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Exercise #328: Craft
Posted 8/7/09
Today’s exercise was suggested by Murielle (with help from Carlisle).
How do you keep your characters in character? Your task is to write about how you keep dialog, etc., consistent for your characters. After that, show us a bit of conversation among a tycoon, a ditsy playgirl, a scholar and an adventurer.
Word limit: 200 words for the first section, 500 words for the second
Please use the subject line
SUB: Exercise #328/yourname
How this exercise came about:
Carlisle asked, “I watch a great many Masterpiece Theater movies and most are well written. I only recently noticed a type of writing (the script) that I would find very difficult and thought there may be a trick or skill to help me.
Example: a conversation among a tycoon, a ditsy playgirl, a scholar and an adventurer. Each has a different vocabulary/vernacular and timing (when to speak). As the writer, how do I keep these speakers separate and different from my own voc/vern/timing etc? I'm reminded of the story "Enemy Mine" about the meeting of two men from different planets. Writing and evolving their conversation must have been fun.”
Murielle responded with some tips and the suggestion that this might make a good exercise. I will post her tips again under MISC when Exercise #329 is sent out to the list.
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