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Nonfiction > What about nonfiction with made up characters dialog verse the dry narration

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message 1: by MK (new)

MK Whiting | 63 comments What are the thoughts of having a non fiction book where made up characters talk about the topics 80% of the time and the narrator only interjects when needed.
So kind of real life discussions about the theme of the book. One main character and several others throughout.
Thoughts?


message 2: by Helen (new)

Helen Gould (helenclairegould) | 130 comments I'm not so sure you'd need a narrator for something like that. It's quite a filmic idea, though. How about presenting the material as interviews, or a conversation?


message 3: by MK (last edited Feb 04, 2021 09:13AM) (new)

MK Whiting | 63 comments Helen wrote: "I'm not so sure you'd need a narrator for something like that. It's quite a filmic idea, though. How about presenting the material as interviews, or a conversation?"

Helen
The narrator helps to break up some of the boring components of the research and to add a summary at various stages. I started the first chapter with 100% dialog and used it as an example for the rest of the chapters. Then I got thinking, why not continue it throughout. So far most chapters will work fine with this method. I do have one chapter that is an exercise so I don't think I will do it for that one. And one chapter is my personal journey, so I won't do it for that one. But the others work well. The characters can read a quote and discuss it and ask questions. I think it will aid in getting the message across.

What is the possibility of doing your Dialog workshop, soon?


message 4: by Helen (new)

Helen Gould (helenclairegould) | 130 comments MK, you can do the workshop pretty much at any time convenient to you as a private lesson. It's the same price and is on Zoom, so you don't need to go anywhere - you just need to have a webcam on your computer for the Zoom session. I guess you're thinking about this project, which does sound interesting. Let me know if you'd like to do that, and some dates and times, and we can fix it up.


message 5: by MK (new)

MK Whiting | 63 comments Well, it doesn't seem fair to you to only have one student.
Yes for this project. I am ok writing dialog. It's just people talking and bringing out their voices. What I want to learn is how to say James said a million ways that convey his attitude and feelings at that moment. I will send a DM


message 6: by MK (new)

MK Whiting | 63 comments It’s to bad we can’t just through it out there and see who else might want a class on Dialog usage.
Well I am in.


message 7: by Daniel (new)

Daniel Martin | 10 comments Just to clarify, if the characters and dialogue are made up, you are not writing non-fiction. This sounds like a fictional work.


message 8: by MK (new)

MK Whiting | 63 comments It is conversational nonfiction. The message is real just the delivery just makes it easier to understand


message 9: by MK (new)

MK Whiting | 63 comments Helen wrote: "MK, you can do the workshop pretty much at any time convenient to you as a private lesson. It's the same price and is on Zoom, so you don't need to go anywhere - you just need to have a webcam on y..."

Were you waiting on me for details?
I sent a DM so we can get started.


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