PSA: Dialogue Tags

megsilver

Authors and editors, lend me your ears: I read a lot. I love books, and I love stories. Now, before I get into the following rant, let’s get something straight. I am not perfect. I have my strengths and weaknesses as an author. As an editing team, Emma and I never catch every problem. We follow up with a beta team in an attempt to catch issues in mechanics, continuity and whatever else, and we STILL don’t catch every problem. Mistakes and issues embarrass the shit out of me, and I’ve been embarrassed a lot over the years, okay? So I’m not speaking from a position of superiority, I’m speaking… Read More

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Interesting Convo

megsilver

So I was on the phone with Emma over lunch today, discussing revisions, and we got onto the topic of the “strong heroine”. Everyone talks about this as an archetype. It’s even a Netflix category, but it’s funny to me how one-dimensional “strong” appears to be. How do we define strength in a heroine? Is she kick-ass, like physically strong? That seems to be the extent of it for a lot of folks. What about emotional strength? Spiritual strength? Mental strength? Moral strength? Jane Eyre would be an awesome example of that last one. Anyway, I thought it was an interesting discussion. Maybe light a thoughtful fire for other writers… Read More

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Did You Know…

megsilver

Did you know that Emma (editor) can make me clutch my own skull by starting a sentence with, “But you said…” /screaaaaaaam Yes, we’re working up to letting Episode 10 go out for a first-read by the beta team. Things are not going well, so far. And because I’m feeling evil now I will ‘leak’ this info: PRIMARY CAST FOR SEASON TWO: Sophie Morris: Our lead character Ben Oliver: Former lead performer of exhibitionist fantasy dept Hector Cruz: Thomas’s replacement as lead of forced seduction dept Nyx Vaughn: Lead performer in threesomes and menage. Replaces Marla as Mercury Milazzo’s enforcer Yes, you will see Thomas and Josh in Episode 10.… Read More

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Whatsherface

megsilver

I love it when Mr. Silver is home. Except for the fact I get nothing done, of course. Also, I have to rename two characters. Help! (I am so having decision fatigue today, and Emma is sick of helping because I am really, really picky…) PROBLEMS: Character 1’s name was Bette, but it’s too similar to another character’s name (Beth). Character 2’s name was Connie Weaver, but the first name it too is too similar to another character’s name (Carmen). The surname contains a W, which it can’t. Character 1 is elderly, and very sweet. Character 2 is in her forties, a successful business owner in a scientific field. Ethnicity… Read More

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Mission Improbable

megsilver

Remember that scene in Monty Python’s Holy Grail where the whimsical prince guy keeps bursting into song and shooting arrows out the window, hoping to evade the important task at hand? That’s pretty much my morning thus far. More notes have arrived from mein editor when I want to be outside screwing around in the beautiful weather. Don’t worry. One good shot of tree pollen and I’ll be back to work with a quickness.

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Even Steven

megsilver

It’s eighteen(F) degrees below zero — ambient, without the windchill — right now. That is plenty frickin’ cold. Yikes. On the up side, last Friday I finally just said “screw it,” and figured out how to rebuild this episode so that it’s not the world’s most boring slog ever. I cannot tell you how huge a relief that is. And now to get it done and back into Emma’s hands… Have a great Monday.

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