What Makes Dialogue Good or Bad in Writing?

TL;DR

Good dialogue should sound natural, effectively attack and defend characters' motivations, and convey subtext. Bad dialogue types include forced comedy, info dumps, and rushed reactions, which disrupt the story's reality and emotional authenticity. Writers should aim for organic conversation that suits the characters and situation.

Transcript

get ready for round three today we're going to tear apart five brand new types of bad dialogue with plenty of examples by the way my name is Brandon McNulty I'm the author of bad parts also the author of Entry wounds and welcome to my riding Channel a lot of my subscribers have been asking me to do more bad versus good videos so I thought we'd star... Read More

Key Insights

• 😫 Good dialogue should align with the character, setting, tone, and situation of the story.
• 🎑 Forced comedy disrupts the emotional tone and subtext of a scene.
• 🖤 Info dump dialogue lacks authenticity and often sounds long-winded.
• 😈 Villains should see themselves as the heroes of their own stories, not label themselves as evil.
• 🫢 A jarring change of subject can be used strategically for shock value or humor.
• 😍 Rushed reactions can make dialogue feel forced and unrealistic.
• 😍 Strong emotions require time to develop and should not be rushed.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the three characteristics of good dialogue?

Good dialogue should sound natural and appropriate, attacking and defending, and express hidden meaning or subtext. It should fit the character, setting, tone, and situation of the story.

Q: How does forced comedy impact a scene?

Forced comedy disrupts the emotional tone of a scene, undercutting the seriousness or sincerity. It can come off as phony, unnatural, and can muddy the subtext of the conversation.

Q: What is info dump dialogue?

Info dump dialogue is when characters spill detailed information related to backstory, plot, or world-building in a cheap and lazy manner. It often sounds long-winded, unnatural, and lacks attacking and defending.

Q: How can rushed reactions negatively affect dialogue?

Rushed reactions result in unrealistic jumps from one emotion to another, often skipping beats and missing opportunities for realistic transitions. This can make the dialogue feel forced and unnatural.

Key Insights:

• Good dialogue should align with the character, setting, tone, and situation of the story.
• Forced comedy disrupts the emotional tone and subtext of a scene.
• Info dump dialogue lacks authenticity and often sounds long-winded.
• Villains should see themselves as the heroes of their own stories, not label themselves as evil.
• A jarring change of subject can be used strategically for shock value or humor.
• Rushed reactions can make dialogue feel forced and unrealistic.
• Strong emotions require time to develop and should not be rushed.
• Realistic transitions and genuine reactions enhance the believability of dialogue.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Good dialogue should sound natural and appropriate, attacking and defending, and express unspoken meaning or subtext.

• Forced comedy disrupts serious dialogue with unnecessary jokes, undercutting the emotions and muddying the subtext.

• Info dump dialogue spills backstory or plot details lazily, often sounding unnatural and lacking in attacking and defending.

• Cartoonishly evil dialogue features cheesy lines and over-the-top plans, making villains shallow and unrealistic.

• Jarring change of subject occurs when there is a clumsy shift in conversation, breaking the story's reality and drawing attention to the dialogue.

• Rushed reactions lack realistic transitions between emotions, often skipping beats and forcing responses.