Ask the Author: Karin Adams
Answered Questions (4)
Karin Adams
I find that there are a lot of factors that go into crafting dialogue story to story, character to character and conversation to conversation. But the best piece of general advice that I ever received - and always seem to go back to - is to "avoid 'talking heads'". This comes from a wonderful Improv theatre class I took years ago, right around the time I was writing my first book. In the context of Improv performance, the idea was to incorporate action or dynamic movement of some kind into scenes, so that the scene and the implied "world" where it took place wasn't only being created by the words that were spoken but by what we saw happening on stage.
I find that this thought - "avoid 'talking heads'" is always playing in the back of my mind when I write scenes that are rich with dialogue. It leads me to consider: What are the characters doing as they talk? How can I show this in a way that creates movement and flow in the scene and suggests the larger world of the story? Where is the action taking place? Can I weave in details as the dialogue unfolds that keep my readers' senses and emotions (something beyond just their thoughts) sparked and engaged in the story's world?
I find that this thought - "avoid 'talking heads'" is always playing in the back of my mind when I write scenes that are rich with dialogue. It leads me to consider: What are the characters doing as they talk? How can I show this in a way that creates movement and flow in the scene and suggests the larger world of the story? Where is the action taking place? Can I weave in details as the dialogue unfolds that keep my readers' senses and emotions (something beyond just their thoughts) sparked and engaged in the story's world?
Karin Adams
I think it would have something to do with dreams. Have you ever had that experience of visiting (or even re-visiting) a place that doesn't exist in the waking world - that can't exist here - but it's so absolutely vivid and tangible in a dream? You might even wake up with that feeling that you almost know how to find it...and then the feeling and the place itself drifts from your grasp...That's not really a plot, but I think my personal mystery story would somehow start there.
Karin Adams
Narnia! I'd want to explore every wood, mountain and waterfall - all the places brought to life in C.S. Lewis's Narnia Chronicles. If I had time (but remember, time is a funny thing when you're in Narnia...) I would love to see Archenland and Calormen, too, as well as the sites and ruins in the North.
Karin Adams
I am really enjoying books by MEGAN MIRANDA and have both The Girl From Widow Hills and The Last House Guest on my summer reading list. I'm also looking forward to reading The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis, Lady Tan's Circle of Women by LISA SEE, and The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes.
Somehow I have so far missed reading The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate - so that's a 'for sure'!
...and I'll be continuing my year-round tradition by re-reading some of my favourite Agatha Christie novels as well!
Somehow I have so far missed reading The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate - so that's a 'for sure'!
...and I'll be continuing my year-round tradition by re-reading some of my favourite Agatha Christie novels as well!
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