Question

what would you change in your own writing to make your dialogue show character traits or move the story forward more effectively?
your response should be at least one complete sentence.
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Explanation:

To make dialogue show character traits and move the story forward, I would incorporate more specific word choices that reflect a character's personality (such as using formal language for a serious character or slang for a laid - back one) and ensure that each line of dialogue either reveals something about the character's goals, conflicts, or relationships, which in turn advances the plot. For example, instead of a generic "I'm happy", a character who is a boastful athlete might say "I'm the best, and this win proves it!", which shows their cocky trait and also moves the story by emphasizing their competitive nature and the outcome of a game.

Answer:

I would use more character - specific vocabulary in my dialogue (like having a shy character stutter or a wise character use profound words) and ensure each dialogue line reveals character motives or advances the plot, such as a detective's dialogue like "This clue means the culprit was here last night" which shows their observant trait and moves the mystery story forward.