Magnum Opus

Like many of us, I am an obvious writer, and am working on a novel. Here is my problem;

In my book, I have struggled, the last few days anyway, to create a smooth stream of dialog between two of my characters. The resulting dilemma has made it hard for me to work other parts of my story because I am struggling so much to get past the speech problems.

The speech I am using isn't difficult, but the communication between the two characters is feeling forced, and when I am finished I find it to be complete dribble.

My question is, are there any techniques or methods that would help me to make this coorespondance run in a more fluid manner?

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Fantasy of You

Every piece of dialogue should advance either the plot or character. If it doesn't, get rid. That's a pretty basic thing to live by.

As for it feeling forced, if it still does when you've get rid of what isn't needed, maybe that conversation shouldn't be there at all, or maybe you're missing some piece of info. about the characters (like why they're together in the first place).

- FoY

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Emerson Darkness

FoY is correct. If you know where your story is going, and your character's personalities, this shouldn't be much of a problem. Trying to force a scene will likely end up seeming forced when read.

Does the dialogue fit the story, the current situation, or the characters? Something to think about.

Magnum Opus

That's the thing, when I write, and rewrite, it all fits, but seems unnatural, or out of place.

It does do exactly that, furthering the plot, and the story, but it, to me, seems a bit wrong.

It could be just my own overpressurizing things.

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Fantasy of You

Post it.

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Krim

Get a tape recorder. Record conversations. Write them down. Analyze them. Hell, just IM someone and talk to them and see how your pals talk.

Magnum Opus

No need, I took your advice, FoY, and looked at it with the idea of, "why are they at this place?"

When i did that I figured out the crucial element I was missing, and made the corrections, and it is much better.

Thanks for the help, hopefully I won't run into the problem again.

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Banzai

That is actually really good advice, and has particularly helped me in the past. I found that my dialogue was just too unrealistic, and that it helped to say it aloud to make sure it flowed. You sound like an idiot, but at least your writing is better!

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RichardHeimer Schmitt

I've always found dialogue really easy, and I think it's because of my training in acting. I hear characters talking before I see the words on the page, and I'm so used to improving scenes (creating dialogue for a situation on stage) that it just sort of comes to me. Dialogue is such an audible thing, after all; I think hearing the dialogue you wrote said aloud puts a lot into perspective.

lisajane

Imagine their conversation inside your head, then write exactly as you hear it.

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Superlagg

I find that talking to yourself helps somewhat with writing dialogue. Listen to people, how they speak. Go to forums and listen to a flame war, then a discussion, then some other things they post. Factor in personality and tics, everyone talks in their own way. I wouldnt recommend using tips from TV shows unless the writing is very good.

Listen and see how people talk.

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