Monologuing for bad guys

[dustinzgirl]

Ahem, well, I have this evil alien demon dead guy, who holds this librarian hostage. Ok, so, obviously, since he killed her boyfriend and neighbors, she is pretty much scared fartless. What I have found though, is that she says something, and Criostol--the bad guy....answers in really long monologues (2 paragraphs or so) about how great and powerful he is and how he will use her to destroy the universes and kill Dragon...yeah, he is arrogant, mean spirited and a cold stone killer. But he likes to talk about it. Or I like to talk about it through him--whatever.

Is monologuing bad? I mean, if two or three times a chapter, I find Criostal is talking a lot, but saying things that are relative to his history and the plot line (not enough to give any secrets away) do editors usually look at that as bad?

I have been told that lots of conversation and interaction is good, but too much is bad.

Any resources for the happy mediums?

[SJAB]

I would suggest you look at how other authors do it.

It is used to superb effect in a book I have recently read.

Swarmthief's Dance by Deborah J. Miller. I won't give any spoilers, but the author uses one character's monologue about what is happening, what happened before... etc; to put a whole new layer and texture to the story, but then Deborah J Miller is a very skilled writer indeed.

As to dialogue, I just thought you used as much as was needed to tell your story effectively, but then that's me. To be honest there are so many people telling you things that are contradictory, and down right confusing with regards to writing. (many of them telling you this stuff are not published, or in the industry) I tend to not ignore, but take such with a pinch of salt. If someone in the industry, like John Jarrold, or someone that is published tells me something, I listen and learn, if not "shrugs shoulders". I just try to get my grammar right and try to tell the best story I can in my own style. If that gets me published at somepoint, ok, if not, well rejection is not going to kill me is it. I will keep trying until I make it through, I hope.

[John Jarrold]

The main thing is not to go on in monologue, dialogue or descriptive writing until it's boring. Short and sweet is usually better than long, and clarity is what you should aim for. Re-read a section. Does every word move the story forward? If not, take out the unnecessary words...think of pace.

[dustinzgirl]

Thanks guys!

Has anyone told you how wonderful you guys are?

If not, then:

You are wonderful. If only for answering my questions.

[John Jarrold]

Shucks, t'weren't nuthin, ma'am...!!!

[Green Knight]

I remember being told that Iago (in 'Othello') has more monologues than any other character in Shakespeare - and he is indeed probably the nastiest villain that WS ever created.

The idea of villains monologuing is interesting. Gollum in LOTR talks to himself an awful lot, mainly because he has spent so much of his life alone, and so has no-one else to talk to (which is part of what makes him largely evil in the first place).

I suspect that villains monologue for that reason: no-one else will talk to them, or they respect no-one else's opinions. (Look at Hitler's on-screen rants, they are a form of monologue).

I'm sure they can be used to good effect, provided that they are not used merely to advance the plot, reveal the villain's plan or give the hero time to escape. ("For, you see, the rats nibble through this cord which releases the circular saw, which cuts through the curtain to allow the sun to power up the laser - Whoops, where did he go??")

[KSeriphyn]

Originally Posted by John Jarrold

The main thing is not to go on in monologue, dialogue or descriptive writing until it's boring. Short and sweet is usually better than long, and clarity is what you should aim for. Re-read a section. Does every word move the story forward? If not, take out the unnecessary words...think of pace.

That's a tip I could really use!