Writing Help?

[cynicalDreams]

So, I'm interested in writing a script for a possible mini series of mine, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on doing so. I like writing but when I do dialog it either turns out too short and over dramatic or too long and they become bland and boring, or turn into simple arguments that have no point in the story. Help please?

[starwarsjunkie]

Give us some examples to work with. Or PM it if you don't wanna post it on the forum. I'll give you some feedback.

[mhzinski]

Characterization comes from a deep personal understanding of the people you are portraying. In many ways it requires good emotional acting ability, though you only need to perform for yourself.

In many ways all self-written dialogue is a form of talking to yourself. Temporarily acquired schizophrenia. If you are struggling to make it interesting it means your combatting personalities are not unique enough in their own right.

Instead of focusing on dialogue being an issue focus on characterization being an issue. Write endlessly about describing the character to yourself. Make notes about every facet of their character before you begin composing so that you know how they will behave before you make them behave that way. Only with careful planning can you avoid becoming pedantic and create engaging flow.

[cynicalDreams]

At 7/17/12 09:12 PM, mhzinski wrote:

Instead of focusing on dialogue being an issue focus on characterization being an issue. Write endlessly about describing the character to yourself. Make notes about every facet of their character before you begin composing so that you know how they will behave before you make them behave that way. Only with careful planning can you avoid becoming pedantic and create engaging flow.

thanks. i guess ill just have to write a hundred more pages on character analysis X)

[Deathcon7]

At 7/17/12 10:46 PM, cynicalDreams wrote:

At 7/17/12 09:12 PM, mhzinski wrote:

Instead of focusing on dialogue being an issue focus on characterization being an issue. Write endlessly about describing the character to yourself. Make notes about every facet of their character before you begin composing so that you know how they will behave before you make them behave that way. Only with careful planning can you avoid becoming pedantic and create engaging flow.

thanks. i guess ill just have to write a hundred more pages on character analysis X)

You could have full biographies written on the character, and complete reports on psychoanalysis, but if it doesn't give you an idea of the character, it's useless. I pull my dialogue from the thoughts of my characters. That being said, before I start writing, I write out an outline of the story detailing that character's reaction to each situation. This will then color that character's perspective and, subsequently, how they respond. If you're concerned about voice, remember that there are a few manageable things you can do to vary this: pace, word choice, accent, mannerism. Combining these four traits, you'll have very individualistic dialogue.

For example, a sly character would have a very smooth, flowing pace, they would use language that can be interpreted in various ways, they would pur their words, and they would speak with intent, possibly shifting their focus off of whom they're speaking with, and resuming only when saying certain things.

Another example, the typical hero character, speaks very clearly, his language is layman, he has a neutral accent (in our world or his), and his mannerisms will center around maintaining a forceful presence (puffed out chest, hands balled and at his waist, possibly looking up and slightly to the right as if contemplating great mysteries, etc.).

A last example, the female character, just talks about perioding everywhere. :P