While Wilde Is On Mine
29 Mar
Most of my weekend was spent being fabulously lazy and hedonistic, but then, that’s what weekends are for. Parts of it, however, were spent on actual productivity. Plaguebringer is back in swing, though it’s mostly just plotting, planning, and scripting. I might’ve mentioned this before, but a lot of times when a scene involves dialogue, I write it out as a script, stage directions and all. Then when I read it back to myself, it’s easier to figure out of something sounds hollow.
Not easy enough that I actually catch it, but you know. Closer. Also keeps me from rambling– as much as anything can.
Anyhow, the movie in my head is captured that way, and I can go back and fill it in. Anyone else do that? I’m sure some of you must read your stuff out loud? Why yes, yes I am looking for dialogue tips, since it’s a horrible weakness of mine, it’s true. You found me out!
Mm over the weekend I found a home for my orphaned story The Dubious Magic of Elliot Prince, or Cemetry Gates! Jodi Lee’s Ante Mortem project is the place for it, and I’m ever so pleased. So far I’m sure Aaron Polson and Natalie L. Sin are in the lineup, so–
Eee!
Celebration time. Pretty sure I posted this after I wrote the story, which feels like ages ago, but hey, it’s the Smiths. (And Highgate Cemetery– spelled properly, even!– which is in London apparently. And is not the cemetery in the song, but is obviously beautiful.) Anyhow, one of my favorite Smiths songs, and my inspiration this time around:
It’s also the one I quoted at Danielle on her cool cemetery field trip post. Ugh, what have I become? Sorry, it’s just stuck in my head after this weekend. Can’t help it.
I wrote one called Caroline, No about the same time, but it’s been hanging out in the proverbial drawer until very recently. There was something vague that bugged me about it, but I think it might be fixed now. So if I can think of somewhere to send it, and they actually want it, hey– you get some Beach Boys action. (Don’t all cheer at once. Hey, I like the Beach Boys, dammit.)
Heh, I just visited, Nat’s blog (congrats), then Aaron’s blog (congrats) and now I’m here. Congrats, Katey!
Congratulations!
Hooray for not-dead stories and second chances. I have a feeling this particular anthology will be special.
Woot on Ante Mortem!
As for dialogue, I tend to roll around in it a lot. I do scenes in my head, over and over, until I hit something I like. Mmm, dialogue : )
Congrats! And I love the title.
Congrats, Katey.
I know we’re supposed to read our stuff aloud, but I hate doing it – it always sounds so idiotic with my voice.
Mike and M-G, thanks a lot! I’m excited– obviously, but hey. Felt the need to say it again.
Aaron, I’m getting that feeling too. We can’t be wrong, not BOTH of us.
Nat, I do the same. I’ll go through it a few times in my head and change little things. I LIKE dialogue, it’s just that I talk funny. Yours is always awesome.
Danielle, that’s kind of you– I was worried it was a bit much.
Cate, you know, I think of it as running lines/a scene that I’m supposed to be acting usually. Which would weird me out if not for that whole theater childhood, now that you mention it. How nerdy!
First off – congrats on Dubious Magic! That one’s creepy as hell (well, all of yours are) and deserves a home.
when a scene involves dialogue, I write it out as a script, stage directions and all.
Oooo… I ought to try that. I do something similar – but without the stage directions. One line of dialogue per line – sometimes a quick tag on who’s saying it.
I don’t do it all the time – just when the voices are talking too fast for me to keep up.
One trick I learned for voices – which may or may not work for ANYONE – is to find a character that sounds vaguely like them on TV or movies (or real life…) and then try to hear it in your head. I’m not real consistent with that, either… it works great for some characters but not others.