Guest Post: Tips on Writing Dialogue

Hello, again, to a wonderful writer and friend. Marilyn Meredith writes two wonderful series, so she knows what she's talking about. Newbie or experienced writer, you'll pick up something from today's post. The really good news is that Marilyn has a brand new book out. Pick it up for a wonderful read.

Tips on Writing Dialogue

Though you want dialogue to be realistic sounding, don’t copy how we really talk such as:

“Hello, how are you.”   

“I’m fine, and you?” 

Leave all this greeting stuff and comments about the weather out unless it is important to the plot.

Dialogue should do one of two things: Move the plot along or reveal character.

Said and asked are better than the multitude of other dialogue tags such as responded, agreed, etc.

Better still use the character’s action as a dialogue tag instead.  “No way.”  Dan pulled out his gun.

Or use description as a dialogue tag. Cynthia’s multi-colored silk skirt swirled around her long legs. “Are you coming or not?”

Go easy on the exclamation points. If the dialogue is exclamatory enough, an exclamation point is unnecessary.  An exclamation point should never be used in narrative.  Elmore Leonard said, “Use only one exclamation point per novel.”

Don’t ever have a character tell someone something that they already know to get information across.  Maybe it is something that ought to be in narrative, but be careful of an information dump.

When writing, start a new paragraph every time a new person speaks or does something. This will help the reader follow what is going on.

Even if the conversation is between two people, if it goes on for long, put in a dialogue tag so that the reader knows who is talking. Of course, if there is a big difference in how each person speaks, this won’t be necessary.

For instance, if one person is educated, his grammar will be perfect. Another might use lots of clichés, or use poor grammar. If someone is from the south, he/she will speak differently than someone from New York. Another might not use complete sentences. Listen to people carefully (eavesdropping works), and watch for different speech patterns.

Never have one person speak for long periods of time—when we’re talking to one another, we interrupt, change the subject, etc.

Be sure that the reader knows where the dialogue is taking place.  I’ve read too many books where I had no idea where the characters were having their conversation.

And my last tip, beware of talking heads. This means we need to see the characters and what they are doing while the conversation is going on. No one sits or stands perfectly still while talking—and this brings you back to the fact that you can use an action as a dialogue tag.

Phil scratched his head. “What do you expect me to do about it?”

I hope this will be helpful.

Marilyn Meredith

Did you find at least one helpful tip on writing dialogue? Share the tips with others using these copy/paste posts.

Facebook:  Marilyn Meredith helps writers craft sharper dialogue in their novels. Check out these "Tips for Writing Dialogue." Also, read about Marilyn's latest release in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, A COLD DEATH http://bit.ly/2wmfIyh

Twitter: @MarilynMeredith has a new Tempe Crabtree book out AND she shares her dialogue writing tips at http://bit.ly/2wmfIyh

Blurb for A Cold Death:

Deputy Tempe Crabtree and her husband answer the call for help with unruly guests visiting a closed summer camp during a huge snow storm and are trapped there along with the others. One is a murderer.

Anyone who orders any of my books from the publisher‘s website: http://mundania.com

can get 10% off by entering MP20 coupon code in the shopping cart. This is good all the time for all my books, E-books and print books.

On Kindle: A COLD DEATH

            

Marilyn Meredith’s published book count is nearing 40. She is one of the founding members of the San Joaquin chapter of Sister in Crime. She taught writing for Writers Digest Schools for 10 years, and was an instructor at the prestigious Maui Writers Retreat, and has taught at many writers’ conferences. Marilyn is a member of three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and serves on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. She lives in the foothills of the Sierra, a place with many similarities to Tempe Crabtree’s patrol area. Webpage:  http://fictionforyou.com Blog:  http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/ and you can follow her on Facebook.

Contest: Once again I’m going to use the name of the person who comments on the most blogs on my tour for the next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery—which may be the last in the series.

Tomorrow I’ll be here:

http://lornacollins-author.blogspot.com

Getting that Book Done—or Put Fanny in Chair and Write