Looking forward to attending the winter gala of local writers group tomorrow. Want to thank each and everyone of you here who have posted here!
All of you have given me the much needed encouragement.
Meanwhile since my daughter and husband insisted that I should not hurry and keep refining the already written content, I am working on that currently.
Wishing all of you a very happy Holidays!
Hi
I went to our local writer group as recommended. It was their winter social so I had plenty of time to meet and chat with couple of them. I got some good tips which I will be able to use in my future writing projects overall I felt good attending this event.
I did meet a professional editor unfortunately she is too expensive for me to use her services.
They recommended practicing writing Query letters and to try traditional publishing first because my novel is hard to be placed in a specific genre.
I will see if anything works out. Someone recommended purchasing a Readers digest catalogue of agents and then reaching out to them.
Thank you so much for all your recommendations @oneofthosemoms
I was wondering how to learn how to learn to write dialogues between men which sounds natural?
I am afraid due to my lack of familiarity with how men speak in real life my men characters might sound like girls!
I was brought up with girls. Dad died when I was ten, no brothers or male friends.
The only two men in my life are very atypical. My husband is quiet and let me speak all the time though we do have good conversations he does not represent regular male as per my assumptions . He is too kind and kind of an introvert. My fifteen year old son is on spectrum so he hardly speaks.
So how can I learn the way most men think? How they communicate to represent them in my fiction?
I have three male characters I need to represent them realistically though it is a fantasy romance.
Any ideas how can I learn? I considered talking to people who deal with them when they are uninhibited like Bartenders and who else?
I do have male colleagues so have some idea .
But I am struggling how men talk to each other.
Any books out there which has captured the thought process of men ,who are not highly educated? All men I interact even socially are all college educated with couple of degrees .
I once took a writing class where we were assigned to listen in on a conversation âin the wildâ (I chose a hair salon), then transcribe the conversation as if it were dialogue in a book. You might find that to be a helpful exercise.
Consider enrolling in a fiction writing class or finding a book for beginning fiction writers (ask the writersâ group you joined if they have a suggestion). You can also connect with the online writing community at NaNoWriMo.org; they have a forum of aspiring writers who could be a good resource for you.
Well, here are three conversations you might hear between men â or, at least, which I have taken part in or heard:
Men in their 40s:
Jim: Craig, do you mind if I come over for the game? Sheila is having her crocheting club over and I donât want to be here.
Craig: Sure. Bring a 6-pack.
Jim: Will do, buddy.
Craig: See you soon.
Men in their 60s:
Paul: Whatâs going on, Jamal? You look like youâre in pain.
Jamal: My damn back is all wrenched; I must have slipped a disk or something.
Paul: Well, Doc Barnes is out fishing.
Jamal: Figures! Guess Iâll make an appointment anyway, so I can get it looked at ASAP. This is more painful than watching figure skating.
Men in their 80s:
Frank: You going to bingo this week, Bill?
Bill: No, not this week. Gladys and I are going down to Shanktonville to meet the new great-grandkid. Word is, heâs built like a tank.
Frank: Congrats! Give them our best. How about the week after?
Bill: Sure. Would you mind picking me up? These darn glasses donât work like they used to.
Frank: You always were blind as a bat!
Great ideas! Will see what I can do. Thanks @oneofthosemoms
great examples! Thanks! I will write whatever I can after trying the advices as above!
Your dialogue can have usage errors, since people do not always â or even usually â speak formally. However, you should still use correct punctuation.
Thatâs a very good tip! Thanks @prezbucky !
The best way to become a great writer is to read anything and everything you can get your hands on.
Writing dialogue is a talent and is hard to learn IMHO. Best thing you can do is read other writers and as someone pointed out, listen to other people who mirror your characters.
Indeed! I have been a voracious reader from probably age six! The problem is all the reading I have done in my young age was in my language! And yes I have read classics in English. If I had read all the things in English I would be way better.
My writing has improved significantly from page 1 to page 550+
I am constantly striving to improve and I always wanted to write in a way it pus the readers in the characterâs shoe but not too much like Jane Eyre.( It did influence me positively )
Thanks for your suggestion. For now if I can figure out the realistic way to write menâs dialogue ( drinking specifically!)I will be good for now!
Yes I am trying. One of my lead character is in finance of which I donât know much about! It just fitted well in my plot so I placed him in finance!
Other characters too are hard to find in real life. However I am able to follow a musicianâs vlog to kind of understand their life style. One of them is a musician.
The third one is impossible to find around!
What can I say other than it is a fantasy romance!
FWIW, I think that my writing is better, and more believable, if I write what I know and can draw on my own personal experiences. Personally, I think quirky characters tend to be richer than those that fit the typical mold.
I agree. But my story is based on legendary characters so I need to complete this then I will write other stuff. It is fantasy romance.
I agree lot of my characters are quirky! Thatâs why I am having so much fun writing.
Wishing everyone a fabulous new year!
I am in the process of publishing my book in Amazon. Do I need to obtain the ISBN number myself? Any more information on purchasing in Amazon. Major doâs and donâts is very much appreciated!
Thanks a lot! @Bromfield2