#dialogue tips

[3hks]

How to Write REALISTIC and SMOOTH Dialogue

In a story, dialogue is quite important, it helps the readers paint a picture of what's happening and the characters themselves. However, it can be difficult to avoid the unnaturalness and choppiness that comes with a lack of experience. But luckily, I have put together A LOT of advice on how you can get over that rockiness and improve!

*** KEEPING YOUR DIALOGUE REALISTIC, AND PACING ***

>> Keep your characters in character:

Dialogue is a remarkably quick way for readers to determine your character's personality. Thus, you want their speech patterns to remain fairly consistent so the audience won't get confused. If your character is more serious, then they will use less slang and perhaps a more impressive vocabulary. If your character is more relaxed, they will use more slang and compress the words. (such as "dunno," "kay," "y'know," etc.)

Basically, you want their tone to match their traits so the way that they talk is more realistic and personlized to themselves. If the way all your characters speak is the same, there's something wrong. A strong tip is to put yourself in your character's shoes and imagine how they would respond!

>> Take the situation into consideration:

This is another part of keeping your characters in, well, character. Different emotional situations will have a different effect on separate people, so make sure that you have an idea of how your character will act during stressful, irritating, and sad times.

If your character is normally cold, they will struggle if it comes to comforting other people because they have less experience in that field.

>> Don't take too long with their words:

Unlike when narrating something, most people talk just to get the idea across. They will be more specific and quicker with what they say. (This excludes any character who likes to talk a lot.) Unless it's on purpose, they won't dance around the topic. Think of when you casually chat with your friends; you're pretty unlikely to use certain words and/or phrases that might be common to use while narrating.

If you want to explain something complicated, instead of writing out a paragraph of just one person talking, use a question-and-answer prompt! This is where another character continuously asks related questions that get answered by another person, so you can indirectly reveal your explanation.

*** HOW TO WRITE A SMOOTHER CONVERSATION AND DIALOGUE TAGS***

>> Having a variety of dialogue tags:

This is a pretty basic thing to look out for if you're new to writing conversations. Using words like "said," every other sentence can easily make it feel choppy and robotic. Instead, use words like "murmured," "smirked," etc. to paint some emotion into their words. Additionally, vary the location of the dialogue tags! They don't all have to go after the statement, you can include something in the beginning or even the middle, too!

Examples:

Beginning - She tilted her head, "What are you talking about?"

Middle - "Oh," he blinked, "I actually never thought about that."

End - "Wait up!" She exclaimed loudly, waving her hands around.

>> Using no dialogue tags to create a smooth conversation:

Having too many tags can also overwhelm your reader--remember, sentence variety is a crucial part of writing--so you can always drop them if they're unneeded. This applies when your characters (two is the suggested amount) are talking back and forth in a pattern straightforward enough for the reader to understand who's talking without it having to be labeled.

Dropping dialogue tags in these moments can create a smoother atmosphere during the conversation because the reader only has to focus on the talking present.

*** USING SLANG, STUTTERS, FILLER WORDS, AND PAUSES ***

Human speech is often not perfect; when talking, we often make mistakes such as filler words, grammatically incorrect phrases, etc. Hence, for more natural-sounding dialogue, it's important to incorporate some of these.

>> Pauses and stutters:

When reading dialogue, we read it at a steady pace unless it's written otherwise. However, that steady pace can soon get too robotic and too smooth. Luckily, there are several ways to change this! You can use dialogue tags, (ex: she quickly spoke) commas, and ellipsis (...). These are often integrated when the character is hesitant, nervous, answering something, or when they need to admit something. The same idea applies to stutters--they're mainly used to demonstrate anxiousness, which can be found in varying situations.

>> Filler words and slang:

Filler words can really just be used where you see fit. They may be used in the situations I previously mentioned (because it shows someone stumbling over their words) but it's ultimately up to you!

Slang, just like everything else, should not be used too often, or it will seem forced and exaggerated. The point is to sound natural, and increasing amounts of repetitiveness can ruin it. It's also important to remember that in real life, our conversations move slower; when someone speaks, another person usually doesn't respond quite literally, right after. However, in writing, dialogue can actually often seem that way, which is why using tags and these imperfections of speech is pivotal for building a realistic conversation!

*** CONCLUSION ***

Lastly, a key point when writing dialogue is to ALWAYS read the conversations! Whether it be in your head or out loud, it can often help you catch anything that seems off! Additionally, like I mentioned at the very beginning, write dialogue from your character's perspective! Imagine yourself as them and how they/you would talk. Try to keep your dialogue tags, sentences, and word use varied to create a natural conversation!

If you were struggling before, I hope that this (extra) long guide was able to really offer you some insight and useful tips! If you read this far, thank you!

Happy writing~

3hks <3

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[secondhandsorrows]

3 Quick Tips on Writing Dialogue

Okay… so one of the biggest writing hurdles I often face is writing dialogue. Good dialogue. I know such a statement can be pretty subjective, but there’s something to dialogue that demands attention. There’s things involved like subtext, purpose, characterization, and sense of realism. On the other hand, there’s also character voice, expression, body language, and dialogue tags (sparingly, if you can)… all of which can be important, too. Sometimes it’s tricky for me to get a handle on writing dialogue that sounds natural, less stilted, and more as though the characters are real and conversing like we humans would (not to say dialogue should include unnecessary filler-words and repetitions we tend to overuse in our day-to-day conversations). 

Today, I’m going to share three quick tips I’ve accumulated from research and from my own experiences in creative fiction workshops on improving your dialogue. 

1. Avoid needless filler-words and phrases.

Let’s just get this one out of the way. I know this was already mentioned a few sentences ago, but it needs to be further cemented. This is the kind of fluff that we use in day-to-day chatter, like misused grammar, useless small talk, and talking in circles that, more often than not, comes across as boring and trivial. We may think this is a good way to create realistic dialogue, but alas, there is such thing as too-realistic dialogue. Focus instead on crafting dialogue that sounds as natural as possible. At least, try to get rid of the fluff, or use it with caution, as it may bog down your pacing and slow down your readers. 

This doesn’t mean you can’t utilize some small talk, repetitions, filler words, or speech patterns like stammering. Rules are sometimes meant to be bent, just a little. It can be used to create distinctions between unique character voices, lighten the mood, express an emotion that is being felt, if you know where to put them. Dialogue can — and should — be personalized to each character. 

This brings me to the next point:

2. Refrain from revealing too much information at once. 

Not only is this considered info-dumping, but giving away a ton of detail in a piece of dialogue can come across as stiff and out-of-place.  Though it may seem convenient to utilize dialogue as a way to pass information to the reader without getting all repetitive or boring within the narrative, it tends to break away from what the character (or a real person) might actually say. Especially when it’s given to a character that has no reason or incentive to recite drawn-out exposition to give the reader some background. This can be attributed to being uncharacteristic. 

Try tweaking it as to fit your character’s voice: their mood, how they communicate their values, which aspects they find more important to discuss, which topics they actively avoid or tend to overlook. Also keep in mind who they’re speaking to, and whether or not they need to hear the information, as well. 

3. Think about what is being left un-said.

Now, I’ve mentioned subtext quite a bit, already. Subtext, as the definition goes from Literaryterms.net, is “the unspoken or less obvious meaning or message in a literary composition, drama, speech, or conversation.” Knowing this, we can implicitly communicate to the reader covertly a truer meaning or mood within a conversation or interaction between characters: that a character is smiling through a grimace trying to look as if he’s enjoying what his friend had cooked for him when in reality he’s forcing it to spare their feelings. Or, when a woman says “she’s fine” when actually she’s not fine (real). Her answer is forced, her tone clipped, her arms are firmly crossed and she’s angling herself away. How about when a character is pining for another? They might stammer over their words and are prone to blushing whenever they’re around. 

There’s a lot of different ways you can go about using subtext. I probably could’ve added a lot more, but all I want to say for now is that the beauty of subtext allows to stir interest and to further character examination, especially in dialogue. There is more that can be said, but the characters may choose not to. It could also be used to hint at the reader, to foreshadow, facilitate themes, make contradictions, to build tension and emotion… there’s internal conflict that can be explored here. Let your characters tell their own stories in their own, unique ways.  

That’s all, for now. Hope this helped!

#writer tips #writing process #creative writing #writing advice #fiction #character dialogue #writing #writing dialogue #dialogue tips #writing tips #character #on writing #story tips #subtext #writeblr #books #bookblr

[em-dash-press]

Make Your Dialogue Stronger: 8 Tips

Sometimes it’s a challenge to write good dialogue. Your character’s conversations might sound stiff or unnatural, but why does that happen?

There are numerous reasons why your dialogue isn’t as strong as you’d like. It might mean you just need more practice, but it could also mean it’s time to try something new.

Check out these tips to make your dialogue stronger and become a better writer with each story.

1. Skip the Small Talk

When you walk into the same room as someone, like at work or in the morning at school, you likely engage in small talk.

How are you?

Good, how are you?

I’m fine for a Monday morning.

It’s an instinct we’re all trained to have, but it makes for extremely boring conversations in books. Unless your small-talk scene occurs in a moment of extreme tension (like if neither character trusts the other or someone’s listening in on their conversation), you can likely skip that part of the dialogue.

2. Say It Out Loud

Sometimes it’s helpful to say your words out loud while you write. Dialogue or no dialogue, you’re more likely to catch awkward moments or stiff phrasing. Unless you prefer to write in a library, try this with your story. You may recognize unintentional repetition or repeated sentence structures that make your dialogue unnatural.

3. Remember Your Character’s Motivations

Think about the last real-world conversation you had with someone. The last one I had was pleasant and laid-back, but my motivation during it was finding out what was secretly bothering my friend. I wanted to help them feel better.

Your characters will have motivations in their dialogue too. If a scene feels off, it might be because what they’re saying doesn’t have any intention behind it. Think about what your characters want as their ultimate goal and how that conversation is helping them get there.

Layering their motivations into conversations with tension, word choice, and even body language could eliminate whatever feels unnatural about some of your dialogue.

4. Find the Scene’s Emotional Tether

Dialogue is also how writers address a scene’s emotional ties. If two characters just went through something scary, the dialogue lets them vent their panic and potentially find comfort in the trust they share. Consider what you want your readers to feel from the scene and what your characters are feeling. Express it with what they say to make their conversation more grounded in reality.

5. Read the Scene Aloud

If you’ve already written the scene, you can still read it out loud. It’s even better if you have a friend or beta reader around to read a second character’s lines. When you hear what the characters are saying, the word choices or dialogue breaks that aren’t working will become extremely clear. 

6. Copy and Paste the Dialogue

Sometimes you can’t read things out loud. Sometimes you may not want to. 

Luckily, AI can help with that.

I’ve used a few AI-powered websites to read my stories back to me in voices that sound real. Unlike other text-to-speech readers, human-sounding voices are easier to pay attention to.

Some of my favorites are sites like these:

NaturalReaders

TTSReader

Synthesys

Some sites will read more than others before requiring a paid membership. Use a few to listen through your stories and pick out whatever isn’t working.

7. Give Yourself a Break

It’s tempting to push yourself through a story until it’s finished. Writers often feel like they aren’t real authors unless the stories flow from their fingertips constantly. 

Remember that you’re human. When you’re writing you’re using at least eight parts of your brain, plus you’re building new neural connections. That’s tons of work for your brain. When you hit parts of your story that feel weaker or clunky—dialogue or not—it could be because your mind needs to rest.

Don’t underestimate the power of giving yourself a break. Walk away from your story for a few hours or even a few days. Nourish your mental health with a few positive affirmations, some fresh air, and healthy foods. You’ll return to your story with renewed energy that makes it easier to refine your dialogue.

8. Get Messy to Get Better

We’ve all been there. You’re writing a scene or story that means something deeply personal, so you want to get it just right. The desire to strive for perfection is admirable, but it might be holding you back.

Write those incomplete sentences. Embrace your clunky dialogue. Make your characters say things they don’t mean or argue or goof around in happier moments.

If you never make mistakes, you’ll never learn how to improve. Get messy and have fun doing it. You’ll always have time to polish things or add more to scenes when you’re editing later.

-----

Dialogue can be challenging, but that means it’s also an opportunity to grow. Try these tricks to get better at creating conversations, even if you consider yourself a long-term, practiced writer.

#writing #writing dialogue #dialogue inspo #writeblr #writing tips #writing advice #dialogue tips #how to write dialogue #tips for writing dialogue

[firesmokeandashes]

A tip to all my writers on here!

If you're ever having trouble writing wholesome or fluffy dialogue for your characters, listen to two guy best friends on a phone call or facetime (or just watch a video of boys haging out and being boys)!

I personally get inspiration from my dad when he talks to his friends for like 2 hours over the phone. Sometimes, their phone calls get a little serious, but for the most part, they're pretty wholesome and filled with playful/teasing banter, which is perfect for dialogue in my writing!

And from what I've seen, a lot of guys are like this, so finding good reference subjects shouldn't be too hard.

So go on! Go get yourself some inspiration from the boys and their wholesome friendships!

#writing tips #writing prompt #writing on tumblr #tumblr writing community #writing #dialouge prompts #dialogue tips #the boys will forever be an inspiration for me #lol

[pearl-d1ver]

dialogue tips!

writer tips on something I struggle with, individuality in dialogue! sometimes I feel like all my characters sound like the same person, all their styles of speaking sound the same so here’s some things you can vary to switch it up! (also ideas for how to characterize through dialogue)

- use of slang, contractions, and curse words

- what filler words + phrases they use and how often (like, um, uh, ah, you know, so, etc.)

- catchphrases/words they use often

- how they get peoples attention to start a story/start talking (do they just start talking, add onto someone else’s thought, etc.)

- tone, tone, tone!! we’ve all heard to use words besides said and this majorly helps for differentiating characters

-  do they speak in complete sentences, do they ramble, do they interrupt people

- manners, basic things like if they say please, thank you, excuse me, pardon, etc. 

- speed/pace

- non-verbal things, do they fidget while they talk, lots of hand gestures, etc

- how often they speak and with which other characters

- do they mumble or talk to themselves

- active vs passive voice

#writing #writblr #diver speaks #dialogue #writing dialogue #dialogue tips #writing tips #story tips #writing ideas #writer #writing a story #novel writing #fanfiction writer #writers #character ideas #writing characters #characterization #character dialogue

[inklore]

can you give any advice on writing dialogue? preferably quippy/funny ones?

sure!! but before i get into it please remember that i am not an expert at writing, i don't think anyone really is. degree, published, or not. everyone writes differently, everyone likes to read different things, prose, formatting's, etc. so we are all learning as we write and explore what our own 'writing vices / voice' is. what i say may not work for someone else because it doesn't mesh with how they write and that's fine, great, not bad at all. so keep that in mind lovey, how i write is not how you write so you have to take this information and mold it to fit how you need it to, for your own writing. i hope some of these help though <3

watch movies, shows, any form of media. study how the character's act (mannerisms, facial expressions, how they laugh, how they don't laugh, body language etc etc). pay attention to how it all flows so easily and carelessly + as a writing exercise you could even write down what you see as you watch.

read romcoms!! there are so many traditionally published romcom books out there that you literally have so many to choose from. pay attention to how the sentences flow, the scene, the situation the characters are in, how it makes you feel, do you like the vibes it's giving off? would these vibes work for your writings? how can you make that your own? remember you're gathering inspiration though, not copying.

act as if you're there but you're a bystander. put yourself in the scene, close your eyes, listen to music or ambience that helps set the scene. immerse yourself in what you're writing. or if it helps better to put yourself in the characters shoes/imagine yourself as them that works as well.

would you laugh at that? do you find that funny? what would make you blush, giggle, twirl your hair like a school girl or make you roll your eyes?? make a list, write it down in a notebook, your phones note app, just write it down!!!

map out the dialogue. 'person a says this' and then 'person b says something like this' literally write an outline, bullet point each sentence. this helps to visualize it a bit before you get 1k words in and hate everything you just wrote. having a guideline really helps sometimes.

"you're insane!" she screamed vs "you're insane!"; some people will tell you to add the 'she screamed' and some will say it's not needed because we understand that the yelling is happening from the !. it's a personal choice i think, but for me writing dialogue where it's less adjectives, verbs, he said, she said, yada yada, and JUST what they said help me feel like it's in the moment. i'm there. i'm feeling what they are, i'm using my imagination with what they're doing, their facial expressions. AND sometimes i like to be extra and add poetic feely detail after the dialogue, it just depends on the piece and my preference that day.

there's no wrong or right way to do any of the above, to grow, to learn, to make your writing better. that’s whole point of writing, telling a story, growing with it. learning from it, having fun with it.

don't let writing dialogue scare you. you're literally writing a conversation, something each of us have every day, second nature, it's not as scary as you think (and simpler than your brain may be letting you think, dialogue can't be bad unless it's super cheesy and giving ‘written childish’ in the sense that it's giving baby talk lmao, which unless you're writing from that headspace, is easy to avoid).

here's a good post to also peek at if you need a little bit more help, or what i said didn't itch that helpful scratch.

#writing tips #writing advice #dialogue tips #▸ laur answers

[sweeteawrites]

Dialogue Tip!

Your dialogue should be believable, but it does not have to be realistic!

Do you think anyone speaks the way that Jane Austen's characters speak? No!

But it's believable, not because of how they say it, but because of what they say. They way they say it isn't realistic, but the things they say are believable.

#writing #dialogue tips #writing tips #writing advice #dialogue advice

[corvase]

hey, how are you? So, I wanted to ask if you have any advice on writing dialogues and if it's okay to start a chapter or story with a line or conversation :))

hiya, i am doing well :) i hope you’re doing well too!

dialogue advice

firstly, yes, starting with dialogue is 100% okay. there’s no fool-proof-amazing-works-every-time method to starting chapters/stories. you just start in a way that makes the reader want to continue :) (which easier said than done, i know)

phew. dialogue is a tricky subject. for some people it’s super easy to write, and for others it is the-bane-of-their-existence-would-rather-count-hay-strands-in-a-hay-bale-for-five-days-straight-than-write-dialogue (it’s okay we accept u guys too ❤️)

one easy tip regarding dialogue i always think of when writing is:

write dialogue the way you want your characters to be grounded in your world.

i don’t think there’s any other way to go about writing dialogue properly than to observe and write with what you already know. i feel we overcomplicate dialogue. writers always tell us to write like humans speak and we wonder… what does that mean? but we’re also human. we know exactly what that means even if not how to put it on paper :))

i think dialogue in that sense is tricky. writing is taking ourselves out of a world we live in and putting ourselves in ones we built from the floor up. but dialogue grounds your characters and their world in that way. it reminds us that our characters are, in some sense, human. it makes us believe in these characters. it makes us think they can exist. that they are more than just words and paper and that if this world was truly real, these people would not be an anomaly.

but i also don’t want to say that all characters need to talk with that grounded realness, the way, for example, some characters tarantino designed in pulp fiction did. it’s okay to have characters who don’t fit into that division of reality, for example the characters from norman jewison & john shanley’s moonstruck, because something that also grounds characters, more than dialogue, is the way you characterize them.

a character can live in the twenty-first century and speak like a shakespearean character if it makes sense and grounds them in your story. there is no real boundary for dialogue except for doing what you know makes sense and fits your story.

i apologize because this is pretty all over the place & i didn’t really give a solid answer…. but i don’t think there is one, especially because even in my own person projects, all my characters speak differently. i hope, however, that you think more clearly and simply about crafting your character dialogue:)

happy writing.

#i am so bad at giving advice and i am so sorry but i hope you didn’t lose brain cells reading this! #writeblr #writing #writing tips #writing advice #writing dialogue b crazy hope i can help #writing dialogue #dialogue tips

[urfriendlywriter]

How to write angst ?

@urfriendlywriter | req by @everynowandthenihaveacrisis @aidyaiden :)

know your character. from their deepest fears to what they cherish the most. know your deepest fear, ask yourself how you will react and feel at that moment. "oh shit, if this happened to me I'll lose my mind" what's that type of scenario for you? write it. :)

decide on the type of angst you are going for!

major, minor, physical, emotional, paranormal, spiritual, verbal, abusive, quarrel, misunderstanding, etc.

and then, decide on--what reaction you can take out of your character by doing what to them.

are they gonna be, held at a gunpoint to give something up? or have their soul wrecked by whom they thought were close to them? or is it going be horror, or etctec, decide on it.

moving on to actually writing it-

Tip 1 - Use sensory details.

her eyes brimmed with tears

his chest heaved

pain clawed at his heart, as his face twisted with hurt

his scream pierced my heart

her lips quivered

she dug her nails into her palms (to distract herself, to stop it from shaking, etc)

show what is happening to ur MC, instead of telling it.

Tip 2 - how to actually write it.

If they're panicking, make them notice too many things at once, show every detail that they're seeing, feeling, from touch, to that burning sensation on their eyes, the blood on the ground, that dryness of their throat, the buzzing in their head and their parted lips unable to trust their own sight, and--and, boom! have them register that they're really really in trouble. and that they've to act fast.

use short, very minimal type of writing for this. make it long, but not long enough that it feels like it's being dragged.

the readers should hold themselves back from skimming the page out of curiousity, they should be in their toes to find out what happens next.

what does your MC do in times of panic? do they chant calm down to themselves, do they get angry, or start crying.. or?? what makes your character genuinely feel an emotion so hard that they'll burst?

there's always something, someone that'll always give them love and easily can be that something or someone to take it away. yk.

Tip 3 - crying.

what is close to your character that u can deprive them of? will it make them cry? beg for it?

what will make ur character cry so hard, that their scream fills everyone's ear, stays in their minds like ghosts and always haunts them?

make a character who never cries, burst out with tears.

while writing crying, focus on the 5 senses, one after the other.

focus it on their breath, make them run out of breath, gasp for air, feel like they're being choked, cry so scrutinizingly. it shud punch the reader's gut.

have them replay what had just happened over and over again in their head

best books and writing styles (for angst) to analyse and learn from (in my opinion);

3rd book in the AGGTM series (yk it hit hard like a truck. it got me depressed in bed the entire time lmao)

Five Survive by Holly Jackson. The moments of red outside of the truck, and moments leading to it.

there's this book called " Warm by @untalentedwriter127 " in wattpad. the author served angst for breakfast, lunch anddd dinner.

and if there's more angsty ones, drop em in the comments! :)

Hope this helps, tag me when yall write a masterpiece! ;)

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[writingraven]

Writing Tips

Punctuating Dialogue

✧

➸ “This is a sentence.”

➸ “This is a sentence with a dialogue tag at the end,” she said.

➸ “This,” he said, “is a sentence split by a dialogue tag.”

➸ “This is a sentence,” she said. “This is a new sentence. New sentences are capitalized.”

➸ “This is a sentence followed by an action.” He stood. “They are separate sentences because he did not speak by standing.”

➸ She said, “Use a comma to introduce dialogue. The quote is capitalized when the dialogue tag is at the beginning.”

➸ “Use a comma when a dialogue tag follows a quote,” he said.

“Unless there is a question mark?” she asked.

“Or an exclamation point!” he answered. “The dialogue tag still remains uncapitalized because it’s not truly the end of the sentence.”

➸ “Periods and commas should be inside closing quotations.”

➸ “Hey!” she shouted, “Sometimes exclamation points are inside quotations.”

However, if it’s not dialogue exclamation points can also be “outside”!

➸ “Does this apply to question marks too?” he asked.

If it’s not dialogue, can question marks be “outside”? (Yes, they can.)

➸ “This applies to dashes too. Inside quotations dashes typically express—“

“Interruption” — but there are situations dashes may be outside.

➸ “You’ll notice that exclamation marks, question marks, and dashes do not have a comma after them. Ellipses don’t have a comma after them either…” she said.

➸ “My teacher said, ‘Use single quotation marks when quoting within dialogue.’”

➸ “Use paragraph breaks to indicate a new speaker,” he said.

“The readers will know it’s someone else speaking.”

➸ “If it’s the same speaker but different paragraph, keep the closing quotation off.

“This shows it’s the same character continuing to speak.”

#writing #writing tips #story ideas #reference #knowledge #writing reference #writerslife #writer things #writeblr #english #grammar #commas #dialogue #punctuation #american english

[asmoshywrites]

How to avoid character inconsistency in your writing

Set your character boundaries:

What's the background?

What's your character's backstory?

What are their traits, and how do they portray them?

Know what keeps your characters motivated. (Are they reaching their goal?)

You can avoid quick shifting of scenes. Let your readers absorb the setting of the scene.

Ensure that their actions and decisions align with their development and growth.

Tip 1: Start your chapter with a scene or dialogue that comes back at the end, which helps maintain consistency.

Tip 2: Throughout the chapter avoid the fast pacing of the story, rather let the characters express themselves so that it's clear for the readers.

Consider how your characters react to situations that are hard to convey. (Do they feel nervous? Scared? Fearless?)

Dialogue writing is crucial in explaining your character's personality while writing a story.

This process requires lots of re-reading and writing, fixing character holes and rewriting character arcs.

#writeblr #writers on tumblr #creative writing #writing prompts #dialogue responses #writing inspiration #writing advice #writer help #writer tips #writer problems #writer community #writer on tumblr

[me-writes-prompts]

:-Soft moments that are just so precious-:

By @me-writes-prompts

Those nights when they come home late and see you asleep on the couch and they come, pick you up and tuck you into bed with a kiss on your forehead(WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN TO MEEEEE)

Them kissing you repeatedly when you do something cute and they can't hold in their aww

Those tight hugs they give you after coming home, and you just squeeze back and melt in them because they are your home>>>>>>

"I missed you so much, love. I wish I could teleport to see you." (yesssss)

Putting their foreheads together and just being content with each other's presence

Those slow dances in the kitchen while they cook together

^^"I could do this forever." "What, cook?" "No, you silly! I meant dancing with you." and then they laugh and pull you into one of the most passionate kiss ever.

Friendly debates that quickly end with them laughing at how ridiculous it was

Long walks, hand in hand, your head leaning on their shoulder(AHHH-)

Them repeatedly telling you they'll never leave you when you start to doubt everything

Kissing you, and then putting their hands around your neck to stay like that for the next seconds, minutes as you two get lost in each other.

Those little teasing moments when they're all goofy and you just skfsjhfksklj melttttt

Lying their head on your lap while they read a book, and once in a while peek from it and you give them a kiss on their forehead every time, because they are just so adorable

Giving you a head message

Them poking your cheeks when you smile because they think your smile is the best thing in the world

Hugging you from behind, and then taking that opportunity to tickle you

Those little head pats as a way of saying that they are proud of you

Bread cheeks that you can't help but pull on them

Them giving you puppy eyes that you can't resist and give them a kiss

When they pout because you don't give them enough attention, and they just come to you and cling to you like a koala

Making hearts with their hands when they catch your eyes and grinning widely(hehehehe)

#writers on tumblr #writeblr #prompt list #writing prompts #imagine your otp #otp prompts #dialogue prompts #story prompt #otp #otp writing #otp stuff #otp meme #dialogue prompt #writing ideas #writing inspiration #writing advice #writing prompt #writing tips #creative writing #writer prompts #writing #prompts #fanfic prompts #fluff prompts #fluff #story prompts #me-writes-prompts

[eliseabram]

The Art of Dialogue: How to Write Engaging Conversations

Dialogue in fiction serves to advance the plot and reveal information about characters, but it also brings the story to life. Many authors struggle to write dialogue that feels natural and engaging. To help with that, here are some tips for writing more effective dialogue. Dialogue should sound like real people talking, but try to avoid filler words like “um” and “ah” and overly formal or…

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#dialogue #dialogue tips #writing dialogue #Writing Tips

[slayingfiction]

Mastering the Art of Dialogue

Dialogue is the lifeline of any narrative. It brings characters to life, propels the plot, and creates depth in the story. However, writing dialogue that feels real and engaging can be challenging. Here are some tips to help you refine your dialogue-writing skills:

1. Listen to Real Conversations

The foundation of great dialogue is authenticity. Spend time listening to how people speak in real life. Notice the flow of conversation, the interruptions, the ums and ahs, and the unfinished thoughts. Real speech is rarely grammatically perfect or fully articulated. Incorporating these nuances can make your dialogue more relatable.

2. Each Character Should Have a Unique Voice

Your characters should be distinguishable by their dialogue alone. A teenager will speak differently from an elderly person; a doctor will use different terminology than a street artist. Think about their background, education, and personality. These factors should influence their speech patterns, vocabulary, and even the rhythm of their dialogue.

3. Use Dialogue to Show, Not Tell

Dialogue is a powerful tool for showing the reader what’s happening without explicitly telling them. Through conversations, you can reveal your characters' thoughts, feelings, and intentions. For example, instead of narrating that a character is nervous, you could show it through their stammering dialogue or their avoidance of direct answers.

4. Keep It Concise

In real conversations, people often meander through their thoughts. In written dialogue, however, it's important to be concise. Every line of dialogue should serve a purpose, whether it’s moving the plot forward, revealing character, or creating tension. If a piece of dialogue doesn’t add value to your story, consider cutting it.

5. Read Your Dialogue Aloud

One of the best ways to test your dialogue is to hear it. Reading your dialogue aloud can help you catch awkward phrasings or unnatural speech patterns. Better yet, have someone else read it to you. This can provide insight into how your dialogue will sound to your readers.

6. Use Subtext to Your Advantage

Not everything needs to be said explicitly. Subtext—the underlying meaning behind the spoken words—can add depth and complexity to your dialogue. Characters might say one thing but mean another, based on their emotions, relationships, or situations. This layering of meaning can make your dialogue more engaging and thought-provoking.

7. Balance Dialogue with Action and Description

While dialogue is critical, it should be balanced with narrative description and action. This balance helps maintain the pacing of your story and ensures that your scenes are visually and emotionally compelling. Action and description can also provide context that enhances the meaning and impact of your dialogue.

Conclusion

Great dialogue can transform a good story into an unforgettable one. By applying these tips, you can craft dialogue that captures the essence of your characters and engages your readers on a deeper level. Remember, writing is a craft that improves with practice. Keep experimenting with your dialogue, and don't be afraid to rewrite until it sounds just right.

Writing dialogue is a skill that can be honed over time. The more you practice and read, the better you'll become at capturing the essence of conversation on the page.

#novel writing #writer #writing #writing advice #fiction #creative writing #writeblr #tumblr writers #writing tips #writing community #writers of tumblr #slaying fiction #writing dialogue #dialogue

[lyralit]

all the dialogue tags you'll ever need

agreed

allowed

assented

assured

babbled

begged

blurted

boomed

breathed

cajoled

chimed (in)

chortled

clarified

concluded

confirmed

consoled

cried

cursed

declared

demanded

disclaimed

exclaimed

gasped

glowered

groaned

grumbled

grunted

gushed

hissed

insisted

jabbed

lamented

laughed

moaned

mumbled

murmured

mutter

noted

offered

ordered

promised

proposed

protested

queried

questioned

quipped

rambled

rasped

realized

recalled

relented

replied

reprimanded

retorted

said

scolded

screeched

shrieked

sneered

sneered

spat

swore

threatened

wailed

warned

whined

#for personal reference #writers block #writerblr #writblr #dialogue tags #dialogue #long post #writing #writer's block #writer #creative writing #writing dialogue #writing tips #writing help #writing list #prompt list #for reference

[novlr]

Vary your language with synonyms to use instead of "said"

While there is nothing wrong with the word "said" in and of itself, variety is the key to exciting writing that keeps readers engaged.

Combining action beats with varied synonyms as well as "said" yields the most interesting and varied results.

Here are some examples you can use in your next project to keep you writing varied:

Instead of "said quietly"

whispered

murmured

muttered

croaked

purred

hissed

crooned

breathed

buzzed

Instead of "said affectionately"

admired

gushed

praised

flattered

lauded

beamed

complimented

approved

exalted

Instead of "said sadly"

sobbed

cried

lamented

pleaded

wept

grieved

wailed

sniffled

bawled

Instead of "said angrily"

growled

fumed

demanded

hissed

scolded

mocked

yelled

bellowed

berated

Instead of "said fearfully"

stuttered

gasped

stammered

gulped

cautioned

screamed

wavered

croaked

blanched

Instead of "said excitedly"

cheered

sang

beamed

rejoiced

hailed

exclaimed

celebrated

exulted

blurted

Instead of "said uncertainly"

inquired

hesitated

balked

deferred

speculated

floundered

pondered

wavered

vacillated

Neutral synonyms to use instead of "said"

voiced

expressed

insisted

noted

uttered

continued

replied

went on

began

#nanowrimo #writing tips #writing advice #writing help #novlr #synonyms #writing dialogue #writers #writing #creative writing #creative writers #creative inspiration #writing resources #writing community #authors #writing fiction #writing books #writeblr