Whenever the reader engages themselves in a fantasy story they need to have a strong link to the characters, places, and plot. Without a connection the audience is oftentimes left uninterested and unaware of what the author intends to relay. In fantasy stories dialogue is something that needs to be a strong transmitter for those receiving the information in this new world around the reader.
But how does an author make strong and connective dialogue? It's not an easy process. It means to be rigorous and fluid. As with any good story the words and plot need to flow like a river, rising and falling with supplemental action where its needed. Dialogue provokes the characters in the story to respond or question the motives of the people and world around them whilst discovering new things and experiencing the results of their progress through the story.
New writers often struggle with the concept of showing vs. telling. The author should strive for a balance that is usually referred to as storytelling. The art of storytelling is the process of creating a fluid tale that creates a sense of adventure and value for the audience.
How do you achieve that balance? It's hard. Any seasoned writer or English professor could tell you that. The balance comes from an even assortment of dialogue that is provoked from the characters and the result or caused actions that go with said dialogue.
Dialogue does one major thing that action can't necessarily do. It gives
the audience a chance to learn about a character through spoken
interactions. Each interaction slowly adds to the knowledge on a given
character. Maybe a character is plucky and insecure. Or perhaps their
mean and cold, but only because they lack empathy for those that remind
the character of their abusive parent or spouse. These are things that
can be relayed through dialogue and crafted through the author's words. It gives the reader a chance to experience the viewpoint of another person.
This is a connection that can easily be lost though if the author
doesn't stay true to the character's way of thinking. And if that
character does change, then the audience or reader needs to experience
that change not just through actions, but through words that are spoken
to and by the character directly. Doing so gives the audience the idea of
change without forcing it through mitigated action.
Actions alone cannot create the severity of any given situation, there needs to be context and feeling. Think of a boat that is sinking. If the boat merely dives to the bottom of the body of water around it-we have no context as to why we should care. You might as well be imagining a toy boat in a bath tub. It's silly, right? However, if you add people and dialogue it provides a whole new meaning. These are peoples' lives, people that could die in a terrible storm at sea. Maybe they argue and bicker with one another on the plan of action or perhaps they cry over their boat sinking. The reader learns who these characters are through both their conversations and the actions taken as a result. Either way, the spoken words that go along with the definitive action are what really defines a story. It creates something that life emulates in us, it creates emotion and thought
Emotion and thought need a fine balance too. Characters need to be aware of their world even if they seem outside the norms of society. Readers need to feel for the character through things that are said and done to the character directly. What makes you feel worse? Someone pushing down a kid and leaving? Or a raging bully that brushes up to an overweight schoolmate and shouts "Get out of the way blimpo" before shoving him into a trophy case? When you add dialogue to a given action you create an attachment that is wholly crafted by the author and experienced by the reader or audience. Whether that be negative or positive, the point is to create a real link between the outsider looking in and insider that is being acted upon.
Continue to ponder the use of dialogue as a tool. Why is it helpful? When is it too much? What can I do better in my own writing using dialogue instead of actions that depict everything that is happening? These are all useful questions and thoughts to take with you as a writer.
Join me next week for another addition. I'll be discussing my thoughts on free will and the illusion of free will that is interpreted into interactive stories or games.
