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My critique partner said my dialogue all sounds the same
She pointed out that every character in my fantasy novel talks like a sarcastic millennial, and after re-reading a chapter I couldn't unhear it. Now I'm forcing myself to write a scene where two characters argue about magic theory without using a single joke or modern phrase, has anyone else had to completely rework their voice?
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barbara_taylor831mo agoMost Upvoted
Your mileage may vary but I used to think every character having the same sarcastic voice was just my style showing through. Then I read a book where every single character talked like a snarky teen and I couldn't finish it because they all blurred together. That really changed my mind about needing distinct voices for different characters, especially in fantasy where you have all these different backgrounds and species. Forcing yourself to write without jokes or modern speech is hard but it really helps you find their natural rhythms. Just remember you can always add humor back in later once you know who each person is.
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tessa3941mo ago
Did you ever catch yourself reading your own draft and not knowing which character was talking without the dialogue tag?
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