Comments on: When the Voice is Silent https://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/ Thu, 13 Jan 2022 01:40:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Misha https://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25858 Misha Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:59:17 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25858 Two words: Character Interview. I have a character like that who just kept coming across as a total asshole. Not that I'd mind that, except it kept looking as if he was one dimentional when I know he must be more than that. So... I sat down and sat him down and we talked. I penned down the dialogue and kept referring back to it, because it caught his voice as well. :-) Two words: Character Interview.

I have a character like that who just kept coming across as a total asshole. Not that I’d mind that, except it kept looking as if he was one dimentional when I know he must be more than that.

So… I sat down and sat him down and we talked. I penned down the dialogue and kept referring back to it, because it caught his voice as well.

:-)

]]> By: Adina West https://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25791 Adina West Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:35:38 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25791 Wow, I really share your pain, and I know how well things flow when you have found your stride vs when you haven't. Can't offer too much useful advice but I do sympathise! Wow, I really share your pain, and I know how well things flow when you have found your stride vs when you haven’t. Can’t offer too much useful advice but I do sympathise!

]]> By: Shannon Lawrence https://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25712 Shannon Lawrence Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:27:40 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25712 Ugh, I'm afraid I don't have any useful advice on this other to keep going at it. Can you note down the basics of what you're looking for and try to work out one piece of dialog to fit in different ways as a bit of an exercise? Otherwise, maybe a brain break? Good luck! Ugh, I’m afraid I don’t have any useful advice on this other to keep going at it. Can you note down the basics of what you’re looking for and try to work out one piece of dialog to fit in different ways as a bit of an exercise? Otherwise, maybe a brain break? Good luck!

]]> By: Laura Josephsen https://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25672 Laura Josephsen Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:05:46 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25672 When I was writing my last novel, both of my main characters voices were SO HARD TO FIND. I thought I was going to go crazy! It was like pulling teeth trying to write anything! Usually when that happens, if I keep writing, the character's voice becomes evident, but this took longer than ANY book I have ever written. I was literally 45,000 words into the novel before the characters "clicked" and I felt like I knew them, and their voices, and what they would do and say. It was so unbelievably relieving when that happened. I could have given up before then, and then I would not have the story I have now. But it just took persistence and "keep moving forward" for me. I'd suggest that you just keep writing until it clicks, or until you find what works and what doesn't. You might never find out what doesn't work if you don't keep writing. It's like with scenes: sometimes I have to write a scene three different ways to find the ones that don't work. (My narrators in this particular book switched halfway, too. By that point, though, I finally had both their voices down and the second half was much easier for voice than the first half.) When I was writing my last novel, both of my main characters voices were SO HARD TO FIND. I thought I was going to go crazy! It was like pulling teeth trying to write anything! Usually when that happens, if I keep writing, the character’s voice becomes evident, but this took longer than ANY book I have ever written. I was literally 45,000 words into the novel before the characters “clicked” and I felt like I knew them, and their voices, and what they would do and say. It was so unbelievably relieving when that happened. I could have given up before then, and then I would not have the story I have now. But it just took persistence and “keep moving forward” for me. I’d suggest that you just keep writing until it clicks, or until you find what works and what doesn’t. You might never find out what doesn’t work if you don’t keep writing. It’s like with scenes: sometimes I have to write a scene three different ways to find the ones that don’t work.

(My narrators in this particular book switched halfway, too. By that point, though, I finally had both their voices down and the second half was much easier for voice than the first half.)

]]> By: Crystal https://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25665 Crystal Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:05:51 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25665 Ha ha ha! So he's being a typical teenage boy in other words?? Lol! My advice? Try to discreetly find a group of teenage boys and listen in to their conversation. The best way to get dialogue right is to listen to actual people actually talking. If this makes you uncomfortable, then I would see if you can find a movie starring a really well-written male teenager and listen to his dialogue. Good luck!! Ha ha ha! So he’s being a typical teenage boy in other words?? Lol! My advice? Try to discreetly find a group of teenage boys and listen in to their conversation. The best way to get dialogue right is to listen to actual people actually talking. If this makes you uncomfortable, then I would see if you can find a movie starring a really well-written male teenager and listen to his dialogue.

Good luck!!

]]> By: Eve https://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25663 Eve Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:40:11 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25663 Hi there, Hope you are well :-) If I've already introduced myself I apologise. I can't keep up with who I've said Hi to and who I haven't. I am in your YA Group. I'm just trying to catch up with everybody slowly but surely :-). Fab blog. Eve x Hi there, Hope you are well :-) If I’ve already introduced myself I apologise. I can’t keep up with who I’ve said Hi to and who I haven’t. I am in your YA Group. I’m just trying to catch up with everybody slowly but surely :-) .
Fab blog.
Eve x

]]> By: Faith https://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25661 Faith Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:57:48 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25661 Thanks Stobby, that's what I've been doing with my female MC, but for some reason, I can't find a book that contains a similar voice for my male MC, so... no dice. It's a really good idea though, and I use it often! Thanks Stobby, that’s what I’ve been doing with my female MC, but for some reason, I can’t find a book that contains a similar voice for my male MC, so… no dice. It’s a really good idea though, and I use it often!

]]> By: Stobby https://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25640 Stobby Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:32:37 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/2011/09/when-the-voice-is-silent/#comment-25640 Pick up a book with a similar style to the way you want your story to sound and start reading it. It might help refocus the voice of your own character. Pick up a book with a similar style to the way you want your story to sound and start reading it. It might help refocus the voice of your own character.

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