Developing Characters That Live through Dialogue and Action
If characters don't come to life on the page or computer screen,
a writer has failed to create a good story. Yes, other
components are also necessary to provide a complete story, but
characters must live through the author's words. Believable
dialogue and action breathes life into characters.
Dialogue can reveal character. According to Ellen Macaulay, one
of the first things editors do is "skim a submission for
effective, realistic dialogue; words that sound like they would
actually come out of your character's mouth."
Since dialogue reveals the speaker's personality, emotion, and
relationships to other characters, an author needs a few
techniques to use. One way is to use different varieties of
English: slang, dialect, formal English, or other speech
patterns. Another technique would be for a writer to indicate
how the characters speak: murmur, shout, advise, console,
whine, brag. Manner of speech reveals much about personalities
and emotions.
Observing and noting the world around us helps us choose the
right details and to write distinctive dialogue. Listening to
the way people talk, express themselves gives us the details
that cause characters to live.
Actions of characters are often tied closely to dialogue. One
way this happens is when dialogue shows what is happening rather
than expository details telling. Another is to have the
character act before, during, or right after he speaks.
Dictates of writing once insisted that anything other than the
word said should be used. Then the cycle went towards using only
said. Now the cycle swings back to avoiding said as much as
possible. One way to avoid using said or any synonym is to the
have the character act.
Jane sighed and shook her head. "Why can't I ever learn?"
In the example above we know that Jane spoke, and we learn
something about her at the same time.
Bharti Kirchner states in "Get Started," The Writer,
March 2006, "Action speaks louder than description. Nothing
delineates a person better than her actions." Action of
characters not only makes them breathe and live, but it moves
the story along.
Knowing how characters move helps the reader "see" them.
However, such details should be worked into the story not
explained in detail all at one time. If Jane has a habit of
tossing her head, nibbing on her lower lip, and twisting her
fingers around each other, those actions should be revealed if
and when appropriate in the story. Choosing only a few details
and weaving them into the story rather than lumped into one
paragraph not only allows the reader to have a visual impression
of the character, but also adds to the believability.
Other ways exist to help make characters live, but dialogue and
action are two that make them breathe and also help keep the
story moving.
Sources:
1. Writer's Compainion, Prentice Hall, pp 98 - 99.
2. Ellen Macaulay, The Writer, April 2005; p. 38.
3. Betty Wilson Beamguard, The Writer, September 2005;
pp. 24 - 25.
4. Bharti Kirchner, The Writer, March 2006; p. 13.
5. David King, Writer's Digest, September 200; p. 36
6. Lesson plans from Vivian Zabel