Publishing Your Book: Tips for Plotting and Dialogue
Jot down your idea As the idea begins to take shape, ask questions…what if…what if… Work on your characters. They will be essential to the development of the plot It is important to put flesh on them at an early stage so that they can respond to the demands of the plot When a major event is going to happen lay clues along the way so that the reader believe this is a natural development. Examples – a casual comment between two characters, an observation, a letter – it does not have to be an elaborate devise but it must set the scene Personal sources: incidents you can fictionalise, newspaper reports, impressions, smells, colours – all add substance to the plot A plot can be action-driven – or some internal struggle going on in the mind of one of your characters Use dialogue to move the story along – keep conversations as natural and spontaneous as possible Read your work aloud–dialogue should sound natural to your ear When describing people, don’t go the easy option and state that your character has lovely blue eyes. Make your sentences work for you, relaying information, moving the plot along. Her gaze, blue, unflinching, terrified him. Avoid clichés, except in dialogue. If using irony or sarcasm, make it obvious in the dialogue, rather than flatly stating it Develop a structure. Decide what voice you are going to use, what tense, how are you going to pace the story An occasional coincidence (such as an overheard conversation) can help a plot along – but don’t depend on them
Tips for Plotting and Dialogue Use descriptions of places and people to move the plot along. Wonderfully written scenes that have no function other than showing off your skill as a writer will eventually weary the reader – so avoid them No matter whether you are writing - the most extraordinary fantasy or a domestic family story – the plot must be credible. Readers will allow a suspension of disbelief – as long as you don’t insult their intelligence