I am working on the areas I am struggling with in my writing. One of them is dialogue. So here's what I did today. Going to do another exercise in the same area later this week.
An Exercise in Dialogue
Sonny walked into the room, ordered a martini and sat on the red leather bar stool to relax. It had been a long day and he was ready to shake it all off and disappear into an alcohol fog for the rest of the night. He stretched his arms above his head, careful not to hit any of the other patrons. The man next to him caught his contagious yawn.
“Rough days anymore, yeah?” The man had a slight New York accent, just barely noticeable.
“That they are friend.” Sonny smiled good naturedly. “You from New York then?”
“I was, once. Hard times is hittin’ everywhere. Came here for work. The wife’s family’s got a potato farm. Ain’t much, pays the bills though.”
Sonny was always surprised at how open people were after they’d gotten good and liquored up.
“We do what we gotta do brother. Us is all the same out in the workin’ field. Just gotta keep at it till we die. My boy’s headin’ to school next month.” Sonny had been just about as proud as a man could be when the acceptance letter came in the afternoon mail. He never missed an opportunity to spread his good news.
The friendly stranger ran a calloused hand through his salt and pepper hair, then lifted his stein enthusiastically.
“There are still things to celebrate. Thank God for that. Here’s to your boy, the college man.”
Their glasses clinked amiably and a bond was forged over the trials of the working family man.
An Exercise in Dialogue
Sonny walked into the room, ordered a martini and sat on the red leather bar stool to relax. It had been a long day and he was ready to shake it all off and disappear into an alcohol fog for the rest of the night. He stretched his arms above his head, careful not to hit any of the other patrons. The man next to him caught his contagious yawn.
“Rough days anymore, yeah?” The man had a slight New York accent, just barely noticeable.
“That they are friend.” Sonny smiled good naturedly. “You from New York then?”
“I was, once. Hard times is hittin’ everywhere. Came here for work. The wife’s family’s got a potato farm. Ain’t much, pays the bills though.”
Sonny was always surprised at how open people were after they’d gotten good and liquored up.
“We do what we gotta do brother. Us is all the same out in the workin’ field. Just gotta keep at it till we die. My boy’s headin’ to school next month.” Sonny had been just about as proud as a man could be when the acceptance letter came in the afternoon mail. He never missed an opportunity to spread his good news.
The friendly stranger ran a calloused hand through his salt and pepper hair, then lifted his stein enthusiastically.
“There are still things to celebrate. Thank God for that. Here’s to your boy, the college man.”
Their glasses clinked amiably and a bond was forged over the trials of the working family man.
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