So I'm editting my novel (eek that word's scary) and I'm noticing my dialogue can sound slightly..... soap operaish. Don't get me wrong I love my Soap Operas but it's laughable at time. Some of them are easy fixes but others don't seem to flow very well not matter what I do to them. What should I do? Just make the best of the slightly akward conversations (mostily taking place in the lulls of events) and check them later or get rid of them. A part of me thinks they are useful because they show the slightly shy/social uncomfortable aspect of one the main character. But my main concern is when my main character is comfortable around someone she can be a bit sassy (which is fun to write). I'm afraid this might be confusing.
So the question is: How can I make the dialogue work better when it feels uncomfortable?
Also, Sorry I haven't been on much lately. I'm in my Senior year of college and I've got a full load of classes. This includes writing a 20-25 page paper of the monsters in Beowulf and 40 hours of Teaching Assisting. Though this could be some of the problem because I'm reading many great writers that make their dialogue seem so easy. I don't know.
If the character is uncomfortable and you want the reader to understand that, you might be doing the right thing. If it's uncomfortable because it just sounds fake, however, maybe not.
What I like to do is have imaginary conversations with myself. They're somwewhat under my breath but I still recommend privacy when doing this. That and imitating people you know or characters you know really well (from books or movies) works for me.
And I don't force it. If they wouldn't say it, they don't say it. That said, often I just let characters go so much that I often have to cut huge chunks out later, so you could try that and see if they end up where you want them.
Random thought- is it possible you don't know your characters well enough?
Thuggish, your random thought might be fairly right. Because most of the scenes where the dialogue seems off I just can't figure out how to make it work for them. And I've noticed little thing about the characters that I didn't realize were in there when I originally wrote it.
Also might try the talking them out thing. Sounds like it would work well.
Thanks!
Do you watch a lot of soap operas? Maybe try watching a ton of other stuff, less soap operaish type stuff, and see what sticks, if your dialogue changes?
That might help. thought I watch other stuff too.
Also, just for practice, try writing a version of whatever scene with no physical detail, just floating quotes. Try to steer the story with only conversation and see how the characters flesh out (so to speak).
I'm all for saying my dialogue out loud. Not under your breath, but seriously, as loud as you think your characters would be saying the lines. How does it feel, immerse yourself into the role. If you find yourself staggering over words, they don't flow, you wrote are not, but said, "aren't" you need to switch those things up. A lot of times we don't even use complete sentences when we speak. The context of the situation does a lot of the work. Make sure you've set up the context so your dialogue can add depth, not be expository. Just a few ideas.
These are all good ideas. I really like the just straight dialogue thing. I guess it would work like you were walking in on the conversation and trying to figure out what they are saying?
Also like the idea of saying it out loud. Not sure on the full volume thing though since I don't live alone.
I'm all for saying my dialogue out loud. Not under your breath, but seriously, as loud as you think your characters would be saying the lines. How does it feel, immerse yourself into the role. If you find yourself staggering over words, they don't flow, you wrote are not, but said, "aren't" you need to switch those things up. A lot of times we don't even use complete sentences when we speak. The context of the situation does a lot of the work. Make sure you've set up the context so your dialogue can add depth, not be expository. Just a few ideas.
See, I do it almost silently because otherwise my own voice gets in the way of what my people sound like. And it's weird to me. But either way, talking it out one way or another is a great way to go.
Yeah, like you're eavesdropping on a conversation and trying to make sense of it. I think every character, their dialogue, it's not usually as substantial as what actual people say. The dialogue exists within the context of what you're describing and what the characters are doing. So by relying entirely on dialogue, even just for practice, maybe you'll get to know your characters better, hear their voices.
