance between being true to real-world conversation while also keeping things snappy, dynamic, and laser-focused on the story at hand.
If you're someone who struggles with crafting dialogue that truly sings, never fear. In this in-depth guide, I'm going to dive deep into the techniques and best practices that will help you elevate your dialogue writing to new heights. By the end, you'll have a toolbox full of strategies to ensure that every exchange between your characters is as gripping, revealing, and unforgettable as possible.
The Fundamentals of Effective Dialogue
Before we get into the more advanced nuances of dialogue writing, let's start by covering some of the foundational principles that all great fictional conversations are built upon:
Reveal Character One of the primary functions of dialogue is to give readers a window into who your characters are as people. The way they speak β€” their word choices, their tone, their body language, their turns of phrase β€” should provide vivid insight into their personalities, backgrounds, values, quirks, and emotional states.
Think about how much you can glean about someone just from how they communicate in real life. Do they use a lot of slang and shorthand? Are they verbose and flowery with their language? Do they struggle to make eye contact or fail to respond directly to questions? All of these subtle linguistic cues are powerful tools for crafting multi-dimensional characters.
Drive the Plot Forward While revelations about character are crucial, you also want to ensure that your dialogue is constantly pushing the story itself forward. Each exchange should feel purposeful, moving the narrative along by introducing new information, triggering plot points, creating conflict, or prompting characters to make pivotal decisions.
Dialogue that feels aimless or extraneous will ultimately bore readers and detract from the forward momentum of your story. Every line should have a clear intent or function, whether it's uncovering a hidden truth, setting up a future complication, or escalating the tension in a high-stakes moment.
Establish Distinct Voices In a story featuring multiple characters, it's crucial that each person has a clearly defined and differentiated way of speaking. Readers should be able to tell who's talking just from the rhythm, diction, and personality of the dialogue, without any additional context clues.
This doesn't mean every character has to have an over-the-top, hyper-stylized way of communicating. In fact, the most effective character voices often feel grounded and natural. But there should still be distinct markers β€” whether it's word choice, sentence structure, tone, or speech patterns β€” that make each person's voice instantly recognizable.
Convey Subtext While the literal words being spoken are important, great dialogue also traffics heavily in subtext β€” the unspoken emotional undercurrents, power dynamics, and hidden agendas that simmer beneath the surface of a conversation.
The most compelling exchanges happen when characters are communicating on multiple levels simultaneously. Perhaps they're saying one thing out loud while their body language and tone convey a completely different sentiment. Or maybe they're engaged in a subtle war of wits, trading verbal jabs that reveal deeper wells of resentment, attraction, or vulnerability.
Mastering the art of subtext is key to creating dialogue that feels layered, lifelike, and imbued with dramatic tension.
Strategies for Writing Snappy, Realistic Dialogue
Now that we've covered the foundational principles, let's dive into some specific techniques and best practices that will take your dialogue writing to the next level:
Omit Unnecessary Details One of the biggest mistakes many writers make with dialogue is bogging it down with too much extraneous information. In real life, people rarely speak in perfectly composed, grammatically correct full sentences. We stumble over our words, interrupt each other, trail off mid-thought, and pack our speech with filler words like "um," "uh," and "you know."
While you don't want to go overboard with mimicking that messiness, you should aim to strip your dialogue of any overly formal or expository language. Stick to the essentials β€” the core thoughts, feelings, and information being exchanged β€” and let the subtext and character voices do the heavy lifting. Your readers will fill in the gaps and appreciate the authenticity.
Master the Art of Subtext As mentioned earlier, crafting dialogue that's rich in subtext is one of the keys to making it feel gripping and lifelike. Think about how much is often left unsaid in real-world conversations, with people dancing around sensitive topics, conveying hidden agendas, or engaging in subtle power struggles.
To layer that sense of unspoken tension into your own dialogue, consider techniques like:
β€’ Having characters contradict themselves or say one thing while their body language says another
β€’ Utilizing loaded pauses, interruptions, and moments of uncomfortable silence
β€’ Injecting subtle sarcasm, skepticism, or implication into a character's word choices
β€’ Allowing characters to talk past each other, missing the unspoken point of what the other person is really saying
The more you can imbue your dialogue with that layered, emotionally-charged subtext, the more it will resonate with readers on a deeper level.
Establish Distinct Voices As mentioned earlier, ensuring that each of your characters has a clearly defined and differentiated speaking voice is crucial for great dialogue. But how exactly do you go about accomplishing that?
One effective strategy is to give each person a unique set of verbal tics, idioms, or speech patterns. Maybe one character is prone to long-winded, flowery metaphors, while another speaks in clipped, efficiency-minded sentences. Perhaps your protagonist has a habit of ending statements with questioning upticks, while the sarcastic best friend always punctuates their barbs with an eye roll.
You can also play with differences in diction, syntax, and even accent/dialect to further distinguish how your characters communicate. The key is to really get to know the unique personality, background, and psychology of each person β€” then let those elements shine through in how they express themselves.
Lean Into Conflict and Confrontation When it comes to crafting gripping dialogue, conflict is your friend. The most compelling exchanges often arise from characters butting heads, engaging in verbal sparring matches, or working through deep-seated tensions and disagreements.
Conflict allows you to showcase the high stakes, unresolved needs, and deeper emotional currents that are driving your characters. It forces them to make bold choices, reveals aspects of their personalities that might not otherwise surface, and generates the kind of dramatic tension that will really hook your readers.
Of course, you'll want to avoid making every single dialogue scene a full-blown argument. But learning to sprinkle in well-placed moments of friction, confrontation, and clashing agendas is a surefire way to elevate the energy and impact of your character interactions.
Read Your Dialogue Out Loud One of the most valuable tricks for ensuring your dialogue sounds natural and lifelike is to read it aloud as you're writing. Hearing the words out loud will quickly expose any clunky phrasing, overly formal grammar, or inauthentic rhythms that would otherwise go unnoticed on the page.
Pay close attention to how the dialogue rolls off your tongue. Does it have a smooth, conversational flow? Or does it feel stilted and unnatural? Are your characters' unique voices shining through clearly? Are there any spots where the back-and-forth starts to drag or feel repetitive?
Actively listening to your dialogue β€” and making adjustments based on how it sounds in the real world β€” is an essential part of the writing process. It's one of the best ways to refine and polish those character interactions until they feel truly alive.
Hopefully, this can help you all!
The key is to always keep your focus on authenticity. Ask yourself: how would real people actually speak?
Hey fellow writers! I'm super excited to share that I've just launched a Tumblr community. I'm inviting all of you to join my community. All you have to do is fill out this Google form, and I'll personally send you an invitation to join the Write Right Society on Tumblr! Can't wait to see your posts!
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fitsofgloom Β· 2 months ago
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You'll Never Lose Your Novelty
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poorly-drawn-mdzs Β· 11 months ago
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Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girl found dead in a hidden room.
[First]Β PrevΒ <–->Β Next
#poorly drawn mdzs#mdzs#lan xichen#jin guangyao#jiang cheng#wei wuxian#qin su#EDIT: Tumblr published an earlier draft with only half the notes I wrote so: late entry on my JGY thoughts.#Unlike the mystic powers of the stockmarket (what the OG meme is referring to) I think this situation calls for more active investigation.#qin su is such a deeply tragic character to me and I really wish we got a bit more from her.#Love everyone who sent me messages about her after the last time she appeared.#I think she needs a spin off of her being a transmigrator SO badly.#MDZS has so many interesting characters - but it sometimes fails to give them the proper room to really develop past a role in the plot.#That's just the consequence of writing a story like MDZS. Not every character in a book *needs* to have a rich inner life and backstory!#To do so would bog down the story and obliterate any notion of pacing. It's just not possible.#Jin Guangyao (nee Meng Yao) is unfortunately not free from this leeway rule. He is the culprit of this murder mystery plot#and thus NEEDS to encapsulate the themes of the book. And personally he's a 7 out of 10 at best on this front (in the AD).#MDZS is about rumours twisting reality and working towards truth. And about how people & situations are rarely ever black & white#JGY has his motivations. He's well written in regards to his actions making sense for his character.#What started as good traits (drive to succeed & improve his image) became twisted over time (do anything to maintain his image)#and it's a good parallel to WWX! He has the same arc (with different traits)! Bonus points for IGY in that regard.#but man....by the time we confront this guy for murder there's not a lot of grey morality. He's just...deep in the hole *he* dug.#There's a beautiful tragedy to it! More on JGY in later comics - this is getting pretty long already!
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clonerightsagenda Β· 6 months ago
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I've started noticing content warnings start popping up more frequently in the front of published books, and I'm curious as to people's thoughts on that. So, poll time!
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damonp304 Β· 1 year ago
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What To Expect Now | SummitPressPublishers
🌟After publishing with Summit Press, what will happen next? When will you receive royalty payments, what kind of additional support will you get? Watch this video, what to expect now by SummitPressPublishers, and get to know more about it.
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blogtey45 Β· 11 months ago
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5 Reasons to Create the Book Before the Course | Summit Press Publishers
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ranjith11 Β· 1 year ago
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What To Expect Now | SummitPressPublishers
After publishing with Summit Press, what will happen next? When will you receive royalty payments, what kind of additional support will you get? Watch this video, what to expect now by SummitPressPublishers, and get to know more about it.
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gennyrthewriter Β· 13 days ago
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After TWO YEARS, the sequel to The Backwater is finally out!
Check out These Other Coasts on Amazon!
(Or, as always, hit me up for a PDF. It's MY book I'll distribute it how I WANT!)
If you like colonial-era inspired low-ish fantasy with political intrigue, moral ambiguity, and a whole cast of queer characters, give it a chance!
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thewriteadviceforwriters Β· 2 months ago
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πŸ•―οΈ Shadows & Symbolism: The Gothic Writer's Grimoire πŸ¦‡
Hello writers! I hope you're all doing well. Autumn is my favorite time of year, and I'm sure many of you love it too. With Halloween just around the corner, I thought it would be nice to start getting into the spirit a bit early. For those of you working on a gothic or fiction book, I wanted to share some themes and symbols to help bring that spooky, gothic, and dark vibe to your writing. πŸ¦‡
.˚⊹.πŸŽƒβ‚ŠΛšπ–¦Ήβ‹†.˚⊹.πŸŽƒβ‚ŠΛšπ–¦Ήβ‹†.˚⊹.πŸŽƒβ‚ŠΛšπ–¦Ήβ‹†.˚⊹.πŸŽƒβ‚ŠΛšπ–¦Ήβ‹†.˚⊹.πŸŽƒβ‚ŠΛš.˚⊹.πŸŽƒβ‚ŠΛšπ–¦Ήβ‹†
πŸ•ΈοΈThemes and Symbols for Gothic & Horror StoriesπŸ•―οΈ
πŸŒ™ The Moon 🌚
Symbol of mystery, the unknown, and the supernatural
Represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth
Can signify madness, hysteria, and the primal forces of nature
πŸ•·οΈ Spiders & Webs πŸ•ΈοΈ
Symbolize entrapment, deception, and the unseen
Represent the intricate, tangled nature of evil and darkness
Can foreshadow impending doom or the unraveling of secrets
πŸ’€ Skulls & Bones πŸ’€
Signify mortality, the fragility of life, and the inevitability of death
Evoke a sense of the macabre, the morbid, and the occult
Can represent the lingering presence of the dead or the afterlife
πŸ–€ Darkness & Shadows πŸŒ‘
Symbolize the unknown, the subconscious, and the mysterious
Represent the hidden, sinister forces that lurk in the corners
Can signify a descent into madness or the loss of control
πŸ¦‡ Bats & Ravens πŸ¦‡
Portend ominous events, death, and misfortune
Symbolize the supernatural, the occult, and the Gothic
Can represent messengers from the underworld or harbingers of doom
πŸ•―οΈ Candles & Flames πŸ•―οΈ
Signify the fragility of life and the ever-present threat of extinguishment
Represent the struggle between light and dark, good and evil
Can symbolize the human soul, spirituality, and the afterlife
🧠 The Mind & Madness 🧠
Explore the depths of the psyche and the fragility of sanity
Represent the battle between reason and the irrational
Signify the descent into obsession, delusion, and the unknown
🏰 Crumbling Mansions & Castles 🏰
Symbolize the decay of the old order and the erosion of power
Represent the weight of the past and the burden of history
Can signify the collapse of the elite and the rise of the macabre
Use these evocative themes and symbols to craft your next Gothic or horror masterpiece and chill your readers to the bone! πŸ’€ Let me know if want more post related to everything spooky!
.˚⊹.πŸŽƒβ‚ŠΛšπ–¦Ήβ‹†.˚⊹.πŸŽƒβ‚ŠΛšπ–¦Ήβ‹†.˚⊹.πŸŽƒβ‚ŠΛšπ–¦Ήβ‹†.˚⊹.πŸŽƒβ‚ŠΛšπ–¦Ήβ‹†.˚⊹.πŸŽƒβ‚ŠΛš.˚⊹.πŸŽƒβ‚ŠΛšπ–¦Ήβ‹†
Happy Writing! - Rin T. πŸπŸŽƒπŸ‚
Before you go, why not join us at The Write Right Society? We're a supportive Tumblr community where writers lift each other up. Whether you're a newbie or a pro, we'd love to have you! Share your work, get feedback, and connect with fellow wordsmiths, writers and aspiring authors.Β 
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dromaeo-sauridae Β· 29 days ago
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i think im getting artblocked again (in the middle of a big project too, awesome) have a pegasus
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kingroan Β· 1 month ago
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not to ramble about iwtv but i think a lot of people who balk at the unsavory parts of gothic fiction are people who have either 1) never truly had to face an onslaught of the macabre in their own life 2) have not actually sat with the discomfort of the darker parts of existence or simply not learned or had to learn how to process truly twisted emotions within themselves. and i bring this up in relation to iwtv because i see a lot of people pointing out 'problematic' parts of the book or bemoaning which ships are more or less toxic. and it's like it's a cow farm there's gonna be cows on the cow farm.
yeah anne rice wrote some weird shit and some of it is definitely unnecessary, most of those elements were corrected in the show. but a lot of it is just gothic fiction. you don't get to have sexy vampires, romanticism and tortured yearning without the inappropriate attachments, the true face of grief and the blurred lines between violence and eroticism which has evoked great interest in humans for centuries.
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that-butch-archivist Β· 6 months ago
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"The New York Femmes, 1991" by Morgan Gwenwald
source: The Persistent Desire: A Femme-Butch Reader, edited by Joan Nestle
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