Confrontational Dialogue
I'll admit, this is my favorite kind to write. It's in-your-face, don't-mess-with-me dialogue. It's what most of us are afraid to say in real life.
In a scene, this kind of dialogue can be refreshing and exciting. I also think this kind of dialogue often forces truths and hidden conflicts to the surface of the scene.
Stein gives an awesome example of this type of dialogue. On page 111 he shares an excerpt from a NYPD Blue scene. A cop just saw a killer let loose on a technicality. The cop makes a stink and the judge says, "We govern by law, not your whim."
Then the cop gets confrontational. He replies, "Don't tell me how you govern. I work your streets. I clean up after how you govern. The way you govern stinks."
I just found an interesting post about adversarial dialogue over at Novel Dog.
How are you with confrontations? Do you like to write them?
In a scene, this kind of dialogue can be refreshing and exciting. I also think this kind of dialogue often forces truths and hidden conflicts to the surface of the scene.
Stein gives an awesome example of this type of dialogue. On page 111 he shares an excerpt from a NYPD Blue scene. A cop just saw a killer let loose on a technicality. The cop makes a stink and the judge says, "We govern by law, not your whim."
Then the cop gets confrontational. He replies, "Don't tell me how you govern. I work your streets. I clean up after how you govern. The way you govern stinks."
I just found an interesting post about adversarial dialogue over at Novel Dog.
How are you with confrontations? Do you like to write them?
Comments
It is the kind of stuff I wish I had said in real life. And sometimes it is the kind of stuff I wish I had not said in real life. :) Oh well.
So... I didn't know you were so peppy about confrontations... *grin*
Saw you comment on my blog today. I feel ya, girl. It's so frustrating when we have writing time, but can't get ourselves to use it. I've been there MULTIPLE times! I'll be praying tha tyou find your way in your novel and that the words flow!
I guess I argue well.. because my confrontational scenes are the easiest to write!
I LOVE writing adversarial dialogue (esp. between Hero and Heroine)! Probably because I SO stink at confrontation in real life, so when I have the chance to put it on paper, and really think it through, it becomes fun for me. It's almost a theraputic exercise, getting out the frustration of "I should've said blah or blah during that talk with hubbie, or mom, or kid," etc... This way, I can take all the time I need and come up with those great jabs and witty banter.
I agree with Eileen. If only life had a slo-mo button, we could all talk like that every day. How fun would that be? ;-)
:-)
Eileen, I hear you about needing time to come up with the good ones. Like you guys, I have to work my way up to the scene, and then boom! Writing flows. :-)
Jody and Katie, thank you for your well wishes. It's a horrible feeling and I really need to conquer myself right now.
Krista, I could see you getting into it. :-) But not in a bad way, just a passionate way.
Me neither, Sarah. :-)
LOL Donna! You sound so excited about fighting. *snicker*
Hey Anita, I stink at confrontation too. I just want to hide. But in writing, well you know. :-) It would be fun for a while, but then we'd probably really hurt someone and feel horrible.
So much fun.
~ Wendy
Great post--as usual!
Patti
www.pattilacy.com/blog
I'm not much for confrontation in real life, and amping up conflict/confrontation in my fiction is one of the things I have to really be conscious of.
OK, I'll write a new scene in my edits.
Very, very true, Cindy. Thanks for pointing that out. :-)
Thanks for commenting, Linda. :-) No guts...yep. The most fun characters are the ones who are audacious. But the ones I relate to are the quieter heroines.
LOL Angie!!! I have to be careful too because my characters tend to edge toward complete jerkdom!
It's great that you know this about yourself, Erica. I think that deliberation will make your scenes even better, because you can look at it with an objective eye rather than an emotional one. :-)
Jeanette, this post doesn't apply to you. *wink* Non-fiction can't be spiced up. LOL But I'll bet yours is fun enough because in your position you've probably encountered many stubborn, confrontational people. :-)
LOL Patti! You have an aggressive personality, huh? :-) Good for you for using it in your stories!
Jaymie, energy is a great word. I think you're right. Thanks for commenting!
They make the story bubble!
I haven't had much in this current story but I'm thinking I need to add more because it's a little ho-hum right now. But the scenes that do have confrontations--I can't write them fast enough!
But in my books, I love them. I get to say what I've always wanted to say. It's awesome.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Hannah
Or else the reader may go to sleep. Zzzzz....
Thanks for mentioning my blog!
Thanks for your comments and I'm sorry I couldn't respond to everyone, but I LOVE reading them.
Mmmm. Not so good. IRL.
I'm thinking maybe if I wrote them, I'd do better handling them for real. I can't tell you how many times I've thought of great things to say - days after the fact. Not so impactful at that point...
Now, if I could come up with something like that NYPD Blue thing on the spot? Wow! But, alas, that was scripted. Probably too good to be off-the-cuff.