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mmmlit
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dialog
One of the things I do to try and keep the dialog lively is use conjunctives a lot and some slang.
Example; "What'cha got?" Instead of, "What do you have?" I try to make it sound more like someone talking. So far I've not had any of my readers tell me it's hard to read for that reason.
Another example; What'd you do?" Instead of, "What did you do?" Also, don't forget quotation marks. Also, I sometimes interupt the speaker; "Harold, why would you...................." As he was talking I was thinking to myself, why wouldn't I. "do such a thing?"
Of course, I'm not that good of a writer so, take what I say with a grain of salt.
One of the things I do to try and keep the dialog lively is use conjunctives a lot and some slang.
Example; "What'cha got?" Instead of, "What do you have?" I try to make it sound more like someone talking. So far I've not had any of my readers tell me it's hard to read for that reason.
Another example; What'd you do?" Instead of, "What did you do?" Also, don't forget quotation marks. Also, I sometimes interupt the speaker; "Harold, why would you...................." As he was talking I was thinking to myself, why wouldn't I. "do such a thing?"
Of course, I'm not that good of a writer so, take what I say with a grain of salt.
dialogue
One more thing about dialogue, make sure you identify the speaker well. Of course, every time someone new speaks, a new paragraph is started, but people still sometimes get confused. There is nothing that kills dialogue more than trying to figure out who is saying what.
One more thing about dialogue, make sure you identify the speaker well. Of course, every time someone new speaks, a new paragraph is started, but people still sometimes get confused. There is nothing that kills dialogue more than trying to figure out who is saying what.
believeil
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I'm not fabulous writter, and have just submitted my very first work BUT I read a lot on this site.
I just read a story that was good in sexual deatail, but had the cruddiest dialog.
It kinda ruined the mood for me. ~sigh~ Soooo I thought I'd throw in my $0.02 cents in here--
Sometimes I notice writters get stuck in the "blah blah" She said. "blah blah" He said. "Blah blah" She said...
I even have to go back and read my work and cut out a lot of the SHE SAIDs and HE SAIDs.
For example:
"Let's go to the bedroom" he said
"Ok." she said
or
"Open the door for me" he said
"You first" she said
Yes.. that makes it easy to see who is saying what, but darn annoying when you are reading, un descriptive and choppy.
instead-
"Let's go to the bedroom" he whispered while trailing kisses down her neck
"Ok." she breathed, holding back her urge to race down the hall
His hand were filled with shopping bags from the lingerie and he couldn't manage the handle.
"Open the door."
She reached and open the door wide and with a gesture said "You first."
&&& I know I'm far far from professional here, BUT... did just wanna throw this out there.
I just read a story that was good in sexual deatail, but had the cruddiest dialog.
It kinda ruined the mood for me. ~sigh~ Soooo I thought I'd throw in my $0.02 cents in here--Sometimes I notice writters get stuck in the "blah blah" She said. "blah blah" He said. "Blah blah" She said...
I even have to go back and read my work and cut out a lot of the SHE SAIDs and HE SAIDs.
For example:
"Let's go to the bedroom" he said
"Ok." she said
or
"Open the door for me" he said
"You first" she said
Yes.. that makes it easy to see who is saying what, but darn annoying when you are reading, un descriptive and choppy.
instead-
"Let's go to the bedroom" he whispered while trailing kisses down her neck
"Ok." she breathed, holding back her urge to race down the hall
His hand were filled with shopping bags from the lingerie and he couldn't manage the handle.
"Open the door."
She reached and open the door wide and with a gesture said "You first."
&&& I know I'm far far from professional here, BUT... did just wanna throw this out there.
Ahabscribe
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- Mar 28, 2007
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- 3
Believeil - I recall Stephen King discussing this in his book "On Writing" (a must read btw) and he says one can overdo the descriptive alternatives to he/she said. I agree with him and find you have to balance the two.
Dialogue is tough to write and I find you can bog down a story with too much talking simply for talking's sake. Keep it pared down to what is essential and heartfelt (chuckles emerge from the darkness upon hearing me say keep it pared down...lol.). Listen to what your characters are saying, mmmlit, listen and don't force words into their mouths. As you develop your characters, you'll discover you likely can't shut them up!
Dialogue is tough to write and I find you can bog down a story with too much talking simply for talking's sake. Keep it pared down to what is essential and heartfelt (chuckles emerge from the darkness upon hearing me say keep it pared down...lol.). Listen to what your characters are saying, mmmlit, listen and don't force words into their mouths. As you develop your characters, you'll discover you likely can't shut them up!
believeil
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Thanks for the book suggestion! I will certainly have to check out Stephen King's next time I'm at the library!
& yes... balance is key!! getting overly descriptive is just as annoying as under description for sure. Some times in my quest for trying not to get too choppy I can certainly over do it.
Hopefully with time & practice my work will get a better balance.
& yes... balance is key!! getting overly descriptive is just as annoying as under description for sure. Some times in my quest for trying not to get too choppy I can certainly over do it.
Hopefully with time & practice my work will get a better balance.
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mmmlit
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merryweather
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- Sep 5, 2010
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Feedbacks
I am new to all this, and i am learning so much from reading the comments and suggestions. I write non-human stories..posted 4 chp so far, feedback moderate, but i appreciate the support.
There are some really good writers on LitE, and i always give feedbacks when i read someone's story- I think it's rather a proper thing to do
'listening to your characters'..That's a great point..Thanks.
I am new to all this, and i am learning so much from reading the comments and suggestions. I write non-human stories..posted 4 chp so far, feedback moderate, but i appreciate the support.
There are some really good writers on LitE, and i always give feedbacks when i read someone's story- I think it's rather a proper thing to do
'listening to your characters'..That's a great point..Thanks.
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