Writing with Jennifer

  This article from No Film School is about using outlines in writing screenplays, but I'd make the argument that it applies to all kinds of writing. I love the point he makes about knowing what happens next. This is always a big source of stress, and there is a sense of freedom once you get the question answered. 

When I work on a manuscript for a client, the dialogue is almost always something that needs attention. Why is it so hard to write what a character is saying? Why does it rarely sound natural? Here are some dialogue mistakes I see often.  1. Using dialogue as description Save the flowery language and floaty wording for the stuff in between the dialogue. When your characters are speaking, let them speak like regular people. Regular people do not describe the stuff around them out loud. They might use their voices to provide clues about the setting or to foreshadow some fantastical upcoming event, but don't give your characters the burden on having to set the whole stage.  "Look at that adorable dog," said Amy. "He is sitting quietly by the tree with his whispy fur blowing softly around his face. The tree is old if the large circumference of the trunk is any clue. Its leaves are the color of jade. What a nice tree, and what a nice dog." Poor Amy. You can almost fe...

Something happened several months ago when I was happily living my life. I got sick. Really sick. I spent 6 weeks in the hospital rethinking all I thought I knew about what I was doing every day. I couldn't work for 6 months. I had to turn away clients. It hurt physically, financially, and mentally.  Now I've returned and I'm slowly gathering my strength. Thankfully I had 2 clients who were willing to wait for me to be ready. I'm back to coaching writers, ghostwriting, and now blogging.  My advice for today is and isn't about writing. It's don't put things off, and don't take life for granted. Love people extra hard.