Comments for dalefiction

Comment on Many Happy Returns — Dale interviews Dan Roberge by Dale

Dale — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:28:12 +0000

Nana, I don’t have any fixed starting question.

In those interviews, I asked that question first because it I didn’t know the answer, and I wanted to know.

In general, I like to start with a question that invites the character to tell me something interesting that I didn’t know. I’ve written more about this on my writing blog:

http://dalewriting.dale.emery.name/2008/09/10/interviews/

Comment on Many Happy Returns — Dale interviews Dan Roberge by Nana Kwarteng

Nana Kwarteng — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:58:11 +0000

I happen to chance on this link on facebook, and boy, am I glad I did! Interesting really, interviewing your characters. So here’s a question am hoping you could answer, seeing as I think am going to try out your method. It’s simple really: should you always begin the interview by asking your characters what they’re doing in your story?

Comment on Many Happy Returns — Dale interviews Dan Roberge by Interviewing Characters: Follow the Energy « dalewriting

Interviewing Characters: Follow the Energy « dalewriting — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:34:29 +0000

[...] Dan Roberge [...]

Comment on Dinner at Gourlay’s by Dale

Dale — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:35:08 +0000

As far as I can tell, that’s the whole thing. I think it stands on its own, but the ending is a bit preachy.

I suppose it could develop (or I could develop it) into something more, but for now that’s the whole story.

Comment on Dinner at Gourlay’s by Doyle Sinclair

Doyle Sinclair — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:23:36 +0000

Great scene. I thought the dialogue would be a little more oblique, or hidden-agenda, but, I liked it, very much.
Is this part of a work, or just an exercise in writing dialogue?

If the former, I’d love to read more.

Comment on Jeremy Comes Home, Chapter 1, Scene 1, Draft 2 by Lois

Lois — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:20:19 +0000

Hi Dale,
This is poignant. I like the comment about the “same” dust.
I assume he’s not very old if his mother looks down at him, and dragging the backpack shows he’s fairly little.

Only thing that jarred me a bit – I don’t think his mother would call him Jeremy as you have her do fairly early on. If she doesn’t know him and feels he’s playing an ugly prank I don’t think she’d call him by name ever–that suggests an acceptance of who he says he is.
In the “She’s punishing me…” paragraph, you slip out of person when you say “the way HIS dad did…” Make it “the way Dad did, the way Aaron did…”

Lois (from Randy’s blog)

Comment on Jeremy Comes Home, Chapter 1, Scene 1 by Dale

Dale — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:01:38 +0000

This is the first draft. Compare to the second draft.

Comment on Jeremy Comes Home, Chapter 1, Scene 1, Draft 2 by Dale

Dale — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:59:37 +0000

I think this is markedly better than the first draft, but there's still a lot of work to do. For example, there are way too many saidisms. Instead of saying stuff, Jeremy squeaks, shouts, cries, and blurts. I always catch those things when I crit others' work. Bleah. Also, I want to say more of what's going on in Jeremy's head through all of this, and to do it with more grace than I've done here. That's what draft 3 is for. Randy Ingermanson and a host of thoughtful reviewers are critiquing a number of first paragraphs on Randy's Advanced Fiction Writing blog. Check out the helpful feedback they gave me.

Comment on Many Happy Returns Chapter 2 Scene 1 by Dale

Dale — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:52:09 +0000

As it happens, you’re responsible for me getting it right.

A few days ago I read on your web site that you were reading that manual. I knew I needed some pointers on arrest procedure, so I ran out and bought it.

My last line is from that book–a direct lift, or close to it.

I may write an alternate version of this scene. In this version, Dan’s a little too passive and resigned for my taste. Maybe tonight…

And if I write the alternate version, I’ll include include both versions in my word count.

Comment on Many Happy Returns Chapter 2 Scene 1 by Richard Crawford

Richard Crawford — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:25:19 +0000

That last line was funny. I just got finished reading in a police manual how the rights don’t actually have to be read until the person being arrested is at the station. I was gonna call you on it, too.