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"What’s So Hard About Writing Dialogue?"

For that matter, Reader, what is dialogue, really?

In real life, it is simply ...

A conversation between two or more people.

It can cover questions, challenges, arguments, exchange of information, reminiscing, etc.

It is simply people talking. Cause and effect. I respond to you and vice versa.

The reason motive or necessity for these conversations runs the gamut of possibilities, from mundane to life-changing.

In writing fiction, the same principles of cause and effect apply. The only difference is we are manipulating them to generate specific reactions and reveals.

We are guiding the conversations towards a predetermined result. We need our characters to say “X” so that “Y” is the response so that the plot moves forward, generating action and a climax.

So, the most significant source of knowledge for how people talk to one another is ...

To listen as people talk to one another.

Listen for inflections, accents, word choices, phrasing, pacing, and emotional content.

Your goal is to hear, experience, and then revisit how we converse in a given conversation. It's research. It's training. It is the basis from which we pull to make our dialogue sound realistic and authentic.

Think about the character speaking. Determine how they would say what they have to say. Determine why they must say those things and what effect or result they hope to obtain.

All the while mapping out a clear purpose for each conversation so it will serve the story.

Once again, "Dialogue is simply people talking to one another."

A good question to ask yourself is, "How would this go in real life?" Then, use the answer as a springboard for the fictional dialogue you have to create.

That's all for now. If you have any questions, email me. Or request one of my Quick Tip Zoom Calls to talk it out.

Best,

Alex Simmons

Have questions? DM me (@AlexSimmonsSays). Or email me.

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