One thing I can improve on is dialogue. Coincidently, this week's podcast features one of my favorite writers when it comes to writing witty dialogue, Larry Correia, and he shared some great tips on that topic. He also said he has two cardinal rules when it comes to writing (all writing, not just dialogue):
1) Keep it interesting. If it's boring, take it out.
2) Keep it clear. If you confuse people, take it out.
A little insider's secret: we record these shows weeks and even months before they are released. I tend to forget which order the shows come out in and was happy to see this week was Larry's show because I just finished another book by him two days ago. Plus, I've been giving dialogue a lot of thought lately as I plot out my NaNo project.
I **LOVE** the way his characters talk!! He writes the perfect amount of geeky humor that keeps me laughing throughout the entire novel. He also blows a lot of things up... always a bonus!
One piece of advice he gave is to read good dialogue in order to learn how to do it better. I would highly suggest his works without hesitation. A word of warning, however, he does use--what some would consider--salty language. But it is well written, so it is sweet and salty. Like a Payday Bar.
So, that's it, Larry Correia is a Payday Bar.
Let's have some fun. Write ONE LINE of dialogue in the comments on what comes next:
My door flew open and Dad charged in the room like a train late for its next stop. Well, my fun was officially over. Dad saw what laid on the table and he halted with a look of confusion crossing his face. Realization hit, and he barked, "What are you doing in here?"
No sense in hiding it, I could only respond with the truth. I looked him in the eye and said, "...(this is where you, dear reader, come in)..."
Oh, and please, keep it clean. :)
I'm hungry now for a candy bar for some reason, so I'll click on that "Publish" button and see how you guys do.
