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 Hatrack River Writers Workshop
 Open Discussions About Writing
 30 page conversation
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| Author | Topic: 30 page conversation |
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Zero Member |
posted November 17, 2009 02:44 PM
 
Is it acceptable to have a 30 page conversation if what's being said is interesting? IP: Logged |
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Teraen Member |
posted November 17, 2009 02:51 PM
Yes. But only if what is being said is interesting, not just to you, but also to your reader  And being possible doesn't mean it is easy, or a good idea, or the best thing to do... IP: Logged |
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Dark Warrior Member |
posted November 17, 2009 02:53 PM
my opinion, absolutely, as long as it is written well. Remembering, of course, that conversation can be broken up with paragraphs and sentences of POV thoughts and observations. An example of the opposite, to support this, is one of my favorite books The Last Whales by Lloyd Abbey. The entire book only has, like, six sentences of dialogue, the rest is narration. IP: Logged |
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skadder Member |
posted November 17, 2009 03:30 PM
Definitely avoid this if possible. If not possible try and break it up by having the people engaged in some other activity together/against each other/separately. So you could have two people chatting if they were both helping to skin and butcher a deer. You could insert interesting details about the butchery, the approaching storm (they are in the woods) and circling wolves. Obviously this is just an example--I have no idea of the context your two individuals are having the conversation within. IP: Logged |
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Zero Member |
posted November 17, 2009 03:36 PM
They are both trying to extract information from each other, quid-pro-quo, as they see each other as possible assets for co-dependently solving the same mystery. A lot of previous mysteries in the book are explained here. As the two characters, or players, were on opposite sides of events until now. [This message has been edited by Zero (edited November 17, 2009).] IP: Logged |
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Wolfe_boy Member |
posted November 17, 2009 04:19 PM
30 pages seems a bit much to me. Lots of stage-directions to go along with that dialogue? Or are we talking about a My Dinner with Andre kind of thing? IP: Logged |
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Robert Nowall Member |
posted November 17, 2009 04:24 PM
How long was the Council of Elrond chapter of The Lord of the Rings---in text if not in manuscript? I suppose a certain amount of lengthy conversation would be acceptable...depending on how long, what's being said, and how many people are saying it. IP: Logged |
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Merlion-Emrys Member |
posted November 17, 2009 04:25 PM
Like with just about everything, if it works for the story you're telling, its perfectly "acceptable." Probably not very easy to do effectively however. IP: Logged |
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Meredith Member |
posted November 17, 2009 04:33 PM
Practically the whole of Rothfuss' NAME OF THE WIND (about 700-800 pages of it) is told as one character dictating his memoirs, with occasional interruptions by the other characters. Anything can be made to work. [This message has been edited by Meredith (edited November 17, 2009).] IP: Logged |
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Kathleen Dalton Woodbury Administrator |
posted November 17, 2009 05:44 PM
OSC uses conversations a lot in his books, but there are things happening along with the dialog, so it isn't just "talking heads." I wouldn't be surprised if you could find as much as 30 pages of conversation in more than one of his books. IP: Logged |
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Zero Member |
posted November 18, 2009 09:59 AM
There are little things. So-and-so changed positions. So-and-so scratched his head. So-and-so began pacing back and forth. And there are also bits of analysis. How one character, the pov character, perceives the others' information. Debates within himself whether or not the new information is credible. There's this psychological part as well. Saying one thing but meaning another, perhaps to judge the others' reaction. So there is a lot of thinking and a few simple actions outside the dialogue. But it is mostly dialogue. Maybe a more important question is, is that too much for any of you? Or would you let it slide? [This message has been edited by Zero (edited November 18, 2009).] IP: Logged |
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Teraen Member |
posted November 18, 2009 10:08 AM
Like I said, it depends on how well you pull it off. When you get it written, send it to me (with the appropriate background) and I'll let you know one person's opinion on it... IP: Logged |
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Zero Member |
posted November 18, 2009 10:20 AM
So what you're saying is that, if it were well written you'd let it fly. Right? IP: Logged |
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Merlion-Emrys Member |
posted November 18, 2009 11:30 AM
"well written" is a matter of opinion. Unlike many I don't have requirements or forbidden zones. If your story interests me, I will continue. If not, I probably still will but i may well not look into anything else of yours. IP: Logged |
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Kathleen Dalton Woodbury Administrator |
posted November 18, 2009 11:35 AM
I'd recommend asking a few people to read it and to mark where they notice their minds starting to wander or their eyes glazing over. I'd think that as long as the conversation advances the story, and/or develops characterization, and is interesting, it can go on as long as the people speaking can stand to talk (believability factor, in other words). IP: Logged |
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Zero Member |
posted November 18, 2009 03:59 PM
Thanks, everyone. IP: Logged |
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