Screenwriting : Dialogue by Becca-Chris M

I just watched a bunch of youtube videos on screenwriting dialogue. Here's some things I heard: Avoid: repetitiousness (explaining what was said w/ another line of dialogue), cliché, neutral language (language anyone may use in any situation), flowery speech, dry language, overstatement (“hi, how are you?” chatter), forced exposition (characters telling each other what they already know), on-the-nose (say exactly and fully what character is thinking/feeling w/out any subtext). Dialogue should: reveal character, drive story forward, interact w/ other story elements. Remember who your characters are. Write what you would like to say through your characters. What would you add and/or do you disagree with any of the above?

I think one of the most important parts is to know your characters, and how they drive your story forward. For the main character/-s, I think it's good to remember where in the story he/she started, where they're going and where in that progression they are at the moment of the dialogue, and then think about what would advance the situation in direction of point B, or in direction of the next big event in the story (for example: if the dialogue is situated just before the inciting incident: what line would bring the character to that point..?). As for supporting characters, it's very similar, think about how their lines support the main character's progression through the storyline, without being completely obvious (or through being absolutely obvious, which would then be a stilistic choice). Also remember that all your supporting characters have a story of their own, and if you know that story, the words they speak will come much easier, since they will be in their point of view. That's all I got for now, I hope that helped =).

Thanks, Yael. What you said certainly makes sense. There's one character in one of the scripts I'm co-writing whose dialogue flowed so naturally, but some of the other characters have been a struggle.

How so? Do you identify yourself most with the character whose lines came naturally?

A rookie weakness I often see is too much on-the-nose dialogue. The subtext should not be text.

Yael, at times, just trying to create a unique voice for each character. In recent notes from a reader, we scored very low on "Dialogue reads as natural and/or believable within this story" and "Dialogue reveals character."

Try to create a backstory for each character. Where did they come from? What background do they have, socially, professionally, what have been major incidents in their lives, and then decide how - according to that information - they feel about whatever is being talked about, and put that into words. Are they pro or contra what's being discussed? Are they listening or are they telling the story? If they are listening, don't forget, the big advantage in Film is that you have a visual! So someone doesn't have to say a lot and can still be a believable part of a scene! It depends on the traits of the character, and how interested he/she is in what's being said. If a character doesn't read as believable or natural, it's usually because there wasn't enough thought given to his/her backstory. So see if you really know your characters. =)

That's true too.

Thanks for the input, Yael.

sure, no problem, hope it was helpful..

It was a good reminder of something I heard awhile back... to create a good background for the characters.

Read all dialogue, and everything for that matter, aloud.

Shawn- the nice thing about being a co-writer is you can read the script, aloud, together. That's what my co-writer and I do.

Peter, I just took that from what a reader mentioned about the script. I get what you're saying, though.

@Peter: How a character's actions compare to what they say reveals character.