Writer's Direction forum: Conversation?
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| Any tips on adding conversation to a story? Probably because I hardly talk in real life I suck at putting conversation into a story. I'm guessing an entire story would be quite boring without a bit of conversation...any tips for a woman of few words on adding talking to her stories?? |
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| This is an important topic. Thanks for bringing it up. Did you ever role play when you were little? Have pretend friends that you had conversations with? Sometimes my mother swore I was talking with the rocks and trees and whatever was around me. So maybe if you have a scene in your mind and you can mentally role play that scene, it would help. A conversation between two people doesn't need much description outside the conversation if the writer plays it just right, sort of like this: "Pass the sugar, honey," she said between bites of her cinnamon bun. "You've already had sugar in that coffee," he growled. "That was the first cup, this is the second, gimme the sugar." "And that's your third cinnamon bun." "So? And your point is...?" "My point is, all that sugar's showing, your jeans are ti..." "Look, if you don't like it, leave! There's the door!" she shouted as she flung the coffee in his direction. Does that help? |
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 That helps :)) |
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| 3-G, conversation is one thing to add to a story, muttering also counts! *grin (I'm a mutterer.) As he left the room, wet-butted with coffee that was surely to stain his south-side, he was heard to mumble, "Dagnabbit, I know she did that 'cus of all the sugar. (mumble/mutter-mutter.) If only she'd understand I meant only the best. (mutter/mumble-mumble.) Why do I put up with that woman, you'd a'thunk after all these years she'd know I'm looking out for her best...(mutter/mumble-mumble....) That coffee would taste better in my mouth than on my.... She could barely hear his words, most likely because her own muttering canceled his. "Tight jeans. Humph! (Mutter/mumble.) I declare, that man's opinion oughta be in jail, without him, all alone! Lawsy! (Mumble/mutter.) You think after all this time he'd understand my jeans are tight cus I need a pair from this year, not from the '80s. Humph! Dagnabbit, wish I hadn't thrown that last cuppa coffee.... ......*grin. Sorry, couldn't help but point out conversation goes on singly, too. By the way, Sharon, how does one enter muttering into a writing? Hugs! (He muttered. She muttered. He/she muttered incessantly....?) Shoe |
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| Shoe, you're amazing! **bowing to the pro's** |
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| "ummmmmmmm....how does one mutter, he says.....um..uh....I'll show him how I mutter....rotten son of a gun.....I knew better'n to hitch up w'him.......mmmmmm...but did I listen to my Ma?........uh no, I didn't." Heh heh, Shoe....ummmmmmm.....I reckon two can....ummmmm ....play this game.......uhhhh.... ya' think? Hi My Dear Buddy Shoe....sure is good to see you here! Don't be a stranger, ya heah? |
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| Ten-four, gotcha loud and clear! Love it! :>) And ummmm...we will meet one day in person and mutter in unison, or take turns. You're the best, Sharon! See ya! Shoe (who hopes we haven't gone too far off track from 3G's original question, cus I'm easily distracted, ya see...) |
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| I doubt that 3G minds at all, Shoe. It's real good to see you, and I'd be happy to mutter with a master mutterer. Someday, I hope. |
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| Very good question, Lee Anne. Something I've always taken for granted, as the reader. I'm not a fan but I think Nicholas Sparks has a grip on "conversation". In film my favorite conversation movie is "My Dinner With Andre".... I think the sequence of events is the conversation took place between Wally and Andre, it was written, it was filmed. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082783/ "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." --Albert Einstein ~ All Things Plants, SOUTHWEST GARDENING ~Cubits.org ENERGY & POWER |
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| I'm a big fan of using conversation in my writing. As a "listener" and self described 'not much of a talker' Lee Anne, this may be easier for you than you think. I'll simply imagine what would be said between two people in the setting and put it to words. Here's an example I used in a story written right here on "Cubits". Quoting:“Officer Williams….are you officer Williams” asked the obviously scared young man? To me, conversations make the story come alive. A narrative is fine to set up a scene, but to really draw the reader into the story and make them feel like they're in the room, I love the use of conversation. |
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| The conversation is not too hard for me. It is remembering to let the reader know who is speaking that slows me down. Lately, I have experimented with script style. Name of speaker in left coloum and then let the conversation roll. Then I go back and add the quote marks and who was speaking prompts for the reader. Then I reread it and fill in the narrative to set the stage and mood as needed. I am still practicing, but so far, the results have been a vast improvement over my previous endevors. At least I think so |
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| I never answered you, DP. I must have forgotten. That particular scene you describe was amazingly well written. When the conversation is between two people, you nailed it! There is no need to say who is speaking once the first person is identified. He said, she said is often distracting to the reader, it's best to let the conversation flow just as you did. And Zany, it's true, your conversations are getting better, I noticed it in your last story segment. Even so, try it without so many he saids and she saids next time, particularly when it's between two people. Just let the conversation flow. And with three people, it can often work as well to omit the speaker reference. Often you only need to designate one of them occasionally. "You are pulling my hair!! Stop it!" "Am not!" "Are, too!" "Am not!" "That's enough, both of you! Next word outta either mouth and you're grounded!" See?? In that instance, we all know who's doing the talking. Too many he saids she saids are superfluous. Readers are usually pretty smart, they don't need elementary writing. |
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| "Ah! That makes sense, she thought, I like the idea of not having to repeat the he said, she said so often. You rock!" |
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| Sure, I hate all that redundancy. And it does work. Doesn't work as well with several people, but in most cases it can be minimized. But watch your quotes; it should read: "Ah! That makes sense," she thought, "I like the idea of not having to repeat the he said, she said so often. You rock!" It's the quotes within a broken sentence that matter, too. |
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 Thanks! I'm a slow learner but I'm learning. |
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| I doubt very much that you are a slow learner, but I know very well that you are for sure learning. I can tell by your great writing. |
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Than you. I appreciate your kind words  Your right, I am not a slow learner. I just seem to have a problem remembering what it was that I learned when I need to use the knowledge. |
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| You haven't needed to use it very much till now. The more you use it, though, the easier it will be for you. Quit worrying, you're doing fine. |
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| I have read this thread from the top and have learned a few things so thank you all for the topic. http://cubits.org http://cubits.org/gourds/ http://cubits.org/Diabetes/ http://cubits.org/DMEnterprises/store Tahlmorra lujhala mei wiccan (The fate of a man rests always within the hands of the gods) |
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| I have also read the entire thread from top to bottom and quite enjoyed. Sharon am quite good at talking in my mind  Regards, Arif. |
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