They're all talk

[blushingjen]

Actually, I might use that as a title for a story I kind of want to write. I'm thinking I want to do one where the whole thing is dialogue. Like a play, but with no stage direction even. Only spoken words, probably just between two people.

Are there any good examples of something like that on the site already? I would love to read a couple if people can point to them. (Sorry if this is the wrong forum, but I guess I thought it was like the looking-for-a-story threads.) Or do you think this might be a dumb idea to start with? I'm not sure if it'll work.

Thanks in advance

 

[sr71plt]

Hmmm. Might try that on one here. I've done it in the mainstream--so I know it can be done. I do have a couple here in 2nd tenses, with only one character saying anthing. And two years (just pushing back at the "you never" declarations), I wrote a story that startes in midsentence and ends in midsentence in which only one character every says anything--and won a State-wide contest.

 

[emap]

Showoff.

It would be interesting to read I think. I've gone the opposite route and did a shorty with no dialogue, it received mixed reviews but overall above a 4 so mostly liked.

I think mostly it depends on how you do it will determine what sort of a reaction you get. This is one of those you only know if it works after you do it kinda thingys.

 

[sr71plt]

Showoff.

It would be interesting to read I think. I've gone the opposite route and did a shorty with no dialogue, it received mixed reviews but overall above a 4 so mostly liked.

I think mostly it depends on how you do it will determine what sort of a reaction you get. This is one of those you only know if it works after you do it kinda thingys.

Yes, I do ones with no dialogue too--and sometimes I get the comment based on the myth that stories have to include dialogue. Nothing that works with the general reader who hasn't taken three hours of creative writing from a quack need follow these pat "always" "rules."

 

[JackLuis]

Actually, I might use that as a title for a story I kind of want to write. I'm thinking I want to do one where the whole thing is dialogue. Like a play, but with no stage direction even. Only spoken words, probably just between two people.

Are there any good examples of something like that on the site already? I would love to read a couple if people can point to them. (Sorry if this is the wrong forum, but I guess I thought it was like the looking-for-a-story threads.) Or do you think this might be a dumb idea to start with? I'm not sure if it'll work.

Thanks in advance

I don't know if there are many all dialog stories here.
I have read all kinds of stories here but I am sure that there are some All dialog types. I don't envy you the task of searching all of Literotica.

If you think you can do it, then try it. This is the beauty of the place, you can try out most anything hear and if you fail, well it doesn't have to be Miserably. You just try again.

Link the story, I'll read it.

 

[driphoney]

Yes, I do ones with no dialogue too--and sometimes I get the comment based on the myth that stories have to include dialogue. Nothing that works with the general reader who hasn't taken three hours of creative writing from a quack need follow these pat "always" "rules."

Oh, darn! Must it work with the general reader?

Used to not know what you meant when you regularly make similar comments. Now I do.

While it might not work, occasionally stepping outside the bounds of acceptable ''always" patterns is good for everyone. And often you surprise yourself and others. I'm really knew at expressing myself in words, so I'm not expert, but allowing yourself to grow and stretch, experiment is always good.

It's called creative writing!

 

[cuk_let]

Blushingjen;

Sorry if I am coming to this late.

I think an all dialogue story is a great idea. What would it be like to have an all dialogue sex scene? Is it possible? How much sex could you convey by two (or more) people talking (and not just narrating the action)?

I like cuckold stories, but finding (or writing) cuckold stories that aren't cliched in plot or style is hard work. So I prefer experiments that try and fail to the same old-same old.

 

[blushingjen]

Well I'm finally halfway through. I guess the way the sex happens is mostly dirty talk, but there won't be all THAT much of that. I think the thing I like about this idea is that I'm not that good at the mechanics of the sex anyway, I just like setting up the situations.

Mostly I'm afraid people will lose track of who is who when everything is just the quotes. Especially because characters other than the main two pop in here and there. But it should be pretty clear (if I do it right!).

 

[ShyChiWriter]

Heya BJ,

I come from a playwriting background. What I would recommend is going with more of a published script format like:

HE: I hope smoking is allowed in here, because that's what you're doing in that dress.

SHE: I'm guessing you're not a smoker - it's obvious there's never been a filter in your mouth.

If you don't go with some sort of indicator, you're forced to put some sort of content in the dialog a bit too often to be sure the reader knows who is talking.

The other option you could do is go italic/non-italic for opposing characters.

Good luck with the story. You're a good writer, looking forward to having you post some more.

 

[sr71plt]

I think ShyChiWriter's roman font for one character and italic for the other (as long as there are only two) would be clear and inventive. I think the "he:/she:" slugs would disrupt the read and make it choppy.

 

[blushingjen]

Someone pointed to me to a book called Vox, it looks kind of interesting. I read the first couple pages on Amazon.

I like the ital idea, but there will be some lines from other people. We'll see how it works out...

 

[Dual_Triode]

Well, I recently tried something like this and ultimately found the result unsatisfying. Perhaps if I were more skilled at writing it could have worked, but the deficiencies I found were unrelated to my skill - it's the medium.

What I mean is that dialog is only one aspect of interpersonal communication. There is a lot going on when two people talk, and not all of it can be captured in a transcript of their spoken words. When a playwright creates a script, there is an expectation that the actors will bring the characters to life with their voices and actions. The script alone does not tell the whole story. Similarly, a novelist uses dialog to draw the reader into the character's world; to make them seem life-like. They also use the narrator's observational POV to illustrate the nuances of their behavior.

So in my case, I found that I wanted some narration to round out the scenes. Needless to say, when a sex scene is written, a simple transcript of their grunts and groans would be, well, silly.

My $.02

~Dual

 

[deanchan]

Hmmm, I think if this dialogue thing is not for a screen or stage, just dialogue, that would be boring.