03-13-2016, 06:35 PM
Not exactly "priceless," but I have a favorite for Ballad. Specifically two. One because I think it's awesome. Two because I think it's the epitome of cringe-inducing dialogue that should be used as an example of how NOT to write dialogue.
I like to think that I'm the master of mixed-bag dialogue for those reasons alone. I think I can write some genuinely good and gripping dialogue, while at the same time write absolute shit that any writer with any self-respect would get some brain bleach for. Oddly enough, both of them come from the same post.
First is, imho, my best piece of written dialogue for Ballad.
To me, this is my personal example as to how you could change someone's perception of a character using just a single sentence. So much said with so little words, and I think it perfectly encapsulates everything about Ballad pre-Gunsmith's Gamble.
Then there is horseshit.
I will not excuse myself from this. This is objectively shit. Not even the "so bad, it's good" kind of shit either. It's just bad. It's forced, it sounds really bad no matter what context it's in, and it sounds OOC as hell imo. It's just bad dialogue, and I don't know why I even thought it was acceptable. I hold this as the standard I hope to never lower myself to, and that's why it's also my other favorite. For how shitty it is. You can just smell the fecal matter on it, can't you? I know I can.
(I also don't like the coral joke I made in The Dead and the Damned. It also felt pretty forced and didn't make any sense at all coming from Sans.)
I like to think that I'm the master of mixed-bag dialogue for those reasons alone. I think I can write some genuinely good and gripping dialogue, while at the same time write absolute shit that any writer with any self-respect would get some brain bleach for. Oddly enough, both of them come from the same post.
First is, imho, my best piece of written dialogue for Ballad.
Quote:“I DID NOT KILL THEM!”
To me, this is my personal example as to how you could change someone's perception of a character using just a single sentence. So much said with so little words, and I think it perfectly encapsulates everything about Ballad pre-Gunsmith's Gamble.
Then there is horseshit.
Quote:
“Fucking bandits! This is what you're ALL GONNA GET, you hear me?! ALL OF YOU!”
I will not excuse myself from this. This is objectively shit. Not even the "so bad, it's good" kind of shit either. It's just bad. It's forced, it sounds really bad no matter what context it's in, and it sounds OOC as hell imo. It's just bad dialogue, and I don't know why I even thought it was acceptable. I hold this as the standard I hope to never lower myself to, and that's why it's also my other favorite. For how shitty it is. You can just smell the fecal matter on it, can't you? I know I can.
(I also don't like the coral joke I made in The Dead and the Damned. It also felt pretty forced and didn't make any sense at all coming from Sans.)