Dialogue vs. Narrative

[AsylumSeeker]

Many writers find it difficult to write natural sounding dialog, but any dialog is better than, "Terry came running into the house and said the barn was on fire and I told him to go put the fire out."

I never said writing is easy, especially dialogue. As an editor it is especially difficult to "teach" how to write dialogue. I think I do it well in my stories, but you may pick me apart.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Many writers find it difficult to write natural sounding dialog, but any dialog is better than, "Terry came running into the house and said the barn was on fire and I told him to go put the fire out."

"...take your tornado precautions now, a dryline is forming..."

Sally ran, heart racing, breathless, to the relative safety of the house.

"Wait!" she desperately screamed.

Life as it happens here.

 

[_Lynn_]

Many writers find it difficult to write natural sounding dialog, but any dialog is better than, "Terry came running into the house and said the barn was on fire and I told him to go put the fire out."

"...take your tornado precautions now, a dryline is forming..."

Sally ran, heart racing, breathless, to the relative safety of the house.

"Wait!" she desperately screamed.

Life as it happens here.

A piece of dialogue from a current story . . .

“What did I tell you, Riley? I said not to put your money into this dump.”

“I’m sure the repairman will have the air running again soon after he gets here.”

“I know all about those people. They poke around and make some noises before shaking their head. Then they talk about all the bad stuff that’s wrong, using big fancy words and charging a ton of money.”

“Grandma, I can handle this, all right?”

“Hmmph, we'll see."

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Many writers find it difficult to write natural sounding dialog, but any dialog is better than, "Terry came running into the house and said the barn was on fire and I told him to go put the fire out."

Yes, you are correct. So how can we help? At a loss.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Impress me... edit a story.

 

[_Lynn_]

Impress me... edit a story.

Who, AS?

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Who, AS?

Dunno... just being difficult.

 

[_Lynn_]

Dunno... just being difficult.

Ahh, gotcha.

 

[Noira]

Many writers find it difficult to write natural sounding dialog, but any dialog is better than, "Terry came running into the house and said the barn was on fire and I told him to go put the fire out."

(Oh, that's terrible, it makes my brain hurt.)

But would it really be improved by being:

Terry ran into the house. "The barn is on fire," Terry said.

"Go put the fire out," I said.

...Yes, it probably would. Albeit not signifigantly... that dialogue is still pretty bad and rates fairly low. But at least it's showing, not telling. Your example could only be plausable if the unnamed "I" was telling someone this story... which would save it by being all dialogue, I suppose.

I used to critique on Lit a bit, but the standards are so ridiculously low when it comes to grammar that I eventually gave up. Perhaps I'm the only one who finds it difficult to get into a story (or in this case, aroused by a story as is the intended purpose of most) when the grammar is an absolute wreck.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Many writers find it difficult to write natural sounding dialog, but any dialog is better than, "Terry came running into the house and said the barn was on fire and I told him to go put the fire out."

There is a fine line between amateur writing and doing so professionally. I am currently trying to find this line, and when I do, I have every intention of crossing it.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Many writers find it difficult to write natural sounding dialog, but any dialog is better than, "Terry came running into the house and said the barn was on fire and I told him to go put the fire out."

To my understanding "dialog" is a pop-up window, annoying or otherwise. Speech is dialogue. Although I may be incorrect.

 

[bronzeage]

There is a fine line between amateur writing and doing so professionally. I am currently trying to find this line, and when I do, I have every intention of crossing it.

The difference is a professional gets paid for the writing.

I have never heard more venomous critique than that expended on The Da Vinci Code and the Twilight series.

Yet, both authors are very well paid for their work.

The lesson from this is subject and content win over style every time.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Many writers find it difficult to write natural sounding dialog, but any dialog is better than, "Terry came running into the house and said the barn was on fire and I told him to go put the fire out."

Yes, exactly. They overuse "and" for a start. Let us do what we can to enlighten.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

The difference is a professional gets paid for the writing.

I have never heard more venomous critique than that expended on The Da Vinci Code and the Twilight series.

Yet, both authors are very well paid for their work.

The lesson from this is subject and content win over style every time.

The sad fact is, I have seen more superior editing from the editors here than those responsible for professional stories.