Hi everyone,
Just a quick question about dialogue - has anyone used a lot in their submission piece? I've used quite a bit and then when I read the winners from last year's comp, there was not that much dialogue at all. It's all a learning curve for me, but just curious as to how much dialogue other people use.
Thanks
I used it in patches throughout, mostly to give the back story and to help develop the characters a bit more. 2000 really isn't a lot when you've got to get the plot, the backstory, and the characters all in!
I am a green horn in this area, but I do feel that whether dialogue is necessary or not is entirely up to how the writer writes the story and how he or she wants the plot to run. I wrote my story in the narrative form which does not include any dialogue. Am I on the right track? I don't know. However, I believe that there are possible different angles as to how a story is judged. And, like us, the judges too would probably post their views to each other during their discussion giving the pros and cons and before they come to a consensus as to who ultimately wins the prize.
Maybe I'll give dialogue a shot in my next attempt to spice things up a little. Chuckle....
Thank you everyone - I agree dialogue is important and I use a lot of it, probably because I'm gabby Annie in real life too! It just surprised and unsettled me when I saw previous winners didn't have as much as I would have expected.
Ah, you've got to be in it to win it guys so keep positive! Think of it this way, most publishers don't read submissions, yet this comp will be judged by a respected and established author and that in itself is like 'winning' to me.
I will check out Evelyn Waugh Jonathan, thanks :o)