NaNoWriMo Series: Writing Tip #22

Ah, dialogue. My happy place. There are two ways to look at this tip. You could either be dialogue heavy to the point of having minimal description to suck in your world OR your so lost in your own world building that the dialogue gets lost in the shuffle. I used to be the former and would get the note "characters are living in a void". Regardless of which category you fall under, this is something that takes a while to get the hang of.

Every scene is going to be different. Some scenes will benefit from exposition and suck your reader in. Others will be full of constant dialogue that will have your readers hanging onto your character's every word. The best balance can only be discovered through experience. Play with some of your works and read similar genres to get a comparison. I could sit here and give you an example of good vs bad, but they would only be based on my personal style and biases. I encourage you to explore your own unique voice and ask yourself these questions to get the ball rolling:

1. Do you love writing dialogue or exposition more? Why?

2. How often do you use a dialogue tag and what kind? Why?

3. If you read your scenes/chapters without your "writer's knowledge', can you see the scene and it's characters?

4. What are the parts of writing dialogue and exposition that you find challenging? Why and how can you get better at each?

If you want to learn more NaNoWriMo tips, check out the 30 Days of Tips that will unfold this month. Can't wait? Then check out my mini-course on The Basics of Storytelling that's available for $1. I look forward to seeing you in whatever form I appear. Until next time.

About the Author

Crystal Cabrae is a storyteller who specializes in writing dystopian, romantic, and adventurous worlds for animation and fantastical fiction. She is a proud graduate of Full Sail University, AMDA, and New World School of the Arts. Her six years of acting training in New York and Miami gives her a unique perspective when approaching her characters. She has a passion for sharing how to create stories with the world and inspiring the storyteller that lives within all of us. Follow her on IG or Pinterest to know the latest.