The William Wallace battle cry of "Freedom" in BRAVEHEART launches my every romantic sense onto full-scale alert. What a hero! Images of medieval knights in armor and soldiers astride destriers fill best-selling romance novels. Why? Readers still believe in the early ideal of battlefield heroism, seeking reassurance of its continued presence in the modern day
You're writing the best love scene ever to sizzle off a computer screen. The artful amalgamation of words will undoubtedly dazzle editors, agents, contest judges, and then-- "Mom! Maggie spit on me! I left my spelling words at school! Trooper barfed on the kitchen floor!" Talk about a proverbial bucket of cold water! Welcome to
CATHERINE'S 3 C'S FOR COMPELLING CONVERSATION: Dialogue Tips from Catherine Mann Character: Age/Jargon: Make dialogue age appropriate Idiosyncrasies: Give characters words, phrases, even curses, specific to their personalities Dialects: Use sparingly, choosing a couple of regional adjustments to give flavor. Male/Female Distinctions: Men tend to talk in shorter sentences, fewer superlatives. Compress: Realism vs. Representation:
