Yes, I’m quoting an Elvis song (actually by his songwriters Mac Davis and Billy Strange) in a writing article. But the title is a good thing to keep in mind when you’re writing fiction.

I recently paid money for a Big Five published mystery novel with tons of great reviews that had me humming this song through the first 5% of the book, until I’d had enough. There were two whole chapters of dialogue before we even knew where we were or why we should care about these talking heads. I found no hint of a plot. Two characters were pontificating in a not-terribly-witty way about nothing in particular.

I almost never give up on a book I’ve paid full price for, but this one defeated me. I went back to the buy page at Amazon and read some of the one-star reviews and realized I was not alone. Apparently, this “mystery” only started at the 40% mark when a body actually turned up.

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One thought on ““A Little Less Conversation; A Little More Action, Please” — Don’t Overdo Dialogue in Fiction – by Anne R Allen…”

Hi, I understand that you think in such a way about dialogue. Alas, I think you wrong. Dreadfully wrong. Firstly the most lauded films and television rely on dialogue, The West Wing, The Newsroom (both Aaron Sorkin) Casablanca, Twelve Angry men and I could go on and on. But I am sure you will agree that the dialogue carried the films and TV series I mentioned. I shall not (go on and on) but will turn my attention to novels (which you were talking about in the first place).

Secondly Most of the great and bestselling novels we know so well rely on huge swathes of dialogue. I talk not of everyday books but those that have caught the public imagination whilst still being well written. “Silence of the Lambs” By Thomas Harris dwells on dialogue. The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty (back in the top ten books-fifty years after it being written. In fact all of “Blatty’s” books rely on dialogue. Dickens, Shakespeare, Peake, Marlow, Kipling the Brontes.

Thirdly The prestigious “Hugo” awards decided at one point to give an award to the best “Series of novels of all time” This they awarded to to the “Foundation” series by Isaac Asimov. A five volume series that consists mostly of Dialogue.

I rest my case. Me lurd… (British barristers in grey wigs and pomposity).

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raynayday says:

February 11, 2024 at 23:42

Hi, I understand that you think in such a way about dialogue. Alas, I think you wrong. Dreadfully wrong. Firstly the most lauded films and television rely on dialogue, The West Wing, The Newsroom (both Aaron Sorkin) Casablanca, Twelve Angry men and I could go on and on. But I am sure you will agree that the dialogue carried the films and TV series I mentioned. I shall not (go on and on) but will turn my attention to novels (which you were talking about in the first place).

Secondly Most of the great and bestselling novels we know so well rely on huge swathes of dialogue. I talk not of everyday books but those that have caught the public imagination whilst still being well written. “Silence of the Lambs” By Thomas Harris dwells on dialogue. The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty (back in the top ten books-fifty years after it being written. In fact all of “Blatty’s” books rely on dialogue. Dickens, Shakespeare, Peake, Marlow, Kipling the Brontes.

Thirdly The prestigious “Hugo” awards decided at one point to give an award to the best “Series of novels of all time” This they awarded to to the “Foundation” series by Isaac Asimov. A five volume series that consists mostly of Dialogue.

I rest my case. Me lurd… (British barristers in grey wigs and pomposity).

LikeLiked by 1 person