I have read in various places that a huge percentage of novels should be made up of dialogue, but don't really know how to get it in there right. I don't want them to go off track and start bleating random thoughts or descriptions of the setting. But I want my story to be very dialogue based, supplying the reader with the information they need, without the characters acting in a way that they wouldn't in real life. Any help? Thanks!
I heard someone say that it should be a 50/50 thing. I dont really worry too much about the amount of dialogue used. I have just finished reading a book called October Girls by Scott Nicholsen and to be honest 3/4 of his book is pure dialogue and banter. You will always have description and movement between your dialogue as your characters move from place to place, so my personal opinion would be to finish writing your book, read it back, or give it some one else to read and see how it feels.