Dialogue Flow

Dialogue is an emotional landscape with action shaping characters different from another and often opposing with conflict.  Start with dialogue to create a sense of action, simple dialogue tags are said and asked.

Characters experience sights, smells, sounds, and sensations through some descriptive dialogue. 

     “Not to worry, I can use the phone inside,” Jay said.  There was a heavy salty fish smell blown in from the beaches and the air was unusually dry Jay noticed.  He turned sweeping his arm toward the ocean.

Give concise dialogue a purpose advancing the story with action.  For interior monologue stop dialogue for a few sentences, describe your character's thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

     Next to the car a black retriever was walking unleashed down the street, in front of a blond man and woman, they were both overweight.  They didn’t really look familiar.

     There had been loud crashing noises and shouts outside the night before.  Anna thought it could have been them.  She turned from the side curtain and walked to her bedroom. 

Maintain curiosity and alternate sentence length to stretch the tension in an exciting scene, for the reader to find the answer.

     He stood looking at another erupting solar flare arm; it bent first then its point stretched directly for earth.

     "There’s always a job for energy,” Nar said.  “Even people are placed energy to be guided by us.  They attach to our chosen energy; from repetition in actions and thought.  They continue unable to change then they are forever secured.”

     “Anyone that strays too close is attached,” Ilyon admitted, pursing his lips. 

Break up the dialogue sentence with descriptive character action, a pause and show the reader an instant of suspense.  Foreshadowing gives the reader an advance hint, a warning of what's going to happen.

Place details, elements, or information in your story that the reader can expect to connect the importance of later.

     “Contact our dimension and tell them to increase Wave Links,” Nar said.  “We will give the people on earth many more intruding thoughts to think about than they have ever realized possible.”

The main character learns something end the chapter with a cliffhanger.

Write down everything that occurs to you.  You can edit later during the revision stage.

Read out loud to check for clarity, logic, and flow.

Narrative Flow

In narrative description a place or character drives the story, it sets the mood.  Sight, sound, taste, smell, and feel the surroundings or conflict with another character.  Crisp air is an example to set the mood for a reader.  The reader is shown by surroundings, and with characters in descriptive action.  Narrative moves the story forward.  The flow of the following paragraph increases drama and the reader will want to know what happens next.  The progression of events or what comes next with description engage the reader.

Slightly to his right, just below the mountain top a gigantic shimmering red flat cloud was forming.  Throughout the cloud there were small bright white flashes, and then they stopped.  Now taking shape from the cloud, a red glowing disk had appeared on the mountain side.

The next paragraph is how he reacts to the red glowing disk.  Narrative can be used to help develop a character and settings.  What you clearly define in your experience, is the reaction you want your reader to be involved in.

Use narrative instead when characters are having too much dialogue with their personal thoughts.

Sound, Smell, Feel: Cold air was bringing the heavy mold smell of old growth forest into the van, Nancy shivered.  Near the road a loud low to chilling high pitched scream pierced the air lingering.  It turned to rolling shrill screams; and ended with deep coughing, it was a mountain lion.  That gave Nancy another reason to shiver, she immediately closed her window.

Taste: “Coffee yes that sounds good,” Knoton said, standing in the office door.  He breathed in, the air distinctly smelled of coffee.  He raised his coffee cup.

Conflict: They had walked to where Nar sat.  He thought he had been talking too quietly for Nar to hear him but he was wrong.

Nar gave them a cool gaze and smiled.  “We are at the pick-up site.”

Nar watched the loading crew walk silently back across the war room and the entry doors slid solidly shut behind them.

Writing Dialogue, Narrative, And Action

“He said”, or “she asked”, indicates who’s speaking.  Don’t force your reader to re-read and figure out who's saying what, especially when several characters are conversing.

When using direct dialogue; it sets the scene, advances plot, reminds the reader, shows who the characters are and reflects the theme. Dialogue does many things at once.

     “You’re right,” Jay said, as he switched off his speaker phone.

     Anna drove into Jay’s circular drive.  She saw him inside leave the front windows and step outside to greet her.

     “It’s great to see you again Anna,” Jay said.  “I’m happy you came down.”

     “It’s wonderful to see you Jay,” Anna said.  “It hasn’t been that long since I was here.”

     Anna stepped out of her car and faced Jay.

Dialogue changes with challenge between characters, gives each word purpose and sets the tone.  When opening a scene, dialogue challenges can effectively increase the reader’s interest.  Plot rather than character driven stories; generally use dialogue with action, showing and moving the story quickly with less narrative.

     “You’ll be leaving right away?” Leo asked.

     “Yes my cousin Anna is on her way down; so I will shop for a few groceries,” the Commander said.  “After we have lunch we can come to the Post.  You can show her our new additions Leo, she will like that."

Narrative can tell character emotion, feelings and describe when needed.  Narrative summery tells and without a lot of detail transitions to the next scene. 

Decide when to show or tell; characters emotions and feelings, to engage readers in the experience. 
     Slow diving through the strange thick fog for over an hour, brought her out into a thin mist that sparkled with gold sun streaks.  Anna felt a sweep of relief; finally she had navigated out of the strange fog.    

Time Balance For Writing.

A balance between your web sites/blogs, to research realistic fiction, and novel writing is important.  Realistic writing should be believable to engage your reader.  Research your writing for details that your reader will find more interesting.

Using reliable internet sites can be a fast way to research.

Visit your library, and if your library is online with your library card you can research.

Photographs travel, and interviews can provide information and inspiration.

Read books in your genre and what is best selling can help to make decisions.

Television may have presentations dated or not.

Newspapers may have online options.

Sources should give accurate up to date information.

Some of the best fiction comes from real life.

Some details help craft your story to include your readers.

What is really thought of or voiced in conversation.

The scent of fir trees or other short descriptions give a real visual depth.

Show readers through character action and interaction.

Always take notes to streamline your process.

A rested clear mind is important.

**Research for the elements of your novel**

Conflict – weaving the drama elements of the novel together.  Use action with some stirring dialogue.

Character – learning to do something beyond their flaws through the course of the novel.  Each character prompts the other to action or a situation can prompt to action.

Structure & Plot – the basic three act structure.

Act 1 – introduction to setting and character; with some dialogue that drives the main character into the conflicting story situation.

Act 2 – the story develops through obstacles temporarily resolved, each through a rise then falling of tension.  These lead to tension and the ultimate crisis confrontation.

Act 3 – The crisis, tension and loose end story threads are rapidly resolved.  A readers interest is not held long, complete the novel.

Read your novel again.  It should sound right with researched information.

Think of high end reviews in advance, they are an important quality indicator and show people your novel is available.