Writing Dialogs with Feelings

[Kaneshon 10]

I'm not much of a writer, but it always made me wonder how to write dialogs and adding the usual sighs or the occassional stutter without making it look annoying, particularly in videogames.

 

Do you add any style or formatting when putting sighs/sobs/hiccups/gasps in your dialog. Or it doesn't bother you at all.

Would love to know what you guys think.

 

[KaisoAri 78]

Before I even write anything I would speak the lines of each character in a way that they would say it. After that, I would write the lines down seeing if I could mimic the same way when I was speaking the lines of each character. It usually works, but does take a bit of imagination when you are reading the lines for different characters.

 

As for certain formats for emotional actions I would usually add asterisks if I am using them within a character's dialogue. However, if I feel it doesn't belong within a character's dialogue I would usually write a separate line to express a character's emotional action. Most of the time I would usually end up using this method as it helps express the character's emotional actions better than adding them within the actual character dialogue itself.

Edited August 8, 2016 by KaisoAri

[freakytapir 55]

Sounds silly, but maybe a sigh sound effect comes across better than a written one ? Or at least breaks up the reading ?

[+ JuJu 73]

In my game:  I use asterisks if I feel it necessary. But I try as much as I can to set the scene without using them, with context clues like the balloon animations and movement of the sprites to show how they're feeling. Audiences are smart- they can glean a lot more from subtlety than you actually think about when you're writing. If I use them a lot, it's more for comedic effect. 

 

In my writing: while the above is also true, you have to put more effort into the direction that doesn't come from the dialogue. They can sigh, but as a rule of thumb I don't add the sigh sound in with the dialogue itself. I have it as part of the paragraph, setting the scene along with other motions and perspective that... well, makes up writing, haha. 

[Kayzee 4,033]

Before I even write anything I would speak the lines of each character in a way that they would say it. After that, I would write the lines down seeing if I could mimic the same way when I was speaking the lines of each character. It usually works, but does take a bit of imagination when you are reading the lines for different characters.

 

As for certain formats for emotional actions I would usually add asterisks if I am using them within a character's dialogue. However, if I feel it doesn't belong within a character's dialogue I would usually write a separate line to express a character's emotional action. Most of the time I would usually end up using this method as it helps express the character's emotional actions better than adding them within the actual character dialogue itself.

I agree that the first rule of writing good dialogue is thinking about what it would actually sound like to say it aloud. I think characters like asterisks should be avoided though.

 

Instead, it should be remembered that very few people actually sigh and such the exact same way. You need to think about what sounds the characters are actually using, Saying "Haaaan..." or "Sssssh..." or even "Shiiighhhh" can give characters a lot more personality then just "*sigh*" or "*sighs*" S-Stutters are fine but don't o-over do it!

 

Here is another tip, use command codes for pauses and stops, vary up the actual way they deliver the line as well as what you say in it. Look at Undertale for example, which got most of it's style from Earthbound. Look at how the game pauses and delivers the lines in a very deliberate way. Use newlines and new "pages" to format your text. It's a very subtle thing that can do a LOT to really add punch to the script (oh yeah and don't be afraid to use CAPITALS or text style changes even colors.)

 

(4ND 1F YOU R34LLY W4NT TO GO GR4ZY, TH1NK 4BOUT U3S1NG TYP31NG QU1RKS. >:] )

Edited August 10, 2016 by KilloZapit

[Kaneshon 10]

Thanks for all the helpful tips and advice everyone, I totally appreciate it. This will help me tremendously with my writing.

tbh I've never made a habit of using color tags besides pauses lol. But will have to experiment on that.

[Kayzee 4,033]

Good luck and have fun! *sprinkles fairy dust on you*

 

... In a RPG that the text between the ** would totally be a little animation.

Edited August 11, 2016 by KilloZapit