This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn talk dialogue. We’ve noticed what may be some poor advice and some frightening trends in dialogue floating around out there. Time to bust some myths and pop some speech balloons!
How should dialogue be formatted and how does it differ from interiority and thoughts?
When and why does it make sense to honor trusted conventions?
How would “experimentation” work in the voice of AI?
We draw on the past two Writers Book Club short stories for examples of dialogue, interiority, and narrative point of view. There is a lot of craft to unpack in this week’s episode, a bit of silliness, and a writing prompt, too!
“Dialogue is an art form all in and of itself. So be aware of what you’re putting on the page.”
“Dialogue should reveal something to the reader.”
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn discuss Chekhov’s story, “The Woman with the Little Dog.” You can get the link to read it in the show notes.
“Everything that he found important, interesting, necessary, in which he was sincere and did not deceive himself, which constituted the core of his life, occurred in secret from others.” -Checkhov
Unpack the layers of Anton Chekhov’s poignant short story, “The Lady with the Little Dog,” in this thought-provoking episode of Story Works Round Table. Alida and Kathryn dissect the narrative’s exploration of love, regret, and societal imprisonment. As they navigate through the characters internal struggles and the story’s critique of marital conventions, listeners are invited to consider depth of character emotion, subtext, and presenting social commentary through story.
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Get Alida’s reflections on life, writing, and the writing life in A Room Full of Books & Pencils. booksandpencils.substack.com
This week on the Story Works Round Table we discuss Gina Berriault’s flash fiction story, “The Woman in the Rose Colored Dress.” At only 2 1/2 pages, it packs in remarkable sentences, the experience of time passing, incredible subtext in minimal dialogue, and a realistic coming of age story when a girl makes a discovery about her father that shifts her understanding of the world. Get the link in our show notes to read the story yourself.
Join my new group coaching session for writers. Get your free discovery call today: www.wordessential.com/fictioncoaching
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Carlee, and Robert go deep with the question of what makes a genre a genre? Discover the nuances of crafting stories and targeting the right readership. We dissect the concept of genre as both a craft and marketing tool. It’s far more useful to us writers than just a marketing category. Writing to market is often confused with marketing. And what about those of us who strive to be “pure artists,” putting categories at the end of the process? Whether you aim to meet or subvert reader expectations, there’s more to your genre than meets the eye.
“Genre determines what the story is trying to do.”
“If you get lost in a story and you’re not quite sure where you’re taking it, it’s often because you’re not clear on genre.”
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn are joined by D. Liebhart.
Revision is more than just fixing typos and filling plot holes; it’s about delving deep into the heart of the story and ensuring every word, every character, and every twist aligns with the author’s vision. D. discusses the challenges she faced revising her award-winning novel, House on Fire, from seeking perfection to knowing when to let go. We talk about the importance of actionable feedback, the dynamics of writing groups, and the critical decision to step away when the process no longer serves the story.
Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting, this episode is packed with wisdom. D.’s experiences remind us that the journey of revision is unique to every writer. It’s a process that requires patience, honesty, and sometimes the courage to start anew.
