Tag: conversation

I’m writing a NA romance, and I just realized I may be straining to meet the requirements of the Bechdel test. I have several female characters, including my protagonist, but so much of the plot revolves around her relationship with men. Do you have any tips? Should I maybe add an unrelated subplot?

stephanieatillman

fixyourwritinghabits: You must remember that the Bechdel test is not the height of everything and on top of that you are writing a romance, where your main focus is going to be on said romance. In order to meet the… Read moreI’m writing a NA romance, and I just realized I may be straining to meet the requirements of the Bechdel test. I have several female characters, including my protagonist, but so much of the plot revolves around her relationship with men. Do you have any tips? Should I maybe add an unrelated subplot?

I’m writing a NA romance, and I just realized I may be straining to meet the requirements of the Bechdel test. I have several female characters, including my protagonist, but so much of the plot revolves around her relationship with men. Do you have any tips? Should I maybe add an unrelated subplot?

stephanieatillman

fixyourwritinghabits: You must remember that the Bechdel test is not the height of everything and on top of that you are writing a romance, where your main focus is going to be on said romance. In order to meet the… Read moreI’m writing a NA romance, and I just realized I may be straining to meet the requirements of the Bechdel test. I have several female characters, including my protagonist, but so much of the plot revolves around her relationship with men. Do you have any tips? Should I maybe add an unrelated subplot?

Hello! In my writing, I tend to be overly descriptive (some call it floral) and when it comes to a fight, I try to balance floral with fast, quick and decisive. i.e. describing the shape and color of a weapon or the way light moves across it while it’s moving towards the other combatant, then jumping through one or two blows quickly. This can happen at any point in the fight, depending on how long it is. My question is, do you think this style would be interesting if well done?

stephanieatillman

howtofightwrite: The word you’re looking for is “flowery”. Unless your writing is actually depicting flowers then it isn’t floral. Floral patterns. Floral arrangements. Flowery writing as in “overly-descriptive” and even “purple prose”. The secondary definition of flowery is “marked by or given… Read moreHello! In my writing, I tend to be overly descriptive (some call it floral) and when it comes to a fight, I try to balance floral with fast, quick and decisive. i.e. describing the shape and color of a weapon or the way light moves across it while it’s moving towards the other combatant, then jumping through one or two blows quickly. This can happen at any point in the fight, depending on how long it is. My question is, do you think this style would be interesting if well done?

Hello! In my writing, I tend to be overly descriptive (some call it floral) and when it comes to a fight, I try to balance floral with fast, quick and decisive. i.e. describing the shape and color of a weapon or the way light moves across it while it’s moving towards the other combatant, then jumping through one or two blows quickly. This can happen at any point in the fight, depending on how long it is. My question is, do you think this style would be interesting if well done?

stephanieatillman

howtofightwrite: The word you’re looking for is “flowery”. Unless your writing is actually depicting flowers then it isn’t floral. Floral patterns. Floral arrangements. Flowery writing as in “overly-descriptive” and even “purple prose”. The secondary definition of flowery is “marked by or given… Read moreHello! In my writing, I tend to be overly descriptive (some call it floral) and when it comes to a fight, I try to balance floral with fast, quick and decisive. i.e. describing the shape and color of a weapon or the way light moves across it while it’s moving towards the other combatant, then jumping through one or two blows quickly. This can happen at any point in the fight, depending on how long it is. My question is, do you think this style would be interesting if well done?

I have an insanely bad time writing dialogue. Any advice on how to write it more smoothly?

stephanieatillman

This is a toughie! I used to be the same way, actually. And then one day, I suddenly started getting compliments on my dialogue. It was so surreal! The big things here are research and practice. Find books, movies, and… Read moreI have an insanely bad time writing dialogue. Any advice on how to write it more smoothly?

I have an insanely bad time writing dialogue. Any advice on how to write it more smoothly?

stephanieatillman

This is a toughie! I used to be the same way, actually. And then one day, I suddenly started getting compliments on my dialogue. It was so surreal! The big things here are research and practice. Find books, movies, and… Read moreI have an insanely bad time writing dialogue. Any advice on how to write it more smoothly?

I think your description of counseling as “an hour long conversation” is fairly spot on; the importance of being able to outline your thoughts out loud to someone else who you don’t know is not often appreciated. That said, it did not work for me, as I cannot talk to anyone. But for most people, I’d say it’d work very well. That’s my position. But what do I know?

stephanieatillman

Thanks! I’m glad it felt accurate for you. That sucks. :/ But everybody is different, and I hope you find the help you need. 🙂 Thank you for the feedback and for sharing your experience with us!

I think your description of counseling as “an hour long conversation” is fairly spot on; the importance of being able to outline your thoughts out loud to someone else who you don’t know is not often appreciated. That said, it did not work for me, as I cannot talk to anyone. But for most people, I’d say it’d work very well. That’s my position. But what do I know?

stephanieatillman

Thanks! I’m glad it felt accurate for you. That sucks. :/ But everybody is different, and I hope you find the help you need. 🙂 Thank you for the feedback and for sharing your experience with us!

When I write a scene with more than just a couple characters, I find it hard to include them all. Usually the people with more personality or the people who are more important to the story take over the dialogue. Idk how to put in input from others

stephanieatillman

If you can, try to get some friends together–preferably as many as the characters in your scene–and see how they interact with each other. Does anyone stay quiet and only occasionally talk? Does anyone comment on this? Does anyone try… Read moreWhen I write a scene with more than just a couple characters, I find it hard to include them all. Usually the people with more personality or the people who are more important to the story take over the dialogue. Idk how to put in input from others

When I write a scene with more than just a couple characters, I find it hard to include them all. Usually the people with more personality or the people who are more important to the story take over the dialogue. Idk how to put in input from others

stephanieatillman

If you can, try to get some friends together–preferably as many as the characters in your scene–and see how they interact with each other. Does anyone stay quiet and only occasionally talk? Does anyone comment on this? Does anyone try… Read moreWhen I write a scene with more than just a couple characters, I find it hard to include them all. Usually the people with more personality or the people who are more important to the story take over the dialogue. Idk how to put in input from others