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/lit/ - Literature

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4108824 No.4108824[DELETED]  [Reply] [Original]

>tfw you realize you don't know how to write dialogue

>> No.4108837

Writing dialogue is not a mathematical equation, OP. Listen to how people converse with each other and imagine your characters in that same conversation and what they'd say. Try to get to the heart of your characters since speech patterns are highly individual.

>> No.4108847

Watch Woody Allen.movies.

>> No.4109037

>>4108824
This seems stupid and potentially not helpful, but I'm really good at dialogue and I can honestly tell you it's not a process at all. It's just sort of "How would someone say this; more specifically, how would this character say this?" Chances are you're thinking about it way too hard.

>> No.4109072

Novels and stories don't have to have "genuine" chatter. In fact, it's better that they didn't, as banter doesn't serve the plot or character in any way.

I used to stress out about dialogue too, and have characters go through entire conversations. Like, they would talk about last night @ da bar or some shit before the significant parts came up. DON'T DO THAT -- it just acts as filler and pisses people off. Keep the non-plot-salient stuff sparse. Most stories do this, so don't think you're cutting the story short.

If you really can't write natural-sounding dialogue, then keep the dialogue to a minimum. The plot, conflict, or situation will be a satisfactory vehicle for character interactions and developments of relationships.

>> No.4109075

>>4109072
>banter doesn't serve the plot or character in any way

Okay, on second thought it does... in its own way. But that CAN be hard to pull off, and there are very many ways to develop characters and expand plots BESIDES extensive dialogue.

>> No.4109115

>>4108847
Or better still, don't.

>> No.4109135

>>4108824
God damn it OP it's my biggest weakness

>> No.4109146
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4109146

>tfw you realize you don't know how to write anything

>> No.4109175

i'm decent at coming up with plots and excellent at description but dialogue and probably prose too are my biggest weakness.