Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Writing Advice: Inspiring Dialogue

Have you ever come across dialogue that is meant to be inspiring, but just isn't?

Whether it was in a novel, film, play, TV show, short story, or whatever, you found yourself cringing. The line (or monologue - which is even worse) was supposed to be wise and motivational, a deep insight into life, but the way it came out made you think, Puh-lease, this is so lame. No one would ever say that in real life - it's so cliché!

I'll give you an example from Eragon by Christopher Paolini (and this is one of the few criticisms I'll make of it because it's one of my favourite books). This monologue comes from Eragon's wise-guy uncle:
"First, let no one rule your mind or body. Take special care that your thoughts remain unfettered. One may be a free man and yet be bound tighter than a slave. Give men your ear, but not your heart. Show respect for those in power, but don't follow them blindly. Judge with logic and reason, but comment not. ..."
And that's only half of it.

Of course, these are all great messages that Paolini expresses, profound and true. But do they connect with us? Not really, no, because this kind of self-aware insight is rarely found in real life. No-one I know would ever speak like that, and if they did, I'd have to stifle hysterical laughter.


So how does a writer express his or her ideas, viewpoints and life lessons without stating them blatantly? Through story. Through events and turning points and character responses. Every time we write, we are showing the reader what we think life is like. "This is my perception. This is my vision of the world, and the nature of the people who inhabit it. This is what these people would do under these circumstances for these reasons."

Story is a metaphor for life. It's a vessel through which readers become emotionally attached to an idea. You could tell someone of the repulsiveness of teen violence, or they could read the Hunger Games. Which do you think would leave them more convicted? You could have a character say, "There's always hope," or you could show it by having your protagonist achieve his or her goal despite the immense odds stacked against them. Again, which would connect to the reader more?

When it comes down to it, it's a question of showing or telling.

And of course, there is a place for telling. There is a place inspiring dialogue - JRR Tolkien was especially good at using it. But if you use it too much, or in the wrong way, it ends up having the opposite effect.

So, as a rule of thumb, let telling dialogue compliment your showing. Express yourself first and foremost through events and character - and if you need dialogue to finish the job, go for it.

19 comments:

  1. So true.

    Not to sounds sexist, but I've read a bunch of books lately by female authors, and their interpretation of how a teenage boy talks is not very believable.

    I remember reading one scene thinking, "A teenage boy would so NOT say something like that."

    I think it's an example of how difficult it can be to represent people so different than ourselves through dialog.

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    1. I've had that exact same experience - the author was trying to keep the language in the book "clean" by having the school bully call the introverted kid names like "jerk" and "loser."

      Which is fair enough, but it wasn't exactly realistic.

      So, yeah, representing different people through dialogue is hard.

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  2. Dude. I completely agree. One of my examples are: Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull. They talk like they're reading from an instruction manual. It doesn't seem like anybody would actually say that. And my other example is The Horn of Moran by M. L. Forman. I love both these authors and their books, don't get me wrong, but Alex (main character in The Horn of Moran) sounds too much like an adult.

    I completely agree with you.

    -Jackson

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    1. That's the most annoying thing when kids sound like they have 75 years of experience under their belts, rather than 15. The other side of that coin however, is when it's as if they're 5, rather than 15.

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  3. I always have a giggle at those grandiose, deep and meaningful dialogues. Great advice!

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    1. So, do I! Other times I'm not really sure to laugh or throw the book across the room. Thanks :)

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  4. Makes me glad that dialogue is my strong suit. Excellent post, Nick! :)

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  5. Oh, yes, so true. Lessons are much, much better shown than told. You make an excellent point. :)

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    1. Thank you :) It really does come down to that age-old question of showing vs telling. I feel that it's a really important concept in writing.

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  6. Quotes like that never ring true for me. It's like I understand the words and what they're trying to say but it doesn't click inside of me. Nice pic. ^^

    I've tagged you with the Lucky 7 meme: http://brookerbusse.blogspot.com/2012/04/i-guess-this-is-what-i-get-for-calling.html

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  7. Very insightful. Yes dialogue must be realistic. It's often hard to find the true voice of the opposite sex. Some guys definitely struggle with the teen girl speak too!

    Nice to meet you.

    Denise

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  8. How diabolical when dialogue is didactic! I'm diametrically opposed!
    But oh how I devour dynamic dialogue in divinely delicious prose.

    That reminds me, I secretly want to invent a phenomenal zinger for my book that everyone will ooh and aah over and remember with sighs of happiness. Thanks, Nick!

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  9. I whole-heartedly agree with you. It kills me when an author tries too hard to get their message across with something that sounds profound. The closest I've ever gotten in my writing is in a conversation where someone realizes something that's gone on for the whole book. But it's only one line, and it's something I feel he would say. It's not deep or poetic; it just feels right.

    Thanks for sharing! :)

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  10. Wow! Very well said. I think sometimes dialogue is so hard to get just right!

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  11. This is so true!
    please check out my blog, where I try to ACTUALLY be inspirational and give good writing tips :)
    www.midnightwriter4life.blogspot.com

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  12. I found this post and love how you said it's all about showing vs. telling. That big chunk you put up there from Eragon just makes readers go "OOF" and squirm.

    P.S. I think that quote from Dumbledore was actually first said by Yoda....

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    1. Thanks :) I think it's a really important part of writing, and often misunderstood.

      And yes, it's a Yoda quote. Also you'll notice that the picture is of Gandalf :)

      Delete
  13. "Meaningful dialogue" can be unbelievably cringey... especially when authors put words in an old-fashioned order to try and sound poetic, like "let not your passion cloud your reason" or something equally awful. That kind of dialogue can be excellent for a pompous idiot though, someone who thinks they're wise but aren't :L

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