I’d lіkе tο write plays bυt mу dialogue feels lіkе іt’s going round іn circles аnd іt’s thе same іn еνеrу play. Cаn уου tеll mе tricks, аnd wіth ѕοmе examples?
I’d lіkе tο write plays bυt mу dialogue feels lіkе іt’s going round іn circles аnd іt’s thе same іn еνеrу play. Cаn уου tеll mе tricks, аnd wіth ѕοmе examples?
Read a lot of Hemingway, spend a lot of time in bars, on buses, at train stations – in places where you hear real conversations, and it will either come to you or it won’t.
Eavesdropping helps. Take a notebook and just sit somewhere public and eavesdrop. I’m not saying use their conversations in your plays, but it gives you examples of how people in real life talk to each other, not just the people in your head. I’m sure I clarified that in the worst way doable. But trust me, eavesdropping helps.
Hi,
yeah, I agree with one of the answers above: Read Hemingway. Also, read lots of Richard Bausch, Raymond Carver, Tobias Wolff-all their tales are dialogue-driven. It is also excellent to pick up on real life conversations and use the modest “gems” you might hear.
But, I reckon the most vital thing to remember is know what your tale is about, know who your characters are, and know what it is they want. That will keep you from writing in circles. You must only write what the reader has to know. Everything else is just “fluff” that thickens the tale and possibly even risks losing your reader. Like I said, only show what has to be told. So, if you’re writing dialogue and it’s about nothing vital to the plot of the tale, or vital to the development of the character(s), get rid of it, cut it out.
Once you’re about to do this, you’ll see that your tales will become more focused and your dialogue will only tell what is most vital! It’s hard to do, and it will take a while, but you’ll get it. I promise you, if you work on this, your dialogue will get better and better.
Excellent luck