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Had a writing group member say my dialogue felt like two robots talking at each other...
Her exact words were 'people don't answer questions they just deflect or go off on tangents' so now I write every conversation with at least one interruption or non-answer per exchange, has anyone else gotten a critique that completely rewired their process?
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beth_hunt18d ago
Started reading scripts from my favorite shows out loud to hear how real people actually talk.
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taylor.betty18d ago
I mean 3 years of writing and one critique made you completely change everything? That seems a bit much. Real people do answer questions all the time like when I ask my friend what they want for dinner they say pizza not some weird tangent about their childhood pet. Your dialogue probably just needed a little more natural flow not a full on robot makeover. Interruptions and non answers can make scenes feel forced if you shove them in every single exchange. Maybe try reading a few transcripts of real conversations first before you nuke your whole style.
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