What I Learned About Writing from Watching TV aka
Justifying my TV Habit.
Gilmore Girls is one of all time favourite shows. Witty and light on its
feet, and with Jared Padalecki and Milo Ventimiglia in it, how can I not love
it?
The dialogue is the treat in Gilmore for me. It trips along. It isn’t
afraid of intelligent references alongside cultural ones. The snappy banter is
a delight to listen to. If I were reading it on a page, I’d skip along.
Some fave quotes:
Lorelai: You lost me
at carrots, which was the first draft of 'you had me at hello'.
Lorelai: [at the
town meeting, when everyone is talking about the bad things that Jess has done]
I hear he controls the weather and wrote the screenplay to Glitter!
Emily: You were on the phone?
Richard: Long distance.
Lorelai: God?
Richard: London.
Lorelai: God lives in London?
Richard: My mother lives in London.
Lorelai: Your mother is God?
Richard: Lorelai...
Lorelai: So, God *is* a woman.
Richard: Lorelai.
Lorelai: *And* a relative. That's so cool. I'm gonna totally ask for favors.
Richard: Make her stop.
Rory: Oh, that I could.
Richard: Long distance.
Lorelai: God?
Richard: London.
Lorelai: God lives in London?
Richard: My mother lives in London.
Lorelai: Your mother is God?
Richard: Lorelai...
Lorelai: So, God *is* a woman.
Richard: Lorelai.
Lorelai: *And* a relative. That's so cool. I'm gonna totally ask for favors.
Richard: Make her stop.
Rory: Oh, that I could.
Thanks to imdb for the quotes.
I could go on…. So this teaches me to look at my dialogue.
Bring it alive. Make it sparkle!
I've never actually watched Gilmore Girls. But I might now. There is always room for more tv in my life.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Gilmore Girls! It's so funny and I always wish I could be as witty as Lorelai. I also love that Jared Padalecki's character was called Dean, and now he stars alongside Jensen Ackles, who plays Dean, in Supernatural!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love Gilmore Girls! This makes me want to watch it all over again. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI heart me some Gilmore Girls. I love how the mother and daughter would bounce lingo off of each other. Their timing was perfect.
ReplyDeleteDani @ Entertaining Interests
#warriorminion
Looking at other dialogue does help with your own dialogue, thanks for reminding us (-: (I'm no 701 on the list)
ReplyDeleteI've never seen "Gilmore Girls," but you're right about the importance of good dialogue. I enjoy writing dialogue, but I wouldn't say it's the be-all-end-all of a great novel. You can write a great story without any dialogue. However, it's one of those things that if you're going to include it, you need to do it well. I've seen some otherwise good novels ruined by bad dialogue. If a writer has managed to suck you into her world with her great descriptions and world building, she can throw you right out of it with bad dialogue. Bad dialogue reminds you that these are not real people, and this is a work of fiction.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of great books and tips out there on writing dialogue. Learning from writers you admire is one of those great tips. :)
The dialogue, particularly between Lorelai and Rory was my favourite part of this show. I got the whole series for really cheap on DVD and I keep meaning to do a marathon sometime. Thanks for reminding me how much I love this show! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was also one of the most intelligent shows -- you really had to pay attention! They also did "speeches" which is basically a no-no in writing but they sure made it work. You and I are really on the same wave length. My fav show now is Scandals
ReplyDeleteI never really got into that show, though my parents loved it. As a name nerd, it kind of annoyed me how they misspelt Lorelei and that the very male name Rory began getting trendy for girls thanks to this show.
ReplyDeleteThe dialogue just kills me. It's incredible. Love love love that show.
ReplyDeleteHappy A through Z blogging!
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/
Love the Gilmore Girls. Don't want to be them, though. Great post.
ReplyDeleteMama J - I'd certainly rec giving Gilmore a go, it's lots of fun!
ReplyDeleteLaura-Hyde - I too wish I could be Lorelai! and JARED P! He's so cute as Dean and I too find it funny that he now plays opposite a Dean.
Erin L. Funk - thank you, happy to encourage Gilmore viewage ;)
Dani - the timing was brilliant! Great actresses, both!
Fida Islaih - thank you for commenting!
Colin Smith - agreed, bad dialogue or stilted dialogue can REALLY throw you out. and witty dialogue can help, imo.
Jaime Morrow - ahhh marathon of Gilmore, that would be great :)
sassyspeaks - definitely intelligent, I agree there. You turn your attention away and you've missed three references! Ah I LOVE SCANDAL TOO!
Carrie-Anne - ah see I did not know Lorelai was misspelled! Now I see!
S. L. Hennessy - it is AWESOME! :)
Rebecka Vigus - ha, agreed re not sure I'd wanna be them! Thanks for commenting.
ha! ANOTHER show I like! Love those girls' wit.
ReplyDeleteAllison (Geek Banter)
My friend's ex-husband got his start as an actor on Gilmore girls.
ReplyDeleteNever seen Gilmore Girls, but I'm going to have to now.
ReplyDeleteHi Vikki .. I've never seen the Gilmore Girls - but can quite imagine a conversation like this ... crazy - but that's the way life goes sometimes ...
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary
Allison - me too, it really makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteRegina Gort - AWESOME! Who was he?!
Julia - I'd recommend it!
Hilary Melton-Butcher - it is!
The speed with which those two hit back dialog made me dizzy sometimes. Like watching a tennis match with complicated acrobatics performed simultaneously.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget the wonderful town they lived in- those characters were just as real and witty as Lorelai and Rory!
Beverly - a tennis match is a very good analogy for them. And the secondary characters were ALL awesome! :)
ReplyDelete