Let me share a thing or two or more than I should...

...because what would be new? 😂

My only sister is five years younger than I am. We played Barbies ALL THE TIME. But, it was more than that. Because we played, "Dolls of our Lives."

Cue the music.

That's right, readers.

We grew up on Kim and Shane. Patch and Kayla. Bo and Hope. And BY GOD, our Barbies would go through the same shit, if not worse. 

Sis liked to hang hers by their limbs in mortal danger. They always had a broken something or other. I was about the drama. 

You did what? When? With who?

I like to think I sharpened my storytelling teeth on those poor dolls who didn't stand a rat's ass chance of finding happiness. 

Until I let them.

Oh...the POWAH! 🗲🗲🗲

But my favorite soap duo...ever...was Mason and Mary from "Santa Barbara."

Mason was a horrible lawyer with no scruples whatsoever.

Mary was a nun.

A. Fucking. Nun.

👏👏👏

Mason was absolutely corruptingly delicious. This man was toxic with a capital "T", but he fell for Mary and exposed his softer side.

I would record their dialogue on cassette only to listen to it again and again. The cadence. The banter. I strive for this perfection in my scenes. Dialogue, to me, is foreplay. It sets the tone between characters in a most important way. Words spoken are completely telling.

Couple things: I played Barbie's until I was twelve. Maybe older. It's all kind of blurry. We actually sat them down for a group photo once. Wish I still had it.

If you don't know what a cassette is, Google it. 😑

It's important you know where you came from. 💖

Always writing*

...working on OOS scenes today...OKC Thunder later

Dialogue is the best

I'll say it.  Writing dialogue is my favorite part of writing.  Periodt.  It's also my favorite part of reading.  Snappy dialogue goes a long way in favor of me finishing a book.  Purple prose is a quick wallbanger.  Be clever.  Be innovative.  Make me laugh.  Gasp.  Cover my mouth in astonishment.

I wrote a scene yesterday between Ray and Cody.  She needed to poison him, a little bit, because they had to infiltrate a certain part of a hospital to investigate.  They didn't seem to find what they were looking for, so she slipped him the antidote, and they were about to leave.  Ray is my MC.  Cody is her younger assistant and guinea pig.

****

Ray fished a vial out of her pocket and brought it to Cody’s lips.  “Drink.”  She tipped it up, and he swallowed the dark blue liquid.

“Shit, Ray.  Tastes like toilet cleaner.”

“It’s not an energy drink, but you won’t be throwing up blood.”  She shoved the tube back in her pocket and helped him sit up.  Ray concentrated.  Lacey, erase us.

She helped Cody slide his shoes on and put her arm around his waist.  “We’re going to walk out of here a hell of a lot smoother than we walked in.”  Ray wiped his face off.  He already showed more color.  “Now.  Stand tall.” 

Cody straightened with a small groan.

“For fuck’s sake.  How old are you, man?”  Ray looked up at him.

“I am poison years old, Ray.  That’s how fucking old I am.”  He glared.

“Note to self:  Cranky when poisoned.”  Ray rolled her eyes.

“Please remove me from this place before they decide to stick something up my ass.”  Cody took a couple of steps. 

“Do you think they would?”  Ray stopped in her tracks.

“Ray,” he warned.

“Maybe next time.” 

****

This shows their dynamic and makes me laugh every time.  Dialogue sets the tone for me.  It can change a mood in a swift second.  Setting is obviously important.  Tone.  But when a character opens his/her/their mouth?  I'm all ears.

Always writing*