It has been a while since I wrote about my writing. I put Naked Alliances in a drawer after my last edits following my beta reads. I wanted to give the MS time to breathe and come back and do a reread to get a fresh perspective on what else it might need.
One of my beta readers is a professional editor. He did a most thorough edit and made some invaluable suggestions on how to improve the manuscript. I have always had a handle on doing realistic dialogue well, but I have struggled with attribution tags and how to avoid them except in the most necessary of situations where more than one person is speaking. Unnecessary speaker attributions slow down your flow. Unless the speaker would be uncertain, giving no attributions makes for a faster exchange.
He suggested what he refers to as “beats” showing the speakers action at that moment. Eg. Rather than, “I think it’s time we left,” he concluded. Try, “I think it’s time we left.” His brow furrowed, his worry obvious.
There is a chapter where I felt the use of dialogue tags was necessary because there are four women talking and I did not want anyone to feel lost in the conversation. Here is a brief excerpt between two or three of the characters that demonstrates how the tags seriously slow down the read. I wanted it contemplative, yet needed something to indicate which of the four are engaged in conversation:
“So sad about Maria,” Patty said with a sigh.
“Not so sure what she saw in that politician,” Sabrina stated.
“I know what she saw and you do, too.”
“Well he’s hot for you now,” Sabrina reminded.
“He’s just a good time for me. I don’t plan to fall in love with him.”
“Maria sure did. Do you think he loved her, too?” asked Sabrina
“Hard to say. His relationship with her was politically motivated. But I don’t think Maria loved him either,” answered Patty.
“You don’t?”
“She lied to him,” Gail interjected. “She put on the act of devoted housewife and mother for his constituency. She partied with us on the sly every chance she got. I feel sorry for Tim and his loss. More than that, I feel sorry for him that she misled him so.”
Here is the exchange cleaned up. It starts with a couple of “beat” sentences and that’s all that is needed until another person joins the conversation and a “beat” is required.
“So sad about Maria.” Patty sighed.
“Not so sure what she saw in that politician.” Sabrina arched her overdone brows.
“I know what she saw and you do, too.”
“Well he’s hot for you now.”
“He’s just a good time for me. I don’t plan to fall in love with him.”
“Maria sure did. Do you think he loved her, too?”
“Hard to say. His relationship with her was politically motivated. But I don’t think Maria loved him either.”
“You don’t?”
“She lied to him.” Gail slammed the photo album closed and pushed it aside. “She put on the act of devoted housewife and mother for his constituency. She partied with us on the sly every chance she got. I feel sorry for Tim and his loss. More than that, I feel sorry for him that she misled him so.”
More examples of “beats” added to the MS:
“Jason Pauly, you don’t run,” Richard said while standing.
“Jason Pauly, you don’t run.” Richard was now on his feet.
“How long do you do it? A year, five, ten?” Sabrina asked.
“How long do you do it? A year, five, ten?” Sabrina’s voice was venomous.
“A lot of folk think bikers are bonkers,” Brandi said.
“A lot of folk think bikers are bonkers.” Brandi laughed and leaned in closer.
While best to have no attribution tags, when required, “beat” sentences show an action identifying the speaker when there are more than two and carry the story forward with momentum.
This is where I am today with my progress on Naked Alliances. I have cleaned up most of the attribution tags. I have a few places where I am tightening up the manuscript and minimizing exposition. Then, it’s done.
I would be out on the boat today if the weather was better, but it’s overcast and windy. Not good for boating.
What are you up to this weekend?
Any time for reading, outlining, writing, editing?
I have a small favor to ask of you nice people: The Rave Reviews Book Club, which you may remember from my earlier posts, is having its annual Rave Awards.
S.K. Nicholls 