Perspective: Self-Editing Your Dialogue and Characters

self-editing tips, self-editing for writers, dialogue tips, creating dimensional characters, how to write dialogue, Kristen Lamb, backstory and novels, soap opera writing, perspective

Perspective is key to creating dimensional characters that resonate with the reader. Proper perspective adds dimension that transitions a ‘plot puppet’ into what feels like a real ‘person.’

POV (point of view) offers readers a glimpse into the character’s psyche, which will drive thought, action, emotion, conflict, choices, and change. Perspective can also rid our stories of ‘Talking Head Syndrome’—dialogue that all sounds the same.

Last post, I offered 7 Tips for Self-Editing. As mentioned, good editors are not cheap, but worth their weight in gold. Do as much cleanup as possible on our own? Pros can then step in for what we missed or failed to even see.

An analogy might help. When my son was little, I hired a housekeeper to come clean once a month. Though I kept a tidy enough home, I simply didn’t have it in me to do the necessary but time-consuming tasks (cleaning blinds, vacuuming baseboards, dusting fans, etc.).

I’d always clean before the housekeepers arrived (Hubby laughing at me all the while). Yes, it might seem silly, but I could do my own dishes. I could make beds and pick up toys. If the housekeepers did what I could EASILY do on my own? This was a waste of money. I NEEDED them to help with tasks that required ladders, patience, and special tools.

Same with a manuscript.

Developmental Edit

self-editing tips, self-editing for writers, dialogue tips, creating dimensional characters, how to write dialogue, Kristen Lamb, backstory and novels, soap opera writing, perspective

So last time I pointed out that proofreading is only ONE form of edit. Sometimes, if an MS keeps getting rejected, it’s time to bring in a developmental editor. Proofreading is essential, but I can’t recall ever reading a book and saying: Wow, the author placed every comma perfectly!

Developmental editors inspect the MS for what’s going wrong with the architecture of a story. Is there a plot? If so, is it too weak, too complicated, or too confusing? Are the characters dimensional? Do the characters arc? Are there character redundancies?

Y’all get the gist.

It’s very tough, time-consuming work and today we’re going to telescope in on a very common problem (especially with emerging authors).

Writing.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. ~Elmore Leonard

self-editing tips, self-editing for writers, dialogue tips, creating dimensional characters, how to write dialogue, Kristen Lamb, backstory and novels, soap opera writing, perspective

This is why those seven tips I gave last time can be so helpful. When we go through our WIP (work in progress) with these ‘cutting’ tools, we can strip away what screams ‘WRITING!’

You might laugh, but how often do you have a conversation and use that person’s name?

Good morning, Joe.

Well, hello, Kristen.

Joe, did you get the plans for the new design? You know, Joe, we are on a major deadline.

Y’all would be shocked how much of this kind of dialogue I see in samples. People in LIFE don’t talk like this. If they do?

That’s seriously weird.

Soap Opera Writing

self-editing tips, self-editing for writers, dialogue tips, creating dimensional characters, how to write dialogue, Kristen Lamb, backstory and novels, soap opera writing, perspective

This is what I like to call ‘soap opera writing.’ Soap operas were originally written for radio, then eventually shifted to television.

The audience?

Homemakers who might be busy ironing or scrubbing a floor or changing diapers. This is actually HOW these stories earned the name SOAP opera. Back in the day, the soap companies did most of the advertising during these shows.

Anyway…

In soaps, characters constantly call each other by name in dialogue. They also do a lot of, ‘As you know, Bob…’ and then fill in what’s happened. Soap operas are a string of vignettes and melodrama (as opposed to dramatic tension). There is no overall plot because soap operas are not meant to end.

Ever.

The reason characters called each other by name was because women busy ironing shirts couldn’t always SEE the screen. Thus, the characters had to keep calling one another by name so the target audience could follow along.

Soap operas could (can) also dedicate entire scenes to ‘As you know, Bob’ writing.

As you know, Marlena, Bo and Hope never wanted to divorce. They still love each other. But Stephano tricked them. He helped Sami fake her pregnancy and imprisoned Lucas in a Jell-O mold that gave him amnesia….”

****This is why we can miss twenty years of Days of Our Lives and catch up in about a week.

Point of View

self-editing tips, self-editing for writers, dialogue tips, creating dimensional characters, how to write dialogue, Kristen Lamb, backstory and novels, soap opera writing, perspective

Soap operas have the luxury of using talking heads because the ‘characters’ are basically mannequins with great hair and fashion sense. They’re not meant to have a lot of depth because every ‘story problem’ is dragged out for months or years. Soaps don’t hook with a story as much as they hook with morbid curiosity, ergo the cliffhangers and unresolved conflicts.

Soaps employ what I might refer to as a ‘bystander effect.’ We hear a couple start arguing in a nice restaurant and cannot help but eavesdrop and see ‘how it ends.’

***In soaps it doesn’t end, at least not for a minimum of three years.

The reason is that soaps are after longevity, and resolution gets in the way.

Days of Our Lives has been running since 1965, so no judgement here. Perhaps one could gather a decade of material and realize a character actually does possess dimension, but it takes TEN YEARS to deliver this…one painful breadcrumb at a time.

Novelists don’t have this luxury. Though, as a note, I can tell a writer who watches a lot of soaps 😉 .

Perspective Matters

self-editing tips, self-editing for writers, dialogue tips, creating dimensional characters, how to write dialogue, Kristen Lamb, backstory and novels, soap opera writing, perspective

Back to this perspective thing. When creating a character for a novel, we need to crawl into the head of the character we’re writing or they’ll all sound the same (a lot like us). In my last post, a few commenters mentioned hating said as a tag.

Said, when used properly, should be invisible. If it’s jumping off the page, it’s because it’s being overused. Why? First, the conversation is banal filler, which is doing nothing to propel dramatic tension.

Tags are also overused when characters are flat. Lacking in depth, we (the reader) wouldn’t be able to tell one speaking character from another without a clue (the tag).

When writers do the hard work and create distinct personalities (perspectives), tags are rarely necessary because the speech patterns give away the speaker. I like to read my dialogue aloud to a critical audience and, if they can’t tell the difference (with no tags)?

I need to try harder.

Perspective and Narrative

self-editing tips, self-editing for writers, dialogue tips, creating dimensional characters, how to write dialogue, Kristen Lamb, backstory and novels, soap opera writing, perspective

The internal narrative of a POV character is what clues us into the mental state of the character, because perspective generates conflict and complexity. Perspective dictates what a character notices, how he or she feels and how that character then responds (or doesn’t).

There are innumerable combinations available so that no character is ever just like any other. Gender, ethnicity, age, background, family, faith (or lack thereof), birth order, trauma, occupation, etc. all color a character’s perception of events.

A female septuagenarian has a vastly different perspective than a modern female teenager.

Take a trip into a neighborhood:

If our MC is an architect, she’s likely to notice styles of homes, cornice work, wainscoting, termite-ridden soffits, etc. She’s also going to know that ‘thingie’ actually is CALLED a soffit.

If our MC is fireman, he’ll definitely notice that jerk parked in front of a hydrant and might even take time to go bang on a door and make the person move the car.

Perspective is important in all genres, but perhaps most important when writing for young people. Our nine-year-old boy shouldn’t sound like a Baby Boomer.

Recently, I edited a work and the (modern) teenage girl was ‘punching in her friend’s phone number.’ Not in an age of smart phones she isn’t 😉 .

Just for FUN: An Exercise

self-editing tips, self-editing for writers, dialogue tips, creating dimensional characters, how to write dialogue, Kristen Lamb, backstory and novels, soap opera writing, perspective

I’ve used this little exercise for ages in classes, but this is a great way to train POV (point of view) and hone our empathy skills. Your challenge:

Four POVs. A family of four is taking a road trip. They’ve been saving over a year to take this vacation, but something goes very wrong (road construction, get lost, car breaks down, demons possess the engine, warp drive on their personal star-van fails). Use your imagination.

In the vehicle (wagon, time-machine, Honda Accord, 1973 hot pink Cadillac), we have Mom, Dad, a teen, and a grandparent. Now, tell the story from ALL FOUR perspectives.

Is grandpa a retired mobster? Does Mom have a pain pill addiction? Is the teenager hiding she’s a vampire? Does Dad have PTSD from the interstellar wars?

What went wrong? Who’s fault is it? What does each character prioritize? How do they conflict? What does each character believe the solution should be? How do they come to a resolution of the problem?

ENJOY!

Pick the one that is the toughest for you to write and, if you create something you’re particularly pleased with? Put in the comments. I’d love to see your creativity! Bonus point for the contest below.

I love hearing from you!

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  1. I don’t have a novel in progress yet, but have been playing with flash fiction and including dialogue. I appreciate your expertise and tips in adding POV. I read my work aloud and try to hear weirdness, but have a lot to learn. I’m so happy I’ve found your blog. I don’t have time today to write the POV of the travelers but will put it on my ‘to-do’ list to practice dialogue.

  2. Great tips, Kristen! I just had that conversation with someone at a conference too—about how dialogue does not need name attributions all over the place because we don’t actually talk like that. This is why when your mother used your full name, you knew you were in trouble. Because they ain’t supposed to happen!

  3. Part of my editing process is getting my husband to read the book aloud. If he can’t tell who’s speaking (and therefore what voice to use) from what they say, it needs fixing. Tags are useful, but the reader shouldn’t have to rely on them to know who’s speaking – or worst of all, carefully count down the lines from the last tag to figure out who said what!

    • Paul Martz on April 28, 2018 at 12:46 pm
    • Reply

    A good exercise for me, as I’m new to writing fiction. Here goes.

    My son-in-law finally bought a new car. Huh. He’s usually tighter than the bark on a tree. Nice of them to invite me for a ride. I was ready to kill to get out of this senior complex. I pinned up y hair and got out my favorite jacket, the black leather one with the red lips and tongue painted on the back. In the hallway, I pinched Ed’s ass as I passed him. He told me if I did that again, he’d strangle me with the hose from his oxygen tank. Promises, promises.

    Jenny and Dave were there in the carport with the shiny silver thing. I sat in the back with Erwin, who I just don’t know about. He’s edgy like me—good boy. But maybe a little too edgy. I had to admit the seats were comfy. I just don’t understand why someone would want to drive a car without a stick shift and a clutch. But I knew we were screwed when I didn’t see a steering wheel. Oh shit, I thought to myself—It’s one of those cars. In the front seat, Dave and Jenny muttered about GPS or something, then pushed at some lights on the dashboard. We started moving. Nothing impressive, though. My grandmother drove faster than this timid little crap car.

    Only a few blocks away, we came to a dead halt, right here in the road. God only knows why. I think I’ll get out. That bus stop bench looks like a good place for a cigarette.

    #

    I prayed about this last night. God, I said, let us have one good family bonding experience. That was all I asked. Getting mom off her butt and out of her apartment was already answered prayer. Now if she and Dave would just stay civil. But I could hear her behind me, cursing Dave under her breath and digging a cigarette out of her crumpled pack of Marlboro’s.

    My husband did a lot of research on these new cars. We saved for months. The car was great—No problems until today. The one day we try to have a nice family outing. This was the one day some kid decided to put a life-size photo of a red traffic light by the side of the road. So much for prayer. I bet the brat that did this was watching us from that apartment building over there, laughing his head off. Some parents just don’t watch their kids.

    Speaking of kids, at least Erwin is occupied with his cell phone. Another answered prayer.

    “Dave, maybe we should just get out of the car and pull down that sign.”

    #

    I glanced at Jenny, then back at the configurable target identification submenu. “No, it’s better if we tell the car that’s not an actual red light. It’s machine learning, honey. That’s how it’s supposed to work.”

    I tapped the back button. Why didn’t this make sense? The menus read like broken English. They did a crappy job translating. How come Consumer Reports didn’t mention that? They gave this car 98 out of 100. I reached for the manual in the glove compartment.

    I heard Dorla open her door and get out. What a relief. I didn’t want to listen to her cussing me out under her breath. Oh, crap. It looks like she’s having a cigarette. When she gets back in, I can kiss my new car smell good-bye.

    #

    A text popped up on my cell. “Dood! It totally worked! Kewl!”

    I glanced out the window at his apartment building and could just barely see him in his bedroom window. “Marcus, you totally RAWK! Thx, man, IOU.”

    Dad was flipping through the manual. I rolled my eyes. What a loser. It looked like he was going to flag the sign as a bogus red light again. I swiped my screen over to the car app, and drilled into the object database. Marcus’s fake red light sign appeared on my cell in real time as dad flagged it from the dashboard. I tapped the delete button. I heard him hit the dashboard with his fist and cuss. I smiled to myself.

    Back to WoW. Screwing with dad was already boring.

    1. BRAVO! *clapping* I love all the characters but grandma is FANTASTIC!

      1. Since you were the first (and only) one brave enough to do this email me at kristen at wana intl dot com. I have a prize for you 😉 .

    • Kathryn on April 30, 2018 at 1:43 pm
    • Reply

    The editing help is wonderful. I am actually editing my MS now and it has been very helpful. Thank you.

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