Lesson 23. Sins of Attribution│The Mechanics of Fiction Writing

Dialogue Attribution in Writing

Importance of Dialogue Tags

• The discussion begins with the significance of dialogue attribution, emphasizing its role in writing.

• Stephen King’s humorous take on adverbs and adjectives is highlighted, showcasing his disdain for adverbs while noting that fiction writers generally have a more favorable view of adjectives.

Critique of Adverbs and Overattribution

• The speaker reflects on King's strong opposition to adverbs after experiencing common issues in young writers' works, particularly in dialogue tags.

• King provides examples illustrating overattribution, where dialogue tags redundantly repeat what the dialogue already conveys. Examples include phrases like "shouted menacingly" or "pleaded abjectly."

Reader Interpretation and Context

• The redundancy in descriptive tags can lead to misinterpretation by readers; they often understand the tone before reaching the tag.

• An example illustrates how context should inform the reader's understanding without needing excessive description: “Put it down!” she whispered in a hushed tone.

Fear as a Motivator for Overattribution

• King attributes young writers' tendency to overattribute to fear—fear that readers won't grasp their intent.

• This instinct to clarify is seen as positive but can lead to unnecessary redundancy, which frustrates experienced readers and writers alike.

Graphic Design Analogy

• Chip Kidd’s TED talk introduces an analogy about clarity in communication: showing rather than telling (e.g., drawing an apple vs. just labeling it).

• This analogy effectively explains why overattribution annoys readers; treating them as if they need everything spelled out undermines their intelligence.

Conclusion on Redundancy

Dialogue Writing Techniques

Importance of Dialogue Tags

• Using simple dialogue tags like "he said" or "she said" is crucial for clarity in writing. Striking out complex tags can enhance readability.

• Not all dialogue tags need to follow strict conventions; even renowned authors like Joyce Carol Oates occasionally use varied tags effectively without detracting from the narrative.

Expository Dialogue and Its Pitfalls

• Expository dialogue often appears at the beginning of stories, aiming to inform readers about the story world but can lead to poor writing if overused or implausible.

• A common example of expository dialogue is characters stating known facts, which can feel unnatural and disrupt the flow of conversation.

Analyzing Cringeworthy Dialogue

• The provided example illustrates how characters may share information they already know, making their exchange unrealistic and awkward.

• While the dialogue may not be overtly flawed in structure, it fails because it lacks genuine character interaction and relies on exposition instead.

Effective Use of Exposition

• Writers should utilize exposition outside of dialogue to convey necessary information, allowing for more authentic character interactions.

• Characters should engage in conversations that reflect real-life exchanges where both parties have different knowledge levels rather than reiterating known facts.

Understanding When to Break Conventions

• There are instances when reminding a character of something relevant is acceptable within a conversation context; however, this should be done thoughtfully.