tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post3632950552212291425..comments2024-03-29T03:30:18.368-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Lessons Learned From Writing Scripts and ActingDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-4635547918714490742017-05-07T08:05:12.158-06:002017-05-07T08:05:12.158-06:00No "ifs" about it, Polly. You will finis...No "ifs" about it, Polly. You will finish. That is your pep talk from me.<br /><br />Like you, I find the dialogue attributives annoying in the audio books, and not so much when reading. I think our eyes tend to skip over them in print. I know for years I loved reading Robert B. Parker's books, but it drives me crazy to listen to them. The constant "saids" are an assault. I think I mentioned in a previous post here that I wish narrators would have permission to skip them, especially the narrators who are so good with voices. It is clear who is speaking when there are only two people in the scene. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-12414564156081185712017-05-04T11:44:24.569-06:002017-05-04T11:44:24.569-06:00I love this post, Maryann. Timing in dialogue is s...I love this post, Maryann. Timing in dialogue is so important. I'm listening to an audio of a book by a very famous writer, and almost every attribution has an adverb: she said softly. It's driving me crazy. I don't know whether I "hear" it more than when I "read" it, but it does diminish my estimation of the author. I look forward to getting back to my play. I may take the online course from Aaron Sorkin when I finish my WIP. IF I finish it.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-68203267937320606032017-05-04T08:02:03.097-06:002017-05-04T08:02:03.097-06:00I have done the same thing with a couple of my boo...I have done the same thing with a couple of my books, but did screenplays instead of stage plays. And I did learn a lot from writing the scripts, which I then applied to a rewrite of the books. I love lessons learned. :-)<br />Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-62596184690903199652017-05-03T18:15:15.881-06:002017-05-03T18:15:15.881-06:00I recently offered to turn my current wip into a p...I recently offered to turn my current wip into a play for my children's school to produce. While I haven't finished the book yet, I did start the first few scenes of the play and realised straight away that it is going to be an excellent way to revise the book. So I'll finish the first draft first, but I'm already looking forward to turning this into a play and then using what I learn in translation to improve the book.Elle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91073403068249903592017-05-03T14:29:30.771-06:002017-05-03T14:29:30.771-06:00We're in good company with Stephen King and El...We're in good company with Stephen King and Elmore Leonard. :-)Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-51994919121610410342017-05-03T14:26:39.987-06:002017-05-03T14:26:39.987-06:00I knew you would connect with this, since you are ...I knew you would connect with this, since you are a playwright. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-68329330237087239292017-05-03T13:47:48.682-06:002017-05-03T13:47:48.682-06:00I identify completely. I'm in the middle of a...I identify completely. I'm in the middle of a new script and am so aware of the rhythms. Reading it aloud makes it clear.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-81550685210361109332017-05-03T09:48:07.689-06:002017-05-03T09:48:07.689-06:00I'm with you on the adverbs. Ack!I'm with you on the adverbs. Ack!Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-80846601446952335352017-05-03T09:42:41.605-06:002017-05-03T09:42:41.605-06:00Glad you found the post helpful, Linda. The first ...Glad you found the post helpful, Linda. The first screenplay I wrote was full of adverbs. The writing instructor just red-lined them all. LOLMaryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22144718509331534692017-05-03T09:41:24.663-06:002017-05-03T09:41:24.663-06:00Thanks for the affirmation, Diana. That collaborat...Thanks for the affirmation, Diana. That collaborative effort between writer, actor and director has taught me so much, especially as I have played on all sides of the collaboration. Seeing the story from three viewpoints is quite an interesting exercise.<br />Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22085005040008314622017-05-03T08:04:59.431-06:002017-05-03T08:04:59.431-06:00Ah, yes, those pesky adverbs...they do get in the ...Ah, yes, those pesky adverbs...they do get in the way of snappy dialogue. Lots of good advice in this excellent post, Maryann. Writing great dialogue is an art form that can literally pull the reader into a scene. Use it to your advantage, and your story will improve by leaps and bounds.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-89813581631478855772017-05-03T07:16:39.765-06:002017-05-03T07:16:39.765-06:00Great tips and examples, especially: don't tel...Great tips and examples, especially: don't tell your actors how to speak.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.com