Do you write meaningful conversations?

Do you know how? Where are you stuck?

The simple answer is that when you start a story, there is no meaningful conversation to be had. Your characters—and your readers—don't actually know anything about what's going to happen (and talking about what happened in the past is either cringy or info-dumping). Basically, my point is this: characters who haven't done anything don't have anything to talk about and get to explore instead.

For example: In the book I'm writing, in the beginning, my main character can't sit down with a girl he loves to talk about his past, or their medical jobs, or how much he loves her because he doesn't actually know the girl or even love her yet. When he finally does, she’s gone! He traipses off in pursuit of an evil being. It's not until the monster is captured and he’s teamed up with a very short, honest, and innocent creature called a mole-dwarf (picture below) that he wants to talk about what’s inside of him.

And, when this character gets home where his parents and family are, he doesn’t tell them anything. Why? Because he’s never really been open about his feelings to his parents. If your characters seem awkward, it could be because you’re forcing them to divulge secrets to people they wouldn’t tell anything to. Fear, condemnation, and embarrassment make us keep our hidden feelings inside.

Most of all, use your brain. If your characters are begging to review, confess, divulge, prophesy, or promise, then have them do it! But when the story doesn't lead that way, carry on with exploring the world. Don’t say “Goodness, I need a sweet conversation here.” if there’s nothing to talk about! Have your characters go find a monster, go get hurt, go do something wild.

And then we’ll have tea and talk about what happened. Yes, that is when it’s finally meaningful.

Randomly—do you like having stickers on your laptop? (comment below!)

I have a sticker just below my screen that says "there is no secret", a quote pulled from Andrew Peterson’s book Adorning the Dark. He says the secret to writing a book is that there is no secret.

I agree.

Just go with the flow. Let the story come to life and tell itself. That will solve problems and create meaningful conversations at the same time.