Doin' Dialogue
Dialogue can be the most fun about writing a story. Having a moment where two or more characters hash out their emotions helps set the mood of a scene. Whether it be banter, monologues, or just expressing a feeling at a current moment, dialogue can set the path a writer wants a story to move towards.
For me personally, dialogue takes near center stage in all my writings. I enjoy spending time crafting jokes or anecdotes that my characters can relate to without damaging their personalities. It's easy to get lost, however, especially when writing a less-than-positive situation. While it's easy to write a "doom & gloom" subject, it can consequently make your work feel a bit cliché at best or out of character at worst!
If you don't get what I'm talking about, watch a couple anime dubs. Even the higher quality ones, some of them just get massacred by the overabundance of dialogue. Don't get me wrong... cheesy noises and quirky squeaks are mostly the norms, but sometimes, silence can just be as impactful. It's better to imagine a character(s) 's choice of words rather than flood an entire page's worth of them.
Dialogue can (and should) be considered when profound moments arise that can really drive a story. For example, suppose there is a reasonable time for a character to say something while retaining his personality (especially in long-running series). In that case, you have to consider what they would actually say and how they would say it.
Like, and I can't believe I'm putting myself back to this, for example...
Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 4 was very out of character. Now, he was still funny, but when considering his best friend (his brother in some cases), Buzz basically let Woody have this breakdown. He was the one that personally went out of his way to find him. You'd think after putting his batteries on the line for Woody at least twice, he'd tell Woody that he needs to make a choice or talk him down or try to argue and understand his actions.
Buzz Lightyear is the main guy who's supposed to keep Woody leveled in two integral movie scenes:
The scene on the RV where Buzz learns about his inner voice
The scene where Woody, Buzz, Bo, and Bunny + Ducky escape the antique store after Bo's sheep (Billy, Goat, and Gruff) are damaged, Bo confronts Woody for his actions.
Buzz was never given any dialogue in either of those scenes that would have benefitted Woody's choices, especially in the movie's finale.
Buzz barely questioned why Woody kept latching onto Forky, nor did he (or the other toys) decide to take charge and help him keep the spork safe. Heck, Buzz should have gone and admitted that he missed ANDY just as much as Woody did. He may not have been as connected to Andy as Woody but connected nonetheless. Where was that Pixar-Standard Adult Writing, PIXAR?
(There weren't even any scenes that continued or added to Buzz & Jessie's new relationship or their reaction to Woody's disappearance either, but that's a different discussion. Besides, the shorts after TS3 did a much better job despite being offshoot spin-offs)
Dialogue has many uses in storytelling. The lack of it should be just as considered as the need for it. I think with the right and careful study of your scenes, you can create the perfect balance necessary for the best dialogue your stories can offer. Now, I'm not excellent at it myself, but I think it's something we all should learn, especially if you're writing novels like I am.
But what do you think? What should you consider when making dialogue? Do you have any tips, tricks, or suggestions? Leave them in the comments, or email me! Thanks for Reading!
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