Ok, well coffee and cake was enjoyed at The British Museum last night. Lemon drizzle which was rather nice. So I sat for an hour, reading my book, nursing a latte and looking at this view 🙂
Tonight’s class was all about dialogue…some of my notes:
Limit speech tags to the minimum.
Pinter went on bus rides and recorded conversations.
It has to serve a purpose: move the plot along, raise a question or show something about the character.
What isn’t said is very important. Use silence and remember its often what’s not said that gives more away.
Give your characters verbal ticks to make them more realistic.
Remember to use body language. A character could be saying one thing verbally, but their body language saying the complete opposite.
We then had to do 3 exercises (writing dialogue) which were very interesting, and bloody hard! Lol
It’s funny because Stephen King said that dialogue is written best by writers who enjoy talking and listening to others. Do you agree? Do you enjoy writing dialogue? It seems to be something writers either love or hate!
Will post tomorrow about my critique when I’ve recovered and had chance to absorb it all lol. I’m off to a Spa Day today 🙂
Related articles
- On-The-Nose Dialogue (limebirdwriters.co.uk)
- Is Your Book Dialogue Heavy? (breezybooksblog.wordpress.com)
The View Outside 
I’m extra heavy on dialogue when I’m getting fatigued. I know it’s time to stop writing when I start info dumping through lazy dialogue.
You know who’s the all-time queen of dialogue, IMO? Judy Blume. Really. Even (and especially) her books for adults. SMART WOMEN is my favorite.
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Thanks honey 🙂
I will definitely check her out!
Xx
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I love writing dialogue, but I don’t overdo it 🙂
There are some really excellent tips here, Vikki!
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Thanks Dianne 🙂
Saying that, in your opinion, what should the percentage be between dialogue and prose? 40% dialogue? 30%? Or do you think it depends on the story?
Xx
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It totally depends on the story. I have written short stories where there is no dialogue whatsoever (and they can’t be that bad because they’ve won awards). Sometimes a lot of dialogue can really enhance a story and other times it just gets in the way. It can also be a good way to tell the reader things when you don’t have any opening to get something across. When you think about people having conversations at dinner (for example) someone might say something that tweaks your interest and you want to know more. When you read a book it’s the same 😉
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Thanks Dianne 🙂
I love hearing different opinions. I was once told by a writing tutor that there should be at least 40% of dialogue and that publishers like “white space” but I’m with you, there needs to be a reason for the dialogue.
Xx
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what were the exercises?
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We were giving 3 scenarios Sue and then we had to convey those scenario’s using JUST dialogue. It was bloody hard! Lol
Xx
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I don’t know if I enjoy it. It’s something I do because the characters speaking all in body language seems tedious. More and more I’m starting to believe I don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to the rules of writing. I’m not sure I’m even doing dialogue correctly.
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(((((Hugs))))) I’m feeling a bit like that myself at the moment honey 😦
Xx
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I love writing dialogue! It comes really naturally to me.
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I’d like to say it comes naturally to me too Bridget, but all my characters talk with a “Sowf Eas Lunden” accent lol
Xx
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Get you going to a Spa Day. Hope you have a wonderful time x
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Thanks Sam 🙂
It was a good day, although my mind wasn’t quite with it.
Xx
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I agree with King … I am a compulsive conversationalist and also love to sit and listen as well. You will find that those of us who love to talk, also love to listen. I roamed the subways of NYC, sat at luncheon counters, and when I need more people contact, I often roam the shops. Some of my best dialogue and characters have been collected by people watching and listening. It’s like collecting gems and rare treasure … that moment when a total stranger becomes a character in a story 🙂
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I found his theory really interesting, because, like you Florence, I like nothing more than a good old natter, but I also like to listen and just find people in general interesting. So by rights, I should be EXCELLENT at dialogue 😉
It was suggested in class that we sit at coffee shops and record people with our mobiles….I may have to try that one 😉
Xx
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I love to eavesdrop, er, uh, ahem, I mean listen to others. I’m a people watcher too.
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He he he, so, by rights I guess you enjoy writing dialogue? 😉
Xx
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My novel is light on dialogue, but the dialogue that is in it came pretty naturally.
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I do like writing dialogue (some of my stories are entirely dialogue). I also talk for a living, so one way and another it’s pretty hard to shut me up.
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Ha ha ha, love it Patsy 🙂
Xx
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Pingback: Dialogues, Elegant Dialogues – Instalment 2 of the Dialogues mini series | ofglassandbooks
Nice topic. Dialogue always came naturally came to me (not all other aspects of writing do!). But I still got some good tips here
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Good for you Katie 🙂
Thanks honey xx
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I write too much dialogue then have to edit it down. It is remembering to incorporate the body language that I have a problem with.
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Have you thought about writing screenplays?
Actually, I think I might have asked you that before lol
Xx
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