Writing What to do when writing dialogue is a pain?

[ThrillingHuman]

No, srsly. I mean I get it that the dialogue can bring more life into characters and give them more individuality and generally it's useful but...
Like, here's an example: so, I planned a plotline and I'm trying to follow it and write a chapter for an arc. It's such a chore to write the character interactions that would take up like 300 words instead of just following it through with summarising the content and moving on. So, instead of going:
Char A: Bla bla bla, bla bla, bla bla bla?
Char B: Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla! Bla... Bla!
B felt cold sweat gathering at his forehead. The nonchalance with which A brought up "Object X" was aggravating, but what could a mere "Something or other" like him do in front of A, who was a "This and that"?
Char A: *giggle* Bla bla bla~ Bla bla bla!
Char B: *sigh* Bla.
etc for many lines of dialogue.
I am tempted to go like:
Char A and Char B came to an agreement, with a little "forceful" persuasion from A, that this and that would happen. Of course, since B valued the "Object X", B could only greet his teeth and bend. After the conversation, the two didn't speak for two days.

 

[PrincessFelicie]

Is it important and interesting? Dialogue.
Is it important but not interesting? Description.
Is it unimportant but interesting? Your choice.
Is it unimportant and uninteresting? Trim it out altogether.

 

[CupcakeNinja]

No, srsly. I mean I get it that the dialogue can bring more life into characters and give them more individuality and generally it's useful but...
Like, here's an example: so, I planned a plotline and I'm trying to follow it and write a chapter for an arc. It's such a chore to write the character interactions that would take up like 300 words instead of just following it through with summarising the content and moving on. So, instead of going:
Char A: Bla bla bla, bla bla, bla bla bla?
Char B: Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla! Bla... Bla!
B felt cold sweat gathering at his forehead. The nonchalance with which A brought up "Object X" was aggravating, but what could a mere "Something or other" like him do in front of A, who was a "This and that"?
Char A: *giggle* Bla bla bla~ Bla bla bla!
Char B: *sigh* Bla.
etc for many lines of dialogue.
I am tempted to go like:
Char A and Char B came to an agreement, with a little "forceful" persuasion from A, that this and that would happen. Of course, since B valued the "Object X", B could only greet his teeth and bend. After the conversation, the two didn't speak for two days.

You dont HAVE to tell through dialogue. Juat like have you character explain that the conversation took place and detail a bit of what was said.

 

[Moonpearl]

If it's the first draft, I personally rush it and just make sure that the dialogue states what it needs to. That way I get to the bits I want to write (and need to finish) faster.

I take my time redrafting it in the second and later drafts. Then I can worry about working some things into the narrative as implications, summarising some extra bits, making sure to keep the dialogue interesting and not too lengthy, etc.

 

[OliviaMyriad]

Is it important and interesting? Dialogue.
Is it important but not interesting? Description.
Is it unimportant but interesting? Your choice.
Is it unimportant and uninteresting? Trim it out altogether.

More like: Is it unimportant? Trim it out.

 

[AliceShiki]

I personally use dialogue only when I want to actually show the character's interactions.

When I'm just moving the plot forward, there is little to no dialogue. There is no point in showing conversations that only move the plot forward and add nothing to the characters themselves IMO. Unless the conversation itself is important to the plot of course.

So... Just skipping ahead with a small description of what transpired is a good idea IMO~

 

[Nahrenne]

No, srsly. I mean I get it that the dialogue can bring more life into characters and give them more individuality and generally it's useful but...
Like, here's an example: so, I planned a plotline and I'm trying to follow it and write a chapter for an arc. It's such a chore to write the character interactions that would take up like 300 words instead of just following it through with summarising the content and moving on. So, instead of going:
Char A: Bla bla bla, bla bla, bla bla bla?
Char B: Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla! Bla... Bla!
B felt cold sweat gathering at his forehead. The nonchalance with which A brought up "Object X" was aggravating, but what could a mere "Something or other" like him do in front of A, who was a "This and that"?
Char A: *giggle* Bla bla bla~ Bla bla bla!
Char B: *sigh* Bla.
etc for many lines of dialogue.
I am tempted to go like:
Char A and Char B came to an agreement, with a little "forceful" persuasion from A, that this and that would happen. Of course, since B valued the "Object X", B could only greet his teeth and bend. After the conversation, the two didn't speak for two days.

I personally use dialogue only when I want to actually show the character's interactions.

When I'm just moving the plot forward, there is little to no dialogue. There is no point in showing conversations that only move the plot forward and add nothing to the characters themselves IMO. Unless the conversation itself is important to the plot of course.

So... Just skipping ahead with a small description of what transpired is a good idea IMO~

Like AliceShiki said, a good rule of thumb for dialogue is to use it to show characterisation and development of those talking.
Clues for future/past events can also be provided, but don't shoehorn it in for the sake of it if no personality or development of characters is done.

Of course, at the end of the day, it is your work so you can write how you like.; if you don't like dialogue then use it as little as possible, and vice versa.

X

 

[BenJepheneT]

Neil Gaiman once said that dialogue must reveal character, advance story and be funny/engaging. If you pin down either two of the three (one of the three if absolutely necessary), keep it.

 

[tak]

My personal preferences (edit, as a reader): dialogue/description for pacing.

novels with too much filler.

Spoiler

Yes, yes, I know the storm is approaching. It's been approaching for 5 chapters. IDGAF how the science works behind it, just give me people reactions.
Yes, yes, I know people will call MC to congratulate him. It's been the pattern for 10 arcs before this, and since MC has more friends as the story goes, the congratulations dialogue can take 3 chapters. IDGAF what they say, just move the plot
Hmm, I don't like reading the battle scene, MC will win anyway. Ooh a dialogue! Wait, who died? scrolls back to read the previous paragraph

Exposition time

Spoiler

This is too much information, my brain need time to process. A simple change of format may wake my brain up a bit, either description to dialogue or dialogue to a description.

Even a bit of redundant dialogue after a long paragraphs is good for me, like "Really?" "Wow!" is like a bookmark on how far i've read.