Thread: Phone Calls

Are phone calls important in a story? Should the conversation be written out or should they be glossed over in a narrative?

It depends. Will the conversation have a bearing on the plot of the story? Will it foreshadow something that is to happen later? Its what you intend with the conversation that adds weight to it, I think.

I have a scene in one of my stories where the main character is sitting around reacquainting himself with an old friend. The friend gets a phone call and the MC tunes out the subsequent conversation and looks around the room. It is implied that the friend is talking to someone, but we don't get to read the actual conversation.

If the MC got a phone call, though, and the conversation was important to the story, I'd definitely include it.

It all just depends.

Thanks for your responses. I think I will write out this whole conversation. My MC has already made one call that wasn't terribly important, so I just said, 'she called so-and-so,' but I think this one is more important. Thanks!

I would apply the same rule as for regular dialogue. A phone call is a conversation. It just has a piece of technology in between the speakers. So is an e-mail, a snail mail, a chat room posting, etc. If it is important to the story, write it out. If it is peripheral, delete it or summarize it in narration.

I would say that if the phone conversation is important. Say if the MC is finding out some key information during the call then write it out. And use it to add suspense etc. If its not so important then narate it.

Think of how many modern detective stories would be almost unworkable without phone conversations with the detective getting a tip or report from one friend or another. Phone calls, when containing information that is worth sharing with a reader, should be written out. When not containing information though, they should be given a one-sentence summary. No more.