Italics and dialogue?

LIVIN said:

Yes, I know nobody speaks for everybody, but paragraphs such as the following could lead one to believe that you think you speak for everybody. I bolded stuff for ease of seeing what I mean.

But, if everyone wants to talk about your blog, don't let me stop you...

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What are you talking about? Plot's the only one who even mentioned Julie's blog.

As to the rest, we're really all in agreement here. Format how you will but less is more.

From my experience I agree that formatting is really less of an issue than the how-to books would lead you to believe. The danger in statements like 'nobody cares' (while more than likely very accurate) is that this board deals with a lot of new-comers who may take that phrase and run with it to the detriment of their work. I think tagging that stuff with a "but use sparingly" variant, like we do most of the time, is solid advice.

avid-dreamer said:

Ok, meeeeeeeeeeeee again!

Ok, If I'm writing a line of dialogue and I want to have my character stress a word is it ok to use Italics?

EXAMPLE:

BOB
Then how do you explain all this?

is it ok to do that?

Thanks people!!

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As an actor, I hate seeing italics because it's like having the writer telling me exactly how I should say a line. It's stage direction. Leave us actors do our thing!

As a writer, I know why one would want to do that, but I try not to. I'd rather let the context and dialogue speak for themselves and let the actor and director figure it out.

I can appreciate that Ray. I do it from time to time because although the script will eventually become interpreted, right now it's just me and the reader. And unlike a novel whereby I can infer more detailed meaning, the tools at a scriptwriter's disposal are sparse to say the least. If an underline helps me convey something I feel would be lacking otherwise, I put it in because that writer/reader experience is all I have to convince someone to buy the script.

But I get why it bugs you and of course, once it's out of my hands, I surrender to the actor's/director's interpretation.

Hey Nikee I gave out an award at the Expo if that's what you mean. It was on the final day of ceremonies. I was the redhead who had completely lost her voice.

I'm not sure if we'll be at the Expo this coming year; we had a lot of fun but last year's attendance was down and I felt the event was ill-organized. We will be sharing a booth with Blake Snyder, The Writer's Store, Final Draft and Script Magazine at the LA Times Book Festival in April though. And also teaching a class at the Great American Pitch Fest in Burbank this coming June.