Choke on my Dialogue.

[Joe Wordsworth]

Grr. I've had a story of mine rejected because of dialogue concerns. Problem is, I've read and re-read the thing and can't figure out what the problem is. Apparently the problem is formatting... I think.

Its a lot like checking a troubleshooter for information about why your computer isn't working and the only respone you get about why is "You aren't turning on your computer the right way". You figure there really isn't another way, aside from pushing the button, and it doesn't tell you what it means.

Frustrating.

 

[psychocatblah]

Hm. Could you possibly run it by a volunteer editor? Maybe if nothing else they can fix the formatting problem?

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Oh... well... yeah... I meant...

See I have this friend, right? He wrote a story. And... like... he doesn't know how to do the whole "talk to volunteer editor" thing.

I told him how, but... how would /you/ do it? Y'know, so my friend can know. Hypothetically.

*clicks on tape recorder*

 

[psychocatblah]

Oh... well... yeah... I meant...

See I have this friend, right? He wrote a story. And... like... he doesn't know how to do the whole "talk to volunteer editor" thing.

I told him how, but... how would /you/ do it? Y'know, so my friend can know. Hypothetically.

*clicks on tape recorder*

Ahh, well if I had a friend who was looking for such information, I might give him this link.

Volunteer Editors Found Here

I'd probably advise him to contact a few, because some are more or less likely to respond quickly and they all specialise in different things. Then I would wish him good luck

 

[Baron]

Some samples of your allegedly offending dialogue might help prompt more precise comments.

 

[minsue]

If the dialogue problem is "formatting", I assume you mean grammar & punctuation. Post an excerpt or two and I'm sure you'll get some feedback.

 

[Weird Harold]

Grr. I've had a story of mine rejected because of dialogue concerns. Problem is, I've read and re-read the thing and can't figure out what the problem is. Apparently the problem is formatting... I think.

Check out these two essays in the How To Forum:

http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=8982
http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=122987


The first, by WhisperSecret, is probably going to answer your questions -- It's a VERY clear and concise explanation of how to punctuate dialogue.

The second is more generl discussion of when and where to use dialogue, more than the formatting and punctuation aspects.

 

[English Lady]

I'm not the worlds best at editing type stuff but if you wanted to send me the story i could read it through and try and see whats up with it*L*

 

[Lisa Denton]

This isn't meant to be funny Joe, well o.k., yea it is. When the troubleshooter tells you your not turning on the computer the right way what kind of problems are you having? Blank screen?

 

[BlackSnake]

Q. Computer stopped working for no reason.
A. If you can't see if the computer in plugged into the socket, because it's to dark. Look outside to see if you can see any light on out there. If that's the case, then you will need to find the box the computer came in and send it back immediately.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

I'd have to see the speech. Or at least the message (What was your error message?) rejecting it. I know my one rejection was due to size of paragraph which took a couple break-ups with the enter key to fix (yes, me and my keyboard went out for a couple of weeks. My love life is so sad). Does the dialogue use too much AIMspeak? Is it too slangy? Is the grammar and spelling off? Did you bother to spell check? What format did you send it in as? Did you try the old copy and paste method of submission? Is the copy and paste method not an option? Have evil forces hijacked your submission on its way to Laurel? Can they without a doubt be traced back to me? Did I remember pants this morning? Who really killed the Kennedys? Help, how do I stop asking all these questions? Am I in an infinite loop? Where are my damn pants anyway? Will I ever stop this pointless questioning?

Ahhh.

 

[Mhari]

You could also send me your story to look at. I used to teach writing for a living n stuff.

~M