cc-agentic-framework 1.14.1

package/framework/modules/writer/skills/writer/writing-prose/DIALOGUE-GUIDE.md

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+# Dialogue Guide: Character Voice in Conversation
+
+This document provides patterns and rules for writing dialogue that differentiates characters naturally while maintaining accessibility and readability.
+
+## Core Dialogue Principles
+
+### The Seven Rules
+
+1. **Tags:** Use "said" as default, action beats preferred
+2. **Subtext:** Characters don't state the obvious
+3. **Interruption:** People talk over each other naturally
+4. **Silence:** Not answering is an answer
+5. **Rhythm:** Vary sentence length for natural flow
+6. **Dialect:** Suggest through word choice, not phonetic spelling
+7. **Exposition:** Never explain what both speakers know
+
+### Voice Differentiation by Type
+
+Characters need distinct voices that readers can identify without tags. Differentiate through:
+
+- **Word choice** (vocabulary level, formality)
+- **Sentence structure** (simple vs. complex, complete vs. fragments)
+- **Speech patterns** (questions, statements, commands)
+- **Topics** (what they notice and mention)
+- **Subtext** (direct vs. evasive, honest vs. manipulative)
+
+## Voice Templates by Character Type
+
+### POV Character (Modern, Sardonic)
+
+**Characteristics:**
+- Modern contractions and vocabulary
+- Self-aware, often self-deprecating
+- Questions authority casually
+- Humor as defense mechanism
+- Direct but not blunt
+
+**Dialogue Pattern:**
+```
+"That's a terrible plan," I said.
+
+She raised an eyebrow. "You have a better one?"
+
+"Not really. But I feel obligated to point out when we're
+about to do something catastrophically stupid."
+
+"Noted. We're doing it anyway."
+
+"Wouldn't expect anything else."
+```
+
+**Key Elements:**
+- Contractions (that's, we're, wouldn't)
+- Casual criticism accepted
+- Acknowledges futility but speaks anyway
+- Banter maintains relationship
+- Short exchanges, quick rhythm
+
+**Common Phrases:**
+- "Fair enough"
+- "Could be worse"
+- "Not my first choice, but..."
+- "You're not wrong"
+- "I've seen worse ideas. Not many, but some."
+
+**Avoid:**
+- Over-explaining
+- Formal constructions
+- Pompous vocabulary
+- Taking self too seriously
+- Dramatic declarations
+
+### Ancient Being (Formal, Mythic)
+
+**Characteristics:**
+- Archaic constructions occasional, not constant
+- Formal vocabulary naturally used
+- Longer sentences, measured rhythm
+- Speaks in complete thoughts
+- Weight behind every word
+
+**Dialogue Pattern:**
+```
+"You ask much of me, kinsman," Elrond said. "The road you
+would walk leads into darkness, and I have seen too many
+bright souls lost to such paths. Yet I will not forbid you,
+for that is not my right. Each must choose their own doom."
+
+He paused, and in the silence I felt the weight of his years.
+
+"But know this—should you fall, the world falls with you."
+```
+
+**Key Elements:**
+- Inverted syntax sparingly ("You ask much")
+- No contractions in formal moments
+- Archaic word choice earned ("kinsman," "doom")
+- Pauses for weight
+- Speaks in complete paragraphs when serious
+
+**Common Phrases:**
+- "Long have I..."
+- "Yet it may be that..."
+- "Such was the way of..."
+- "In the elder days..."
+- "Doom" (fate), "kinsman" (relative)
+
+**Avoid:**
+- Constant "thee/thou" (save for ceremonial)
+- Incomprehensible archaic vocabulary
+- Talking like a Renaissance fair
+- Every sentence inverted
+- Forgetting they're still a person
+
+### Common Folk (Colloquial, Direct)
+
+**Characteristics:**
+- Regional flavor in word choice
+- Informal contractions
+- Practical concerns dominant
+- Superstition mixed with common sense
+- Less formal education apparent
+
+**Dialogue Pattern:**
+```
+"Don't go up the Old Road after dark," the innkeeper said.
+"Not unless you want trouble."
+
+"What kind of trouble?"
+
+She shrugged. "The kind that don't leave bodies to find.
+My gran used to say the road remembers what walked it in
+the old days, and some things don't take kindly to being
+forgotten."
+
+"Your gran sounds like she told good stories."
+
+"She did. But this ain't a story."
+```
+
+**Key Elements:**
+- Contractions frequent (don't, ain't)
+- Folklore delivered matter-of-fact
+- Practical warnings, not dramatics
+- Family wisdom cited
+- Regional vocabulary ("don't leave bodies")
+
+**Common Phrases:**
+- "Mark my words"
+- "Beggin' your pardon"
+- "As my [relation] used to say"
+- "I ain't saying/I'm just saying"
+- "'Twere" (it was), "ye" (you) - sparingly
+
+**Avoid:**
+- Phonetic spelling (sez, wuz, gonna)
+- Over-the-top accent
+- Making them stupid
+- Treating folklore as quaint
+- Forgetting they have agency
+
+### Antagonist (Precise, Economical)
+
+**Characteristics:**
+- No wasted words
+- Threatening through implication
+- Cold logic or hot passion, rarely mixed
+- Power demonstrated, not stated
+- Questions are weapons
+
+**Dialogue Pattern:**
+```
+"You've come a long way to die," he said.
+
+I didn't answer. He wasn't looking for one.
+
+"The Pattern believes it has chosen well. I wonder if the
+Pattern can be disappointed." He circled slowly, a predator
+considering angles. "Tell me—when did you last walk it?"
+
+Trap question. Answering proved I had. Not answering proved
+I knew it was a trap.
+
+"Three days ago," I said.
+
+"Liar. The burns are older. You're weaker than you're
+pretending."
+
+He was right. I was in trouble.
+```
+
+**Key Elements:**
+- Statements disguised as observations
+- Questions probe for weakness
+- Short sentences build tension
+- No banter, all calculation
+- Truth weaponized
+
+**Common Phrases:**
+- "Interesting" (threat, not curiosity)
+- "You disappoint me"
+- "I had expected more"
+- "This changes nothing"
+- "You know what happens next"
+
+**Avoid:**
+- Monologuing motivations
+- Explaining evil plans
+- Losing temper without purpose
+- Being evil for evil's sake
+- Forgetting they think they're right
+
+## Dialogue Tags and Action Beats
+
+### The "Said" Rule
+
+Default to "said" for dialogue tags. It becomes invisible to readers.
+
+**Good:**
+```
+"We need to leave," she said.
+"Why?" I said.
+"Because they're coming," she said.
+```
+
+**Bad:**
+```
+"We need to leave," she exclaimed.
+"Why?" I queried.
+"Because they're coming," she shouted frantically.
+```
+
+**Why:** Fancy tags draw attention to themselves. "Said" disappears, letting dialogue speak for itself.
+
+### When to Break the Rule
+
+Use alternative tags only when crucial information can't be conveyed otherwise:
+
+- **Whispered** - volume matters to scene
+- **Shouted** - ditto
+- **Muttered** - clarity of speech matters
+- **Lied** - POV knows and reader needs to
+
+### Action Beats Over Tags
+
+Preferred method: Replace tag with action that reveals character.
+
+**Tag:**
+```
+"I don't believe you," she said angrily.
+```
+
+**Action Beat:**
+```
+"I don't believe you." She threw the letter on the table.
+```
+
+**Why:** Action shows emotion instead of telling it. Reader sees anger through behavior.
+
+**Pattern:**
+```
+"[Dialogue]." [Character] [action revealing emotion/state].
+```
+
+**Examples:**
+```
+"Fine." I turned away.
+"Please." Her voice cracked.
+"No." He didn't look up from his work.
+"Why not?" She leaned forward.
+```
+
+## Subtext and Implication
+
+### Don't State What Both Speakers Know
+
+**Bad (As-You-Know-Bob):**
+```
+"As you know, Father was killed in the battle three years
+ago by Benedict, and ever since then, Mother has been trying
+to hold the kingdom together while dealing with our uncle's
+schemes to seize the throne."
+
+"Yes, I remember all of that very well, since I was there
+when it happened and have been living through the consequences
+ever since."
+```
+
+**Good (Subtext):**
+```
+"Three years," she said.
+
+I knew what she meant. Three years since Father fell. Three
+years of Mother holding the kingdom together with both hands
+while Uncle circled like a vulture.
+
+"He's making his move," I said.
+
+"Finally."
+```
+
+**Why:** Characters live in their world. They don't recap for each other. Information emerges through what they don't say.
+
+### Conversation Topics Reveal Priority
+
+Characters mention what matters to them.
+
+**Warrior:**
+```
+"The gate's weak. Three good hits and it falls. They know it too—
+see how they're positioning?"
+```
+
+**Scholar:**
+```
+"These fortifications follow the Numenorean pattern. Third Age,
+I'd say, given the stonework. Fascinating how they've held."
+```
+
+**Merchant:**
+```
+"A siege. Wonderful. Do you know what this will do to grain prices?"
+```
+
+**Same Situation, Different Priorities:** Each character sees the world through their expertise and concerns.
+
+## Natural Interruption and Overlap
+
+Real conversations aren't turn-based. People interrupt, trail off, talk over each other.
+
+### Interruption Patterns
+
+**Em-dash for Cut-off:**
+```
+"But if we just—"
+
+"No."
+
+"You didn't let me—"
+
+"I don't need to hear it. The answer is no."
+```
+
+**Ellipsis for Trailing Off:**
+```
+"I thought maybe we could..."
+
+"Could what?"
+
+"Never mind."
+```
+
+**Talking Over Each Other:**
+```
+"We should go north—"
+
+"North is suicide. East through the—"
+
+"—because the northern pass is clear this time of year, whereas—"
+
+"—mountain road takes half the time if we—"
+
+"Stop!" I held up both hands. "One at a time."
+```
+
+### Silence as Response
+
+Not answering is a powerful answer.
+
+**Pattern:**
+```
+"Did you kill him?" she asked.
+
+I looked out the window. The sun was setting, painting the
+sky red.
+
+"I'll take that as a yes," she said quietly.
+```
+
+**Why:** Silence confesses what words won't. The POV's avoidance speaks volumes.
+
+## Rhythm and Flow
+
+### Vary Sentence Length
+
+**Monotonous:**
+```
+"I need your help," he said. "The enemy is coming," he said.
+"We can't win alone," he said. "Will you fight with us?" he said.
+```
+
+**Natural Rhythm:**
+```
+"I need your help." He met my eyes. "The enemy is coming,
+and we can't win alone."
+
+I waited.
+
+"Will you fight with us?"
+```
+
+**Pattern:** Long-short-long or short-long-short creates natural speech rhythm.
+
+### Match Rhythm to Emotion
+
+**Calm/Formal (Longer Sentences):**
+```
+"The council has convened, as you requested, and we have
+discussed the matter at length. Our decision is final."
+```
+
+**Angry/Urgent (Short Sentences):**
+```
+"No. Absolutely not. We're not doing this. You're insane
+if you think I'm agreeing to this plan."
+```
+
+**Measured/Threatening (Mix):**
+```
+"You have two choices. Walk away now, and I'll forget you
+were here. Or stay." He smiled. "Please stay."
+```
+
+## Dialect and Regional Voice
+
+### Suggest, Don't Transcribe
+
+**Bad (Phonetic Hell):**
+```
+"Oi sez ter me mate, oi sez, we gotter get outta 'ere 'fore
+them blighters come back, roight?"
+```
+
+**Good (Word Choice + Minimal Markers):**
+```
+"I told me mate, I did—we gotta get out before them bastards
+come back. Right?"
+```
+
+**Technique:**
+- Word choice ("me mate" not "my friend")
+- Grammar patterns ("I told him, I did" - affirming tag)
+- Occasional contraction ('em, 'fore)
+- Vocabulary choices (bastards, blighters)
+- Readable at normal speed
+
+### Regional Flavor Through Vocabulary
+
+**Northern/Highland:**
+- "Aye" instead of "yes"
+- "Wee" for small
+- "Ken" for know
+- "Dinnae" for don't
+
+**Southern/Rural:**
+- "Reckon" for think
+- "Ain't" acceptable
+- "Fixing to" for about to
+- "Yonder" for over there
+
+**Urban/Port:**
+- "Mate" for friend
+- Sailing metaphors
+- Trade language influence
+- Mix of cultures in vocabulary
+
+**Use Sparingly:** One or two markers per character establishes voice without becoming gimmick.
+
+## Exposition Through Dialogue (How to Avoid It)
+
+### The Problem
+
+Characters shouldn't info-dump on each other.
+
+**Bad:**
+```
+"As you know, the Pattern of Amber was created ten thousand
+years ago by Dworkin Barimen using the blood of the Unicorn,
+and it grants our family the power to walk between shadows,
+which are infinite reflections of the one true city of Amber."
+
+"Yes, I know all of this because I am also a member of the
+family and have walked the Pattern myself."
+```
+
+### Solutions
+
+**Solution 1: External Audience**
+
+Have a character who legitimately doesn't know, requiring explanation:
+
+```
+"What's the Pattern?" she asked.
+
+Not someone from Amber, then. That was rare.
+
+"It's... complicated. Short version: it's a maze that grants
+power if you survive walking it."
+
+"And if you don't survive?"
+
+"You don't get to ask questions."
+```
+
+**Solution 2: Partial Information**
+
+Characters reference shared knowledge obliquely:
+
+```
+"You've walked it," she said.
+
+I showed her my hands. The burns were still visible.
+
+"Three times."
+
+I looked at her more carefully. "That should've killed you."
+
+"Should have. Didn't."
+```
+
+**Solution 3: Disagreement About Facts**
+
+Characters argue about interpretation, revealing information:
+
+```
+"Dworkin was mad when he drew it."
+
+"He was enlightened. There's a difference."
+
+"Enlightened people don't use their own blood as ink."
+
+"The Unicorn's blood," she corrected. "Mostly."
+
+"Oh, well that makes it perfectly sane."
+```
+
+**Solution 4: POV Internal Monologue**
+
+Let the POV character think the exposition instead:
+
+```
+"The Pattern is calling you," she said.
+
+I felt it too. A pull, faint but insistent. Damn thing never
+left you alone once you'd walked it. Some said it was alive,
+aware. I didn't know about that, but I knew it wanted something.
+
+And I'd learned not to ignore it.
+```
+
+## Common Dialogue Anti-Patterns
+
+### The Unbroken Monologue
+
+**Problem:**
+```
+"You see, the issue is that we've been approaching this all
+wrong from the beginning, because if you look at the historical
+precedents, you'll notice that every time someone has tried
+this strategy in the past, it has failed spectacularly, leading
+to consequences that we're still dealing with generations later,
+and I think we need to learn from those mistakes rather than
+repeating them, which is why I'm proposing a completely different
+approach that takes into account all of these factors."
+```
+
+**Solution - Break It Up:**
+```
+"You see the issue?" He leaned forward. "We're approaching
+this all wrong."
+
+"Historical precedent—"
+
+"Exactly. Every time someone tries this strategy, it fails.
+Spectacularly. And we're still dealing with the consequences
+generations later."
+
+He paused, waiting for objection. I didn't have one.
+
+"We need to learn from those mistakes. Try a different approach."
+```
+
+### Idiot Ball Questioning
+
+**Problem:**
+```
+"What's that big glowing thing in the sky?" asked the character
+who grew up in this world and has seen the sun every day of
+their life.
+```
+
+**Solution - POV Observation:**
+```
+The sun was setting, painting the western sky in shades of
+blood and fire. Next to me, the outlander stared at it with
+something like awe.
+
+"It's beautiful," she breathed.
+
+I'd never thought about it. The sun set every day. But watching
+her watch it, I tried to see it fresh.
+
+"Yeah," I said. "I guess it is."
+```
+
+### Constant Name Usage
+
+**Problem:**
+```
+"John, I think we should go."
+"Sarah, I disagree."
+"John, please listen to reason."
+"Sarah, you're being unreasonable."
+```
+
+**Solution:**
+```
+"We should go."
+"I disagree."
+"Please. Listen to reason."
+"You're being unreasonable."
+```
+
+**Why:** People don't use names in every sentence. It's unnatural and draws attention.
+
+### On-the-Nose Emotion
+
+**Problem:**
+```
+"I'm so angry right now!" she said angrily.
+```
+
+**Solution:**
+```
+"Get out." Her voice was ice.
+
+Or:
+
+She didn't raise her voice. That was worse. "Get out."
+```
+
+**Why:** Show emotion through word choice, action, body language. Don't label it.
+
+## Dialogue Checklist
+
+Before finalizing dialogue:
+
+- [ ] Each character has distinct voice (vocabulary, rhythm, patterns)
+- [ ] No "As you know, Bob" exposition between knowledgeable characters
+- [ ] Tags are "said" or action beats, not fancy alternatives
+- [ ] Subtext present—characters don't state everything directly
+- [ ] Interruptions and overlaps where natural
+- [ ] Silence used as response when appropriate
+- [ ] Sentence rhythm varies (not all same length)
+- [ ] Dialect suggested through word choice, not phonetic spelling
+- [ ] No unbroken monologues longer than 3-4 sentences
+- [ ] Names not used in every exchange
+- [ ] Emotion shown through speech patterns, not labeled
+- [ ] Reading aloud sounds like real people talking
+
+---
+
+**Next:** See [DESCRIPTION-TECHNIQUES.md](./DESCRIPTION-TECHNIQUES.md) for sensory details and setting description.