by Bobbie Christmas
Q: Which is more important when writing a story, dialogue or descriptions?
A: Without a doubt dialogue is more vital to a story than descriptions. I’ve read stories composed only of dialogue and even written one or two. The stories worked because the dialogue showed the conflict, moved the story forward, and resolved the plot.
Descriptions tell, while dialogue shows, and one of the first tenets of good creative writing is to show, rather than tell. Although some folks may disagree, I’ve heard it said in several creative writing courses that a good novel is about seventy percent dialogue.
Q: My main character gives a powerful political speech to a room full of his constituents. Saying he shouted into a microphone seems too aggressive, but saying he spoke loudly seems too plain and lazy. Any ideas?
A: My recommendation is to show, rather than tell. When narrative says that a character shouted or even spoke loudly, it tells, rather than shows. Many times when we’re tempted to use an adverb (such as “loudly”), we are telling, rather than showing. Consider instead showing what the character does during the speech. Does he lean into the microphone and make his voice boom? Does she slam a fist on the lectern? Does he step back and stomp his foot? Does she raise both fists in the air? The strongest writing shows readers how a character acts, rather than tells how a character acts.
Q: In dialogue, or in narrative too, for that matter, what do you call the place of business where you take your clothes to be dry cleaned? A dry cleaner? A dry cleaners? A dry cleaner’s?
A: The answer may depend on the sentence in which it appears, but in general I would say “dry cleaners.” “I’m taking these clothes to the dry cleaners.”
Q: How much useless banter should there be before you get to the story? For example, if my parents come over in my novel, how much do I chat with them about the car, my daily medications, or my work before I ask them a question about something I need help with?
A: The job of a novelist is to entertain readers and keep them enthralled with a story. For that reason banter is good when it reveals information important to the plot or intrigues and piques their interest. If the car, medication, and work have nothing to do with the plot, though, then don’t address those things in dialogue. Stick to vital dialogue, keep the story moving forward, and keep readers wanting to know more.
Q: Can a writer be overly descriptive?
A: Yes. The classics often had long descriptions, but many of those writers were paid by the word. While contemporary literary works still may have long descriptions, mainstream novels tend to keep the telling down to minimum. Descriptions tell, rather than show. Today’s readers want a story; they don’t care as much about the setting or what characters look like or wear. Keep the description to a minimum and concentrate instead on action and dialogue.
When I give presentations, I often explain the difference between literary novels and mainstream novels this way: Literary novels may win awards, but people buy mainstream novels.
Bobbie Christmas, book editor, author of Write In Style: Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, and owner of Zebra Communications, will answer your questions, too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com. Read more Ask the Book Doctor questions and answers at www.zebraeditor.com.
