In creative writing class (granted, a long time ago) I was told that all dialogue must move the story forward, so superfluous or round-about dialogue such as this would seem to contradict this.

I have to assume the type of writing influences this as well. When writing action novels, getting to the point would seem to be the goal of dialogue rather than dancing around the issue with subtext. Virginia Wolf would, of course, fits perfectly with subtext dialogue.

Am I wrong?

Thanks for sharing your expertise, Les!

“Leslie, that’s the male version, while Lesley is the female version.” It is one of the teachings to incorporate in, the word HE or SHE, so you give your important characters a gender. I forget to most of the time and I assume that the reader knows John is male and Joan is female. Little Kids asked; is the talking white squirrel a man or a woman? Some answered; the white squirrel is Danny so it is a guy.

Hi Carol and sorry to assume you were female! We have something in common. My name is Leslie and I get the same thing all the time! Most folks aren’t old enough to know that when it’s spelled Leslie, that’s the male version, while Lesley is the female version. Like many things in English, that’s changed… What’s really kind of grinding is that I’ve always hated my name and I’m a junior–named after my “dad.” I put quote marks around dad because last year, at the age of 68, I had DNA tests done with my sister (who turned out to be my half-sister) and discovered my “dad”… wasn’t. My mother had lied to me all my life and to compound the injury, she made me a junior and saddled me with a name I hate. If I could, I’d change first and last names, but at my age it wouldn’t work.

One good thing about a name like that. It either makes you learn to fight or to run fast…

Sorry, I can’t comment on your dialog as this isn’t the proper forum to do so. Hope you understand.

Will be waiting for your email as I think the book will resolve a lot of issues for both you and your daughter. Hope so, anyway!