CWG's HOW TO WRITE GOOD MASTERCLASS: CALLING ALL WRITERS!

            Here at CWG we believe everyone can write better than what they do.

            Now Summer is here, bringing the Writing Competition Season. Even u3a has one. Closing date TODAY!! July 15. You Budding Fiction Writers should also be getting down to finish that novel, those stories, or that memoir over the Holiday so it's ready to GET NOTICED IN SEPTEMBER!

             So let's brush up on those basic Skills to get you going.

            We'll start with DIALOGUE since all of these genres depend upon effective use of the Spoken Word. (Even though it's printed on the page or appears on the screen of whatever digital platform you prefer.) This week we focus on polishing up your Vocabulary to improve your presentation of... DIALOGUE!

            This will give you an edge over rivals to impress Agents, Publishers, Competition Judges and, if you're very lucky, the Nobel Prize Literature Committee. These good folk are always on the look out for a Writer whose words sparkle with Life, Authority, Humour (where appropriate) and Originality. This is so important in Dialogue.

            What can be duller than the old: He said ... She said... then I said... So they said... We said... droning on and on and on and on? I bet you're asleep already!Well, If so...

            Wake up and smell the verbal caffeine!

            Take the exercise below...

            Here's a powerful piece of emotionally-charged dialogue. But it's enriched by substitute words for the so-tired SAID that are fiery, colourful, unusual, and shout Look at me! I'm sophisticated! Write your own definitions of the new words without cheating then test them against the real answers on the next page. Then score one point for each of yours that's close. 5 is average. Below 5 is under average and above 5 means you might be a Winner!!

            If you don't like the style check out the Punkier alternatives.

1           “I won't do that just to get you a peerage!” she ASSEVERATED. _________

2          “You've hurt my feelings deeply,” he CATERWAULED.     _________________

3          “Here's what I'll do to your reputation,” she ADUMBRATED. ____________           

4          “Well I'll do this,” he EXPOSTULATED            ____________________________               

5          “If you seriously do that...,” she DEMURRED, then... __________________

6          CACKLED, “I have the letters that will ruin you!” _________________

7           “Just think of the consequences,” he ADMONISHED         _________________

8          “Do you really have any idea what they might be?” she RIPOSTED ________

9           “Ah, well... Er... Oh dear... Is that really the time?” he TEMPORISED ______

10        “You'll be chased out of town!” she EXTEMPORISED _________________

11        “Can we do some work now?” CHIRRUPED the Children. ______________

12        “Harrumph, ha, well, er, I, er, always remember... something, er, we'd all do well to... bear in                        mind... Um. Blah. Blah. You know...“ the Head Teacher BLOVIATED.______________

ANSWERS BELOW...

1 INSISTED FORCEFULLY

2 WAILED

3 OUTLINED

4 ARGUED FORCEFULLY

5  HESITATED

6  LAUGHED DEMENTEDLY

7 WARNED

8 RIPOSTED

9 AVOIDED AN ANSWER

10 INVENTED ON THE SPOT

11 CHORUSSED

12 BLATHERED

BUT IF YOUR TASTE IS MORE HARD-BOILED/PUNKY/DEMOTIC...

TRY THESE ALTERNATIVES:

1          SPAT (or HEAD-BUTTED)

2          WHINED

3          TOLD IT LIKE IT WAS

4          BIGGED HISSELF UP         

5          LET HIM SWEAT

6          SHRIEKED    

7          HISSED

8          TRASHED HIS BONES

9          GHOSTED HER

10        QUIPPED

11        CLUCKED     

12        CRUNCHED HIS BRAIN GEARS

            THAT'S GOOD ANGRY DIALOGUING..... NOW GO MAKE YOUR OWN!!