WRITING OBSTACLE
Write a difficult conversation between two characters without using any dialogue tags.
Dialogue tags describe the speech - 'he whispered', 'she murmered', 'they said' etc. Removing these indicators will encourage you to make the dialogue speak for itself, instead of relying on tags to describe and clarify the intent behind the words.
Stars Lie and So Do I
The night rippled ahead of Ben and Lucy, two people destined for each other but life seems to keep getting in their way.
Ben: “The stars, can’t you see them Lucy? They’re shining extra bright tonight for a reason, and that is because I love you.”
Though Lucy is biting her insides, as a secret is killing her heart.
Lucy: “Ben, there is something that I have to tell you.”
Ben: “What is it?”
Lucy: “I can’t see the stars shining bright. They’re lying to you.”
Ben: “What?”
Lucy: “And so am I.”
Ben: “What do you mean?”
Lucy: “I mean when I said I love you, it was to make you feel better and me as well. But it’s eating me inside that I lied to you about it and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lied. I shouldn’t have done. We can still be friends.”
Ben: “You said I love you to make me feel better? Do you want to know why I said I love you? I said it because I do love you.”
Lucy: “We can still be friends.”
Ben: “You think friends can love like a partner does. I can’t get rid of my feelings for you Lucy.”
Lucy: “But I can! I’m sorry Ben, please forgive me.”
Ben: “I don’t think I can forgive you ever. Now can you walk yourself home, because it’s not my duty to do that anymore.”
Lucy: “I’m sorry that the stars lied to you. And I’m sorry that I lied to you too. I really hope one day, you can see where I’m coming from to make someone feel loved when they should. I did it to protect you, and myself. I thought if I told myself over and over that I loved you, it would become the truth rather than lying to myself all the time. Trust me, I wanted to love you Ben.”