If that happens, you should probably be writing a play, and not a novel. The best dialogue is brief. Plus, dialogue that goes on for too long can start to feel like a tennis match with the reader switching back and forth between characters. Lengthy dialogue can be exhausting for the reader. Pair the dialogue down to the minimum that you need for the characters to say to each other.
Small talk can water down the effectiveness of your scene. Instead, pick exchanges that capture the essence of the moment, and bypass small talk altogether. Let that be an understood nod between you and the reader, and dive right into the action. If the character already knows, then why is the other character repeating it?
I also hate when characters especially villains go into lengthy reasons why they did or are doing X, Y, Z. Info dump slows dialogue to a grinding halt.
It sounds awkward. And it actually insults the reader. Info dump is a large amount of exposition given all at once, and left for the reader to sort out. Every character, just like every person you know, will have a unique way of speaking and delivering their thoughts. Some people are more forceful and deliberate. Others are more passive and meandering. You can honor these and other different styles without rambling.
My preferred method is to focus on word choice. Along with word choice, I also like establishing a pattern of speech. I don't believe it. Such a shock I can't tell you.
Do you see the difference? The melodramatic version is just overplayed and overblown. Think of it as hammy acting in print. It is also an example of purple prose. I have and love this book and recommend it unreservedly for showing you how to write good dramatic dialogue. Of course, all dialogue should be dramatic dialogue. That should come from the emotion, tension and conflict created. They should feel the fear of a character in danger.
They should feel the frustration of a character not getting what he wants or needs. They should empathise with the character when they lose something dear.
You get the idea. To summarise, remember the following Get the most from their dialogue. Next week: Working with editors. Jeorge Robbert 10 March at Popular posts from this blog Description and why it's important May 07, Description is one of the three key elements in fiction, along with narrative and dialogue, which brings your story to life.
It means a writer must involve the reader at every level, and he or she can do that through the medium of description. Description creates a vivid picture for the reader, it allows them to open a gateway to your story and imagine themselves within your fictional world. You as a writer can elicit emotions within your reader, you create tension and atmosphere, and you create a sense of immediacy — a sense of being right there with the character. Read more. May 12, Just how long should a chapter be?
And does a novel have to fit into a set amount of words? These are just two of the most common questions asked by writers. I can't; and here you're a-swelling yourself up like this. I ain't the man to stand it - you hear? Use dialogue to convey important information in an interesting way. Short paragraphs of dialogue, in which characters ask and give information, are easier to read than long narratives.
Dramatize the dialogue; inject feeling into the giver and receiver of the information. Build suspense by having the speaker withhold the information or delay giving it. Like this:. Some say it was a just judgment on him for keeping his first marriage secret, and wanting to take another wife while he had one living: but I pity him, for my part. Dialogue dramatizes: it creates living scenes, taking readers right into the thick of the action.
The way characters speak - what they say or leave unsaid - lend an air of excitement, even a sense of mystery, to the story. Dialogue moves the action forward quickly. What would take a long passage of narration to describe can be accomplished in fewer words and with greater impact through dialogue.
Look again at the scene in the previous section - Creative Writing Tips 8 - where D'Artagnan finds his dying lover. So much is conveyed through the short snatches of dialogue, both from what is explicitly said and what is implied. Think of your story in terms of a stage performance: how do your characters sound? Choose words for their dramatic impact: their emotional overtones, imagery, sound and rhythm.
Keep dialogues short and to the point. Begin a new paragraph each time a different character starts to speak.
Short paragraphs create lots of white space and make the page look more inviting to readers. Avoid long speeches; they pack a page with type and make it difficult to read as there is no rest for the eyes. If you're tempted to write long passages of dialogue, ask yourself whether the story really needs it. Most of the time, the writing can be condensed.
On the rare occasion when a long speech is absolutely necessary, break it up into short paragraphs interposed with narrative or with another character asking questions or offering comments. Dialogue on its own does not always give the complete picture; stories also need narration to round out the scenes. Use narration to describe and explain characters and their actions.
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