Allison Symes's Blog, page 9
March 16, 2024
Dialogue in Fiction
One thing writers need to be aware of is dialogue in fiction can’t match exactly what we come up with in life. Well, nobody wants to read lots of hesitations, repetitions which are not done for effect (and look like mistakes by the author), info dumps and so on.
So dialogue in fiction has to “tidy up” what we would come up for real. Dialogue in fiction has to serve the needs of the characters (and, even more importantly, the readers).
The truly great stories get this spot on. You can imagine the characters speaking. What are they saying moves the story on and you are gripped by their conversation. That is the purpose of fictional dialogue.
Dialogue in fiction serves many purposes. It shares information. It reveals information from one character to another which furthers the plot. But whatever the intention of the author here, the dialogue must make us want to read on.
As readers, we need to be convinced by the dialogue the writer is sharing with us. (We have to be convinced this is what characters, as portrayed, would say if they were real).
I love writing dialogue. What I have to watch is to ensure I am putting dialogue into a story for a good reason. I could easily get my characters into conversational ping-pong.
So what I do to ensure I don’t do this is ask what does this dialogue do for the story? If it helps in any way, which it should do, it stays in. Else it gets cut.
Great fictional dialogue shows you so much about the characters. In the Wodehouse stories, I can’t imagine Jeeves and Wooster speaking in any other way. The way the two speak (generally and to each other) confirms their portrayal and is so wonderfully done. That’s just to name one example.
Agatha Christie is consistent with how she gets Poirot and Miss Marple to speak. That matters too.
Consistency confirms characterisation. It is what we expect from the characters we like and loathe.
Character dialogue adds so much to the stories and books I enjoy, when done correctly. It acts as a good challenge for me to get it right with my characters too!
So dialogue in fiction has to “tidy up” what we would come up for real. Dialogue in fiction has to serve the needs of the characters (and, even more importantly, the readers).
The truly great stories get this spot on. You can imagine the characters speaking. What are they saying moves the story on and you are gripped by their conversation. That is the purpose of fictional dialogue.
Dialogue in fiction serves many purposes. It shares information. It reveals information from one character to another which furthers the plot. But whatever the intention of the author here, the dialogue must make us want to read on.
As readers, we need to be convinced by the dialogue the writer is sharing with us. (We have to be convinced this is what characters, as portrayed, would say if they were real).
I love writing dialogue. What I have to watch is to ensure I am putting dialogue into a story for a good reason. I could easily get my characters into conversational ping-pong.
So what I do to ensure I don’t do this is ask what does this dialogue do for the story? If it helps in any way, which it should do, it stays in. Else it gets cut.
Great fictional dialogue shows you so much about the characters. In the Wodehouse stories, I can’t imagine Jeeves and Wooster speaking in any other way. The way the two speak (generally and to each other) confirms their portrayal and is so wonderfully done. That’s just to name one example.
Agatha Christie is consistent with how she gets Poirot and Miss Marple to speak. That matters too.
Consistency confirms characterisation. It is what we expect from the characters we like and loathe.
Character dialogue adds so much to the stories and books I enjoy, when done correctly. It acts as a good challenge for me to get it right with my characters too!
March 9, 2024
World Book Day
I like the whole concept of World Book Day (which was just held on 7th March 2024). Having said that, judging by the writers I know and this goes for me too, there isn’t a day ever when a book doesn’t feature in it somewhere. Often it is more than one book too!
I like the way children are encouraged to think of/dress up as their favourite characters. Books are meant to be interactive in that they draw you into their worlds. It’s one of the aspects of reading I love most. You really can lose yourself in a good book.
I should imagine the most difficult comes from deciding which character is your favourite, which is the one to dress up as this year etc.
I was never into dressing up but books have been a major feature of my life since very early days. I have my late mother to thank for encouraging that love of reading.
She taught me to read before I started school. She was moaned at for “doing it the wrong way” but I’ve never felt her way of doing it was wrong, far from it.
She herself read everything from history to science fiction (H.G. Wells in particular for that) so she can’t have been doing too much wrong!
I don’t know which favourite character I would dress up if I was the right age for this. Mind you, given I am not endowed with a great height, I suspect I would end up dressing as a hobbit! (Before you ask, I don’t have hairy feet. Just want to be clear on that point!).
I hope everyone taking part had a fabulous World Book Day and it enthuses all ages for reading more until the next one comes around again.
I like the way children are encouraged to think of/dress up as their favourite characters. Books are meant to be interactive in that they draw you into their worlds. It’s one of the aspects of reading I love most. You really can lose yourself in a good book.
I should imagine the most difficult comes from deciding which character is your favourite, which is the one to dress up as this year etc.
I was never into dressing up but books have been a major feature of my life since very early days. I have my late mother to thank for encouraging that love of reading.
She taught me to read before I started school. She was moaned at for “doing it the wrong way” but I’ve never felt her way of doing it was wrong, far from it.
She herself read everything from history to science fiction (H.G. Wells in particular for that) so she can’t have been doing too much wrong!
I don’t know which favourite character I would dress up if I was the right age for this. Mind you, given I am not endowed with a great height, I suspect I would end up dressing as a hobbit! (Before you ask, I don’t have hairy feet. Just want to be clear on that point!).
I hope everyone taking part had a fabulous World Book Day and it enthuses all ages for reading more until the next one comes around again.
March 2, 2024
Taking In Stories
One of the things I love most about stories is there are so many ways to take them in.
My favourite will always be the paperback, followed by the hardback, followed jointly by ebooks and audio. I especially love audio books for long journeys and will look forward to hearing some old favourites again when I go on holiday later in the year.
But don’t forget audio itself comes in more than one medium. Stories on radio work astonishingly well, whether they are readings from books or plays (which are scripted stories).
Also film and TV can share stories amazingly well. The Lord of the Rings film trilogy directed by Peter Jackson got members of my family into that terrific story.
They would never have read the book. I had read it, loved it, and thought the film trilogy did the original justice. (Though I must admit I would have liked the films to have included what really happened to Saruman after Sauron’s fall).
I also love the fact adaptations to help breathe new life into classic books. Win-win for the written word there I think.
My favourite will always be the paperback, followed by the hardback, followed jointly by ebooks and audio. I especially love audio books for long journeys and will look forward to hearing some old favourites again when I go on holiday later in the year.
But don’t forget audio itself comes in more than one medium. Stories on radio work astonishingly well, whether they are readings from books or plays (which are scripted stories).
Also film and TV can share stories amazingly well. The Lord of the Rings film trilogy directed by Peter Jackson got members of my family into that terrific story.
They would never have read the book. I had read it, loved it, and thought the film trilogy did the original justice. (Though I must admit I would have liked the films to have included what really happened to Saruman after Sauron’s fall).
I also love the fact adaptations to help breathe new life into classic books. Win-win for the written word there I think.
February 24, 2024
Non-Fiction and Fiction - Where Worlds Combine
I love reading history, fiction and non-fiction. Just sometimes the worlds cross.
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey is one of my favourite books and is the only novel to have made me change my opinion about a historical figure - Richard III. The fictional story of Tey’s Inspector Alan Grant is woven with history beautifully but it is still fiction.
I’ve read Philippa Langley’s books on her search for Richard III’s remains and, her current book, The Princes in the Tower. I am sure Josephine Tey would’ve loved both of them.
But in this case it was a fictional work which got me interested in the actual history here.
Fiction has led into greater non-fiction interest here and this is a good thing. I love it when different types of book feed into each other.
Fiction and non-fiction are equally wonderful things.
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey is one of my favourite books and is the only novel to have made me change my opinion about a historical figure - Richard III. The fictional story of Tey’s Inspector Alan Grant is woven with history beautifully but it is still fiction.
I’ve read Philippa Langley’s books on her search for Richard III’s remains and, her current book, The Princes in the Tower. I am sure Josephine Tey would’ve loved both of them.
But in this case it was a fictional work which got me interested in the actual history here.
Fiction has led into greater non-fiction interest here and this is a good thing. I love it when different types of book feed into each other.
Fiction and non-fiction are equally wonderful things.
February 17, 2024
Series Books or Stand Alones?
Do you prefer series books or stand alones?
Naturally, I am sure most of us would say we love both of these forms of novel. I certainly do. But both have their own advantages.
In series books, you have the advantage of following characters over the course of several novels and see them develop.
My favourite example is the Discworld series by the much missed Terry Pratchett. The Vimes books within this show him going from a drunk to a phenomenally brave man with a wife (the brilliant Lady Sybil, who is a great role model) and child and how he transforms the City Watch into a decent police unit.
But there are some books where a writer says all they have to say about a character in one gripping story and they’re right not to carry that on.
I don’t know if this series/stand alone debate particularly refers to crime fiction (as the Vimes books are crime novels set in a fantasy world so cross crime/fantasy/humour and to fabulous effect).
Certainly if an author is new to me, I will only read one book of theirs, see how I get on, and then go on to read the others in their series or not as the case may be.
If you have series or stand alone recommendations, do share!
Meantime I carry on very happily reading both kinds.
Naturally, I am sure most of us would say we love both of these forms of novel. I certainly do. But both have their own advantages.
In series books, you have the advantage of following characters over the course of several novels and see them develop.
My favourite example is the Discworld series by the much missed Terry Pratchett. The Vimes books within this show him going from a drunk to a phenomenally brave man with a wife (the brilliant Lady Sybil, who is a great role model) and child and how he transforms the City Watch into a decent police unit.
But there are some books where a writer says all they have to say about a character in one gripping story and they’re right not to carry that on.
I don’t know if this series/stand alone debate particularly refers to crime fiction (as the Vimes books are crime novels set in a fantasy world so cross crime/fantasy/humour and to fabulous effect).
Certainly if an author is new to me, I will only read one book of theirs, see how I get on, and then go on to read the others in their series or not as the case may be.
If you have series or stand alone recommendations, do share!
Meantime I carry on very happily reading both kinds.
February 10, 2024
Themes In Stories
Do you have favourite themes for stories?
I think mostly this is an unconscious thing. I know I like to see justice done, to name one example of a theme, so this is one reason why I love the classic fairytales, where it generally is done.
I also like crime novels where justice is done. (It is one reason why I love the Agatha Christie books).I don’t like the ones where justice is perverted.
But I pick the fairytale or crime novel to read based on what I can read of the plot outline and then decide whether it is for me or not. It is funny though how favourite themes do come out time and again in what I choose to read.
As for themes I like to write to, I do like the character who turns out to be more than what others expected.
Again I’ve got fairytales to thank for that one, especially The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christen Andersen. It is a good lesson in not judging by appearances, another theme I love reading about/writing for.
The best stories do have timeless themes behind them. Writers will always have something to say about these things. These themes will always have resonance with readers.
Certain things about us as a species will not change which is why these themes resonate and why they make such great stories.
I think mostly this is an unconscious thing. I know I like to see justice done, to name one example of a theme, so this is one reason why I love the classic fairytales, where it generally is done.
I also like crime novels where justice is done. (It is one reason why I love the Agatha Christie books).I don’t like the ones where justice is perverted.
But I pick the fairytale or crime novel to read based on what I can read of the plot outline and then decide whether it is for me or not. It is funny though how favourite themes do come out time and again in what I choose to read.
As for themes I like to write to, I do like the character who turns out to be more than what others expected.
Again I’ve got fairytales to thank for that one, especially The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christen Andersen. It is a good lesson in not judging by appearances, another theme I love reading about/writing for.
The best stories do have timeless themes behind them. Writers will always have something to say about these things. These themes will always have resonance with readers.
Certain things about us as a species will not change which is why these themes resonate and why they make such great stories.
February 3, 2024
Stories in Other Forms
No huge surprises here, folks, when I reveal my favourite forms of story are always in the pages of a book! That goes for ebooks too as that is a case of electronic pages! However, I love taking in stories in other forms too.
As well as audio books, I love taking in stories through the radio. My favourite here was a broadcast unabridged reading of Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time. Having heard the story, I then went and got the book.
Film can be another way of getting stories across (and is how other members of my family discovered the wonders of The Lord of the Rings. They would not have sat and read the trilogy but adored the Peter Jackson movies).
Recently I’ve reviewed a performance of The Sleeping Beauty, staged by my local excellent amateur dramatic company, for my weekly column on an online magazine (Chandler’s Ford Today).
Naturally I know the fairy story well. I love pantomime, a wonderful British theatrical tradition which is thought to date back to the 16th century. Pantomime is brilliant in bringing the fairytales to life literally in front of your eyes. It is fun, produces huge laughs, and is a superb way of getting the stories to people. People remember these too.
Acting out stories is wonderful when done well. It keeps the stories alive. I would hope it would encourage people to go and check out the original tales in their written form too.
As well as audio books, I love taking in stories through the radio. My favourite here was a broadcast unabridged reading of Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time. Having heard the story, I then went and got the book.
Film can be another way of getting stories across (and is how other members of my family discovered the wonders of The Lord of the Rings. They would not have sat and read the trilogy but adored the Peter Jackson movies).
Recently I’ve reviewed a performance of The Sleeping Beauty, staged by my local excellent amateur dramatic company, for my weekly column on an online magazine (Chandler’s Ford Today).
Naturally I know the fairy story well. I love pantomime, a wonderful British theatrical tradition which is thought to date back to the 16th century. Pantomime is brilliant in bringing the fairytales to life literally in front of your eyes. It is fun, produces huge laughs, and is a superb way of getting the stories to people. People remember these too.
Acting out stories is wonderful when done well. It keeps the stories alive. I would hope it would encourage people to go and check out the original tales in their written form too.
January 27, 2024
What Books Do For Us
Aptly, I could write chapter and verse on this one but I will limit it.
Books are one of the best inventions we’ve come up with as a species. Books entertain us and take us away from our cares for a while. Books educate us. Books inspire us.
Reading encourages empathy as we follow what characters do and root for them to succeed. In the case of villains where we’re normally rooting for them to fail, there is still some empathy here usually for what the hero has to overcome.
Sometimes you can see where the villains are coming from but still don’t agree with their actions. So again there is some empathy. Encouraging empathy is good for us per se.
And then there are the stories of the writers who bring us the books we love. The stories of how they overcame difficulties and became published authors inspire so many and do continue to inspire me though I am now published myself.
In writing books, authors have to think about their characters, what they’re going to do, what the plot line is going to be and so on. Working all of that out has to be beneficial for the brain, I would have thought.
Certainly I know writing inspires me to try and write more and better. The striving behind writing and bringing books out is a good thing too.
I’ve loved the rise of the indie press, partly because I am published by them, but mainly because they are bringing more books to more people and giving more authors a voice.
Last but definitely not least, there is a genre and format of book to suit everyone - ebooks, audio books, crime fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, and all manner of other genres and formats.
Books are meant to be enjoyed. Long live the book!
Books are one of the best inventions we’ve come up with as a species. Books entertain us and take us away from our cares for a while. Books educate us. Books inspire us.
Reading encourages empathy as we follow what characters do and root for them to succeed. In the case of villains where we’re normally rooting for them to fail, there is still some empathy here usually for what the hero has to overcome.
Sometimes you can see where the villains are coming from but still don’t agree with their actions. So again there is some empathy. Encouraging empathy is good for us per se.
And then there are the stories of the writers who bring us the books we love. The stories of how they overcame difficulties and became published authors inspire so many and do continue to inspire me though I am now published myself.
In writing books, authors have to think about their characters, what they’re going to do, what the plot line is going to be and so on. Working all of that out has to be beneficial for the brain, I would have thought.
Certainly I know writing inspires me to try and write more and better. The striving behind writing and bringing books out is a good thing too.
I’ve loved the rise of the indie press, partly because I am published by them, but mainly because they are bringing more books to more people and giving more authors a voice.
Last but definitely not least, there is a genre and format of book to suit everyone - ebooks, audio books, crime fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, and all manner of other genres and formats.
Books are meant to be enjoyed. Long live the book!
January 20, 2024
The Value of Story Collections
I write for story collections as well as having my own flash fiction books out with Chapeltown Books. So I appreciate story collections and have a number on my shelves, including those I have not written for.
I love novels. I love short stories. I love mixing up reading longer work with shorter work. I think short story and flash fiction collections are invaluable additions to my book shelves.
Story collections are perfect for dipping into, especially when you don’t have as much time to read as you would like. It happens.
From my viewpoint as a writer, I have found at book events, it is easy to share a little bit from my collections to show what flash fiction is and can be. I’ve made sales that way! People love being read to and indeed I love this myself.
So when you are wondering what your next book should be, why not turn to the shorter form and try out a collection or two? They are also excellent for introducing you to other writers. I’ve come across great writers, whose works I’ve loved, this way.
I love novels. I love short stories. I love mixing up reading longer work with shorter work. I think short story and flash fiction collections are invaluable additions to my book shelves.
Story collections are perfect for dipping into, especially when you don’t have as much time to read as you would like. It happens.
From my viewpoint as a writer, I have found at book events, it is easy to share a little bit from my collections to show what flash fiction is and can be. I’ve made sales that way! People love being read to and indeed I love this myself.
So when you are wondering what your next book should be, why not turn to the shorter form and try out a collection or two? They are also excellent for introducing you to other writers. I’ve come across great writers, whose works I’ve loved, this way.
January 13, 2024
Making History Gripping
Making history gripping is something that applies to fiction and non-fiction. Given a writer is telling the story of something that has happened or a biography of a historical figure, it should be gripping to read.
History is so full of drama and vivid characters, it should catch the reader’s attention and hold it until we get to the end.
Am currently reading historical non-fiction and loving it. Hope to review in due course but what I love about this particular book is the way in which evidence is presented for the case the author is making. It shows the facts and resources used and you just have to read on to find out what will be uncovered next.
I also love creative non-fiction here as history often comes up in this. Creative non-fiction can give a kind of licence to fill in the gaps where facts are not known but it has to be done in context with what is known.
A reader has to feel that this is plausible given what is known.
I enjoy history in hardback, paperback, and the Kindle and am glad to see there are so many ways to approach what, for me at least, is an engrossing topic.
I’ve also enjoyed historical romance (The Warrior’s Prize by Jennifer C Wilson because this showed me aspects of history for an era I didn’t know much about as well as having a great romance story with it. I will declare I do know the author but I liked the book because it showed me aspects of border life back in medieval times which was an area of history I haven’t really explored).
So even if you like “just stories”, history can meet a need here too. Why not check out historical fiction? It will show you history as you’ve not seen it before. I learned a lot about King John from reading The Lady of Hay.
History is so full of drama and vivid characters, it should catch the reader’s attention and hold it until we get to the end.
Am currently reading historical non-fiction and loving it. Hope to review in due course but what I love about this particular book is the way in which evidence is presented for the case the author is making. It shows the facts and resources used and you just have to read on to find out what will be uncovered next.
I also love creative non-fiction here as history often comes up in this. Creative non-fiction can give a kind of licence to fill in the gaps where facts are not known but it has to be done in context with what is known.
A reader has to feel that this is plausible given what is known.
I enjoy history in hardback, paperback, and the Kindle and am glad to see there are so many ways to approach what, for me at least, is an engrossing topic.
I’ve also enjoyed historical romance (The Warrior’s Prize by Jennifer C Wilson because this showed me aspects of history for an era I didn’t know much about as well as having a great romance story with it. I will declare I do know the author but I liked the book because it showed me aspects of border life back in medieval times which was an area of history I haven’t really explored).
So even if you like “just stories”, history can meet a need here too. Why not check out historical fiction? It will show you history as you’ve not seen it before. I learned a lot about King John from reading The Lady of Hay.
