Week six

We were only eight this week, sad that some couldn't make it, but also a very good number for discussion. This week's homework was dialogue. 'If you like, use characters you've already written about. You might even want to 'convert' an earlier descriptive narrative. If you have little time, just do Stage 1...

STAGE 1
Two characters are 'talking'. Pretend it's a script, with no prose at all in between. Your characters are in conflict (that doesn't necessarily mean an argument.) Make the dialogue work very very hard. Consider the possibilities of irony, misunderstanding, humour, subtext, differing perspectives, contrast between voices... What is NOT said?

STAGE 2
IF you have time, go back and add only the most necessary prose in between the speaking parts:
-- to identify or locate characters (eg "she was still in her school uniform", "he was sitting on a pile of fur coats", "they had reached the top floor where the view...", "It was 1789 and Paris was...")
-- to clarify important or unspoken action (eg "he dropped the gun", "her perfume reminded him of his stepmother", "the car didn't stop", "the chandeliers shook with the first roll of thunder"...)

STAGE 3
Please bring clear copies to class next week. Your work will be read out by others.'

Matt sent his dialogue as his apologies:

Man on park bench. Dog on string.

Grumpy man: "I've heard that he won't be able to make Elise's class tonight. Typical"

Small dog: "Yap, yap, yap"

Grumpy man: "Yes, yes I think you are right, he won't make next week either"

Small dog: "Yap"

Grumpy man: "I'm not as worried as you. But I do think, next time you see him, it would be useful if you subtly raised the whole dedication and commitment thing to the artist's way"

Small dog: "Yap, yap, woof"

Grumpy man: "Subtly, I said, there is no need to be extremist or set unecessary cats running."

I was entertained :-)

Comments from the class:
Try and follow the emotional logic, do the reactions make sense?
Dialogue always gets hugely pared down in editing
If speech gets interrupted use a - (long dash) at the end
Good scene of dialogue has a turn of events/moment where a revelation lands
Easy to be disingenous and mislead the reader