Writing dialogue takes practice. Content is one thing, punctuation is another.

A lifetime of formulating reports and briefings did not prepare me for this aspect of fiction writing at all.

We are told that dialogue done well, particularly with the punctuation correct, is seamless and goes unnoticed by the reader. Too true. I do not have any idea how my favourite written dialogue passages are punctuated.

There is plenty of sage advice on how to write good, engaging and compelling dialogue; but it is near to useless if you have not got the punctuation under control!

• About Dialogue Punctuation - My Go To Guide

Audacious is my latest short story for a word.

As is often the case it was a toss up between the adjective (audacious) or the noun (audacity). The adjective, because it helped to describe the main character, is what I went with. She ‘was’ rather than she ‘owned’.

In case you wonder, I am a whole 5 foot nothing in height and yes that may, or may not, have some bearing on the story.

On recent travels I had the opportunity to truly appreciate the ‘super model’ good looks and attitudes of giraffes up close. It was uncanny how they came instantly to mind in the writing of this story and I am sure they will appear again.

Audacious

Does there have to be conflict in a story for the tale to hold the reader?

The common wisdom seems to be that there does.

This caused me to not only look at the use of conflict in my own writing (some revelations to be had), it also sent me searching for stories where there is no conflict as the basis within the story. Given that most of my reading is ‘western’ writing I struggled.

The struggle was worthwhile though because I discovered Kishotenketsu.

Chinese and Japanese writers have used this plot structure for centuries. It is plot structure that relies on exposition and contrast rather than major conflict. This structure contains no violence, the events need not harm one another as they can stand separately.

I am off to apply this new learning - wonder if you can find it in a short word story of mine sometime soon?

Here is some further reading for you if you are intrigued about the two different approaches to story telling.

• The Significance of Plot Without Conflict - Kishotenketsu

• What is Kishotenketsu?