Trump A Story With Great Dialogue
I'm not going to lie. It's frightening to live inside my mind. There's nothing shocking anymore, unless you include my latest conspiracy theory. What if Donald Trump is actually a big-ass fraud? I’m imagining Donald Trump’s last name isn’t even Trump and he doesn’t own Trump Towers. What if the Republican nominee is actually the President of NBC? Trump Towers is merely his cover. Whoever Donald Trump really is, the fact is, he’s actually a talented Nazi orator; and the Hitleresque politician uses a lot of great techniques to persuade people and make them laugh. He’s also a great media bully.
Ever read a great story with a weak plot, but with fantastically shocking dialogue? Studying dialogue is something I’m always advocating to improve writing conversation flow and keep the pages turning. Sometimes a good step forward in writing better dialogue is writing down what you’re successfully employing in the dialogue of some of your best and worst stories. Lately I’m going over my first video appearance on French Press Bookworks Author Roundtable and I’m always learning.
Writing dialogue is a very interesting topic for me. Since taking writing courses at Ryerson University, a few years ago, and on the next step in writing, I’m actually trying to write more narrative, descriptive scenes lately. But truth be told, my debut novel due out next year was originally a short screenplay in college. I adapted it and went over many drafts before its final result Beyond The Blue Kite.
I love creating new characters with unique voices, showing growth and balancing them with temper, feeling and raw emotion. A character’s personality can be revealed through dialogue. More importantly, you can create confrontation and action through dialogue. It can be used as a very useful and important tool for novelists. Here are some tips worth understanding before you write (or overwrite):
Keep it short. Don’t write run-on dialogue or start using big words that you wouldn’t hear in conversations or confrontations.
Use repetition. It’s normal for people to repeat themselves and it’s common to hear the same words. People like to emphasize.
Remember authenticity. Be believable. Be true. Make your characters true by using real dialogue. Engage, but keep in mind social situations, setting and atmosphere.
Working with nuances in speech can be fascinating. And just to throw another curve ball, try giving your characters dialects or accents, but don’t be foolish about it. If you’re Canadian and you’re not used to speaking with a southern dialect, it’s probably best not to write your main character with a southern dialect. I loved reading Trainspotting, but I wouldn’t suggest you study Irvine Welsh’s book to help you improve your dialogue. It could really mess you up and it breaks a ton of rules. If I was head of a book club, I would suggest everyone read Trainspotting, but write differently. Be yourself.
