Okay so

One thing I've noticed with characters in other people's fics is speech.

Again, I will remind you, there is no right or wrong method to write this. However, there is a difference between realistic and not realistic.

Think about people in real life when you're writing a conversation or something.

People don't speak elegant, perfect speeches every time they open their mouths. People stutter, people struggle with certain topics- especially when they feel awkward or angry or hurt- people don't typically spill out all their feelings when they are in the middle of an argument or whatever. Let me show you an example:

(This is an example from one of my own fics, but if I wrote it unrealistically- I'll use different names in case you plan to read it)

"Are you being abused?"

Jess looks at Sam with sad, tired eyes, saying nothing for a moment or two. Sam looks away, feeling a bit stupid for suggesting something she can't prove.

But then...

"Yes."

Sam looks at Jess in surprise.

"Yes, Sam. It's true," he says. "I've been abused my whole life." A tear rolls down his pale cheek and drops to the couch below. "I don't know what to do about it. I've been wanting to tell you this whole time, but I'm scared because if my mother finds out about this, she'll only hurt me worse. Please, Sam. I need you to help me. I can be patient, I can, but I... please help me."

•••

Okay so I'm not a very creative person (which is why I used something I've already written), so that's the best example I could come up with. Can you see how that was a little... off?

I've never been abused, so I don't know how that feels, but I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that a victim of that kind of treatment wouldn't spill it all out as soon as someone asks them about it with no proof (everyone is different though, idk). At least, not the way that Jess did.

In this example, Jess said everything. From the truth, to his fears, to the way it feels, to the fact that he wants help. He said everything. I don't know about any of you, but when someone asks me a mere, "are you okay?" I end up stuttering and trying to find something to say that definitely isn't the truth, but wouldn't come across as, "I'm fine," because then they'll just leave me alone.

Let me show you what I think is a bit more realistic (prepare for a long excerpt):

"Are you being abused?"

Jess whips his head around to look at Sam, bewildered. His mouth opens, then closes. Then opens again, then closes again.

A moment passes between the two of them, in which a tiny blossom of regret blooms in Sam's stomach.

Jess lets out a tiny laugh and shakes his head.

"No... no. That's a... that's a funny question to ask. Why... why would I be getting abused?"

Sam bites her lip and glances at the door, suddenly wishing she could escape. She was wrong. And it was a very stupid question to ask.

But... she still isn't convinced.

"It's just that..." Sam teeters on the edge of giving up, wondering if it will be worth the embarrassment when Jess confirms again that it isn't true.

"It's just that I... you always have bruises on you and... and the way that your mom talks to you... and you flinch every time someone moves toward you too quickly. I-I know that doesn't sound like much, but... but you just seem so... I dunno. It worries me, and has been worrying me for a couple of weeks now. I just wanted to-"

"Sam, stop."

Sam stops talking and finally looks at Jess, only to realize that he's practically shaking. His smile is gone. He doesn't look bewildered anymore. He just looks tired. Disappointed. Shaken.

"I-I'm sorry," Sam says. "I won't-"

"It's true."

Sam blinks. Jess looks ashamed.

"It's... it's all true."

•••

Okay so that may have been a bit long, but it seemed much more realistic, didn't it?

And even though Jess confirmed Sam's suspicions, he may decide not to explain anything to her. He may put his guard up, or regret saying anything. Depending on the factors of his situation and his personality, he could have any number of different reactions.

Basically, what I'm trying to teach you here, is that when you write a conversation, an argument, anything that has to do with speech, think about your characters. Their personalities, their speaking habits, their feelings, etc. Rehearse it in your head, read it as if you weren't the one who wrote it, and revise a little if it doesn't seem realistic enough. That should help you write better convos and stuff.

Not to mention, it makes it much more fun to read. I don't know about you all, but when I'm reading a conversation written unrealistically, I get bored and tend to skim ahead and try to find the next part.

That's the next thing about speech. Authors will sometimes tend to over-explain things and make their words too repetitive. That's a lesson for another day though.

I hope this was helpful! Have a good day/night!<3

-L