Beginning to Understand Great Dialogue:
We've all asked teachers or other writers what makes great
dialogue and we've all heard the same answer: "Have your
characters not say what they really mean." Okay, this is
sound advice -- but a little vague. Let's see if we can
dig a little deeper.
If we had to use one word to define great dialogue, what
word would be "focus." Great dialogue has focus. There's
never a word wasted in its intent or execution. Even when
a character seems to be rambling, every syllable is there
to focus the point, which is that he's insane, or on
drugs, or confused, or mistaken.
As a writer, we have to move the story along. Every word
of dialogue has to help us do that, but great dialogue
does so much more that simply impart information. There
are other forms or styles of speech.
1. Complaining
2. Arguing
3. Imparting information
4. Manipulating
5. Joking
6. Planning
7. Pleading
8. Praising
We realize "imparting information" is in there and most
people consider simply giving information as too "on the
nose" and very bad. There are times when it can be the
perfect form for the moment. If a character has been under
interrogation by the police for hours and has finally
broken. He might start spouting all the information they
need. This is a rare case, however. When starting to write
dialogue look at the styles listed above and see which one
is best for the scene you're creating.
Whichever style you choose, it has to be chosen for a
reason. Listening to a character arguing can be very
realistic and entertaining. But when it's over, the reader
will be left empty if something hasn't been accomplished
story-wise. Make sure the style is used for a reason and
is part of building your story. For example, if a man
misses a plane and the airline won't bring the plane back
to the gate and, later, we learn the plane crashes, which
style is best? Perhaps he tries to manipulate them to
bring it back -- or even better, he complains loudly. Your
character complains about the plane leaving without him,
bringing the whole terminal into it. Then, when the plane
crashes, suddenly his complaining seems petty. The chosen
style has clued the audience into his character and served
a purpose in the story.
You can achieve the same "double-duty" with any of the six
styles. If a team of thieves is planning a heist, we can
set up what's going to happen while showing the
differences in each character by the way they approach the
planning. Perhaps one guy isn't into planning, likes to
wing it. While another wants every detail planned out. We
can set up the plan while exposing character. Focusing on
the style can help us focus the dialogue and why it's
there.
We realize we've only scratched the surface, but defining
the dialogue style is the first step to focusing the
dialogue and creating great moments in your story.