Awkward Dialogue

What advice would you have for getting around awkward dialogue?

Sometimes awkward dialogue can work, if it's something that the character would say.

But it usually doesn't work so smoothly, and can be an issue.

Could you provide an example of some of your "awkward" dialogue?

It's not me who's written the dialogue; it's something a friend wrote. And I don't have their writing with me.

Can you give us the gist of the awkwardness? Is it tied to characterization (an average teen or child speaking more like a novelist, or vice versa)? Or is it tied to pacing/story problems, like an Info Dump that exists solely to further the plot?

Say it out loud. Does it sound like something that an actual human being would ever say? If it isn't, then you have awkward dialogue. If it does, then you're probably not doing it wrong.

This is an area I have trouble in. wish I could help but I'm only good at creating awkward dialogue not fixing it.

Read it out loud. Works for me every time.

Unless you're writing a period piece or something where dialogue is not supposed to be free-flowing.

Yeah, I'm just going to Nth what the others said. If it sounds like a normal person, then it's good dialogue.

However, it's best to have someone else read it, since you know what it's supposed to sound like, but the reader might not.

I agree. It might sound normal to me, but not to someone else.

I was reading my friend's work, and I told them some of the dialogue was awkward. But I don't know what to suggest to change it.

But I'll suggest to them they read it.

edited 22nd Aug '11 12:24:32 AM by CrazyDawg