Dialogue Can Move a Story Forward

What do you want your characters to say? After all, it’s your book and you have a plot that needs to move forward. But wait a minute, he or she CAN say just what you want. But, WOULD they say it? By the same token, can you put words in your best friend’s mouth? Make cranberry juice their favorite, or make them like deviled eggs? For most of them, absolutely not, because they are individuals and each has his/her own personality and background that shapes their wants, desires, and needs.

Your fully-realized characters have things they would say and those things they would not say. If you put words in their mouths, you run the risk of them being boring and appearing flat. If you don’t know already, I’ll tell you that flat characters can run readers away. Learn who your characters are as people and let their personalities always prevail. There is always another way to slide in the things you need said.

Some authors write up a detailed report on each main character. Others can solve this by relying on an outline. Personally, I learn who the characters are as I go. The fun is seeing how the story changes and evolves as they react to the scenes they’re in. I always get where I’m going, but often with an exciting twist.

See you next time,

Rick