Everything I thought I knew about writing dialogue has turned out to be WRONG!
I had one editor who didn't mind the use of the word 'said', 'protested'. 'admitted'.
Editor #2 told me to take them out and replace with gestures. Okay; now I have my characters 'smiling'; 'running hands through their hair'; 'taking sips of their drinks'.
Editor #3 didn't object to my use of action tags and the occasional dialogue tag when I couldn't find a way to eliminate it.
Editor #4: Honestly, the edits went so fast, I'm not sure what she thought of my issue.
Editor #5: I've only received one set of edits, on the wrong story; however, my publisher has created an 'inside the editor's mind' blog and I've discovered the last set of self-edits I used the wrong tags. The good side is, my editor will correct them. The bad side? My 'clean' draft is now not so 'clean'.
So maybe I should either do my daughter's English homework with her or take up the 'Back to school' offers and go take another Grammar course at my local college?
Grrrrrr.......
2 comments:
I've learned EVERY editor wants something different, so I say write the story how you like it to the very best of your ability, then count on having to "clean" it when it sells!
Good luck!
Good advice Linda:)
Post a Comment