tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post113648411366433815..comments2023-10-08T07:21:56.107-04:00Comments on All Kinds of Writing: Writing DialogueMellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461471128865537538noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136584708098210552006-01-06T16:58:00.000-05:002006-01-06T16:58:00.000-05:00Jennifer, I'm trying to maintain the appearance of...Jennifer, I'm trying to maintain the appearance of professionalism here!<BR/>No smileys!!!<BR/>Only exclamation marks!<BR/><BR/>;)Mellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17461471128865537538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136584293016315472006-01-06T16:51:00.000-05:002006-01-06T16:51:00.000-05:00Aww! But smileys are good!! :-DAww! But smileys are good!! <BR/><BR/>:-DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136583336815836832006-01-06T16:35:00.000-05:002006-01-06T16:35:00.000-05:00Jennifer :)I love it when you ramble!I can see how...Jennifer :)<BR/>I love it when you ramble!<BR/>I can see how dialogue would be easy for you ;)<BR/><BR/>Well, all I have to say is SHAME on you for eavesdropping and I agree, shame, shame on Pat for using adverbs :-)<BR/><BR/>You guys crack me up and make me use way way too many smileys :)Mellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17461471128865537538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136577610781798842006-01-06T15:00:00.000-05:002006-01-06T15:00:00.000-05:00PS: I like your points. Good points for the begin...PS: I like your points. Good points for the beginner writer! And even us 'not' beginners.<BR/><BR/>And Pat :) SHAME on you for using those adverbs heheheAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136577541134426962006-01-06T14:59:00.000-05:002006-01-06T14:59:00.000-05:00I LOVE dialogue. It's the easiest part of writing...I LOVE dialogue. It's the easiest part of writing for me (don't hate me :)). When I started writing I wrote scripts/plays, because I could write 90% dialogue.<BR/><BR/>I know for alot of people (at least those in my writing circle) don't like dialogue...and find it hard to write.<BR/><BR/>Good dialogue isn't always easy to find but when you find some it's wonderful to read.<BR/><BR/>One trick (that has helped me) is simply listening. Since I was a child I eavesdropped (shamelessly) on every conversation within hearing distance. And when I didn't get to hear the end of conversations I started creating my own. To this day I still do. I think it helps understand how dialogue flows (or actually doesn't flow...if you really listen to how people talk...) But listening to dialogue gives you an understanding of pacing, flow, language, and so much more. <BR/><BR/>Okay I'll quit rambling :) I do love dialogue though. I could write it forever and then some.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136560694576590402006-01-06T10:18:00.000-05:002006-01-06T10:18:00.000-05:00Benjamin, I know exactly how you feel. It's the f...Benjamin, I know exactly how you feel. It's the feeling we get after we've reached a plateau and stayed there for a while. We don't get worse, but don't improve either so it feels like we're getting worse. I'm sure your rise will continue soon :)<BR/><BR/>Pat, great points, thanks. That acting background must add another dimension to your writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136559600622893512006-01-06T10:00:00.000-05:002006-01-06T10:00:00.000-05:00I've been told dialogue is my strong point. I kno...I've been told dialogue is my strong point. I know I like writing and reading dialogue. Description bores me. Give me action and dialogue, action and dialogue.<BR/><BR/>Even when there're just two people in the room/scene, an ocassional "Bob said" helps. Especially if neither character has a distinctive speech pattern. Instead of a tag, I might use action:<BR/><BR/><I> Mary shrugged on her coat. >"I'm leaving. Is there anything else?"</I><BR/><BR/>I "usually" stick to "said," but every so often use something else--"muttered," "grumbled," etc. (I also use adverbs from time to time. Gasp! Rules, schmules. <I>Pffffft!</I>)<BR/><BR/>One of my characters uses "uh" quite a bit. His speech pattern is modeled after Native Americans I know (he's a dark elf), and "uh" suits him and his careful way of speaking.<BR/><BR/>I have an acting background, so that may be why dialogue is easy for me. I often evaluate dialogue through an actor's eyes: Would this be an easy line to deliver or would it be the kind of klinker found in the latest Star Wars movies?Pat Kirbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13412454476874666367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136526586447108612006-01-06T00:49:00.000-05:002006-01-06T00:49:00.000-05:00I used to be very good at dialogue, but now it has...I used to be very good at dialogue, but now it has become a little automated and unnatural, I'm working on it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136521339525072342006-01-05T23:22:00.000-05:002006-01-05T23:22:00.000-05:00rdl, all you need is practice and you'll get it. ...rdl, all you need is practice and you'll get it. Really. It can be learned. From there to making it spectacularly good, well, that's just the step where we all want to be :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136519980114747252006-01-05T22:59:00.000-05:002006-01-05T22:59:00.000-05:00Melly, dialogue has always been a big mystery to m...Melly, dialogue has always been a big mystery to me, difficult that is. I just can't seem to comprehend how you make it natural or even just do it period.rdlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04062856086277201874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136517828937725742006-01-05T22:23:00.000-05:002006-01-05T22:23:00.000-05:00"Hey Fred," said Melly in a clear voice. "Why don..."Hey Fred," said Melly in a clear voice. "Why don't you want to know how I say things?" she asked in a demanding tone. "It's just like you," she finally added, but her voice had a hint of mischievous in it...<BR/>LOL - that was fun!<BR/><BR/>Deborah, absolutely. But I love it when a character says something that's unique to them. Not every sentence, but occasionally.<BR/><BR/>Trée, you want books with good dialogues, or a book about writing that also explains about dialogue?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136514528640422582006-01-05T21:28:00.000-05:002006-01-05T21:28:00.000-05:00Which author(s) would you guys recommend for a pri...Which author(s) would you guys recommend for a primer on good dialouge?Tréehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11742129819547567342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136513516462801682006-01-05T21:11:00.000-05:002006-01-05T21:11:00.000-05:00I like to add character expression and body langua...I like to add character expression and body language to my dialogue. Like anything else, though, it can be overused.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136510394301720172006-01-05T20:19:00.000-05:002006-01-05T20:19:00.000-05:00Melly - This is a great post. I pay very close att...Melly - This is a great post. I pay very close attention to my dialogue. Bad dialogue can ruin an otherwise good book. <BR/><BR/>I don't like to use tags either. Only once in a while if I can't avoid it. Some authors overuse tags so much that it makes their books hard for me to read. I don't need to know how someone says every sentence that comes out of their mouth, lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136500786518761312006-01-05T17:39:00.000-05:002006-01-05T17:39:00.000-05:00Trée, thanks. What's working for you is the fact ...Trée, thanks. What's working for you is the fact that you use the audio thing now, so it helps you realize if a dialogue doesn't sound right.<BR/><BR/>Eric, c'est moi! A mind reader!<BR/>Well, I guess all authors think of the same issues at some point, so it would be quite probable that we would tackle the same issues occasionaly.<BR/><BR/>Cavan, I think you say outloud what most of us think about our writing. From what I've read of your writing, I don't recall having any dialogue issues.<BR/><BR/>Dearest hunkho, I absolutely agree. That's why I made the distinction between dialogue and conversation. We don't write conversations, but we do write dialogue, and I still feel it should be read naturally. If you go to Rob's site, you'll see what I mean.<BR/>(Do I really have a family-oriented blog? I'll take that as a compliment, but really, I don't mind non family-oriented stuff ;)<BR/><BR/>Hey Anne. Yes I almost agree with Carter about that point because I think it should be used mainly, not exclusively. So, you know, I guess this is a matter of minor personal preference, but it seems we all agree on the big picture.Mellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17461471128865537538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136499523830936222006-01-05T17:18:00.000-05:002006-01-05T17:18:00.000-05:00Good coverage Melly. I agree with Carter that "sa...Good coverage Melly. I agree with Carter that "said" should be the nrom, perhaps with whispered or shouted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136493589496678002006-01-05T15:39:00.000-05:002006-01-05T15:39:00.000-05:00Ah yes, I'm a stickler for natural dialogue. Unfor...Ah yes, I'm a stickler for natural dialogue. Unfortunately, sometimes my quest for that natural feel brings me uncomfortably close to "conversational" dialogue. Sometimes this works for fleshing out a character, but sometimes I'm just doing a pretty bad job of things.Cavanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08510431598334392123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1136488715760893092006-01-05T14:18:00.000-05:002006-01-05T14:18:00.000-05:00Melly, having never written dialouge until a coupl...Melly, having never written dialouge until a couple weeks ago, I am all "eyes" on the comments to follow. Thanks for posting this and thanks for the pointers. Much appreciated.Tréehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11742129819547567342noreply@blogger.com