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Q&A How do we know if a dialogue sounds unnatural without asking for feedback?

Sometimes you don't. You can (and should) read it out loud to yourself. But there really isn't a substitute for having other people listen to it. In my critique group, we read a portion of our p...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-20T00:40:48Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/47758
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T12:52:39Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/47758
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T12:52:39Z (almost 5 years ago)
Sometimes you don't.

You can (and should) read it out loud to yourself. But there really isn't a substitute for having other people listen to it. In my critique group, we read a portion of our piece when we present. Sometimes I find myself cringing at my dialogue. Stuff that sounded so good in my head. Other times it sounds okay to me but my fellow group members disagree.

If you don't have a critique group, rope in family and friends. If that doesn't work, try some open mike nights (for creative writing, not songwriting). Even if no one gives feedback, the act of reading it out loud can tell you what you need to know. Do you stumble over it? Are you embarrassed to say it? Or does it bring up emotions? the right ones?

If you can't find places to read your work, read it to yourself. Or tape yourself reading it then listen to the tape. Follow along on your printout and circle anything that sounds off.

There's no shortcut. Sometimes we can do all this in our heads but, more often, we just think we can.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2019-09-02T04:05:01Z (about 5 years ago)
Original score: 8