Okay, I had fun with this one.
Mainly because my own flubs amuse me.
Should you not enjoy verbal slapstick, you can skip from ~3m20s to ~4m15s.
The Examples I mentioned
Using only dialogue, have one person’s frustration growing and the other oblivious –
“What would you like to do?”
“It doesn’t matter. Whatever you decide will be fine.”
“No, no. You’re opinion’s valued here. What would you like?”
“Whatever, really. It doesn’t matter.”
“Come on now. No opinions? No desires? Surely there must be something.”
“I told you, anything. All I really want to do is relax.”
“Ah, relax is it? Good good good. What shall we do to relax?”
“We could shove a rag in your mouth, that might do it.”
“Ha, funny. Good one, that. Come on now, what shall we do to relax?”
“Forget it. Nothing. I’ll just get a book and read on the porch. How’s that? Is that okay?”
“I thought you wanted to relax.”
“That is relaxing, you idiot.”
“No call for bad manners, now, is there? You’re the one who can’t make up your mind.”
“How about if I get a book and beat you over the fucking head with it. Would that be alright?”
“See how good you are. Now there are three options. Which shall it be? Auck!”
Show an uncomfortable situation using mostly dialog:
1 – “Why are you doing this to me?”
“Because I can.”2 – Carol, Dennis, and Robert sat equidistant from each other, their personal spaces tricating the circular cafeteria table separating them. Carol picked up the salt shaker and sprinkled some in her palm. She threw what grains landed there over her shoulder then applied two more shakes to her fries. “How’s the project coming along, Den?”
“I think most of it’s going well.” Dennis took the top bun off his hamburger and waited for the salt. “It should be done in a few more days. Then comes the test run, of course — “
Robert placed his fork squarely in his salad. “Excuse me.”
Carol handed Dennis the shaker. “What is it, Bob?”
“I haven’t approved the changes yet.”
Dennis laughed. “What’re you talking about, Bob? This wasn’t your project.”
“This wasn’t my project? I approve all code changes. I always have. I’m not going to allow changes to go enforce without my clearing them.”
Dennis stopped chewing as he stared at Bob. Carol said, “Eat your salad, Bob.”
“I’m the most senior developer here. I’ve always checked code changes.”
Dennis wiped his mouth and pushed his seat back. “I think you two have things to talk about.” He waved at some people at another table and rose. As he walked behind Bob he rolled his eyes at Carol. “Enjoy your lunch.”
I have quite a few more. Let me know if you’re interested and I’m fumble my way through them for you (at least I know where they are now. Should save some time).
Think I’m onto something? Take a class with me, schedule a critique of your work, or buy me a coffee.
Think I’m an idiot? Let me know in a comment.
Either way, we’ll both learn something.
Get copies of my books because it’s a nice thing to do, you care, you can follow along, and I need the money.
No Responses