Into the Fire

Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God

recent posts

about

Passionate: right or wrong. Writes love stories with a passion. Raw Romantic Redemptive

Talk Talk Talk

 

What do you expect from dialogue? How 'bout POV? What do you require of that person who's telling the story? What do you expect from the characters speaking those words?

Dialogue must be more difficult for some than others because I've read a lot of stiff conversations in some recent novels. Stiff, stilted, unnatural, uncomfortable. Unrealistic.

My current WIP is different. For me. Another book that steps outside the box by including a huge amount of dialogue. What do you think about that?

Lord, help me to be the one you want me to be. In all things. In all ways. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Posted in

9 responses to “Talk Talk Talk”

  1. dayle Avatar
    dayle

    As a general rule, I would say that for most writers, more dialogue would only be beneficial.
    Dialogue negates telling. ** As long as the dialogue is relevant.
    Info given through dialogue, especially passively given, is, I would dare say, a richer experience for the reader. He then participates in the gleaming of the info.

    Like

    Reply
  2. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    I was thinking of first person POVS. Theoretically, it’s all dialogue because one person is telling the story mixed in with a few other POVs, but isn’t first person mainly “dialogue”?
    My WIP is in first person with third person meshed in between, but there’s a huge amount of information being gathered by questioning suspects. Just a lot of dialogue . . . Hmm.

    Like

    Reply
  3. dayle Avatar
    dayle

    If you’re referring to first person narrative, I’d say no. That would be considered internal monologue, which yes the character is “speaking” but only to himself and therefore he is narrating the story.
    I do think first person does a lot of good and passively fixes a lot of issues. In fact, I think a great tactic is to write all stories in first person and then change back to third for the ones you didn’t intend for first.

    Like

    Reply
  4. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    What it’s considered is just another literary term to me, Dayle, even though you’re correct. But the conversation or “dialogue” becomes the conversation or interchange with the reader. No?
    First person is not my favorite, but I’ve found it’s actually easier to write – at least it is for me – but I have to know how the story wants to be told before I do a lot of “extra” writing by trying one way and then switching to another.

    Like

    Reply
  5. dayle Avatar
    dayle

    I think the first person in “Breath of Life” was some of your best writing from the standpoint that juxtaposed against your more common distant third, it brought a more intimate experience with the character.
    You’re right, expecially in the 1800’s, the narrator speaking to the reader was very common and can be very effective.

    Like

    Reply
  6. Barb Avatar
    Barb

    Nicole, unlike you, first person POV is my favorite to read. I always feel more connected to the characters and story, compared to when I read a novel written in third person. I don’t understand why first gets such a bad rap (although it seems to be mostly among writers, not readers).
    I love well-written dialogue. It’s a great way to develop character. Unfortunately, for some reason, I stink at writing it. Are there any books you can recommend that teach it well?

    Like

    Reply
  7. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Thank you, Dayle. Appreciate you.
    Barb, I guess the reason first person seems odd to me is I picture the “first” person writing the story and wonder why. In Breath of Life a male protagonist tells us his love story. Now what man would really do this, you know? I no longer “hate” first person POVs as I did when I was young, but they better give me some wonderful characters. I must bring up Sibella Giorello’s Raleigh Harmon here: love her. And Roland March (J. Mark Bertrand) who is crusty but desirable.
    I loved Michael Jamison in Breath of Life. Loved him. Being inside his skin was natural for me. Weird, huh? 😉

    Like

    Reply
  8. dayle Avatar
    dayle

    Barb,
    I don’t think F.P. is frowned upon by editors as a story conveyance, I think they have seen the slush pile and have concluded that very few writers can pull it off.
    When done well, I love it. It’s tough to pull off an entire novel with F.P. pov. It limits the scope. The reader can only experience what the pov character experiences. You can’t switch to a scene that doesn’t include the main character. The only solution is multiple pov characters with mixed first and third.

    Like

    Reply
  9. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Barb, I don’t know any good dialogue books. Perhaps some of my other people would pitch in here with suggestions.
    The best cue to dialogue for me is listening to people talk. In real life and from television series where good writers are employed.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to dayle Cancel reply