By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Writers are always learning. It’s a requirement for success in the publishing world. We read blogs, attend conferences, and study the how-to books. Our eyes and ears are like magnets, drawing us to seek ways to better our craft. But sometimes we miss the good stuff.
An online critique partner introduced me to a new phrase about poorly written dialogue. His comment exploded with symbolism. It also had me moaning and groaning.
Actually he gave me a gift. His edits were spot-on with the phrase, dialogue assassination.
“Oh no,” I whispered to my computer after reading his comments. “Have I been ignoring all the latest methods of creating powerful dialogue? Where did that phrase originate?”
My goal is to write suspense, not destroy the story before it hits my editor’s desk!
I was on a short path to killing my story by not paying attention to my character’s unique personality and how things were said.
I emailed my writer friend, Jerry Jenkins, and asked him about the phrase. Like me, he loved the imagery. A few minutes later he sent the following example of dialogue assassination:
“Well, I was just wondering if you’ve hHeard from the kids yet?. I worry, about them driving all that way, especially at night, and not knowing what kind of the weather they might run into.” [That really does look like dialogue assassination, doesn’t it? J]
The improved version:
“Heard from the kids yet? I worry, them driving all that way at night, not knowing the weather they might run into.”
My path forward? I have a book due in a couple of months, and I’ve started at chapter one by editing my dialogue. I’m also re-reading a few of my favorite books that address a character verbal communication:
Dialogue – Gloria Kempton
Story – Robert McKee
Writing Dialogue – Tom Chiarella
Dialogue assassination caught me unaware. So glad my critique partner caught the problem, and I’m able to make my story stronger. What about you? Do you have areas of your fiction that need work? Let’s pool our resources so we can help each other be better writers.
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. Her titles have appeared on the CBA 
and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Suspense Sister, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson. She teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.
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