I think one of the most fun things for me to write is dialogue. It's difficult to say whether or not the dialogue I write is natural or flowing, but it definitely does seem to come naturally--so I hope it comes across that way to the reader. The most recent update to the story (which I'm thinking of calling "The Strand") is by far the longest segment I've written in one setting. The bulk of it is made up of dialogue between two new characters. After having spent what seems like an eternity alone in the wilderness with Terakiel and his thoughts, it's a breath of fresh air to break away from that character and explore interactions between others.
I love dialogue and characters. If there's anything I want to really get good at it, it's character development. I love just hearing people talk to each other at length, about anything that might be on their minds. I like to think about how different characters would phrase different ideas. Writing dialogue helps me to get to know these characters better as I am simultaneously fleshing them out as I go along.
A significant amount of research is going to be required before I can feel at all satisfied with what I'm doing here. I've been completely making it up as I go along thus far, with only vague ideas of the kind of things I want to happen. Still, I'm reasonably pleased--even if I've already noticed tons of inconsistencies that must be taken apart and repaired.
It can be so difficult to make a scene feel alive. How do the characters feel, not only emotionally but physically? How can this be expressed in colorful but efficient language? Don't meander too far from the narrative to describe the setting, but make sure that it is known and the reader has an impression. These guidelines don't come from anywhere, but I feel they hold true--and they're what I'm ascribing to.
I described Tombolin very briefly. I think it's okay to leave certain details to the imagination but in this particular instance I want to paint a richer picture for the reader. I'm just not sure how to do that yet. There are large gaps in my knowledge that prevent me from answering pressing questions that enrich Terakiel's backstory.
This character lives in an extremely secluded village, but there are so many details that are unclear. Just how big an area does Tombolin comprise--and is the clearing sparsely populated by trees or was it entirely cleared out by the First Priests? I discuss an underground marketplace which implies a lack of space for a growing population but I don't bother to expound on it. The architecture is described very simple as "stone." Surely I could go into more detail without losing the course of the narrative.
I've also not gone into a lot of detail about Terakiel's past. It is implied at least once that he was never the athletic type--perhaps to the disappointment of his parents? He might enjoy literature, but how do the citizens of Tombolin have access to books? Is the population quite large enough that there are writers with published works of fiction? Perhaps the literature has been passed down through the generations from a vast library brought over by the First Priests.
I need to focus more on lore. Although I am loathe to acknowledge that I'm good at anything, dialogue is probably my strong suit. I am poor at exploring the "big picture" and especially connecting it with a grand overall plot. I would still love to write a fantasy story that is completely character driven without maniacal villains--a story that focuses much more on internal and interpersonal conflicts.
Surprisingly, this has given me a lot to think about it. I should do this more often. Maybe a weekly or biweekly entry talking myself through what's currently going on in Illatha (that's the planet/world/whatever the story takes place in) and where I would like to take it in the future.
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