More of an Opinion Question.. - Writers Forum

EverTheSameIllusion · 11-12-2005, 04:54 PM

I wanted to try to get some of my writings, short stories, etc, published. But I'm really not all that good with having characters interact verbally with one another. I can do the physical and emotional extents, but I find it hard to make up the conversations I'd like them to have. Is this an important part of writing fiction short stories?

JustJim · 11-12-2005, 05:40 PM

Its not up to you to decide what conversations you characters should have, they must speak for themselves.

In other words you must become your character and say what the character wants to say. Often writers get stuck on dialogue because they try to write it in 'proper grammar'. Don't know if that's your problem. Try listening to interviews on the TV news and note how people answer questions (not politicians and such). Rarely do they speak in correct English.

EverTheSameIllusion · 11-12-2005, 06:12 PM

I have a very short attention span when I write. My characters are usually only alive in my head for about ten to twenty minutes. I never have time to let them speak for themselves.

But is it important to have conversations when trying to get published?

lisajane · 11-12-2005, 07:58 PM

Though you should learn how to get your characters to have a conversation, which I figure the best way to do so is what JustJim has already advised - becoming the character and saying what the character wants to say, is it possible for this story to play out with the characters never saying anything at all? Maybe a problem these characters have is that they can't actually talk to each other, whether they physically can't or mentally can't, and so the story would be played out with their thoughts and not dialogue, which could bring in all kinds of conflict and misunderstandings into the story.

Stacy · 11-12-2005, 11:06 PM

Dialogue is definitely one of the hardest parts of writing fiction. While you can go dialogue-free up to a certain point -in short shorts or flash fiction, for example- you can't avoid it altogether. Like JustJim stated, you need to listen to how real people talk. Go into a coffeeshop and eavesdrop. Focus on how people interact: their grammar, any slang they may use, how frequently they switch topics, etc. The next time you write a scene with dialogue, read it aloud, see if it sounds genuine to you. If it does not, have a friend look at it and make suggestions or ask for suggestions here on WF.

mammamaia · 11-13-2005, 09:51 AM

Quote:

But is it important to have conversations when trying to get published?

that depends on what you want to get published... and where... many e-mags and other freebies will print anything... and many good published short stories have little to no dialog... it sounds like you haven't done your homework and studied the best short stories by the best writers of old, as well as the best of today's, before trying to write some...

do that, and you should get the answer to your question, as well as learn how to go about writing good dialog, when it's needed...

love and hugs, maia

HollyHopeful · 11-15-2005, 04:53 PM

Dialogue is the spice of life to any story. When you are with friends or family, try to be conscious of what they say, how you respond - do you touch them as you speak? Sit back in your chair? Think before you speak?
When you write, are you writing about your opinions or your characters' opinions? I'm very talkative, so I dearly love to write dialogue. I hope I helped you somewhat.
Holly

mammamaia · 11-15-2005, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Dialogue is the spice of life to any story.

not really... both poe and london, for example, wrote great stories with little or no dialog... as did/do many other of the world's finest writers... so, stories can 'live' full and exciting lives, w/o dialog to 'spice' them up...

Oracle · 11-16-2005, 10:26 AM

Dialogue isn't neccessary, but it all depends on the story. Some stories could do well with alot of dialogue, where others are best with none at all. It's up to you to decide whether or not your characters would be interacting with one another. Personally, I find character interaction to be the easiest part. Just picture your characters, in your head as if you were watching them yourself. What would they say to eachother? What kind of body language would they use? Watch some tv/movies and look at how characters interact with eachother there. Whenever I write dialogue, I can play it through in my head as if I were watching it myself.