Realistic Dialogue Creates Engagement
* Immersion: When dialogue sounds natural, readers are more likely to be drawn into the story. They feel like they're listening in on a real conversation.
* Character Development: Realistic dialogue helps to flesh out characters. The way they speak, their word choices, their slang, and their pauses all contribute to understanding who they are.
* Emotional Impact: Natural dialogue can convey emotion more effectively. Readers can feel the anger, joy, sadness, or fear in the characters' words.
However, There Are Times When "Unrealistic" Dialogue Can Be Effective:
* Style: Some writers intentionally use non-realistic dialogue for stylistic purposes. This could be to create a particular tone, highlight a character's unusual way of speaking, or emphasize a certain theme.
* Genre: Certain genres, like fantasy or science fiction, might require more stylized dialogue to fit the world-building and character archetypes.
* Emphasis: Sometimes, a writer might choose to make dialogue more dramatic or poetic for emphasis.
Ultimately, it comes down to the writer's intent. If the goal is to create a realistic and believable world, then dialogue should sound as natural as possible. If the writer is aiming for something else, they may choose to use dialogue that is less realistic.
Here's a simple way to think about it:
* Real dialogue: Focuses on the natural flow and cadence of conversation.
* Scene dialogue: Is designed to serve the needs of the scene and the story.
Good writing often balances these two elements to create dialogue that is both engaging and effective.