Dialogue as Part of Characterization

[ubiquirk]

A recent comment about the frequent use of suss instead of its synonyms in my HP story ‘Conspiracy Theory’ gives me the perfect opportunity to get swotty about a subject I love. Dialogue

Comments

[ubiquirk]

Did you actually get criticized because Hermione used the word "suss" too much?

Yes, but the person wasn't British, and it's not clear if they have any idea as to just how common the word is, which plays into The fact that people say or do certain things doesn't help if a reader is jarred and pulled out of the story by it. If it's slang from another country, then it's always going to sound a little off - that doesn't mean it's wrong for the character.

I guess my point is, "that's the way people really talk," isn't an excuse. Good dialogue isn't the way people really talk. It seems as if it's the way people really talk.That's the old chestnut, and if you're going for a nineteenth-century voice, for example, then fine, keep everything perfect. However, I don't think that's true when it comes to writing contemporary, realistic fiction. Dialogue is still shaped, but not to the point of complete artificiality. There should be pauses, sentences that trail off, the occasional ah and erm, slang. Not in every conversation, but at least

[ubiquirk]

So I think you and I are on the same page, even if I didn't make it clear. Not the way people really talk, but using enough habits and characteristics to make it feel like somebody's really talking.

Yes, it's a balance that changes depending on the overall narrative voice of the piece being written. And I know that I purposefully have a very modern voice, so my opinions always reflect that. But people do still write in a very 'perfect' voice.

[ubiquirk]

Or complete scoundrels with perfect elocution. (laughs)

[ariadne1]

Having met exactly one complete scoundrel with perfect elocution in my entire chequered existence, I will say that such rogues are dangerous and should come with warning labels ;)