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Writing: Characters and Dialogue

Characters are one of the most important elements in a story, and dialogue is an effective way of conveying character. This category is for questions relating to characterization and the creation of dialogue.

1,049 Questions

How do you write a dialog between two people?

Writing dialogue is not as hard as you're letting it seem. You have dialogue all the time -- it's called talking. If you honestly cannot think of what your characters are going to say to one another, you need to go take a break and go somewhere out in public. Sit somewhere in the middle of a crowd for one to two hours and just listen to people talking. Then, go home and write down some of the things you heard people saying. That's dialogue.

When you need to have your characters talk, just pretend it's you and a friend (or several friends), and have them say something you'd probably say in the same situation. Then imagine what your friends would say in reply, and go back and forth that way. As you become a better writer, your characters themselves will "tell" you what they want to say, because they become like real people to you.

When can a narrator become a character?

Yes, the narrator can be a major character. Example: in the Nero Wolfe mysteries, the story is told by Wolfe's factotum, Archie Goodwin. In Ned Beach's wonderful submarine stories, the narrator is usually the captain of the boat.

How do you write a conversation between two friends discussing about democracy?

Writing dialogue is not as hard as you're letting it seem. You have dialogue all the time -- it's called talking. If you honestly cannot think of what your characters are going to say to one another, you need to go take a break and go somewhere out in public. Sit somewhere in the middle of a crowd for one to two hours and just listen to people talking. Then, go home and write down some of the things you heard people saying. That's dialogue.

Here's where you might need to do a little research though - you need to know some facts about democracy so that your characters can discuss these points. Make a list of everything you know about democracy and just make your points as a conversation instead of an essay.

When you need to have your characters talk, just pretend it's you and a friend (or several friends), and have them say something you'd probably say in the same situation. Then imagine what your friends would say in reply, and go back and forth that way. As you become a better writer, your characters themselves will "tell" you what they want to say, because they become like real people to you.

What do a characters qualities affect in a story?

As I believe some Greek Philosopher stated - along with the Three relations ( time , space, situation) -there are various interpretations a.k.a. Three Unities which is in itself bad grammar-Unity implies oneness.- well Dialogue is the heart of fiction and particularily of drama. It is possible to do certain things with pantomime , but... dialogue makes it look real. The fact that dialogue cannot work with scuba divers was a major operating handicap of Jacques Cousteau"s films. Cousteau (solved) the problem with voiced-over narration which does work with a documentary but not with a regular dramatic program. Narration implies the viewers can"t make sense of the plot.

A character that the reader sympathizes or identifies with is?

When the author does a good job of describing the character and his or her motivations and conflicts. Then there is more for the reader to connect with, and in most cases (unless for instance you have a radically evil character with no conscience at all) then it is easy for the reader to relate to, and start identifying with the character.

What are some good names for witch characters?

You need to invent your own names if you're going to be a writer. Don't depend on some anonymous person on the internet to invent your characters for you!

Writers who copy ideas from other people can also end up in trouble for plagiarism! If you copy someone's names or ideas, then when you publish your story, they could claim you stole those from them and sue you for part of your money.

I use online name generators for the names of my secondary characters - the main characters. I take my time and choose special names from baby name books!

Click on the LINKS for character name generator websites!

What is a sample conversation between salesman and customer?

Salesman :- Good evening Sir.

Customer :- Good evening.

Salesman :-How can i help you?

Customer :- Can u Show me Some Formal Shirts?

Salesman :- Please Come with me.

Customer :-Yes why not?

Salesman :-Please come to counter no.2.

Salesman :-What is the occasion sir?

Customer :-It's my interview.

Salesman :-That means u need to wear a light color shirts with lining.

Customer :- Yes show me something in slim fitting

Salesman :-Do you have any color preference?

Customer :- Yes show me something in white with blue lining.

Salesman :-I think sir u will like this shirt.

Customer :- Yes,not bad but can u show me somthing in cotten fabric.

Salesman :-Would you like to see this one.

Customer :- Yes,this is awesome.

Customer :- Can u open the whole thing.

Salesman :-Yes,definitely.

Customer :- Is there any different lining in this one.

Salesman :- Yes,there are 2 or 3 different linings in this one.

Customer :- Please show me those.

Salesman :OK,but i think this linings looks very impressive.

Customer :- So,whats the price?

Salesman :It is Rs.1500/-

Customer :-Oh,the price seems to be quite high.is it fixed?

Salesman :-Since you are our regular customer some discount will be offered to you.

Salesman :-Sir,the quality of the shirt is also very good.

Customer :-Yes,i know that.still i feel that the price is high.

Customer :-So how much exactly should i pay you?

Salesman :Sir,You say what are you willing to give?

Customer :-Not more than 1100.

Salesman :-Oh!sir that will be too less.

Customer :-I have an idea,how much it actually cost?

Salesman :-Sir,you give at least Rs.1300/-

Customer :-OK,then ill give you Rs.1200/-

Salesman :-Alright sir.

Customer :-Can i make the payment through a credit card?

Salesman :Yes,sir.

Salesman :-Thank you for coming sir.

Customer :-Yes,but next time i come here for shopping you have to offer more discounts.

Salesman :-We will surely try to satisfy you.Keep coming

Customer :-OK,thank you.

Can you have more than 1 Antagonist in a story?

Yes you can but it's easier to have one and to just focus on them (this depends on your story.) I would say you shouldn't have more than 3 because the story could become hard to maintain unless you are an experienced writer.

What is an evil Japanese name?

Zenaku which means evil....
Lamia is considered a very evil name, because it means,"Demon of the Pit".

Here's a link to a good name generating website - just type in "Japanese names" or "Japanese name generator" into your search engine to find more!

Can you gave me a conversation of butler and guest?

Writing dialogue is not as hard as you're letting it seem. You have dialogue all the time -- it's called talking. If you honestly cannot think of what your characters are going to say to one another, you need to go take a break and go somewhere out in public. Sit somewhere in the middle of a crowd for one to two hours and just listen to people talking. Then, go home and write down some of the things you heard people saying. That's dialogue.

What sorts of things would a butler say to a guest? What is a butler's job? What would he or she need to do for the guest?

When you need to have your characters talk, just pretend it's you and a friend (or several friends), and have them say something you'd probably say in the same situation. Then imagine what your friends would say in reply, and go back and forth that way. As you become a better writer, your characters themselves will "tell" you what they want to say, because they become like real people to you.

What does dialog mean in a story?

Dialogue is a conversation in speech or writing between two or more people.

It is sometimes used in a social sense (to open a dialogue) to mean establishing communication between groups, more specifically those with opposing or conflicting viewpoints.

When the author implies or hints at traits through the characters words and actions what is that called?

That is called indirect characterization. Direct characterization is when the author simply states something like "He was a bitter man."

How do you write a dialogue between two friends about riding bikes?

You could pretend that you are one of them, you have a friend, and a hobby. The rest just flows...

Writing dialogue is not as hard as you're letting it seem. You have dialogue all the time -- it's called talking. If you honestly cannot think of what your characters are going to say to one another, you need to go take a break and go somewhere out in public. Sit somewhere in the middle of a crowd for one to two hours and just listen to people talking. Then, go home and write down some of the things you heard people saying. That's dialogue.

When you need to have your characters talk, just pretend it's you and a friend (or several friends), and have them say something you'd probably say in the same situation. Then imagine what your friends would say in reply, and go back and forth that way. As you become a better writer, your characters themselves will "tell" you what they want to say, because they become like real people to you.

How do you write a dialogue between two friends on a exam for class 8th?

Writing dialogue is not as hard as you're letting it seem. You have dialogue all the time -- it's called talking. If you honestly cannot think of what your characters are going to say to one another, you need to go take a break and go somewhere out in public. Sit somewhere in the middle of a crowd for one to two hours and just listen to people talking. Then, go home and write down some of the things you heard people saying. That's dialogue.

When you need to have your characters talk, just pretend it's you and a friend (or several friends), and have them say something you'd probably say in the same situation. Then imagine what your friends would say in reply, and go back and forth that way. As you become a better writer, your characters themselves will "tell" you what they want to say, because they become like real people to you.

Why do authors kill characters?

If an author just blasts the reader with their opinions, it's not a story but a monologue or lecture. Using characters to say your opinions makes the reader more likely to read them and think about them.

Which is the best example of how setting can reveal character?

You consider it by asking questions like these:

  • Where is the story taking place?
  • When is the story taking place?
  • Would the characters act differently if this story took place at a different place or time?

How might the author make a character an antagonist in a story?

The antagonist is the person or thing that acts to oppose the protagonist. They would act in a manner that would prevent the protagonist from achieving their goals. Sometimes the antagonist is an evil villain, but other times they are just people who happen to get in the hero's way.

How do you type out dialogue?

  1. Start a new paragraph whenever someone new speaks, or when the topic changes
  2. Indent each paragraph as usual
  3. Use quotation marks (") to show speech
  4. Show who is speaking by giving the character action (Joe laughed. "That's silly.") or by dialogue tags (he said/she asked)

How do you write a dialogue between two friends on how to spend their summer vacation?

Writing dialogue is not as hard as you're letting it seem. You have dialogue all the time -- it's called talking. If you honestly cannot think of what your characters are going to say to one another, you need to go take a break and go somewhere out in public. Sit somewhere in the middle of a crowd for one to two hours and just listen to people talking. Then, go home and write down some of the things you heard people saying. That's dialogue.

When you need to have your characters talk, just pretend it's you and a friend (or several friends), and have them say something you'd probably say in the same situation. Then imagine what your friends would say in reply, and go back and forth that way. As you become a better writer, your characters themselves will "tell" you what they want to say, because they become like real people to you.

start off with alot of tension, eg include whether they are freinds or not, and also, start off with a range of expressions eg : he stared straight through me.

then include any speech you want that you think will be suitable to the characters relationship.

What are some good names for fantasy characters?

Any idea that is interesting enough to you will be a good idea. You cannot write a story or novel based on ideas that someone else invents - you won't be interested enough in the subject to be able to research and write anything that will actually sell. Plus, anonymous people on the internet have no idea how old you are, what your interests are, or how well you can write!

In order to write, you need a personal connection to the subject. Write about whatever you enjoy, or whatever you find interesting, and you will end up with your novel or story.

WikiAnswers is happy to help you learn how to write better. We will not do your writing for you by giving you ideas and paragraphs to copy.

Here are some more suggestions from WikiAnswers contributors:

• Write about what you know. A good idea for a first novel is to write your own personal story. Everyone has at least one novel in them waiting to be written.

Observe the world around you. Anything interesting can be an idea for a story or novel.

Research. The more you know, the more ideas you will have.

Read stories and books that other authors have written in your chosen genre. This way, you can see how other people do things.

A story can be either plot driven, character driven, or both. Most are stories are both but one or the other usually takes precedence. Charles Dickens' novels are primarily character driven Ian Flemings' are plot driven (although all the plots are the same.) If you need a place to start - trying thinking up interesting characters who can be developed and evolved against an interesting plot, or think up a good crisis that characters can be illuminated through.

If the narrator is a character in the story how does the author tell the reader that characters name?

Very often the narrator is the main character, and their name will be present in the book blurb, on the back cover or inside the jacket. If not, there are many ways in which it can be revealed:

  1. The narrator may speak directly to the reader and introduce himself. This happens in the very first sentence of 'Moby Dick'. "Call me Ishmael."
  2. The narrator may speak directly to other characters in the story. This happens in "The Maltese Falcon'. "The name's Spade, Sam Spade."
  3. Other characters in the story may talk to or about the narrator. This happens in 'Speak to me no more of Venice.' "I was just settling into the deck chair like old men do when I heard a cry. "Hey Dobson, Charles Dobson, you old coot."
  4. The narrator may recount an instance where other characters are talking and a list of names comes up. It is left to the reader to figure out the narrator's name by elimination. This happens in 'The handmaid's Tale'.
  5. The narrator's name may be found upon a document or some other information medium. This happens in 'Crisscross'. "Stedman grabbed his hand and the page swooped to the floor where we could all see it. It was signed Veljenko."
  6. The narrator's name may be hidden in a word jumble or letter search in the actual text of the book. This happens in 'One One Seven Nine.'

How do you write a conversation between two friends to help the people in flood?

Writing dialogue is not as hard as you're letting it seem. You have dialogue all the time -- it's called talking. If you honestly cannot think of what your characters are going to say to one another, you need to go take a break and go somewhere out in public. Sit somewhere in the middle of a crowd for one to two hours and just listen to people talking. Then, go home and write down some of the things you heard people saying. That's dialogue.

If you don't know anything about people in a flood area, you should do your homework and look up some facts here so you can have the two friends talk about them.

When you need to have your characters talk, just pretend it's you and a friend (or several friends), and have them say something you'd probably say in the same situation. Then imagine what your friends would say in reply, and go back and forth that way. As you become a better writer, your characters themselves will "tell" you what they want to say, because they become like real people to you.

Why does an author use dialogue characterization?

Authors use dialogue as a tool for characterization because it allows readers to see how characters interact with each other, revealing their personalities, emotions, and relationships. Dialogue can provide insight into a character's background, motivations, and beliefs through their speech patterns, tone, and choice of words. It helps to bring characters to life and make them more relatable and engaging for readers.