Here's a breakdown of why:
Why Dialogue in Fiction is Different:
* Conciseness: Fiction dialogue focuses on the most important parts of the conversation, cutting out filler words and unnecessary details.
* Purpose: Every line of dialogue should serve a purpose in moving the plot forward, revealing character, or building tension.
* Clarity: Dialogue in fiction needs to be clear and understandable, even if it's stylized or uses dialect.
* Impact: The writer wants to create a memorable and impactful effect with dialogue, so it might be heightened or more dramatic than real-life conversation.
Why We Shouldn't Avoid Dialogue Completely:
* Character Development: Dialogue is a primary tool for revealing character. It shows their personality, motivations, and relationships.
* Plot Progression: Dialogue drives the story forward by revealing information, setting up conflicts, and creating tension.
* Engaging the Reader: Dialogue helps bring the story to life and makes it more engaging for the reader.
* Worldbuilding: Dialogue can provide details about the setting, culture, and society of the story.
Instead of avoiding dialogue, focus on making it effective:
* Give your characters distinct voices.
* Avoid unnecessary exposition or information dumps.
* Make sure each line of dialogue has a purpose.
* Use dialogue to create tension, conflict, or humor.
* Read your dialogue aloud to check for naturalness and flow.
Remember, the key is to use dialogue strategically to enhance your story, not to simply mimic real-life conversation.