Reddit reviews Dialogue: The Art of Verbal Action for Page, Stage, and Screen
We found 4 Reddit comments about Dialogue: The Art of Verbal Action for Page, Stage, and Screen. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
in-depth analysis for how characters speak on the screen, on the stage, and on the page in believable and engaging waysscript writing for real
If you're interested in theory of how dialogue is constructed (with reference to speech patterns and variation), have a look here
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McKee also wrote a wonderful bookon dialogue and its functions, though it's all rather meta, not a how-to with concrete examples.
Start with your characters' background and explore some of the more stereotypical language you associate with these speakers.
For instance, if you have a young and an old character - what are the differences you can think of? Probably something like swear words that will be slightly different. Sentence structure, vocabulary, etc. If you use certain differences consistently throughout the novel, your characters will get a distinct voice.
Things you can start with: regional differences (depending on if they come from different areas, this might be a good way to do it and this is a fantastic book to read!). social class, gender, social networks, etc.
Try not to cater to flat stereotypes alone and allow your characters to evolve and vary, just like we do in real life.
1.) Recite your dialogue in the mirror. If it feels weird, it probably is. I believe /u/Grindhorse told me this a long time ago. I could be wrong, though.
2.) Don't try to be Tarantino.
3.) People watch. Eavesdrop. Replicate what you hear.
EDIT:
Robert McKee has a great book on writing dialogue if you're willing to read about it. I'm not a big fan of being told how to do something one way because I feel like that's how you end up in the state of entertainment we're currently in. On the other side of the coin, it's a great foundation for you to start at and expand upon. Just my two cents.
He has a new book too called Dialogue but I haven't read it yet.
There's no shortage of both paid and free resources.
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I would recommend:
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1455591912/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
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https://www.amazon.com/Self-Editing-Fiction-Writers-Second-Yourself/dp/0060545690/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_pt_BR=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=self+editing+for+writers&qid=1563126077&s=books&sr=1-1
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Listen for free here:
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https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/podcasts/