This is K.M. Wyland and you are listening to the 263rd episode of the Helping Writers Become Authors Podcast. I have so many projects lined up for this coming year that I don't even know where to start. But let's start here. In addition to the workbooks and that big secret I talked about last week, I'm adapting my audio presentation conquering writers block and Inspiration into an e-book which I know many of you have been hoping for

Even better I've expanded the material to about twice its original length so it contains even more writers blockbusters and practical

inspirational tips than the original did.

I'm hoping to have that out shortly after the workbooks within the next month or so.

And now I hope you enjoyed this week's podcast entitled Most Common Writing Mistakes, Part 34, repetitive dialogue.

Forget all the other writing rules, but always remember this one.

The Reader's Time is valuable. Readers don't want to listen to us or

our characters repeat ourselves, especially in repetitive dialogue. It's surprising

how easily repetitive dialogue can sneak into our writing.

Half the time we're so close to the material, we may not even be aware we are repeating ourselves,

but readers will always notice. Whether deja vu starts tickling or they outright

remember the last time your character had this conversation, they're likely to start yawning and

looking around for something new to engage their brains. A reader who's yawning and

looking around is a reader you've already lost.

So don't let that happen.

What is repetitive dialogue?

The obvious answer is that repetitive dialogue is dialogue that repeats itself.

But let's consider some specific scenarios.

Repetitive Dialogue Type Number One,

Realistic Conversation. type number one realistic conversation. Jan and Sally met each other outside

the cafe and set down at one of the tables beneath a faded pink umbrella.

Jan shrugged out of her purse and set it between her feet.

...