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“What’re you talking about?”

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Nothing makes a novel fail like poor dialogue. Here are some of the problematic types of dialogue I've found in contemporary fiction.

1.Stilted conversations where contractions aren't used and/or more formal language is used when it should be casual.

2.Unnatural dialogue. This isn't easy to explain, but you know it when you read it. The characters don't come off as real because of the things they say in conversations. 

3.Unrealistic angry responses to less than angry-worthy actions with lame excuses for behaviors.

4.Teenage-seeming or "immature" language spoken by adults in romantic situations. 

What problems do you find with dialogue? 

 

Father, your Word says words matter. Help us to use them well. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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4 responses to ““What’re you talking about?””

  1. Brenda S. Anderson Avatar
    Brenda S. Anderson

    All good points. Unrealistic dialogue is one thing that will get me to put a book down & not pick it up.
    One thing I would add to your list is a conversation between two people who’ve known each other forever, yet they repeat known facts to each other as a way to give backstory to the reader.
    Does that make sense? I have morning brain yet, so I might not be totally coherent. 🙂

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  2. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    Good point, Bren. If not done well, it’s mechanical and an obvious method to provide that backstory. Your morning brain is working just fine. 😉

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  3. Debra Avatar
    Debra

    I agree with your four points, Nicole, and also what Brenda added. Yes, poor dialogue is the one thing that will cause me to put down a book and not come back to it.
    Another thing I don’t like in regard to dialogue is when there’s just too much of it. A while back I was reading a novel that had a good story, but I felt like I was reading a movie script.

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  4. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    Deb, you make another good point. I don’t mind a little heavy on dialogue if it’s good and fits the story, but to abuse it would tend to take the focus off the “main thing”.

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