Writing great dialogue is one of the most important things to consider when writing a novel, because it must be believable. As writers we must look at some of the things that influence how we talk in our real lives and apply this to our characters dialogue in our books.

There are many things that influence the way we talk, suck as, being very tired, could we be in a bad mood, if we are talking to someone we don’t particularly like, if we are looking to influence a conversation and share a point of view. All of these factors determine how we talk to a person, so be sure to consider these factors when writing your book.

Also remember that sometimes the best moments of dialogue in a book can be based on very little talking at all, but can be something that has been hinted at.

Consider also where your character is from. Dialect is much more than just an accent so it is important this is delivered accurately to make this believable. For example, here in the UK snowballs are called ‘snowballs’, but in New Orleans they are called ‘snowcones’. Make sure you do your research so that the reader will believe your dialogue.

Also consider that some situations call for greater or lesser levels of formality than others. If you are writing a fantasy novel then your characters could be kings or nobles – and they would most likely speak very affluently. However, if your novel is about gangs living in the east end, then assure you are familiar with the local slang.

Either way, try and keep your dialogue consistent throughout your book, and don’t forget to have fun with your characters along the way! Good luck.

Naomi Chance

It is always wise to have these goals in mind. After all, if we don’t support and believe in ourselves, no one else is going to do it for us. There are many people today who are embarking on a new career, maybe as a self-employed full-time writer. To you wonderful people I say well done and enjoy it! To those of you who are still figuring it out, might I offer some advice?

You might ask what I know that makes me so special? Well, I am a published author. I work as a writer from home, and while I am still figuring out the finer arts of earning a regular income, I feel I have come a long way in the past two years. My biggest lesson was that of marketing my books. I did nothing to prepare for the launch of my first novel back in 2011. I thought it could wait until I had the physical book there to show people. I was wrong.

The role of the Indie author is far more than simply writing a book or a collection of stories. We are entrepreneurs, small business owners, and independent sales professionals. We have to discover the best ways to sell our books, often using the cheapest methods because there is no magic pot of money to pay for it all. The process is as exciting as it is frustrating, and this is what I would like to reiterate.

If you are publishing your first novel this year, or any book for that matter, please take some time to plan out your marketing campaign. Make good use of the Internet. There is a huge network of authors willing to help each other. Yes it is a competition, but ultimately if we help each other we will reap the rewards in lots of unexpected ways. Take advice from those who have done it before and are doing it again. Read what you can, write your press release to the best of your ability, and get someone to help you tighten it up.

Above all, keep shouting about your wonderful work. If you want to sell lots of books and make your mark in your chosen genre, then you have to tell people constantly. We never listen! We have to be told things repeatedly before it begins to sink in. So do your research. Make your business plan. And get shouting!

This is something that I think more new fiction writers need to remember. You are not being controlled by anything except what you allow yourself to do. Do not be happy sticking with the old clichés and standards. Do not be afraid to break out of the boxcompletely. I see so many new writers following a pattern that they think they have to conform to without realizing it is the writers who break the mold that are the most successful.

Another issue I see a lot with new fiction writers is the tendency to think that you have to write according to readers’ tastes. That is a huge lie that is perpetuated by media and the world around us. In fact, there is no way that you could ever successfully write a book that appealed to people’s tastes, because those tastes are always changing. By the time you writer, edit, and eventually publish your book the readers’ tastes will have flip flopped so many times that your book will be passé at best and trite at worst. Do not fall into this honey trap. There is no gold at the end of that rainbow.

The thing you have to remember as a new writer is to write for yourself first. You are a reader, right? You know what you love to read and what you can’t stand. You have read a book or a story and thought “I would have changed this or that or had the character do this instead.” Well, your work of fiction is your opportunity to do just that. Revel in your freedom and stop trying to tie yourself down to something. If you want to write a novel that is ninety percent poetry and you can make that work then do it. If you want to create your own language for your characters and your own planets and your own way of thinking and even your own physics then give it a shot. If you can pull it off then I guarantee you will get readers who like it.

Your characters are another aspect that frequently turns into a problem for new writers. They think they have to stick with a template of sorts. A good guy, a bad guy, a damsel in distress, and so on. Well, forget that idea. You do not have to do anything you do not feel like doing when you write. You can create deep, rich characters that are like real people, some combination of good and bad, happy and depressed, greedy and giving. People are hard to figure out, so good characters are hard to write. If you find your characters going their own ways during the course of your story then you know you are on the right track. Only a really strong character can overwhelm the writer and forge their own way through the tale.

Dialogue is another aspect that new writers often get hung up on. They try to do ‘info dumps’ where a new character is introduced and gets filled in so the reader can get all the information they need too. Do not do that, I beg of you. That is just so unrealistic that it is foolish. Yes, there are times in life where we come into a room and someone fills us in on what we missed, but nine times out of ten we have to figure things out on our own. And for good reason! Just like in real life, having readers figure out things as they go along and piece together clues is part of the fun. Instead of writing dialogue that sounds like a teacher talking to students or a police officer filling in his report, try having your characters talk naturally. Use slang, run on sentences, fragments, yes and no answers, grunts of acknowledgement and shrugs. Do not forget that body language and tone are just as important as the words that are spoken. “Okay, fine,” can mean SO many different things. It all depends on how you make the readers see the characters, what their tone and attitude is, and what their facial expression and body movements are. Dialogue is more than the words spoken and you must keep that in mind.

Again we come around to the characters. You know one thing that makes me want to slam a book shut a few paragraphs in? When a writer describes in detail how a character looks. If you can’t come up with a more creative way of telling me what your character looks like then having them look in a mirror and describe themselves then I do not want to read your story. That is it. I am done. Remember that it is okay to give little bits here and there. Red hair, check. Freckles, check. Oh, she’s short. Okay. You see? You got an idea of what she looks like in just a few words. You even got her sex, though I never said outright that she was female. It is easy to communicate how a character looks throughout the story without interrupting the flow. The important thing is that you know what your characters look like before you start writing. That way it will just come up naturally.

Speaking of coming up naturally, the setting of a story is extremely important. When I as a reader want to picture the characters running around doing whatever it is you have them doing I need to see where they are. Readers start out with a big white room and you have to fill it in for them. There are lots of ways to do this beyond “it was a dark and stormy night”. Yes, weather is important and can play a part, but you need to give readers an idea of what everything looks like, feels like, smells like, and so on. Let’s say I was talking about London. Well, that is all well and good for someone who has been there, but what about someone reading it from across the pond? Do they know what London is like? Nope. How about Texas? Do you know what Texas is like? If I set my story somewhere, no matter how common, I need to describe it. Even a classroom, which should be the most universally generic place ever, can have huge variations depending on reader’s backgrounds. Talk about the smell of the chalk, the hum of the computers, and the squeak of Nikes on the tile floors. All these tiny things add up to make the environment much richer and easier for readers to visualize.

The more information you give readers subtly, the more involved they can get in the stories. Think about books that have made an impact on your life. Can you see the characters? The setting? Smell the scents, taste the foods, hear the noises? If not, don’t you wish you could? Things like that take a good book and make it a great one.

Author Bio:

Jason Miner an expert freelance writer loves writing articles on different categories. He is approaching different bloggers to recognize each other’s efforts through www.blogcarnival.com

He can be contacted through e-mail at jasonminer8atgmaildotcom.

Lets jump onto the Short Story and poetry bandwagon.

Our team at Write & Share challenge you to write a poem or story of no more than 500 words on a given subject. Challenge your mind and get scribbling. Everybody has a story inside them, ready to be written. Use this challenge to focus your energy on writing and timekeeping.

Most stories are never written because the writer cannot find the time to write it. So we say ‘Make the Time’. Proving to yourself that you can complete a poem or short story in a month is challenging and motivational.

Writers Challenge

Write a poem or a 500 word story entitled: The Real Me!

To participate in this challenge, simply copy and paste your poem or story into the comments field below.

Good luck guys!

November is National Novel Writing Month, affectionately known as NaNoWriMo to its regular participants. NaNoWriMo is a great idea. I joined the organisation in 2011 for my first time, and it was brilliant for me because I got the opportunity to write the sequel to my first Redcliffe novel. Up until that point I was distracted with the arrival of my first child, the upheaval of being a new parent, and the associated confusion and planning about whether or not I should return to work and how our family system should operate.

Anyway, I heard about NaNoWriMo and decided to give it a go. It is called a competition, but there are no financial prizes or rewards. It is free to join, free to attend, and all that is required is that you attempt to write 50,000 words during the month of November. 50,000 words in 30 days. Wow! It seemed like an impossible task, especially since I don’t usually find the time to write every day. In fact at the time I was lucky to write once a week. Now I realise its potential.

NaNoWriMo gave me the opportunity to test myself, and to learn that actually I can write every day when I put my mind to it. I didn’t have to stay up every night writing until the early hours (although I did on the occasions when my Muse took over), and my daughter was not neglected. I still managed to run a household and do all my usual chores and required tasks. Many people are in awe of my achievement. My fellow NaNoWriMo winners simply smile indulgently and we bask in our shared glory.

Some people might say it’s all well and good to write 50,000 words in 30 days, but where do you get your inspiration? For most natural writers, the words are already there just waiting to spill out. Once we set out a quiet time, a personal space, and an open invitation to our Muse, we can write a whole book within a short space of time. The good people at NaNoWriMo have set up forums and chat rooms where writers can encourage each other. We can share ideas, assist with queries, and generally offer support based on our individual experiences.

There are also regional groups that physically meet up in pubs and cafes, to swap updates and continue the push to succeed in the NaNoWriMo challenge. My local group meets in Chester, and while I was unable to make any of their meetings in 2011, I might have a little more freedom this year, depending on circumstances of course. It doesn’t matter either way, because the option is still there, and we are all connected via email and forums on the website.

Are you a NaNoWriMo winner? Have you participated in the past but not quite reached the golden 50,000 word challenge? Or have you never attempted it? I suggest you go for it. Try it out. Even if you don’t complete the challenge, you will end the month with a fresh new manuscript underway, and you will be in the practice of finding time to write. It might give you the push that you need to shut out all the other hundreds of daily distractions in life, and to write your masterpiece of a bestseller. If you want to know more, their website is http://www.nanowrimo.org/. See you at NaNo!

Fancy an opportunity to have your books featured in a PopUpshop in one of the most bohemian and cool areas of London – Brick Lane.The store opens on 15th August until mid November

The store, PopUp Collection is a PopUp store open for 3months to exhibit up and coming new fashion designers. Within the store we have been offered the chance to put up to 15 Authors, ideally 5 a month, to havetheir books featured in the store.

The deal is £87 for the month to put your books in store,plus a 10% commission on sales. This is to cover bank charges. You supply you’re own stock and the profits are yours to reap. Of course a presence instore from time to time will help sales. Marketing and novelty give aways like bookmarks are yours to provide.

Why is this different from any book event? One of the mostdifficult things is to get promotion of your books against best sellers. So for a relatively cheap price your books get the limelight without competition fromthe big names. I will certainly give it a go.

If you are interested and why wouldn’t you be if you’re inthe UK. Contact Anna@popupevents.co.uk or message me on the site and I will pass details on.

I was well aware that Going Underground was about to feature in the August edition of Scootering magazine, although I didn’t think it would be hitting the shelves until July 26th. So imagine my surprise when I logged into my Facebook account only to find a friend has already posted a picture of it, letting me know it was already out there – and not just a small article either, but a full page spread!

There’s an interview entitled ‘A Quick One with Suzie Tullett’ – something that made me giggle. However, it’s the review that really made me smile… and I thought I’d share Mark Sargeant’s words with you today…

“On opening the cover of Suzie Tullett’s debut novel, Going Underground, you find the proclamation ‘It’s not about living in the past, it’s about living with it…’ a single sentence that is an accurate and prophetic overview of the forthcoming story. Her main characters introduced in the first few chapters, where they are attending the funeral of what is essentially the eighth main character whose demise was due to a freak accident involving his scooter.

Going Underground explores relationships pushed to breaking point, friendships tested to the limit and beyond, as the three respective journeys take in a number of interweaving experiences heading to the trio of lads’ goal. Clever use of song titles for each chapter gives a reflection of what is coming next, which adds a kind of comfortableness for the reader, identifying with the characters through the song lyrics. I’ve purposely avoided giving much of the plot away, as that would be a spoiler, suffice to say it’s a road trip on scooters.

For me, Suzie Tullett’s debut book would be a must watch film or mini series, should, and I do think it should, make the transition from written word to celluloid.

Going Underground is among one of the best fictional books I’ve read, it works on many different levels as well as embracing and incorporating contemporary Mod and scooter culture of today as the background to the story

A highly recommended read with wide appeal.”

Sarge

How lovely is that? And it just goes to show that if we keep working hard enough, eventually our work starts to filter out into the wider world x

It is surprising the number of characters you will discoverwhen you finally write your manuscript. Originally you might begin with a heroor heroine, and perhaps one or two supporting characters. Then they begin tointeract with each other, and they bring in their own friends, acquaintances,colleagues, family members, and before you know it there are a lot more peopleto write about.

This is all well and good in its place. However, I find frommy own reading experience, that if you have a lot of characters in one novel,it can become tiresome. I am currently reading a novel that is very good, and Iam determined to finish it. The nature of the story requires a lot ofcharacters because it is about ancient druid tribes reincarnated in the modernworld.

But therein lies the problem. Not only do we have lots ofdifferent characters with their own stories to tell; we also have a situationwhere the story takes place in two very different time periods. I know it isrelevant, and I know it will all make sense in the end. That is the excitementof reading this particular book. I can’t help but feel that perhaps the authorcould have focused on just five or six central characters. At the moment I canidentify the heroine, and there does appear to be a ‘team’ of sorts. But it israther confusing.

Identifying your characters doesn’t just mean knowing whothey are and why they fit that particular story. You have to understand whythey developed, what makes them important to you, and maybe sometimes if theirstory could be told in a separate novel, perhaps as a spin-off.

Take my Redcliffenovels as an example. I have a vampire character called Marcus Scott.Originally he was a vague, supporting character. Somewhere along the line hebecame more important, both to my heroine Jessica Stone, and to me, the author.As a result I wrote him a separate novel telling the story of how he became avampire, and what it is that causes him to act the way he does. I am currentlyseeking a publisher for that particular manuscript.

Ultimately, your characters develop because they are veryspecial people in their own right. Sometimes you have to be strict withyourself and decide whether it is really imperative that you give them so muchspace in your novel. Maybe you could compromise, and put them somewhere else.Perhaps you could include them in a sequel, and give them the story time theydeserve.

Always remember to look at your manuscript from the point ofview of your readers. Will they be confused? Will this cause them to give up onyour books? If you can’t be strict with yourself, or you feel the need for someexpert advice, try our writer services. And as always, join me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catherine-Green-Author/254977714519206or see my website for details about the Redcliffe novels: http://www.catherine-green.co.uk

This week I was tagged in the Writing 777 Challenge. Now, for those of you who don’t know what this is, it involves going to page 7 or 77 of your work in progress, counting down to line 7 and then sharing the next 7 lines of your story.

Anyways, I thought for a bit of fun I’d share my 7 line excerpt with Write and Share as well. Of course it’s only a snippet, but when I read the excerpts of the many other writers involved I really enjoyed guessing where their stories might have started and where they could possibly be leading… Plus it was fun to pass the challenge on to 7 of my peers and I think it would be even more fun to pass it on to Write and Share!

However, I’ve decided to slightly alter the rules here and and instead of simply tagging 7 Write and Share members to take part I think an open invite is in order – so feel free to not just leave a comment, but if you’re so inclined to include a 7 line excerpt from page 7 or 77 of your WIPs. All of which I look forward to reading.

So without further ado, I’ll start the ball rolling shall I? Here’s my excerpt of Little White Lies and Butterflies:

“Now I know why they call these things Dolphins,” I thought to myself, the boat somewhat energetically bouncing up and down as it cut through the water’s surface.

“Although it has to be said real Dolphins are a lot more graceful…” I considered. “And probably not quite as fast!”

With my hair blowing about all over the place and my beloved Beckham-esque sunglasses about to fly off my face at any given moment, I knew any attempts at appearing the consummate traveller were fast disappearing. And fighting to keep my bum on the bench, convinced that I, too, was going to be tossed overboard if I dared release my grip in the slightest, I couldn’t help but question why I’d seen fit to choose a deck seat in the first place. “Because you’re a fool,” I insisted, annoyed at my own stupidity. “That’s why!”

And now it’s over to all of you… I can’t wait to read your replies x

http://www.suzietullett.blogspot.com/

Out now – Going Underground by Suzie Tullett.

A laugh out loud, feel good novel with Brit Flick flair…

A recurring theme since I became a published author is the question of what to call myself. In today’s society we are obsessed with labels. We must always be defined by what we do, and the more professional it sounds, the better. This seems even more important when it comes to being a writer, or more specifically, an indie writer.

When my first novel was published, I struggled with my identity for a while. People would say, “What do you do?” and I would answer casually, “Oh, well, I’m a stay at home mother, um, a writer, you know.” At first I felt like a fraud, even though I had written and published a novel. I somehow felt that I couldn’t call myself an author until I was earning a regular, decent wage from it, and it could become my main occupation.

Our craft does not work that way. We are artists. We create beautiful pieces; we craft our words into stories and poems that will both inspire and impress the people who read them. That doesn’t mean that we will automatically be recognized by so called industry professionals with lots of money in their back pockets. There are many thousands of artists just like us. But we are not the same. We are all individual.

Are you having the same dilemma at the moment? Perhaps you write as a hobby, or as a reaction to events in your professional or personal life. It doesn’t matter. You are still a writer, or an author if you prefer. So what if we don’t earn huge amounts of money or get recognized in the national media? The very fact that we are capable of writing good pieces of work that people enjoy reading, should be reward enough.

Enjoy the feeling of being a writer. Relish the importance and the legacy that your work will provide for future generations. Once you publish that book, story or poem, it is there forever. It will always be available to people when they need it or desire it. And who knows, even in five, ten or more years time, someone may pick up your book, enjoy it, and refer it to a contact who will then catapult it into the public eye with amazing results for you, the author. Never give up, and never back down. You are impressive.

If you would like some assistance in perfecting the presentation of your novel, short story or poem, please see the Write and Share writer services. A well-presented book has a much better chance of succeeding in the professional market if that is your desire. And if you would like to interact with me, join me on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catherine-Green-Author/254977714519206