In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach Laura Humm sits down with new author Dixie Williams to look at a scene Dixie has written. They talk about writing well known family tropes, making sure the reader knows who is in the scene so the reader can imagine the scene, orienting family relationships at the opening of the scene so we understand the family’s dynamic, and paying attention to the family dynamics when creating flash backs.
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If you would rather watch Laura and Dixie work together, check out the video on YouTube:
Hi, Laura. Your teaching and discussion of this scene were incredibly helpful to me on many levels. I am currently in the midst of one process you discussed. When re-reading a short story (The Scent of Sandalwood Cologne) I wrote over a year ago, I initially decided to scrap it and rewrite it from another character’s perspective, as it wasn’t working. However, I hated the result. This led me to re-read the original piece while reflecting on what you, Jeff, and JP taught in a mini-conference. I realized that the issue was with the build-up—it wasn’t connecting as it needed to with the trigger and payoff. This is one reason I’m so excited about attending your upcoming conference in September, where I hope to learn how to edit more like a Dialogue Doctor!
Dixie, your story sounds fantastic! Thank you for sharing this scene with us. I look forward to hearing more about your story