Writing Dialogue

[ajcohen613]

I plan on writing some stories (and eventually perhaps, a novel), and I think that writing dialogue is going to be the most difficult part. I've never really written dialogue, except for some comedic plays I wrote for drama class in high school (which were 100 % dialogue), and that seems way different than writing it for a story.

I'm wondering if anyone here has any advice or useful practice techniques which I could use to get comfortable with it. I'm sure google could point me in a million different directions, but I'd like to ask some "actual people" first. Thanks in advance

Well, asking actual people is always a good place to start! You might just want to focus more than usual on the subtle nuances of every day conversation when you speak to other actual people in your life. Also, depending on what kind of dialogue you're dealing with, you can do a lot of showing rather than telling. Much like in Henry James' later novels (The Golden Bowl in particular), an author can communicate what he/she wants to even more potently through detailing things ever-so-slight, often things unsaid: the way an eyebrow arches in response to something, the shine present in a stare across a banquet table, etc. Sometimes silence speaks volumes, not that I'm opposed to straight dialogue. Hope this helps, I realize I kind of went off. Also, if you haven't, try reading Henry James; it will be painful at first, but you'll be happy you did.