• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing

Helping authors achieve their dreams

  • Blog
  • Writing Advice
  • Publishing Advice
  • About
  • Take a Class
  • Get Editing

A textbook case of over-relying on dialogue (page critique)

February 16, 2023 by Nathan Bransford 2 Comments

If you’d like to nominate your own page or query for a public critique, kindly post them here in our discussion forums:

  • Nominate Your First Page for a Critique on the Blog
  • Nominate Your Query for a Critique on the Blog

Also, if you’d like to test your editing chops, keep your eye on this area or this area! I’ll post the pages and queries a few days before a critique so you can see how your redline compares to mine.

And, of course, if you need help more urgently or privately, I’m available for edits and consultations!

Now then. Time for the Page Critique. First I’ll present the page without comment, then I’ll offer my thoughts and a redline. If you choose to offer your own thoughts, please be polite. We aim to be positive and helpful.

Random numbers were generated, and thanks to Blanche2021, whose page is below:

Title: ‘Journey To Love’
Romance
First Page

‘I should be in a convent?’ Virginia Warner spun her head around to face her friend, Dorothy
Baxter. That’s a strange thing to say, what do you mean?’
‘Remember how you couldn’t wait to leave home, your eyes glued to the calendar, willing the days away to your escape?’
‘Yes, I remember,’ Virginia lifted her eyes. A deep groan escaped from her throat.
‘And I’m very happy to be here. A smile lit up’ her face.
‘But what’s the point if you’re not going to have fun. I can’t believe that you intend going through three long years of nurse training without a fella, and cloistered in this nurses’ home. You might as well be a nun. Good looks are wasted on you. Men would stumble over themselves for you.’
‘Thanks for the compliment, and I do intend having fun, going to lots of parties and all the places I couldn’t go when I was at home, but I don’t want to get involved with anyone until I’ve completed my training. I want to be the best nurse at St. Faith’s.’
‘Well if that’s the sacrifice we have to make, you can count me out.’
‘Not a sacrifice really. Truth is…I’m saving myself until I meet the right person.’
‘Ooh,’ Dorothy raised an eyebrow and looked askance at her friend. ‘I am impressed. You’re not called Virgin–ia for nothing. But why do I hear your father’s words echoing in your head. Mind while you’re so busy saving yourself, you don’t let Mr. Right pass you by and you end up an old maid like Home Sister and matron. This is nineteen sixty-six. The age of women’s liberation and free love. You can loosen your chastity belt, but beware an uninvited visit from the white stork. If you know what I mean.’

If you’ve ever wondering why I spend a lot of energy on this blog talking about the perils of over-relying on dialogue, it’s because of deeply clunky openings like this.

This doesn’t feel at all like a convincing conversation. Why? The characters are smushing exposition into the dialogue in a way that feels unwieldy (“‘Remember how you couldn’t wait to leave home, your eyes glued to the calendar…”), the banter is forced, the scene feels organized around the information the author feels like they need to impart rather than having a clear impetus.

Just as importantly, there’s zero separate context and physical description, so we can’t visualize the scene or the characters. There’s a head jump midway through the scene (can you spot it?) from Virginia’s perspective to Dorothy’s perspective.

This page is in really, really rough shape. Establish where we are via physical description, anchor us to a particular character and help us understand what’s motivating them, and draw upon the narrative voice to provide context.

Here’s my redline:

Title: ‘Journey To Love’
Romance
First Page

[INSERT PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND PROTAGONIST’S MINDSET]

“You should be in a convent,” Dorothy said.

‘I should be in a convent?’ Virginia Warner spun her head around to face her friend, Dorothy
Baxter. That’s a strange thing to say, w
‘What do you mean?’ Virginia asked.
‘Remember how you couldn’t wait to leave home, your eyes glued to the calendar, willing the days away to your escape?’
‘Yes, I remember,’ Virginia lifted her eyes. A deep groan escaped from her throat.
‘And I’m very happy to be here. A smile lit up’ her face.

‘But wWhat’s the point of leaving home if you’re not going to have fun.? I can’t believe that you intend going to go through three long years of nurse training without a fella, and cloistered in this nurses’ home. You might as well be a nun. Good looks are wasted on you. Men would stumble over themselves for you.’

[CONTEXT VIA THE NARRATIVE VOICE ABOUT VIRGINIA’S PLANS FOR BECOMING A NURSE]

‘Thanks for the compliment, and I do intend having fun, going to lots of parties and all the places I couldn’t go when I was at home, but I don’t want to get involved with anyone until I’ve completed my training. I want to be the best nurse at St. Faith’s.,’ Virginia said.
‘Well iIf that’s the sacrifice we have to make it takes, you can count me out.’
‘Not a sacrifice really.,‘ Virginia said. ‘Truth is…, I’m saving myself until I meet for the right person.’
‘Ooh,’ Dorothy raised an eyebrow and looked askance at her friend. ‘I am impressed. You’re not called Virgin–ia named Virginia for nothing. But why do I hear your father’s words echoing in your head. Mind while you’re so busy saving yourself, you don’t let Mr. Right pass you by and you end up an old maid like Home Sister and matron. This is It’s nineteen sixty-six. The age of women’s liberation and free love. Y, you can loosen your chastity belt, but. Just beware an uninvited visit from the white stork. I, if you know what I mean.’

Thanks again to Blanche2021!

Need help with your book? I’m available for manuscript edits, query critiques, and coaching!

For my best advice, check out my online classes (NEW!), my guide to writing a novel and my guide to publishing a book.

And if you like this post: subscribe to my newsletter!

Art: A girl reads to a convalescent while a nurse brings in the patient’s medicine by Robert Humphrey Giles

Filed Under: Critiques Tagged With: page critique

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Neil Larkins says

    February 16, 2023 at 7:39 pm

    You’re right, Nathan, this required a lot of work. I had trouble figuring out who was talking so passed on straightening it out.
    This seems like a good story if the writer can incorporate the suggestions throughout.
    Your suggestions help me too, Nathan. I have a tendency to rely on dialogue. It’s easier than exposition, but because you’ve addressed this problem before (as you said), I’ve gotten better.
    Thanks, Blanche2021, for letting us critique your work.

    Reply
  2. Mike Sherer says

    February 25, 2023 at 3:22 am

    Try reading ‘Stella Maris’, by Cormac McCarthy. It is entirely dialogue, every single word. Very difficult to follow.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About Nathan

Hi, I’m Nathan. I’m the author of How to Write a Novel and the Jacob Wonderbar series, which was published by Penguin. I used to be a literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. and I’m dedicated to helping authors achieve their dreams. Let me help you with your book!

My blog has everything you need to know to write, edit, and publish a book. Can’t find what you need or want personalized help? Reach out.

Learn more about me

Need Editing?

I'm available for consultations, edits, query critiques, brainstorming, and more.
Learn more!

My Books

How to Write A Novel
Cover of How to Publish a Book by Nathan Bransford
Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapo
Jacob Wonderbar for President of the Universe
Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp

Forums

Need help with your query? Want to talk books? Check out the Nathan Bransford Forums
Footer Logo
Nathan Bransford

Helping authors achieve their dreams

  • Editing Services
  • My Books
  • About Me
  • Blog Directory
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
Twitter Logo Facebook Logo Instagram Logo
As an Amazon and Bookshop Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon and Bookshop links are usually affiliate links.