more writing advice
More advice for my fellow writers! This list is from jimvanpelt - Found it while wasting time at work.
"Whad Ya Say?" Writing Dialogue
A. Dialogue, like details, should be significant.
B. Dialogue can show action, emotion, advance the plot, provide exposition, set the scene, characterize, set the mood, reveal the theme, foreshadow or remind.
C. Include only the dialogue that, no matter what else it does, advances the story in some way.
D. "The trick to writing good dialogue is hearing voice. The question is, what would he or she say? The answer is entirely in language. The choice of language reveals content, character, and conflict, as well as type."
E. Dialogue is characters saying "no" to one another.
F. Elliptic speech is often a part of dialogue (fragments).
G. Characters will sometimes finish each other's sentences.
H. Use speech mannerisms: fragments, slang, interruptions, changes of direction, and indirect replies.
I. Use contractions.
J. Capture the rhythm of real speech without real speech's hums and haws.
K. Give each character distinct speech mannerisms. A character should be identifiable by how he or she speaks.
L. Eliminate needless "hello/goodbye" exchanges or meaningless chit-chat.
M. Don't make characters say things to each other that they already know for the benefit of the audience.
N. Avoid tags that are unneeded. Include a speech tag only if the speaker is unclear.
O. Avoid unspeakable tags.
P. Watch out for uninterrupted dialogue that fails to reveal emotions or reactions.
Q. Pace dialogue by interrupting with action, thoughts or description.
R. Try your dialogue out loud.
"Whad Ya Say?" Writing Dialogue
A. Dialogue, like details, should be significant.
B. Dialogue can show action, emotion, advance the plot, provide exposition, set the scene, characterize, set the mood, reveal the theme, foreshadow or remind.
C. Include only the dialogue that, no matter what else it does, advances the story in some way.
D. "The trick to writing good dialogue is hearing voice. The question is, what would he or she say? The answer is entirely in language. The choice of language reveals content, character, and conflict, as well as type."
E. Dialogue is characters saying "no" to one another.
F. Elliptic speech is often a part of dialogue (fragments).
G. Characters will sometimes finish each other's sentences.
H. Use speech mannerisms: fragments, slang, interruptions, changes of direction, and indirect replies.
I. Use contractions.
J. Capture the rhythm of real speech without real speech's hums and haws.
K. Give each character distinct speech mannerisms. A character should be identifiable by how he or she speaks.
L. Eliminate needless "hello/goodbye" exchanges or meaningless chit-chat.
M. Don't make characters say things to each other that they already know for the benefit of the audience.
N. Avoid tags that are unneeded. Include a speech tag only if the speaker is unclear.
O. Avoid unspeakable tags.
P. Watch out for uninterrupted dialogue that fails to reveal emotions or reactions.
Q. Pace dialogue by interrupting with action, thoughts or description.
R. Try your dialogue out loud.