Cherie Colyer's Blog, page 37

It's All About the Dialogue - 10 Tips for Writing Realistic Dialogue

I love writing dialogue. Done well, dialogue brings a scene alive, builds characters, and advances the plot. But just as great dialogue can pull a reader into a story, bad dialogue can snap a reader out of the scene and have them putting the book down. Below are ten tips to help you create realistic dialogue no matter what genre you write.Writing realistic dialogue starts with knowing your characters and their world. Sex, age, social status, location and genre have to be considered. Once you know who your characters are, you’re ready to begin.I like to start by eavesdropping on conversations around me, but I don’t just listen to what’s being said and neither should you. Pay attention to the cadence of the speaker’s voice, word choice, facial expressions, and gestures. Study these same things when you watch your favorite TV series and movies. Stop to think about what you like and dislike about the dialogue in the books you read.Keep sentences short and succinct. People talk in clipped sentences. Reflect this in your writing.Break up dialogue with action that helps to convey emotion, mood, or grounds the reader in the scene.  This is where paying attention to people’s actions comes in handy.Avoid info dumps. Dialogue that’s used as a tool to provide long blocks of back story or exposition doesn’t ring true. It comes across as forced or as the writer stepping in to provide important detail that should have been woven into the story in other ways.Only include what is important to the story. Take out boring and unnecessary dialogue.Keep tags simple. Said is overlooked, whereas words such as demanded and interjected can pull a reader out of the action. Good dialogue will convey these things.Avoid slang and too much swearing. These can date your book or alienate readers.Keep your dialogue clean. Avoid words like um, uh and oh. While realistic, it reads over the top and doesn’t look well on the page.And last but definitely not least, read your dialogue out loud. The places you stumble are the places you need to revise.There you have it, ten tips for writing realistic dialogue. If you have any you'd like to add, please leave them in the comments.

#IWSG Social Media Dos and Don'ts

Hi everyone! 

Don't forget to stop by Alex's blog for a special announcement. (I'm not sure what it is (since I'm typing this the day before), but I'm excited to find out!

I'll be co-hosting SCBWI Food for Thought this month with my good friends, authors Kym Brunner and Katie Sparks. Our topic is Social Media for Scaredy Cats, and my section is on Twitter. So, to have a little fun with this, I created my very first You Tube video. I'd love to get your thoughts, suggestions are welcome.



Twitter Dos and Don'ts for Writers


Are you active on Twitter, Instagram or another social media site? Do you have any pet peeves when it comes to social media? What's your favorite platform? Any suggestions for writers?

If you have a Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook account, I'd love to connect (if we haven't already)! Just leave your links in the comments, and I'll find you. Or follow my links on the side bar.





This post is part of IWSG. A big thanks to Alex Cavanaugh and our co-hosts for keeping this group going. For those who aren't familiar with Insecure Writer's Support Group, just follow the link. It's a wonderful group. 

#IWSG Social Media Do's and Don'ts

Hi everyone! 

Don't forget to stop by Alex's blog for a special announcement. (I'm not sure what it is (since I'm typing this the day before), but I'm excited to find out!

I'll be co-hosting SCBWI Food for Thought this month with my good friends, authors Kym Brunner and Katie Sparks. Our topic is Social Media for Scaredy Cats, and my section is on Twitter. So, to have a little fun with this, I created my very first You Tube video. I'd love to get your thoughts, suggestions are welcome.

Twitter Do's and Don'ts for Writers


Are you active on Twitter, Instagram or another social media site? Do you have any pet peeves when it comes to social media? What's your favorite platform? Any suggestions for writers?

If you have a Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook account, I'd love to connect (if we haven't already)! Just leave your links in the comments, and I'll find you. Or follow my links on the side bar.




This post is part of IWSG. A big thanks to Alex Cavanaugh and our co-hosts for keeping this group going. For those who aren't familiar with Insecure Writer's Support Group, just follow the link. It's a wonderful group. 

WHO R U REALLY? by Margo Kelly in Paperback!

Nearly a year has passed since WHO R U REALLY? by Margo Kelly came out in hardback, and now, Merit Press (the YA imprint of F+W Media) is publishing a paperback version of the young adult thriller! Its official release date is September 4, 2015, and to celebrate, we’re giving away FIVE signed paperback copies! For a chance to win one, simply follow the steps below in the Rafflecopter.




About the book:
When Thea discovers a new role-playing game online, she falls under the spell of Kit, an older boy whose smarts and savvy can’t defeat his loneliness and near-suicidal despair. As Kit draws soft-hearted Thea into his drama, she creates a full plate of cover stories for her parents and then even her friends. Ripped from a true-life story, Who R U Really? will scare you as Thea’s life spins out of her control.
Read Who R U Really?Amazon |Barnes & Noble | Rediscovered Books







Here are a few of the exciting things that have happened since WHO R U REALLY? debuted as a hardback:
Won 1stPlace in the YA Category for the Idaho Author Award
The Department of Homeland Security took notice:DHS invited Margo to partner with the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign, which is the global cyber security awareness campaign to help people stay safer and more secure online.

Librarians have applauded the story:
“This book is sure to spark a dialogue between parents and teens as well as tell an appealing cautionary tale to a younger audience and would be a good addition to any middle school, high school, or public library.” The Idaho Librarian
“With all the different trending social media out there, this book is intriguing because the story centers around a naive yet strong-willed girl who falls into the trap of an internet predator. … You will definitely want to read this book to find out what happens!” The Dallas Public Library

Praise for Who R U Really?:
"This tense thriller offers useful lessons." --The Horn Book Guide
"Based on actual events, the story should be required reading for all teens." --VOYA Magazine
"Kelly shows us just how terrifying, dangerous and unknown the world of online gaming can be--especially for a young teen.... The book is well-written and the story believable and engaging...I strongly recommend this book." --The Idaho Statesman

Now time for the give away!
a Rafflecopter giveaway



About the author:
Margo Kelly is a native of the Northwest and currently resides in Idaho. A veteran public speaker, Margo is now actively pursuing her love of writing. Who R U Really? is her debut novel, published by Merit Press. The Department of Homeland Security has partnered with Margo to promote online safety. Margo welcomes opportunities to speak to youth groups, library groups, and book clubs. For more information, visit her website: www.margokelly.netFind Margo KellyWebsite | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Friday updates, plus some tips on keeping track of your cast

Hi everyone!

My newest work-in-progess, a YA realistic romance, is off to my agent. Fingers crossed she likes the changes I made. To keep myself busy I've been playing around with a few ideas. All of which are still in the planning stage. More to come on that once I settled into a good flow with one them.

Writers, if you need help keeping track of your characters and their unique traits, hop over to Uncommon YA. I shared a few tips that work for me.

Hope you're enjoying August! Thanks for stopping by.

Is it a new month already?! #IWSG

Hi everyone! 

Wow! It's hard to believe that another month has past. I was absent from the blog-sphere last month, and I do apologies. Because of busy schedules, I've been using the little free time I have to work on my novels. I'm hoping to catch up with my cyber friends this month.

The good things about today being the first Wednesday of the month, I have an excuse to take a break from everything to say hi to my followers and to visit my friends' blogs. My insecurity is just that I'm not sure when everything in my life will level out and I'll be able to go back to a calm, normal schedule. But, as my mom would say, this too shall pass. Man, I hope she's right!

Keeping writing and reading! And have a wonderful August!


Thanks to Alex and our co-hosts for keeping IWSG going. For those who aren't familiar with Insecure Writer's Support Group, just follow the link. It's a wonderful group. 

Being hard on your characters, #IWSG

Hi everyone! 

It's time to share our thoughts, insecurities, and encouraging words. Thanks to Alex and our co-hosts for keeping IWSG going. For those who aren't familiar with Insecure Writer's Support Group, just follow the link. It's a wonderful group. 


I've been fine-tuning my YA realistic fiction based on feedback from my agent. One of her concerns was that I was too hard on one of my characters. That got me thinking, can a writer be too hard on a character? Well, obviously we can. Really, if you follow the advice given in workshops about thinking of the worst thing that could happen to your character and making that happen, you are going to put your characters through hell. But I understood where my agent was coming from and I value her opinion, so I asked myself if in this particular case, on the one item that she pointed out, does easing up my character change the outcome of the book. It doesn't. He's still a teen who prefers not to take risks with his or his family's future that decides to want it all. So far I'm happy with the changes I've made. 
Have you ever been too hard on a character? Do you believe there's such a thing?

Being Hard on your Characters, #IWSG

Hi everyone! 

It's time to share our thoughts, insecurities, and encouraging words. Thanks to Alex and our co-hosts for keeping IWSG going. For those who aren't familiar with Insecure Writer's Support Group, just follow the link. It's a wonderful group. 


I've been fine-tuning my YA realistic fiction based on feedback from my agent. One of her concerns was that I was too hard on one of my characters. That got me thinking, can a writer be too hard on a character? Well, obviously we can. Really, if you follow the advice given in workshops about thinking of the worst thing that could happen to your character and making that happen, you are going to put your characters through hell. But I understood where my agent was coming from and I value her opinion, so I asked myself if in this particular case, on the one item that she pointed out, does easing up my character change the outcome of the book. It doesn't. He's still a teen who prefers not to take risks with his or his family's future that decides to want it all. So far I'm happy with the changes I've made. 
Have you ever been too hard on a character? Do you believe there's such a thing?

Summertime Book Giveaway!

Summertime is here! That means beaches, free time, traveling...what is awesome to have with you for all three??
BOOKS!
Ready to win some free reading topped off with two awesome gift cards?
Let's do this.


a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Children of the Gods Series by Jessica Therrien

REDEMPTION (Children of the Gods #3) is ready and waiting! Along with it, Jessica Therrien will be re-releasing the first two books in her series. All of them have wonderful new covers designed by Carrie Butler, and OPPRESSION will even include a bonus chapter. Here is what you need to know:

OPPRESSION(Children of the Gods #1)September 2, 2015
There are others like her. Many of them. And they have been waiting for her for a long time.
Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than average people, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's well over eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal.

For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability.

Or so she thinks. 

Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time. Some are waiting for her to put an end to centuries of traditions that have oppressed their people under the guise of safeguarding them. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning-and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.



UPRISING(Children of the Gods #2)October 2, 2015
The Descendants have waited long enough for freedom.
Elyse has done everything she can to protect her friends from The Council's reach. As long as they believe she's dead, she has time to rest and train for war. And war is inevitable. 

When Kara arrives with the news that Anna and Chloe have been captured, Elyse is faced with the realization that no one is safe until The Council is stopped and Christoph is destroyed. She doesn't need a prophecy to tell her to lead an army. Christoph has done the one thing that ensures she'll fight to the death. He's threatened the people she loves. 

It will take more than the words of an oracle to help them fight against the most powerful Descendant alive. To break The Council's oppression and rise up against a plot so many years in the making, Elyse will need to get dangerously close to her enemy. So close, in fact, she may not survive.



REDEMPTION(Children of the Gods #3)November 2, 2015
Nobody promised freedom would be peaceful.

Lead Council member, Christoph, is dead by Elyse’s hand, and Descendants have begun to emerge, exposing their secret to the world. Some see this as the prophecy come to fruition, but the prophecy caries a heavy consequence. It was never meant to be as peaceful as most had hoped.

Humans and Descendants struggle to live together in a world that isn’t ready for such a change. America is divided. Those who glorify the supernatural race believe Descendants truly are the gods they claim relation to. Others see them as a threat.

When Elyse gives birth to the next generation oracle, she sees one final vision—war. The destruction of the country’s major cities, and the end of America as we know it.

After her daughter is born, Elyse finds herself without the ability she needs to predict the future. Desperate to save the world from such conflict, she puts her faith in the hope that Descendants are the key to survival. After all, they have the power to supply a broken society with the means to survive.

Only from the ashes can a new world be born.

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