Nobody wants to read normal conversations. "I just don't know what to wear. I like knowing what other people are wearing so I can know what to wear. Otherwise, I show up and I feel out of place. What are you wearing?" Normal conversations are numbing. They are novacaine for your interest in something.
People want to read interesting conversations. They want to know that a girl held the door for me today, and her friend called her a gentleman. I piled on, saying she could surely get all the women. Her friend attempted to be boring: "You know what they say . . ." "Do they?" "Well, yeah." "They shouldn't. It's scandalous of them."
Stop having boring conversations where I can hear you.
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Actually, I found the normal conversation interesting, as well. I think, though, that most normal conversations are numbing for strangers, not friends.
ReplyDeleteBehold the danger of me typing comments at almost-midnight.
Behold the danger of me typing comments at all.
Beeeeeeehollllld
ReplyDeleteThe first conversation reveals character, yes. But it's a character I hope is not the protagonist.
In fiction, no one wants to read a normal conversation unless it moves the plot along. So, if the plot is about wearing clothes, we're good.
ReplyDeleteBut overall, I get this. Small talk is really hard for me; apparently that's a thing with my personality type. Probably that's why I've never had a boyfriend, I don't know how to small talk.
But I'd much rather do large talk, you know? Much more interesting.
I feel small talk is a tool. You can use it to springboard into your interest in something or someone (if you really have an interest in said thing or person). I feel like body language and tone during small talk are important because they help you see if there's anything behind the meaningless chatter (basicially, the closest humans can ever get to mind reading). If there is no interest on either side and you're just trying to be polite by talking about random things, I tend to keep it moving.
ReplyDeleteAll I can think of right now is three pages of characters saying "hello."
ReplyDeleteI could see that happening in a comedy routine. Like on M*A*S*H, where sometimes they'd go around saying hello by their titles and it's hilarious. Works much better on a television show than in a book, I think. I'm not sure why, however.
ReplyDelete