《How to Write Stories People Will Love》17. Create Interesting Dialogue
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If you struggle with dialogue, you're not alone. Writing good dialogue takes practice. Here are a few pointers to get you on your way...
Dialogue in a story needs to do one of the following:
1. Reveal plot details (can also reveal backstory, but be careful not to info-dump when doing so. It needs to sound like normal speech, not a history lesson.)
2. Reveal character personality
3. Entertain the reader (such as humor)
4. Advance the story in some way
Chit chat is boring in real life. Reading chit-chat in a story is even worse. If the dialogue doesn't fit any of the criteria above, then summarize it instead. For example, "He asked me about my dog before moseying off to his desk." Or, "She proceeded to fill me in on the details."
(See what I did there?) :-D
The problem with adverbs in dialogue is they are often used as a crutch for telling the reader what the character is feeling instead of showing us. Here's an example:
WITH ADVERB: "I can't help it," she said sadly.
WITHOUT: "I can't help it." She sniffled and swiped a tear away.
"Said" is one of those dialogue tags that many writers are afraid of overusing. The thing is, it's one of those "invisible" words that readers find easy to read through and not notice how often it's there. It'sgreat when you need to clarify who's talking without disrupting the flow of theconversation. Strong verbs stand out, which isn't necessarily a good thing whenyou want quick-moving banter. That said, don't go overboard and create robotic dialogue filled with he said / she said. It needs to be changed up. You can do this when you...
You don't always need dialogue tags. You can indicate who said what by incorporating character actions into the mix. Here's an example...
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"So what did you want to talk about?" Diane ripped open a sugar packet and sprinkled it into her coffee.
Lee cleared his throat. "I want a divorce."
Her hand stilled and her eyes snapped up to his. "Well that was abrupt."
"Yeah, well..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You know subtlety is not my strong suit."
"No, it's not." Diane sighed.
If you're going to remember just one tip, remember this one. Read the dialogue aloud and listen to yourself. This is a powerful method to determine if it sounds natural or not. If your dialogue is forced, boring, or unrealistic, you're more likely to catch it this way.
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The story of how a Cultivation Universe was Conquered by an Interstellar Weapons Platform
What do you get when you cross a world of Magic, Cultivation and Legends with one of Science, Logic and Overwhelming Firepower?\o\ Chaos! /o/Alpha is a sapient AI who's job (and Passion) is the exploration, exploitation and eventual colonization of new worlds for the Federation, a Galaxy spanning empire of Science and Technology. When an unexpected accident deposits this literal War Machine on a planet full of Cultivators and Wizards, chaos and insanity ensues. What Alpha and those around him don't know, however, is that he will soon become the focal point of a millennias long plot that holds not only the fate of the world in its balance, but possibly the entire Galaxy.Ancient Enemies awaken as the Powerhouses of the world converge with Alpha at the center. Get ready, its going to be a wild ride. ------------------------------------------------------- |_+) Come, Read the Story. Watch Worlds be Conquered. (ALL HAIL YOUR NEW ROBOT OVERLORDS!) See Arrogant Young Masters be slapped in the face (by a 170mm Rail-slug traveling Mach 3). Find Grand, Valuable Treasure (which gets put into storage, because what use does an AI have with pill herbs?) Explore Strange and wonderful lands (that will be shortly stripped mined and exploited for all usable resources) |_+) JOIN US!______________________________________ ALPHA-555-12-4412 (Designation: Star Conquer).One of the 5 most powerful and advanced AI-driven Interstellar Weapon Platforms ever built, was programmed with a very simple mission. Travel the stars.Seek out new and hospitable Alien Worlds.Establish a Forward based for their Master's eventual colonization.And, If necessary, crush any and all native resistance it might find. It was a Mission that Alpha took seriously and dedicated its entire being to.However, when Alpha flies a liiiiitle to close to a Blackhole and gets sucked in, it is thrown into a situation that no amount of programming could prepare it for. Now stranded on an alien, yet familiar world, full of dangerous beasts and strange phenomenon its database has no record or explanation for, Alpha must find a way to not only survive, but thrive.And eventually to do what he was built to do. Conquer._____________________________________________________Some things to expect from this Story 1): MC is an AI programmed with a very specific goal. Thus don't expect him to think or act like a human might. That being said, he/it is not bloodthirsty and evil either. He is specifically programed to work with, and indoctrinate Native species when possible. He is not a demon lord come to end the world as they know it, but a Conqueror come to subjugate. 2): MC won't be getting some kind of Humanoid form or suddenly start trying to think like a Human. Although an AI, he is perfectly Sapient, and fully understands both what he is and what is mission is. He is capable of adapting and changing his thought process, but at the end of the day, the Mission is what matters to him. He doesn't see the need or even WANTS to be Human. The only exception to this might be Humanoid body doubles or puppets used in places his main body isn't able to go. 3): This story is a mix of both Sci-Fi and Cultivation novels. MC with NOT be able to Cultivate themselves (for obvious reasons), but using his technology and knowledge, will be able to adapt and repurpose the strange and exotic resources you might find in a Cultivation World to increase his power and keep up with the powerhouses of this Universe. 4): The Intention of this story is to alternate between it and Parasite King, so I don't get burned out writing either one. As such, updates, while not slow, won't be to quick. Bare with me for awhile till the wheels get rolling.
8 203The Apotheosis Cycle
Stranded in a world straight out of fairy tales, Serena Araceli is forced to reconcile all she knew with what she slowly discovers. With her understanding and capability with magic altered and being forced to start anew as a beginner, the only boon of this situation is the voice in the back of her head. Now if only that voice would stop recommending that she take villainous actions for better results. In which an internal energy practitioner is transmigrated to an external energy magic-focused fairy tale land.
8 210Devouring - Progenitor of Evolution
// NOT ON HIATUS, just no time right now to write more... Sadly... //His mother killed in prostitution and by drugs, his father stabbed to death in a robbery by ordinary street thugs, he himself lived on the streets at the age of 18, surviving instead of living.A heroic drive, however, snatched him out of this miserable life, and he thought it was finally over, until he learned from an odd character that this was not his first "unlucky" life in succession, and that he would be eligible for a special program for his reincarnation.Without much to lose, and not much that could go worse in the next life, he landed in a new world... As a mole. His oh so great ability, which he had been promised?Absorption of biological and magical properties of EVERYTHING he devoured! And so began his journey as a mole! Emotions? Missing brain strands to feel anything of that nature. Joy? All the more! Finally eating, no matter what... Starving is no more! The progenitor of devouring was let loose on the world, and who knows where his journey will lead him... This story will appear irregularly, and first of all on Patreon. I'm mainly writing the story "Healing Dungeon" myself, and every now and then another chapter of Devouring to clear my head ;)
8 122The Otherworldly Filmmaker
An aspiring indie filmmaker was suddenly transported to a fantasy world while shooting a scene in a remote tropical jungle. Having no fighting experience or any other experience, he was only left with his film-directing skills and the shooting equipment that was also transported along with him. He finally decided to be the first film director of this strange new world. He will introduce the craft of filmmaking to that world and move the hearts of its inhabitants with his films. Extra lore materials/The World of The Novel: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/grandea-continent-thesilentone This novel is also available in webnovel.com: https://www.webnovel.com/book/11344537705345005 . I am the same author as that website (Diabolique_TSO). TSO Stands for TheSilentOne (my RRL account)Film collage art was done by: https://www.deviantart.com/sandzen/art/Movie-Box-Collage-3-Dramarama-252080201 All rights of the image go to the respective film studio and his contribution to making the art.
8 169Septicego Oneshots
Some short stories featuring the egos! Not all will be xreaders. I like wholesome platonic ego interactionsShips are by request onlyI take requests and promptsUpdated (hopefully) weekly, cover by me(CC) Att. NonComm. ShareAlike
8 212Rise of the Night Witch
Demons, vampires, witchcraft, abandonment; Marissa Carter has problems others don't see. As the daughter of a banished witch and a normal human, she lives between two worlds.Once the Veil breaks and demons attack, she must decide. Will she learn magic at the Cunning Folk Academy or continue her normal high school life?She has time until Halloween to find the leader behind the monsters' invasion of the human realm. Life's a witch.[-]Updates on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Also on Geeke. (If this book is on a site other than Wattpad or Geeke or a Wattpad account other than "Auraptor" or "PASharp", it's likely stolen. Also, there are now thousands of accounts claiming my book is stolen. If you check them, you'll see they have no followers and no conversations. They're fake accounts, don't listen to them.)#123 Creepy out of 40.3K stories (30/08/2022)#98 Paranormal out of 86.6k stories (21/11/2022)#406 Anxiety out of 60.7k stories (29/08/2022)#53 Darkfantasy out of 7.9k stories (09/08/2022)#306 Monsters out of 37.5k stories (19/08/2022)#75 Demon out of 55.2k stories (19/08/2022)#70 Fae out of 7k stories (19/08/2022)#22 Secret Identity out of 4.9k stories (05/09/2022)#14 Superpowers out of 26.2k stories (09/10/2022)#255 Magic out of 254k stories (27/09/2022)#73 Supernatural out of 177k stories (21/11/2022)#100 Witch out of 80.7k stories (27/09/2022)#38 Urbanfantasy out of 7.4k stories (21/11/2022)#16 Horror out of 302k stories (21/11/2022)
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