Opening with Dialog

[DesEsseintes]

This thread seems like it was started by a high school English teacher.

You can do anything with words and open a story any way you want.

Also: If you are going by the 'rules of English and Writing' (rofl) then it still is a stupid thread.

Why? Open with a quote.

I should hope the original poster was not a high school English teacher, or standards have slipped yet further. I wouldn't allow a child of mine near his school.

I'd prefer to think he was a kindly but confused soul, allowed out from the local special home on day release.

 

[PayDay]

This thread seems like it was started by a high school English teacher.

You can do anything with words and open a story any way you want.

Also: If you are going by the 'rules of English and Writing' (rofl) then it still is a stupid thread.

Why? Open with a quote.

http://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/beginning-academic-essay

Opening Strategies.*There is still the further question of how to start. What makes a good opening? You can start with specific facts and information, a keynote quotation, a question, an anecdote, or an image. But whatever sort of opening you choose, it should be directly related to your focus. A snappy quotation that doesn't help establish the context for your essay or that later plays no part in your thinking will only mislead readers and blur your focus. Be as direct and specific as you can be.

/me ends this thread.

You can or can't.

You can start with a misleading or out of context quote on purpose.

 

[JKendallDane]

So when are we going to discuss the other big question this thread should have raised...

...which spelling is considered most proper: "dialog" or "dialogue"???

 

[PennLady]

That would be an interesting FAWCK contest assignment. Each take that four line "Jason" dialogue as an opener and spin it out into any interesting story.

I do like that idea myself. Somebody tell slyc!

So when are we going to discuss the other big question this thread should have raised...

...which spelling is considered most proper: "dialog" or "dialogue"???

You know, I don't know. I always use the second spelling.

 

[Swilly]

I use the second spelling too. I've seen dialog used describing a box on a computer, as in dialog box.

 

[sr71plt]

Both are acceptable, but "dialogue" is the first listed in Webster's--and thus would be the preferred spelling of an American mainline publisher. I use "dialogue," since that's where it would land up with an American mainline publisher--but I wouldn't question (and haven't questioned--and didn't bring it up here) the choice posters have made for themselves on the thread. If you sent it to me for editing, it would end up being spelled "dialogue."

 

[PayDay]

Both are acceptable, but "dialogue" is the first listed in Webster's--and thus would be the preferred spelling of an American mainline publisher. I use "dialogue," since that's where it would land up with an American mainline publisher--but I wouldn't question (and haven't questioned--and didn't bring it up here) the choice posters have made for themselves on the thread. If you sent it to me for editing, it would end up being spelled "dialogue."

Same goes for the American Heritage Dictionary.

This thread has been double ended.

 

[PayDay]

Yup.

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/29/stupid_thread.gif

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/30/fail_thread.jpg

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/29/11b35e77e0488ceb590434e3d10944a73969aff.gif

 

[sr71plt]

As opposed to the one where you talk to yourself incessantly on issues that have nothing to do with writing?

 

[Rozalin_0123]

As opposed to the one where you talk to yourself incessantly on issues that have nothing to do with writing?

This x 100

 

[Sammael Bard]

I was born this way, what's your excuse?

Popular demand.

That would be an interesting FAWCK contest assignment. Each take that four line "Jason" dialogue as an opener and spin it out into any interesting story.

Oh shit...I laughed so hard.



Back to the OP, (who seems to have gone AWOL, BTW):

It's a personal preference. Stories can be started either way - with a dialogue or a Line other than a dialogue.

I've read many stories from both sides of the spectrum and I don't think that beginning a conversation with a dialogue somehow "lessens" the impact, or makes it less interesting.

It depends on the skill of how you project that opening.



As for people commenting on other people's Public feedback, they absolutely have the right to do so. If you were attacked by Pilot for a feedback that was sent in PM, I would've said otherwise, but that's not the case.

You said

"Never open a story with a dialogue"

That "Never" word really ticked me off. You came off as an all-conclusive douche bag who has the right to have the last say on everything.


Threads tend to go off topic all the time rolleyes:) and devoting a separate thread to this discussion was noble on your part, but an unnecessary pain.

 

[PayDay]

As opposed to the one where you talk to yourself incessantly on issues that have nothing to do with writing?

This x 100

You have no basis of proof for that. I don't give my thread 50-100 views every time I post something new, it's also impossible to up the view number on your own thread while logged into the forum.

I told you to learn how the forum works. Don't be jelly.

 

[Sammael Bard]

You have no basis of proof for that. I don't give my thread 50-100 views every time I post something new, it's also impossible to up the view number on your own thread while logged into the forum.

I told you to learn how the forum works. Don't be jelly.

Just in case you realized, the number of views have no significance at all. You should damn yourself to hell if you start calling scouries' BS thread good enough because it has garnered +95k views.

 

[PayDay]

Just in case you realized, the number of views have no significance at all. You should damn yourself to hell if you start calling scouries' BS thread good enough because it has garnered +95k views.

That's a bold claim and a reach in logic, you should learn how the forum program works.

 

[sr71plt]

Well, you opened the bag on that, PayDay. Don't think you have a leg to stand on to call a thread on actual writing issues on the AH lame rather than yours--a totally irrelevant personal blog. Almost no one posts to it but you. I think the views that aren't just you checking are mostly "WTF is this doing here?" curiosity. (And you have no proof that they aren't). Doesn't matter anyway, it's a totally irrelevant personal rant blog. Just sort of stresses your powerlessness in the real world, I think. That's usually what angry political rants on irrelevant Internet discussion boards amount to--frustrated powerlessness.

 

[Sammael Bard]

That's a bold claim and a reach in logic, you should learn how the forum program works.

I'm not debating on HOW the views are garnered, but on WHY the views are garnered.

Your claim that your thread gains 50-100 views every time you bump it up is no logic to claim that it is good material (not saying that it's bad either, I haven't read that thread).



And I think the number of views work the same way as in stories, a view is counted each time one clicks on a thread link.

I may be wrong, but you can prove it otherwise by showing me the proof of the mechanism.

 

[PayDay]

Well, you opened the bag on that, PayDay. Don't think you have a leg to stand on to call a thread on actual writing issues on the AH lame rather than yours--a totally irrelevant personal blog.

There is no actual writing issue in this thread. Someone made a claim that someone cannot write a certain way. eecummings murdered that issue forever ago. There is also no basis of proof for the bold claim the OP made, you yourself even pointed this out.

The thread then went on for four pages, in which every poster said the same thing, with no one providing proof of their opinion.

Hence this thread is stupid. How come I can't call a thread stupid but you can? Are you special or something?

 

[PayDay]

I'm not debating on HOW the views are garnered, but on WHY the views are garnered.

Your claim that your thread gains 50-100 views every time you bump it up is no logic to claim that it is good material (not saying that it's bad either, I haven't read that thread).



And I think the number of views work the same way as in stories, a view is counted each time one clicks on a thread link.

I may be wrong, but you can prove it otherwise by showing me the proof of the mechanism.

I never claimed it was good material, only that I am not talking to myself.

 

[PayDay]

I'm not debating on HOW the views are garnered, but on WHY the views are garnered.

Your claim that your thread gains 50-100 views every time you bump it up is no logic to claim that it is good material (not saying that it's bad either, I haven't read that thread).



And I think the number of views work the same way as in stories, a view is counted each time one clicks on a thread link.

I may be wrong, but you can prove it otherwise by showing me the proof of the mechanism.

Have at it:
https://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main

This program has barely changed since it's inception.

 

[sr71plt]

I never claimed it was good material, only that I am not talking to myself.

OK, on the whole you're just discussing with yourself on that thread--and the discussion has nothing to do with either erotica or writing. Seems you would have noticed not only that this was the case, but also what it means. Guess not.

And let's not forget that it has come up here because you threw a rock at the window of a thread that actually fits on the AH and has included more folks in the discussions than just you. Again, I would think you'd figure out what that means. But guess not.

 

[PayDay]

OK, on the whole you're just discussing with yourself on that thread--and the discussion has nothing to do with either erotica or writing. Seems you would have noticed not only that this was the case, but also what it means. Guess not.

Neither does the humor thread or the last thread or a vast many others.

The Laurel(s) has said we can use the forums for anything we want as long as the moderators allow. I also remeber the Laurel(s) dropping a post or two on civility, and that it's not required.

/me waits for another pointless jabbing response.

 

[sr71plt]

Neither does the humor thread or the last thread or a vast many others.

The Laurel(s) has said we can use the forums for anything we want as long as the moderators allow. I also remeber the Laurel(s) dropping a post or two on civility, and that it's not required.

/me waits for another pointless jabbing response.

I think the only other poster who uses the AH as an irrelevant personal blog like you do is Trysail. I think it marks both of you as being in your own little (irrelevant) world. But that's just my opinion.

Again, this is only being discussed here because you threw a really silly rock on this thread considering your own posting behavior.

 

[Sammael Bard]

Have at it:
https://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main

This program has barely changed since it's inception.

You dump a manual in front of me?

Classic.




For the record, I'm not going through an entire fucking manual to see that. I tried the search, but that seems to fail.

So I googled for it. Everywhere, they say that the vBulletin shows total number of views, and not individual unique clicks.

 

[PayDay]

I think the only other poster who uses the AH as an irrelevant personal blog like you do is Trysail. I think it marks both of you as being in your own little (irrelevant) world. But that's just my opinion.

Again, this is only being discussed here because you threw a really silly rock on this thread considering your own posting behavior.

Right, like it's my rock and my fingerprints.

 

[Sammael Bard]

Neither does the humor thread or the last thread or a vast many others.

The Laurel(s) has said we can use the forums for anything we want as long as the moderators allow. I also remeber the Laurel(s) dropping a post or two on civility, and that it's not required.

/me waits for another pointless jabbing response.

That's why it's called Author's HANGOUT.

You're free to post topics/discussions/conversations as long as it's not against Forum Rules.