Help with my Book?

Question

I am currently writing a novel, and it is pretty good (agents have already accepted it, although I rejected them...stupid me), but I have one problem. I feel like my dialogue is unrealistic and my characters are flat. This is a fantasy, so it is hard to ask questions about your charcter, because they don't do what we do in the modern world. Also, my dialogue - I feel like sometimes I don't what the character would say in response, so I end up making something that sounds a little weird. My very objective friend says the dialogue is fine, but I stil want advice, especially on the characters. Please, good advice! Thanks!

Answer 1

Well, first off, in a fantasy novel, "weird" dialouge is good....great actually. I am currently writing a book of my own so I will try and help you.

When thinking of how to get some good dialouge going, think about what you want the reader to know. You use that in your dialouge. Some of the greatest books have even made up their own language. (Lord of the rings with elvish, Eargon with its magic or elvish, etc) So its no big deal if it comes off a bit weird.

Another thing is, When I have trouble getting some dialouge going between characters, I go out and listen to people talk. How they talk to each other and how they are speaking to people. (I know...its bad to eavesdropp, but since your not really interested in WHAT their saying then its not that bad). I also think back on my personal experiences with people and my own dialouges with them. Draw on your own thoughts and feelings, and usually that will be the right way to go.

Hope that helped you!

Answer 2

Okay, a couple thoughts ...

First, listen to people around you. Go to a mall or listen to people at school, and really hear what kinds of conversations they get into and what they talk about. It is fascinating and it can be a good help in creating realistic dialog for your book.

Also, do not be led astray. Of course your characters have their roots in this world. It is all we know and we can know no other. They have the same issues and conflicts and hopes and dreams that we have.

If you want to make your characters more round and less flat, you have to go into a lot more depth with the, ... a couple questions ... have you talked about their backgrounds? their beliefs/ their goals and what motivates them? have you mentioned both their positive personality traits and their problems? All characters, even bad ones have some good and all characters, even the good ones, have some bad. Include it!

By-the-way, I think you have been wise in being picky about who your agent is. There are a lot of them out there who will accept anything, but they won't do much with it. Be wise as you have been wise.

Answer 3

I think the secret to good dialog is by putting yourself in the place of the speaker or responder /Picture yourself as that character with all the pressures and obstacles facing them How would they respond not imaginatively but honestly /unless they are so far removed from human characteristics that theses responses don't make sense/ Then good luck guy cause you want your reader to empathize with your character, if they can't then they can't relate/ Guess what , if they can't relate they put the book down

Answer 4

I have written a couple Screen Plays and I find adding in some profanity is always an easy way to make the dialogue more realistic.

Answer 5

i too am writing a fantasy novel, and what helps for flat characters is making character charts for each one. Answering questions about their fears, strengths, weaknesses, passions, ect. If you don't want all your characters to sound the same just base them off of the chart you made.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

I'm writing a Sci Fi novel.

Here is my adivce:

Pretend you are the character. Based on their (hopefully) unique personality, you would know what they would say. For instance, if one of my characters asked the lead "How are you?" she would say "Fully opporational. Repairs nesscary in 72 (or something) days."

Answer 8

In order to have great dialogue, you're going to have to start studying it by reading some books on the subject, interact with people to see and hear how they talk and sound, and then get back to what you were writing. (Or do this while writing it.)

Most writers have a difficult time with delivering smooth flowing dialogue. The problem lies in their own inability to communicate effectively.

But given time, you can produce better pieces through experimentation and trial and error. It just takes awhile.

The way I go about dialogue is to simply use what comes natural. Even in my fantasy pieces, I fall back on what I know most about talking naturally. And while I am conscientiousness about my characters' behavior traits and quirks, I still give them a full range of dialogue which helps them communicate at an effective level.

Example of dialogue from my PRICE OF FREEDOM novel:

Another ten minutes passed before Marlene came back with a triumphant smile on her face.

“Done.” she announced.

“Done?”

"Yep.” The woman said. “It was touch and go there for awhile, but I think it’ll work out.”

Kenneth wasn’t convinced. Time was short and he needed to know.

“How will she pass under scrutiny?” He inquired warily–his worst fears coming back to haunt him. Only because dying at the age of 36 would be a real ***** if things went sour mighty fast.

“Would you like to see?” Marlene challenged him openly–as if daring him to make an issue out of it. “I could take you back to the med-tent, and you can check for yourself.”

“The med-tent?!?” Kenneth gasped in horror. “Why the hell wasn’t she left in our tent?”

“Not secure enough.” The commander said with a simple air. “Too much confinement. Not enough room to maneuver.”

“Is she under guard?”

“Don’t worry. I have four guys guarding her at close range.” Marlene informed him coolly. “And one with a rifle emitter tacked against her head. She moves more than an inch in either direction, and my men in question will fry her instantly. No questions asked.”

Example of dialogue from my STORIES OF THE DEAD EARTH novel:

The fierce impact knocked me senseless for a time, because the first thing I remembered hearing (when I came to) was: “Are you all right? Speak to me!”

I waved my hand weakly in response, but I was in absolutely no condition to get up on my own.

Without help.

“Being…dead doesn’t count?” I ground out dazedly.

There was some laughter attached to my rescuer’s voice, as he called down for more assistance.

“Hang tight, my lady. We’ll have you up and running in no time at all.”

I groaned loudly. “Tell that to the Griff Dragon above my head. I couldn’t even get a handle on ‘im.” I bitterly complained.

Some hands were felt on my body then–through the suit–and a few of them were just a little too promiscuous for my tastes.

“Hey!” I snapped–as I was being flipped over carefully–“if you want to keep those hands of yours intact, stop with the copping-a-feel routine!”

“Sorry,” one of the unintended offenders answered, “we’re all doing the best we can under trying circumstances.”

“Mmm…” I grunted miserably. “Go ahead. But if you try that again without my permission, you won’t have a reason to start dating ever again.”

“Grouchy, isn’t she?” Another surmised with clear mirth in his tone of voice.

“Her type always is, Nat.” His companion said in return.

At this point, I was hefted into a standing position, but none of the three techies left me immediately.

“Damage?” One ventured.

“Some.” Came the second. “But nothing that can’t be fixed on the spot.”

“Oh…spit!” Nat was heard muttering under his breath.

“What?” Asked one of the other techies. “What is it?”

“Look at this–” Nat indicated–out of my line of sight.

“Mother of Pearl!” The third techie squealed in alarm, while the first turned to the work crew below us and ordered briskly: “Get me a dychron-scanner and a proton containment cap! This one’s got an energy leak! And a Model III seal wrench with a type-two phase adjuster head! Hop to it, mates!”