Telephone conversations - Writers Forum

jjshell · 09-27-2007, 03:10 PM

Hi there,

In the context of a telephone conversation with no intercut, what are your advice in regards to the writing of such a scene? Using a layout like this takes way too many lines:

Quote:

CHARACTER
Hello?

A pause

CHARACTER
No.

A pause.

etc.

Same goes for:

Quote:

CHARACTER
Hello?
(then)
No.
(then)
etc.

I simply deal with it that way:

Quote:

CHARACTER
Hello? No. etc.

Any recommendations?

Regards,

jj

mammamaia · 09-28-2007, 03:06 AM

none of those would pass muster... when only one side of the call is being heard, you do it like this:

Quote:

JOE
Hello!...No...So, what do you
want me to do?...You know
I can't do that!...They'd crucify
me...
(bangs fist on desk)
I told you, I can't!...Get someone
else for the job.

...and so on...

jjshell · 09-29-2007, 05:59 AM

Thanks