Too Much Talking
I’m circling in on a deadline. Southern Utah setting. A guy with a not-so-pleasant past. A woman who wants more information. A dead guy…
While writing I keep thinking about something I read at Diana Holquist’s blog a few weeks ago (she actually posted it about a month ago, but I didn’t find it until recently). She was talking about how there is too much dialogue in books. Honestly, it’s not something I thought about until I read Diana’s thoughts and now I think about it on and off - damn her!
Diana says:
And if there’s one thing that there’s WAY too much of in fiction today (especially romance novels!) it’s dialogue. I have a good friend who says the best way to write dialogue is to write it, then cross out 75%. I think 90% might be a better bet for most writers. In my final edits, I often cross out at least a good half of utterances, and every slash makes the scene better.
Now, I actually enjoy dialogue. It’s one of those things I think I do well…usually. So, being the insecure writing type I am, Diana’s comment got me thinking - again, damn that Diana!
But, her comments about cutting dialogue do ring true for me. I revise as I go (and then revise again later). When writing the beginning of a book, I give myself permission to overwrite. This result is what you would expect - circular and unnecessary dialogue. That’s okay since no one else really sees it. From there, I edit and pare down. Only after that can I move to the next part of the book.
Basically, allowing for “too much” at the beginning, I put a character in my head. Cutting and revising spares you guys from having to wade through all of that when reading the actually book. Of course, I always worry I cut too much or not enough (see previous comment about being insecure writer). Diana’s comments kind of highlighted that concern - I curse her a third time!!**
Do you guys think there’s too much dialogue in most romance books? I’m just wondering if this is a general feeling people have. I never really focused on the amount while reading. Sure, there’s bad dialog out there. Maybe this is really the same problem. Not sure. Will have to focus next time I read.
** Despite the fact Diana ruined my day (week!), go pre-order her newest Sexiest Man Alive anyway.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:59 am
I like dialogue, especially in romance books. (Okay, that’s probably obvious to anyone who’s read mine *grin* — and I do run towards ‘too much’)
But the reason is simple — unless they are telepathic, the best way for two people to get to know each other and fall in love is by interacting with one another. A lot of that can be action — but dialogue is the other way to really show it. Not just a paragraph telling the reader “oh, they found out they have similar senses of humor” but by having a conversation that reflects that.
What drives me crazy is a lot of internal monologues — “does he love me? how should I interpret that look he gave me?” … At that point, I’m just screaming in my head: go ask him, you idjit!
August 29th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
I’m with Meljean, I too like dialogue. But I like a balance. Not too much and not too little. Wasn’t that helpful?
August 29th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
(But I should add that, definitely, I cut out a lot from the first draft, too)
August 29th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
I agree with Meljean and Angela. I believe most authors cut out unnecessary dialogue when the go over the story before the send it off.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Love dialogue. Love it. Love when it snaps and moves and drives the story - sorta the way we drive real life with our backs and forths and intimate conversations and girlfriend bondings and sweet nothings. What would life be without dialogue!! I find books with over long introspection and omnisciently described action the hardest to read. I want talking. Real honest heart to hearts and flirting and sharp comebacks. I just finished reading Nora’s HIGH NOON, and the woman has her stuff down.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Sure, there’s bad dialog out there. Maybe this is really the same problem. Not sure–I think it could be the same thing. If it’s good dialog I don’t care how long or short it is.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
I actually like a lot of dialogue in the books that I read, whether they’re romances or not. I tend to skip sections of introspection if they’re longer than a couple of paragraphs and don’t even get me started on description. *ggg*
August 29th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
I’m with Alison. I love the dialog. What I don’t care for is bad dialog (duh) and what I yearn for is subtext, which I don’t see used well often enough. The most thrilling thing for a reader, in my very not so humble opinion, is when the dialog is so clever and so subtle that the reader can see the things the characters are not seeing. The scene may ostensibly be about buying lamps, but it’s wonderfully delicious if the reader knows that the scene is really about how, despite all the reasons he shouldn’t, he’s totally falling for her.
I’m another one who doesn’t want to read the introspection and the see-sawing. Not that I’m opinionated about it or anything.
August 29th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Peg me as another one who likes dialogue. Not too much, or the book can come off too light/shallow and a bunch of talking heads. But too much narrative will make my eyes glaze over. Even if it’s interesting/well done, at some point I’ll start zoning out/skimming untill a page later I’ll realize I haven’t retained anything in the last 3 paragraphs.
August 29th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
I second Allison’s comment. I love dialogue. I want to hear from my characaters.
August 29th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
I love really snappy dialogue. For me it makes the story.
I love the cover of The Sexiest Man Alive and cant wait to read it.
August 29th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
I love to read dialogue, but hate to write it. I wonder if too much dialogue in romance is an old school of thought. I have noticed that when I read certain authors they have too much space without dialogue, it almost bores a person.
August 30th, 2007 at 3:16 am
I like reading dialogue. It makes the story flow easier. I dislike too much description in a book.
August 30th, 2007 at 3:51 am
I agree on the dialogue. It shouldn’t be pages and pages of one character droning on and on, but an interactive conversation, sharp responses, real reactions. Having OD’d a little on erotic romance, please, please give me some fun, stimulating conversation between the characters. I beg you.
August 30th, 2007 at 4:58 am
HelenKay, your dialogues rock, do not scrimp on them!!
August 30th, 2007 at 7:18 am
I definitely love to read dialogue. Jo and Alison put it better than I ever could and I agree with them totally.
August 30th, 2007 at 7:24 am
I love, love, love dialogue. Robert Parker is one of my favorite writers because his books are 95 percent dialogue and nothing else. (Can you imagine how tough it would be to write something like that?)
Personally, I could care less what a room looks, the furniture, etc. Long-winded descriptions tend to bore me, unless the language is really beautiful and flows well, or the passage tells me something important about a character, gives me some sort of insight into them.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:10 am
I love dialogue. I have read some books where some of the dialogue seemed unnecessary. I agree with what Stacy just wrote.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:33 am
See, I’m not alone in loving great dialogue. I’m thinking what Diana was talking about was the tendency of some authors to write circular dialogue - saying the same thing over and over and not moving the story forward. I totally agree with here there. Drives me nuts. That’s why, like Meljean does, I write and then go back and whittle away. My goal is to use dialogue to give hints to character, advance the plot and create a story without making the reader think “didn’t I just read that?” It’s a part of the revising process I actually enjoy. Sicky that I am…
September 1st, 2007 at 1:35 pm
I love dialogue. I wouldn’t mind it if most novels read like screenplays.
In most cases, if I write a bit of interior monologue, I go back and have the individual say it aloud, instead. Makes everything so much more deliciously complex and troublesome. Why not just SAY IT OUT LOUD? Is a note I keep on my desk.
Also, I hate it when the plot of a book hinges on the big misunderstanding, which is oh so much harder to do when people talk to one another. Miscommunication, sure! But not misunderstanding…
September 5th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Want to enter the September contest by blogging. Never quite sure how to do this, but here it is: MY ENTRY
September 5th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Diana- I agree. The BIG MISUNDERSTANDING as the sole from of conflict is an issue for me too. However, I do try to remember that many real-life problems arise from a failure of communication. So, I’m thinking the misunderstanding v. miscommunication distinction may be one to keep in mind.
Margaret - you did it! You’re entered.