CHARACTERS AND THEIR DIALOGUE
The first Stephen King book I read was “The Stand”. Undeniably it was a great story. But what drew me into this story more than anything else were the characters. He painted them so magnificently that I felt like I knew them. And this was not a story of three or four characters. There were plenty of them. Yet, none of them were the same. This was not simply a matter of changing their hair styles, or the color of their eyes. He displayed their inner being that distinguished one personality from another. These were not simply cardboard people. I could see them in my mind’s eye.
Some would disagree with me but to me the characters are the main heart of a story. Though the storyline might be ingeniously written, but if the characters seem phony then it is not going to seem believable.
Here are a few steps to create real, believable characters.
1) You must become the character that you write about. Any serious actor will spend a great deal of time getting to know the person he is to portray. In some ways the writer must do the same. You must first believe in this character you are creating before you can expect others to believe. It is a good idea to know more about your character than you actually put on the page.
2) Find the voice of the character. If you know your character, then you should have some idea of how he speaks. Is he loud and boisterous, is he timid, is his voice soft or harsh, does his words exude confidence, is he negative, impatient, does he have a draw, does he use words incorrectly, does he repeat himself, etcetera.
3) Match the mood of the story. If the story becomes tense the dialogue should go with it. If done right it will intensify the mood, making the story richer and will serve to move and/or deepen the plot.
4) Pacing. Dialogue in a story can speed up or slow down the speed of the story. To speed it up you should use short, quick remarks, often words that displays an urgency to the scene. To slow down the pace you would want to expand the dialogue making it seem less of an urgency.
5) Create realistic dialogue as the conflict rises. Not every dialogue is the same. Some should be avoided. Some should be embraced.
1) Avoid a dialogue that goes nowhere. If the dialogue does not advance the scene by adding some type of insight, then it should be avoided.
2) Avoid leaping. Don’t jump directly from problem to solution. There should be some steps in between. If not, the reader is likely to feel cheated and mentally dizzy from the jump.
The first Stephen King book I read was “The Stand”. Undeniably it was a great story. But what drew me into this story more than anything else were the characters. He painted them so magnificently that I felt like I knew them. And this was not a story of three or four characters. There were plenty of them. Yet, none of them were the same. This was not simply a matter of changing their hair styles, or the color of their eyes. He displayed their inner being that distinguished one personality from another. These were not simply cardboard people. I could see them in my mind’s eye.
Some would disagree with me but to me the characters are the main heart of a story. Though the storyline might be ingeniously written, but if the characters seem phony then it is not going to seem believable.
Here are a few steps to create real, believable characters.
1) You must become the character that you write about. Any serious actor will spend a great deal of time getting to know the person he is to portray. In some ways the writer must do the same. You must first believe in this character you are creating before you can expect others to believe. It is a good idea to know more about your character than you actually put on the page.
2) Find the voice of the character. If you know your character, then you should have some idea of how he speaks. Is he loud and boisterous, is he timid, is his voice soft or harsh, does his words exude confidence, is he negative, impatient, does he have a draw, does he use words incorrectly, does he repeat himself, etcetera.
3) Match the mood of the story. If the story becomes tense the dialogue should go with it. If done right it will intensify the mood, making the story richer and will serve to move and/or deepen the plot.
4) Pacing. Dialogue in a story can speed up or slow down the speed of the story. To speed it up you should use short, quick remarks, often words that displays an urgency to the scene. To slow down the pace you would want to expand the dialogue making it seem less of an urgency.
5) Create realistic dialogue as the conflict rises. Not every dialogue is the same. Some should be avoided. Some should be embraced.
1) Avoid a dialogue that goes nowhere. If the dialogue does not advance the scene by adding some type of insight, then it should be avoided.
2) Avoid leaping. Don’t jump directly from problem to solution. There should be some steps in between. If not, the reader is likely to feel cheated and mentally dizzy from the jump.
Writing is a matter of emotions. No matter if your story is a comedy or a tragedy. How you convey theses emotions takes a bit of skill. Using words to describe someones emotions is not always the most efficient. Sometimes you need subtile props. An example of fear beginning to build up, is a young couple moving into an old house that has been vacant for years. While they are looking over the house a rubber ball slowly bounces down a set of stairs from the second floor. Another good example, this one of heartbreak is from an old Billy The Kid movie. In the movie one of the characters is shot and dying. He sits by an old fishing hole that he loves as his life fades away. In the background Bob Dillon sings “knocking on heaven’s door”. That was quite moving to me.
See if I passed the emotion test.
CONTENT FOR SOCIAL SITES.
· Behind-the-Scenes Insights: Share your writing process, creative challenges, and inspiration for your books. Readers love to know the story behind the story.
· Character Spotlights: Create detailed posts or graphics featuring your characters, their backstories, and their roles in your books.
· World-Building Content: Highlight the fantastical worlds you’ve created in your books. Share maps, lore, or fun facts about your universe.
· Book Excerpts: Post captivating scenes or quotes from your books to entice readers.
· Interactive Content: Engage your audience with quizzes, polls, or surveys about your books. For example, “Which character are you?” or “Guess the next plot twist.”
· Creative Visuals: Design eye-catching graphics, concept art, or animations related to your books. This could include illustrated scenes or character portraits.
· Writing Tips: Offer advice and tips for aspiring writers. It positions you as an expert and builds a connection with your audience.
· Book Trailers: Create short video trailers that capture the essence of your books. It’s a dynamic way to attract interest.
· Fan Engagement: Share fan art, reviews, or reader testimonials. It shows appreciation for your audience and builds community.
· Seasonal Themes: Tie your book promotions to seasons or current events. For instance, spooky fantasy content around Halloween or sci-fi innovations during tech conferences.
