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LIVE Q&A: Writing Craft: Dialog, Description, and descriptive action

LIVE Q&A: Writing Craft: Dialog, Description, and descriptive action

February 10, 2018 Conference 2018, Live 2018 30 Comments

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Lisa
Lisa
3 years ago

Hi Mary, ! Can you talk a little bit about how dialogue, description and descriptive action balance one another and relate to pacing? I recently received a kind rejection that said the pacing in my YA Cont. felt “off.” Looking to explore that more and ways to correct. Thanks! Lisa B.

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Loie
Loie
3 years ago

Hi Mary! Thanks for your time 🙂 I was wondering what are some common errors you might see in the first five pages of a MS or a whole MS when looking at descriptive action? I tend to always focus on the eyes and need to definitely diversify lol.

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Shanice
Shanice
3 years ago

Hi!
Im struggling a little bit when knowing when I have too much dialogue and not enough characterization or description.
I also am struggling with the pacing of my novel. The intense parts are going by perfect, but the transition chapters are starting to bore me. They are too slow and its almost like i have too much description or something that’s slowing it down. I need what’s happening in those chapters, so I can’t scrap them. But, they are very slow and not intense compared to the others. What should I do?
Thanks for you help.

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Gwendolyn
Gwendolyn
3 years ago

Hello,
What is your opinion on adverbs and why?

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Christina
Christina
Reply to  Gwendolyn
3 years ago

Thank you for asking this question! Stephen King has ruined adverbs for everyone lol!

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Carolyn
Carolyn
3 years ago

Hi Mary,
I have continued to struggle with VOICE – mainly my voice as a writer vs. my character’s voice. I’ve flipped back and forth from writing in first person vs. third person. Since my book is a middle grades book, is it better to write it in first person or third person?

Thank you for all your help!

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Gwendolyn
Gwendolyn
3 years ago

Hello,
Are long chunks of dialog a problem? Why or why not?

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RebeccaKlay
RebeccaKlay
3 years ago

Hi Mary 🙂 So excited to see you do a Q&A! The critique I won from you last year was incredibly helpful for improving my writing, so I can’t wait to hear more about the craft from you.

My question is, other than your own site, are there any resources you can recommend to help with these aspects of writing?

Thanks in advance 🙂

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Gwendolyn
Gwendolyn
3 years ago

Hello,
Are similes or metaphors better to use in descriptions?

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Kira Brighton
Kira Brighton
3 years ago

As a global thinker, I have a hard time with details, especially description. Do you have any advice on knowing what details are really going to be necessary to the story?

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Em
Em
3 years ago

Do you have any tips on how to make descriptions of places more engaging to readers (besides actively “showing” readers instead of “telling” them)?

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Hannah
Hannah
3 years ago

Do you have suggestions on how to make dialogue realistic and not stiff?

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Kathy
Kathy
3 years ago

Mary edited my early chapter book and I want to recommend her. I learned a lot and will definitely use her for the rest in the series. Thanks Mary!

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Heidi
Heidi
3 years ago

with dialogue tags, do agents prefer action prompted dialogue? How can a writer balance them or is that necessary if you are comfortable using action prompts?

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Elizabeth Scherman
Elizabeth Scherman
3 years ago

I’m having a problem similar to Shanice’s , only in my case, I’ve heard that my pacing is too fast — that the story moves along too quickly. This is a MG novel, and I’ve always experienced MG as reading quite quickly. Tips?

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Tasha
Tasha
3 years ago

With picture books, how do we find the balance of giving enough detail in the writing but leaving room for the illustrations?

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Alyssa
Alyssa
Author
3 years ago

#showusthedog

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Elisha Jachetti
Elisha Jachetti
3 years ago

What are your opinions or suggestions on dialogue tags? Should we only use the word “said?” Are there any tags that are a definite no-no?

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Elza
Elza
3 years ago

I personally don’t plan to use first person narrative in my writing. Do you have any tips for keeping the readers in the moment and steeped in the scene with my hero even without those “immediate” action words?

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Rhea
Rhea
3 years ago

Is there anything you didn’t put in Writing Irresistible KIdlit, that you wish you had? Any additional nuggets you’d love to share? 😉

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Arlem
Arlem
3 years ago

Do you have any tips on including characters’ thoughts without making it feel like you’re telling (vs. showing) too much?

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Kris
Kris
3 years ago

Thank you for your time! This is VERY helpful! I’m realizing I need to work on adding more emotional reactions from my characters instead of surrounding my dialogue with wordy stuff. Thank you for all of your advice!

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Lisa
Lisa
3 years ago

I adore your book WRITING IRRESISTIBLE KID LIT. If you had to recommend one other craft book on writing (other than your own) which would it be? Thank you.

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Rektok
Rektok
3 years ago

Your dogs are so cute!!!!

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Peggy Kattelus
Peggy Kattelus
3 years ago

Thank you Mary!
Excellent segment!
Peggy K

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Dave Wright
Dave Wright
3 years ago

Fantastic presentation 🙂

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kate
kate
3 years ago

Thank you! This was really informative and helpful!

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Debra
Debra
3 years ago

Thank you, Mary! Some great insight and your examples helped tremendously.

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Sandy Perlic
Sandy Perlic
3 years ago

Wow! This was fabulous! I could listen to Mary all weekend. Will definitely have to watch again to absorb it all. Thanks, Mary!

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Marquess
Marquess
3 years ago

Is it possible to use “too much” dialogue in a work? I feel like it may be my strong point so I feel I overuse it.

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