Writing styles

[bosshen]

I'm not a writer. This is something I'm curious about as a reader. A writing style I've never encountered before reading here is using only dialog to tell the story. I would have thought this was a very difficult way to write; changing scenes, time-line and action without using any descriptions or explanations.

So, are these very innovative and adventurous writers? Or have I just missed this style before?

[papaof2]

Perhaps we're a bit odd or perhaps we're on the cutting edge ;-)

As the author of "Accidental Family" I can only speak for myself. When I was writing the first chapter, having it start with a conversation was easy because most of the conversations were already in my head.

As kids are rarely silent for long, conversation seemed a good way to continue.

Conversations are also useful for including information that isn't obviously relevant to the current conversation - we all include apparently unrelated bits when we talk because our minds make connections based on what we're saying, what the other person is saying, what we see, etc. Those connections are important to us in some manner, so we interject those items. Example: someone mentions that a vacant lot needs clearing because of the hazardous rusting fence around it. "Rust" and "fence" remind you of the dog you had as a child because his name was "Rusty" and he could escape any fence, so you start on a tale of one of his escapes. It has nothing to do with the *vacant lot* the other person was talking about, yet it has everything to do with *what he said*.

I did have to go back and read the chapters 'cold' (more than a week after writing) to ensure that the speakers were identified. I *knew* who was saying what, but the reader might not ;-) In that sense, this style is perhaps more difficult than having a narrator to set the place and conditions and having all dialog associated directly with the speaker.

Which of these is "better"?
---
It was quiet at the house, but the glow of the forest fire lit the night sky.
"Time to go", said Joe.
Bob replied,"I'm with you."
---
"Bob, the sky to the north is now orange. Time to leave the house."
"That stand of pines is a natural torch. I'm right behind you, Joe."
--

"Accidental Family" is the first PAW fiction I've written and the first story I've ever completed.


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[headlesshorseman]

Apr 22, 2015 19:46:49 GMT -6 bosshen said:

I'm not a writer. This is something I'm curious about as a reader. A writing style I've never encountered before reading here is using only dialog to tell the story. I would have thought this was a very difficult way to write; changing scenes, time-line and action without using any descriptions or explanations.

So, are these very innovative and adventurous writers? Or have I just missed this style before?

    I write in that style because when I try to write in the "Narrative" style it comes out reading like a technical publication. Very dry reading. (I am a retired chemist). I guess I have just written too many reports.

    I don't build an outline and then write the story to fit it. I do build one as I write in order to avoid the wrong kid calling the wrong woman Mama, and such.

   It reads more like a screen play than a book. Converting the text to voice in MP3 makes them easier to follow. Place yourself in the mind of a cop listening in on a group of wired citizens. I started doing this as a proofreading tool. My eyes sometimes see what they expect instead of what got typed. My ears can catch things that my eyes miss. When I am writing i seldom know what will happen next. I wrote SLOW BOAT first. and then wrote NOMADS. My wife pointed out that there was room for a short story to fill in the four hundred year gap. It turn into THE BIG DRY.
      I apologize for the fact that it is sometimes hard to follow, but it is the only way I can get my thoughts on paper or on screen.
     
                                                        NOMADS
                                                        contact

(“Another group Pop! I made sure they saw me and that they saw me withdraw.”
“We will go back to the water we bypassed at noon David. Go back to where you were when they saw you and wait. We have a few girls old enough to marry off and a few young men who can marry. Also some bulls we can spare. Do not mention the lance heads or swords yet, or any other trade goods until we see if they have anything we need.”
“Yes Pop.”)

That is the opening scene of NOMADS. A the time I wrote that I had now idea if it would be followed by a feast and trading or a pitched battle.


Can someone give some pointers on how to keep the formatting from going away when I click on CREATE POST?

Thanks
HH

[freshwaterpearl]

Papa of 2, the first is better. You might even extend it:
It was quiet at the house, but the glow of the forest fire lit the night sky.
“Look at that, Bob. Time to go", said Joe.
Bob grabbed his Winchester with one hand and pack with other. "I'm with you.” He said, and was out the door before I was.


I think when you write the first draft of a story you should write in whatever style is comfortable for you. In your second draft, you go in and add dialogue if you have none. You remove dialogue and insert narrative if all you have is dialogue. Even a tv, play, or movie script has direction and description of scene. Without narrative you have to put all that into your dialogue, which becomes tedious.

You can write in the first person to get yourself moving, then later change to third person. Or vice versa. You can write each character’s scene in first person, then change it all to 3rd person and dialogue. Nobody said it was easy.

If you are good at writing dialogue, then use a fair bit of dialogue. If you aren’t good at writing dialogue, try to get better, but also use more narrative and less dialogue. I try not to use dialogue for things I don’t want to read myself. How much of our conversation is “What do you want to do?” “I dunno, what do you want to do?” “I dunno, what do you wanna do?” Unless conveying the age of my characters, I am unlikely to write that type of dialogue, or discussion on hair and make up unless I’m leading into something relevant, or am describing what is important to that character.

I also try to avoid being preachy. If you are writing for the choir, they already feel the way you do. If you are trying to make a convincing argument (for instance about guns, or stockpiling food, or having your kids do chores) show me, don’t lecture me. You will have a larger audience and you can get on with the story. Jesus’ parables were stories, not lectures.

If I knew how to keep the format, I would tell you. Every time I post, I go in and insert paragraph indents, break up the one long paragraph, add italics for the French. Sometimes, because I have to read it again for the tenth time, I end up making small changes.