Tightening Your Prose: Tips for Editing and Revising Your Writing
Let’s explore how you can write the most dazzling, convincing dialogue for
your characters while avoiding the pitfalls of caricatures and stereotypes.
Listen to the Music of Speech
People have their unique ways of talking, don’t they?
You need to eavesdrop on real conversations to understand the nuances
and rhythms of everyday speech. Pay close attention to the hesitations,
interruptions, parathetical expressions (like “umm”, “like” etcetera) and
other idiosyncrasies of how people communicate. And remember,
nobody’s perfect — natural dialogue isn’t grammatically flawless.
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Keep it Snappy
Nobody wants to read a meandering soliloquy (unless you’re Shakespeare,
and even then…). So, keep your dialogue brief and to the point. Make your
writing concise, and let your reader’s imagination do the heavy lifting!
Give Each Character a Distinct Voice
Character development is an essential aspect of fiction writing.
Each character should have their unique voice. Consider how your
character’s background, education, and personality will affect their speech
patterns. Avoid blending voices — you don’t want Prince Harry to sound like
John Falstaff!
Write Accents and Dialects with Respect
As you venture into the world of dialects and accents, be cautious, my
friends! Balance authenticity with readability, and steer clear of phonetic
spelling. Instead, sprinkle your dialogue with a few choice words or
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phrases that capture the essence of the dialect without going overboard.
Show, Don’t Tell
The words spoken between characters should serve as a window into their
soul, you know what I mean? Like when Anthony Blanche from Brideshead
Revisited tells a joke, it gives you a glimpse into his innermost thoughts and
feelings. That’s what great dialogue is all about, revealing a character’s
emotions through their words and actions, instead of just flat out telling
the reader how they feel.
Master the Art of Subtext
As the great philosopher John Keating once said, “No matter what anybody
tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” Subtext is the art of
saying one thing while meaning another — it’s the unsaid emotions and
thoughts that lie beneath the dialogue. Master the art of subtext, and your
characters will come alive with complexity and depth.
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Beware of Dialogue Clichés
Clichéd dialogue can drag down a brilliant story like an anchor. Instead of
falling back on overused phrases and worn-out expressions, strive for
originality and freshness in your dialogue. Challenge yourself to invent
new ways for your characters to communicate — it’s like sculpting with
words!
Edit, Edit, Edit!
Finally, after you’ve written your dialogue, it’s time for a little editing.
Read your dialogue aloud to see how it sounds. Trim unnecessary words,
make sure each character’s voice is consistent, and pay attention to the
rhythm of the speech. Don’t be afraid to be brutal — good writing is
rewriting, after all. And there you have it, my dear authors, and make
your dialogue sing with authenticity and character.
