Dancing Word Writers Workshop

with Susan May Warren

 January 5, 2007

 

Hosted by Anne McDonald

Dancing Word Publisher/Editor

*This chat has been edited for clarity.

All works shared during this chat are the sole property of the individual authors and are covered by all applicable copyright laws.

 

Anne McDonald: We'll open in prayer, I'll go over protocol and then I'll introduce our guest.

 

Lord, thank You so much for your blessings in every part of our lives, for giving us the desire to write, and places to go to learn how to perfect our craft.

 

Please be with each of our participants tonight, and our guest. Let our time be fruitful and encouraging. Let us be a blessing for you. In Jesus' name, Amen

 

Protocol: When the floor is open to questions, please type ? for questions, ! for comments and wait to be called on in turn. To keep us from stepping on each others' toes, please type "ga" when you are finished typing. ga = go ahead

 

Tonight, I'm thrilled to introduce one of my favorite writers in the whole world. God blessed me with her acquaintance when she was hiding in Siberia and now she's written more than 14 novels and has made quite a name in the publishing world. Please welcome Susan May Warren. Welcome, Susie.

 

* Annie leads the applause

 

Susan May Warren: *aw* what a sweet thing to say. Yeah, Annie and I go way back, when I was a missionary in Siberia. And I'd attend these chats on Saturday with my peanut butter sandwiches! So glad to be here; thank you for having me!

 

So, I thought I'd sorta go through the class and then open the floor up after each point and then at the end to work on each other's dialogue if you all brought any.

 

Anne McDonald: good plan

 

* Annie takes a seat

 

Susan May Warren: Ok, here goes!  Dialogue  is both What is said, and what is NOT being said. Dialogue more than anything moves a scene.  The reader’s eyes are drawn the white space of dialogue, so use it to your advantage. Good Dialogue creates emotion and conflict and will reveal motivations, values and inner goals of a character.  And, it can produce change in your character.   Good dialogue is difficult to write.   The last thing you want to do is to make your dialogue boring, mundane.  You want it to add fire to the reader, make her turn pages, make her want another confrontation.  You do this by setting up a series of small fires, in anticipation for the explosion and by using internal dialogue and action.

 

How?  Add some sizzle.

Read the rest of the transcript

 

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