Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Listen to a movie
You’re probably going to think this is REALLY dumb… but it REALLY works!
You’re probably going to think this is REALLY dumb… but it REALLY works!
Let’s say you have a moment of clarity.
And you admit to yourself…
That your ability to write dialogue could use a boost.
I’ve run across a lot of tricks re writing dialogue…
But this one is absolutely the best.
Here’s what you do:
Step 1: Select a DVD for a movie that is known for its stellar dialogue.
Step 2: Insert that DVD into your DVD player.
Step 3: Turn on your TV.
Step 4: Turn your chair around so it’s facing away from the screen.
Step 5: Deposit your butt onto the chair.
Step 6: Listen to the movie.
That’s right.
Do not watch the movie.
Listen to it.
And if you’re still confused by my advice, let me make this very clear:
I am asking you to sit in a room…
With your back to the TV…
Looking like a complete fool…
Then listen to the movie.
If you can get past the whole “complete fool” thing…
You can learn a lot.
In particular, you are listening to…
The length and shape of each side of dialogue.
The collection of those exact words into those sides of dialogue.
The pacing of the language in the movie.
The emotion behind each word.
Phrases that grab your attention.
If you really want to benefit from this exercise…
As you hear each side of dialogue…
Imagine what that side looks like in screenplay form.
When I’ve done this in the past…
I imagined the words being typed out in my head…
As they were spoken by each character.
I could even see how the page of dialogue laid out in my imagination.
One thing in particular to pay attention to…
Is how does each character sound different?
Not their voices…
But the combination of the words they use…
Their word choices…
Slang, lingo, formality vs. informality.
The point is…
You’re trying to immerse yourself in the words spoken by the characters.
Immerse yourself in the world of dialogue.
If you do this several times…
With different types of movie genres…
I’ll bet you’ll have a kind of Gestalt experience…
Where you suddenly grok dialogue in a way you’ve never gotten it before.
That knowledge may be more instinctual than conscious…
But I’d be hugely surprised if the next time you sat down to write…
You would have a whole new level of understanding about writing the words…
That your characters speak.
This has been another edition of “Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work.”
UPDATE: Courtesy of Jeff’s comment, check out this link where you can listen to audio versions of movies. It’s called Listen To A Movie: For the Cubicle Workers of the World. Now you don’t even have to turn your chair around to listen to a movie. Just plug in your headphones to this website. Gotta love the Internet! And thanks, Jeff, for the link!