Dialogue

Here's a fun little exercise.  There are a few ways to do it.  This is to train yourself to write realistic dialogue.  First take a recording device along with you, and tape a conversation between a few people.  Maybe it's a few friends or strangers on a bench or in a food court.  Don't worry how boring it is or what they're talking about.  Try getting down at least 2 or 3 minutes of their conversation.  Bring it home and transcribe it word for word.  Put down every hem and haw, every word.


Note how people talk to each other, how they don't let each other finish before they start the next sentence. Do we always speak in proper grammar, complete sentences?


At another time, go out in public and listen in on a conversation between two or three people, but don't bring the recorder.  After you leave, sit down and try to remember the conversation by writing it up from your memory.  Fill in the blanks in your memory with your own creativity.


Now write your own short piece of fiction dialogue.  Hopefully it will be very realistic.  If you find some inspiration, make sure as you go through your days, always be listening!