Writing Dialogue

Writing Dialogue

Writing contemporary dialogue should not be too difficult if you are writing true to yourself. As I mentioned last week, what you write shouldn’t be too far removed from how you would relate a story orally.
So dialogue within your story will usually copy yours and others speech patterns. As a contemporary writer I have examples everywhere around me to help plan a conversation between my characters. Listen to a conversation in a coffee shop or even at the queue in the supermarket. Add a little extra for poetic license and you have your scene.

Dialogue is essential in a romance. It should be sharp and quick to ensure it keeps the pace moving forward. But beware the mundane. Avoid writing dialogue which, while real and genuine, borders on boring. Your reader doesn’t need to listen to your characters discussing menu choices, or ‘please pass the salt’ type speech. Their speech should always be used to push the story onwards, gradually revealing things about themselves and/or the story to the reader.

Be aware using slang terms can date your story. Words that are common slang today, might soon fade from use and be replaced by others. If your story contains these obsolete words you have labeled it as old or out of date. Not an ideal situation.

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