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How to Give Your Character Unique Dialogue: A Guide for Writers

Hey there, fellow writers!

Crafting memorable characters isn’t just about their backstory or physical traits—it’s also about how they speak. Unique dialogue can make your characters stand out and feel more real. Here’s a quick guide on how to give your characters a voice that’s all their own:

1. Know Your Character Inside Out

• Background: Where did they grow up? What’s their education level?

• Personality: Are they sarcastic, formal, shy, or bubbly?

• Motivations: What drives them? How does this affect their speech?

2. Use Distinctive Speech Patterns

• Catchphrases & Slang: Does your character have a favorite saying or unique slang?

• Rhythm & Pace: Do they speak quickly when excited or slowly when thinking?

• Filler Words: Um, like, you know—these can reveal a lot about a character’s confidence and background.

3. Reflect Their Environment

• Regional Dialects: Incorporate local idioms or accents.

• Professional Jargon: Use specific terms related to their job or hobbies.

4. Show Their Emotions

• Tension & Relaxation: How does their speech change under stress or when they’re relaxed?

• Subtext: What are they not saying? Use pauses and interruptions to show this.

5. Keep it Consistent

• Consistency is Key: Ensure their dialogue remains true to their character throughout your story.

6. Read Aloud

• Test it Out: Read your dialogue out loud. Does it sound natural? Does it fit the character?

7. Edit Ruthlessly

• Trim the Fat: Remove unnecessary words. Make every line count.

• Avoid Info-Dumping: Let dialogue reveal character and plot naturally, not as an exposition dump.

Example Time!

Here’s a snippet showing how distinct dialogue can differentiate characters:

Aloof Scientist:

“The quantum flux anomaly is, frankly, quite perplexing. However, if we calibrate the resonator to precisely 9.42 terahertz, we might just mitigate the interference.”

Street-Smart Rebel:

“Look, I don’t know shit about your fancy science talk, but if it’s gonna help us bust outta here, I’m all in. Just tell me where to hit.”

Happy writing, and may your characters’ voices ring true!

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You run a café on the edge of life and death. Souls who have been departed from their bodies temporarily, such as in comas or near-death experiences, can relax in your quaint cafe for as long as they need before they can either return to their bodies or begin their journey to the afterlife.

So the backstory of Princess Wanning is absolutely devastating. It’s not justification for her to continue the cycle of murder and abuse once she returns home but it definitely makes sense.

She must hate her brother and pretty much everyone who got to stay home in return for her being a hostage and I completely get her gut reaction to Xiang Fang Fei. It’s easier to be a good person when you’ve never had to suffer hell.

From her perspective, a man she is drawn to for his goodness has chosen an innocent girl who has never had to go through what she did. It must have been like torture.

Fang Fei is the mirror to this. She *does* go through hell thanks to Wanning but it didn’t make her lash out at innocent bystanders. Of course, we have no idea how long Wanning was in this situation for. How young was she?

We normally get this amount of depth and backstory for male villains so interesting we got it for the female villain here too. I find Wanning far more sympathetic than Shen Yurong (who I love) who did all this shit for greed and cowardice

NEED HELP WRITING? (a masterlist)

I have likely not added many that I've reblogged to this list. Please feel free to roam my blog and/or ask/message me to add something you'd like to see on this list!

Synonym Lists

Look by @writers-potion

Descriptors

Voices by @saraswritingtipps

Show, Don't Tell by @lyralit

Tips & Tricks

5 Tips for Creating Intimidating Antagonists by @writingwithfolklore

How To (Realistically) Make a Habit of Writing by @byoldervine

Let's Talk About Misdirection by @deception-united

Tips to Improve Character Voice by @tanaor

Stephen King's Top 20 Rules for Writers posted by @toocoolformedschool

Fun Things to Add to a Fight Scene (Hand to Hand Edition) by @illarian-rambling

Questions I Ask My Beta Readers by @burntoutdaydreamer

Skip Google for Research by @s-n-arly

Breaking Writing Rules Right: Don't Write Direct Dialogue by @septemberercfawkes

Databases/Resources

International Clothing

Advice/Uplifting

Too Ashamed of Writing To Write by @writingquestionsanswered

"Said" is Beautiful by @blue-eyed-author

Descriptions: Because “The Sunset was Nice” is Clearly Pulitzer-Worthy

Hey, my cute little Muses!

Let's talk about something that's as essential to writing as coffee is to my life: description. Yep, those juicy, detailed snippets that paint a picture in your reader’s mind. Buckle up, because we're diving deep into the wonderful world of words!

The Beauty of Description

First things first, let's get this out of the way: dialogue is awesome. It’s the sassy sibling of description that gets all the attention at family gatherings. But description? Description is the unsung hero, the one who quietly makes everything beautiful and meaningful.

Example Time!

Imagine a scene where two characters meet after years apart. You could write:

Dialogue Version:

“Hey, long time no see.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

Description Version:

The air hung heavy with unspoken words as Jane stepped into the dimly lit café. Her heart raced, a drumbeat echoing the years of separation. Across the room, a familiar figure turned, his eyes widening in surprise. The years had etched lines into his face, but his smile – that same old smile – was unmistakable.

See the difference? One is a quick text exchange, the other pulls you into the moment, making you feel every heartbeat.

My Personal (Hilarious) Struggles with Description

Let’s get real. My early attempts at description were… let’s say, less than stellar. Picture this: me, hunched over my laptop at 2 AM, trying to describe a sunset. I wrote, “The sunset was nice.” Genius, right? Shakespeare would be proud.

But over time, I learned to appreciate the beauty of weaving in details. Descriptions don't just tell you what something looks like; they tell you how it feels, smells, sounds, and tastes. They make your world vivid and real.

Another Example!

Consider a spooky old house:

Dialogue Version:

“Look, it’s an old house.”

Description Version:

The house loomed ahead, its windows like dark, empty eyes. The wind whispered through the broken shutters, carrying with it the faint scent of decay. Each step on the creaking porch felt like an invitation to the unknown, a call to uncover the secrets hidden within its ancient walls.

You feel that shiver? That’s the magic of description.

The Great “Show, Don’t Tell” Myth

Here’s the kicker: “show, don’t tell” doesn’t mean you have to ditch description for action-packed dialogue. Description is a vital part of showing. It’s about making your readers experience the story, not just read it.

Show, Don’t Tell Example!

Tell Version:

John was scared.

Show Version:

John’s hands trembled as he gripped the flashlight. His breath came in short, sharp bursts, and his eyes darted around the dark room, searching for the source of the eerie noise.

In the “show” version, you’re right there with John, feeling his fear. Description brings out the emotions without simply stating them.

Why Description Over Dialogue?

1. Depth and Atmosphere: Dialogue can be snappy and fun, but description sets the scene. It creates the mood and builds the world your characters inhabit.

2. Character Insight: Through description, you can reveal a character’s thoughts and emotions in a way that dialogue alone can’t.

3. Pacing and Tension: Good description can slow down a moment to build suspense or quicken the pace to heighten excitement.

Remember, balance is key. Too much description can bog down your story, while too little can leave readers feeling disconnected. It's all about finding that sweet spot.

Final Thoughts

So, next time you’re writing, give a little extra love to your descriptions. Think of them as the cozy blanket that wraps around your story, keeping it warm and inviting. And if you ever find yourself writing “the sunset was nice,” just know you’re not alone – we’ve all been there.

Keep writing, keep describing, and remember: every detail counts!

Until next time,

Museadvicecorner (a.k.a. the person who has way too many notebooks)

P.S. If you need me, I'll be here, trying to describe the indescribable and failing gloriously.

Your feedback on my blog would mean the world to me! If my posts make you smile, why not fuel my caffeine addiction? Any support is super appreciated, even a comment too. Got any topics you want me to dive into? Just holler. Need some custom writing prompts? Hit me up anytime! :⁠-⁠) Also I'm thinking of starting a writing community do tell me what you think about it (⁠◠⁠‿⁠◕⁠)

im going to have a stroke

This is random but I like how the edit turned out hehe

when a mutuals struggling but you know you can't say anything to help so you just like their post and hope they know they're not alone

㋡🥀