Dialogue - how much is too much?

by Clare Williams
30th November 2016

Hi everyone. Me again! While working through the list of recommended reads so helpfully provided by some of you, I've decided to start a new ms too (when inspiration strikes and all that!). It's in the first person but I've noticed there's a lot of dialogue in it. Does anyone have any thoughts on dialogue and how much is too much. It reads ok to me, for now.

Thanks in advance :)

Replies

I'll have a look at riddley walker too thanks Victoria. I love colloquialisms in dialogue too. I suppose there's no right answer to my question. Some books make wonderful use of dialogue and some are great with little dialogue. Depends on the writing and the story I suppose.

My new story is very character driven so maybe that's why there so much dialogue! I did start it as a romance novel to try something different but once I started writing I couldn't stop, now I'm 23000 words in and it's turned into a thriller - I suppose I just love a good villain!

Thanks everyone for your help

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Clare
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Clare Williams
05/12/2016

Thanks Adrian I'll take a look at that

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Clare
Williams
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Clare Williams
05/12/2016

If you want to learn to write gripping prose without dialogue I suggest you read, 'To Build A Fire - Jack London.

Jack London has the unique ability to 'Show' not 'Tell' with vivid, filmic descriptions that ground the reader in reality.

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Adrian Sroka
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