Hullo, Mr. Stroud. I'm a writer, and I've got a question that'll probably get pretty lengthy because I have a tendency to ramble, so please just bear with me. I promise I'll get to the point (eventually).

My question is: how often do you find yourself reading something and finding a technique the author uses that you like so much you decide to try it out yourself? For instance, just yesterday I was looking up a scene with Kitty's mother to work on my characterization of her when I noticed how you wrote your dialogue (at least, for that particular scene). I noticed that you very rarely used the words "said" or "replied" or anything of the sort, and when you did they were used very plainly. You seem to be very fond of stand-alone quotations, or by describing a plain action rather than using "said" or whatnot. For example (if I was confusing anyone):

wrote:"This is an example of a certain way of writing dialogue."
"Oh really?  I hadn't noticed.  Seems a bit insulting, doesn't it?  Whoever's writing this doesn't even bother with a plot or characterization or backstory or whatnot."
The first person scowled.  "Yes, well, it's just an example, so I hardly think that matters.  Stop being so sensitive."
"Me?  Sensitive?  Well, I never -"

I think you get what I'm playing at. Now, that's in complete contrast to someone like, oh, JK Rowling (who is very fond of "said" - read one page and you're liable to see it about three or four times at the very least). I noticed how effective this technique for dialogue was - at least in that situation - and so I found myself using it in the next thing I wrote. Do you find yourself doing this very often? I personally find myself doing it all the time. As Oscar Wilde said, "Talent borrows, genius steals."

Of course, I don't mean just pertaining to dialogue - I'm talking overall style. Mannerisms (I nicked "(person) pinched the bridge of their nose" the other day, have already pegged that to one character), narrative (Elie Wiesel is very fond of fragments, which are very powerful in situations - just read Night, for example), etc, etc. As I predicted, I've rambled on and on, but oh well. What can I say, the writing process fascinates me.

Hi there,

Sorry to have taken so long to reply... Well, I think if writing is your trade then it's very hard not to be aware of another person's tricks and techniques. If I'm reading something that is good, I'm kind of reading it at two levels at once (as Bart would say), enjoying the story for what it is and at the same time analysing the language.

When I do dialogue I tend to put in 'said' a bit, but not more than is necessary: we don't need it most of the time, and the same is true of associated adverbs (he said cunningly). I used to read Evelyn Waugh and noticed that he often had huge tracts of dialogue with no saids or replied or anything - and it flowed just fine.


I think all writers have to be stylistic thieves, ideally in a discreet, courteous way. That's a different matter from pinching the CONTENT of someone's book...

J