Short story time. Last weekend I spent some time in karaoke. After my friends banned me from singing, I realized I was tone-deaf.
Later that night I stumbled home and wrote a terrifying scene where the recently revealed antagonist hunts the protagonist. I awoke the next morning eager to read my work. I wish I didn't because the scene was awful. The tone was completely off. My dialogue, for instance, did not match the feel of the scene. One line was: "Here's Pedro!" You read that right. I just included a goofy parody of the Shining in my tense, nail-biting scene. I was being tone-deaf once again.
Tone is like the present you get your in-laws – it is almost impossible to get right, but brilliant when you do. I struggle with the tone every time I write.
How do you ensure you get the right tone when writing? Any tricks you can share?
Later that night I stumbled home and wrote a terrifying scene where the recently revealed antagonist hunts the protagonist. I awoke the next morning eager to read my work. I wish I didn't because the scene was awful. The tone was completely off. My dialogue, for instance, did not match the feel of the scene. One line was: "Here's Pedro!" You read that right. I just included a goofy parody of the Shining in my tense, nail-biting scene. I was being tone-deaf once again.
Tone is like the present you get your in-laws – it is almost impossible to get right, but brilliant when you do. I struggle with the tone every time I write.
How do you ensure you get the right tone when writing? Any tricks you can share?