Simple Dialogue

Dialogue is probably one of the biggest aspects to fiction writing that can really make or break your story. Although a good story line doesn't need good dialogue, any really well respected book should have nice flowing dialogue that adds to the story. Bad dialogue trips us up, making us think about the author and how the line is supposed to go rather than what the characters are saying. (*cough* Left Behind *cough*) However, good writing has dialogue that sounds natural and smooth, like actual everyday conversations. We should read over dialogue and think, "ya, that sounds like something they'd say," and then continue without a second thought. This good dialogue can be used to create plot or more often character development, as you can learn a lot about a character based off of how they talk and what they say. And the thing is it happens without the reader even realizing that they're getting background knowledge just by listening to them talk.

"Nathan, I'm sorry."
"What? Why are you sorry?"
"I just don't think I can be with you any longer."
"What are you saying? Do you mean to say you're breaking up with me?"
"Yes."

In this example you get some of the background knowledge, however the clunky nature of it and the unrealistic speaking patterns take away from the excerpt and interrupt the reading. It should flow like real conversation, or in this case a real break up, that way we can really get some insight to these characters and what they're like.

"Nathan, I don't know how to say this."
"Hm? Say what Natalie?"
"I just, I just don't think this is working right now."
"Natalie-"
"I'm so, so sorry, Nathan. But you've been gone so long, and you're a new person now, and I've-"
"You're dumping me cause I'm different now? That's why?"
"Nathan, I'm sorry, but yes."
"No! No there has to be another reason! Why?"
"I love someone else now, Nathan."

Sounds a bit more like an actual breakup now, doesn't it? A bit over dramatic maybe but it goes to show that the speaking should flow and seem natural so that we can learn from the dialogue rather than get confused by it. There are tons of tips and tricks to dialogue too, so that you can better clarify your dialogue and make it seem more natural or fitting to your story, but we'll talk about some of those more specific methods another day. Until next time guys.

-Ink