Sarah Holman's Blog, page 111

Writing Saturday: D is for Dialogue: Character voices that sparkle

Dialogue is one thing that came very naturally to me as a writer. It is one of the few skills that I haven't had to spend years and years getting write. However, there is always room for improvement. Adventures and Adversities has given me some unique challenges when it has come to dialogue. Unlike my Destiny Trilogy, where the characters came from all over the place and accents and speech patterns were easy to add, most of my characters have lived in the same place all their lives and they all live in the same country. Here are some things I have learned.
Think about the education level - Some of my characters are peasants and have had no formal schooling, some are soldiers and had some training of sorts, others are nobles with an education. The education level effects speech quite a bit.
Think about their background and employment - A farmers daughter will often compare life to the fields. Rich nobles will no little of what it is to want for anything. A craftsman will always be trying to improve. Backgrounds and employment greatly effect speech.
Think about repeated phrases - Some characters might have a phrase that they often repeat. An Australian might say mate, a girl might over use the word cute (or like, but only if her name is Winter), and person who is shy might fall back on 'ummm' or 'so'. Repeated phrases can add depth and instant recognition to your character.
Think about the mood your character is in - I have read a few books where a character is in a bad mood but  character says something cheerful, or a character is angry but they say something kind. The dialogue has to be in keeping with the characters mood.
Think about the mood of the scene - Dialogue can help set the mood as well. If you are trying to write a happy seen, Puddleglum is should not make an appearance. If you are trying to write a serious, thought provoking scene, Lydia Benet shouldn't be there. The dialogue should reflect not only character, but the scene.
Those are my tips for writing sparkling dialogue. Join me next week to meet another character from my upcoming book...

Reading

What I am currently Reading...
    
What I hope to finish this weekend... 
What I plan to read next...  

What are you reading?

Vlog Attempt #1

Okay, please forgive the bad sound quality. The next vlog I do will be much better (I plan to borrow my sisters mike) However, I was in a rush this morning and don't have time to re-do it. Turn your speakers up. I hope you enjoy this despite the issues.

Busy days

Wow! My life is crazy busy right now in a good way. Today I am busy editing. It looks like it is going to be one of the only days for the next week or so that I will get to work on my book.

Even though times our busy, I am going to try to keep up with my blog. I even plan to vlog tomorrow so stop by for that.

What are my readers up to?

Multitudes on Mondays: Blessed Grey Days

The past three days it has been raining off and on. what a blessing after so many dry days. People in the city don't really understand the importance of rain. I mean, they know that it affect their water supply. However, living in the country, I have seen the devastating effects when there is no rain. So, today I am so thankful for...
311. The sound of rain on the roof
312. Rain drops
313. A warm house
314. The clean air
315. Window so I can watch the rain
316. Thunder
317. The birds that sing in the rain
318. Sunlight through the rain
319. Green grass
320. Rainbow promises 

Book Review: Unglued Devotional: 60 Days of Imperfect Progress by Lysa TerKeurst

Age Appropriate For: All Ages

Best for Ages:18+
Book Description:This companion devotional to the bestselling book Unglued provides encouragement to help readers handle emotional struggles. Including a daily opening Scripture, Thought for the Day, devotion, and closing prayer, this book helps readers begin a 60-day journey in learning to positively process raw emotions, such as fear, anger, and regret.
God has perfect timing. I was going through a rough time and it seemed that every time I opened this devotional, the words seemed to be written for me on that day. Whatever I was going through, there seemed to be a message in the pages for me. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Although I have not read the book Unglued from which this devotional originates, I am enjoying the devotional. Lysa is so real and shares her heart through her ups and downs. Unlike many authors who only share their success stories, Lysa shares about her failures. It is so nice to read about another person who doesn’t have it all together but is striving to live for God.
The devotionals are the perfect size. Just long enough to really sink in, yet short enough you can read one before you dash off to work at 6:00 in the morning (like I have been doing). Each one starts out with a verse and a few words that often will stick with me for the day.
I highly recommend this devotional to moms, wives, and singles who need a good start for their day and struggle with coming unglued from time to time.
I received this book from Zondervan through BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Growing, Learning, Stretching

Thank you for all your prayers. I am feeling much better and stronger. My book is behind schedule but I am making progress.


I have often been told by my parents (only half in jest) to be careful what I pray for, I just might get it. A few times in the past three weeks, I have wondered if I should have prayed to hear the voice of God better. I am learning to hear it beyond the doubts and the fears that sometimes wish to crowd my mind. And through it all, I am also learning to pull my thought and his apart, but it is a long process that is hard.

However, even in the midst of the hard time, I am blessed to see my faith being strengthened and learning to hear that still, small voice.


One of the things that has been a great blessing has actually been a TV series based on the book Christy by Catherine Marshall. Although the TV series is far from perfect (I hope to write a review soon) they did capture some wonderful aspects of faith. One of the lines that I keep repeating is one Miss Alice speaks: "
Hold on to joy."

To often when we go through a hard time, we lose sight of joy. Joy is often confused with happiness, but it is not the same thing. Joy is like a deep spring. Even when life is hard and there is little to smile about, joy never runs out. Joy is the choice to see the best, when your own mind is screaming the worst. Joy is seeing the beauty that God sees, not the ugliness.

To often when I go through hard times, I keep myself there longer then I need to be because I fret and worry. I have been spending more time lately thinking about my doubts and fears instead of choosing God. Today, I have decided to change. Today, I am choosing joy. I am going to listen for that still small voice instead of my own. I am going to think about what is true, not my fears. I am going cast my worries on my Heavenly Father because I know he cares for me.

"Hold on to Joy"

Multitudes on Mondays: Rachel and Jessica

There are two girls that God brought into my life about a month after I started this blog. Rachel and Jessica have become like two more sisters. I thank God for them every day. Here are some of the things they have blessed me with

301. Long phone chats
302. Shoulders to cry one

303. Friends to laugh with

304. Late night girl talks


305. Encouragement almost daily 
306. Knowing someone outside my family cares
307. Teasing
308. Someone to barrow and lend books to
309. Shared memories
310. Shared faith

Writing Saturday: A Bit of Inspiration # 3

You can write anything with...
[image error]via Pinterest
The writing music!

Multitudes on Mondays

I went to the doctor today and I got some medicine and found out I have allergy asthma. The doctor seems to feel that this was causing a lot of my anxiety. Also, I feel as if the prayers of my family and friends have helped repel the spiritual attack  I was under. I sill find the doubts trying to creep in some, but not often. Here are some things I am thankful for.

291. Good friends

292. I wonderful doctor

293. Phone calls to build me up

294. E-cards

295. Facebook messages

296. Family prayers

297. Sibling who love me

298. Modern medicine

299. The power of prayer

300. The enduring, never-ending love of God