Writers Block has a Purpose...

Hello, HI...

Ok, I'm a little excited at the moment, I haven't posted for a while, simply because I had got to a part in the writing process where I couldn't go any further without taking time out to refine the story I was telling.

I had to look back at the original story I set out to tell, and look at the story I was telling with what I had written so far, there was a great difference, with the introduction of a few key players, came a desire to know more about these characters, who they are?, where do they come from? and ultimately, where are they going?

Much time was needed to figure or map out the story again, how much of a major part shall these characters play, truth be told, the character's are Rebecca's (the main hummingbird) best friends, and have always been apart of the story, but now their lives past, present and future has become apart of the story too.

After much thinking and planning I was in Charles Dickens mode with my James Bond game face on, working out the story was tough, what to include, what to leave out, my imagination was doing over time, but then BANG!... the break-through, that moment, before the dust falls, settling, and there is a brief moment of clarity, the story outline was complete, but still more work was needed.

I had to make sure that the characters were convincing, hummm, Dialogue, this is what seals a character, the moment they open their mouth, you either fall in love with them, or don't, bad dialogue is a terrible terrible thing, a character builds up a reader, the way they are described to their actions and movement and expressions, body language, but it is sealed once the trap door is opened.

So I read over some of my dialogue in parts and was not best pleased, In my opinion ( I didn't seek a second lol) I had killed my characters with the dead dialogue I had written as they interacted with each other.

Dead dialogue is chunks of dialogue, not always long, or lengthy in words, just dialogue without emotion, no details of actions, movement or body language, it's very rare, if not impossible to see two or more people standing dead still just moving their lips when interacting with one another, just look out of the bus window if in doubt.

so after readjusting my story, I came across the 'dialogue problem' and wasn't sure how to fix it, I had not much practise of writing novels, let alone dialogue, but I had read a fantastic book with great dialogue 'The Hot Kid - Elmore Leonard' and I came across an interview where he [Elmore Leonard] mentioned something about dialogue when being questioned...*light bulb effect* *hello!* that was it I was off on one!

Elmore Leonard Interview part1

Off to find out as much as I could as quickly as I could about dialogue, with writers block again in my rear view mirror, I was off, Thelma and Louise style!

I found out a lot about the same thing with dialogue, 'less is more' and 'simple but effected' is a code to follow if you want to sweet talk your readers ;)

well enough talk about sweet talking I guess, I'm gonna give u a preview of the dialogue I have written that has me all shook up with excitement.

Crystal dawned in a wholesome chocolate brown outfit, that hugs her figure and shows off her curves, but in a tasteful way, topped off with a brown and gold coach hand bag and matching brown and gold coach patchwork ballet flats, with bow tied laces, she is cute and knows it, but never plays on it, crystal purity by name and nature it seems, she turns to Rebecca and reaches out squeezing her hand in excitement, “how are things with you and Richard bec’s?” “Yeah bec’s, Anniversary soon, nearly a year now isn’t?” Italy chimes smiling while dying to hear that things are good with the newly weds, Rebecca, not so excited, sends a soft message to the girlies exporting excitement across the table in her direction, she responds with levels of silence, like a brief pause, sipping her tea, preparing to get into story mode,”Crumbs, surely not that bad bec’s, -are they?” Michelle wonders as she joins the girlie's eagerly awaiting Rebecca’s answer, she puts her cup of tea down and crosses her fingers as every good story teller does, “things are alright” breaking her fingers apart, she takes another sip of her tea, as do the ladies, knowing there is more to come, “Go On” Italy says, egging Rebecca to tell more, as Michelle shoots Italy a look that reads “Just Wait” Michelle turns to Rebecca, “take your time love, we ain’t going now where” “Well, it’s just that since his mother passed away, God bless her soul…” “Indeed” Italy says agreeing; Michelle shoots her another look, this one reading “be quiet” this time Italy demonstrates a finger movement around her lips as if she is buttoning it, “go on Bec’s” Crystal says, “well, he’s changed, that’s all, I’m not quite sure why, but he has” Michelle listening, tilts her head towards Rebecca and takes a firmer tone, “he hasn’t hit you has he Bec’s?”

This is just a preview of the draft version, but it is a whole sight better than what was there before, I feel reading this back that these characters are alive, they are real, u know? I feel like I have cracked it, and even though it may not seen like a milestone to me it is, now I can progress with added time spent applying what I have learned and practising writing, my dialogue will only get better, sharper, and my characters more convincing, once they open their mouths, 'SOLD!' to the highest reader/s lol.

be back soon

much love