Dialogue

[Larry Davis]

When it comes to dialogue, I use an outline. Do you?

[Valkyrie]

No.  The only time I use outlines is to flesh out ideas.  And calling it an outline is probably generous. lol 

[Mikiesboy]

I have learned, the hard way, to write notes, and I find timelines very useful. When it comes to dialogue, no outlines. I want my characters to sound as natural as possible. I figure that I don't talk with an outline, so neither do they. I guess what I'm doing is working.

 

I've tried writing outlines, with all the details etc., but once done I'm often unable to write the story. So, I've backed away from that very formal outline, to what works best for me. General details, notes about things such as ages, dates, names of minor characters I may need again. And I note things I want to remember to add.

[Brayon]

No. Outlines are for Overall scene direction, and story arcs. Dialogue needs to flow naturally.

[Myr]

I very rarely use a formal outline. 

Though, I do have a lot of my world building stuff built that way.  For dialog though, I have no idea what's going to be said until I read what my fingers typed.

[Pmsingtiger]

I can't outline anything. My mind is like a dog looking for squirrels, once I find one I'm going to chase that thing down. Outlines for me tend to be squiggly lines and a bunch of doodles of horses. Also when I write stories in a notebook I have this OCD that I can't get over where all the writing has to be perfectly aligned on the page, so there is no room for changes. My hand cramps after awhile and I give up. 

[AusGlitterati]

Mmmmm only for really important dialogue, reveals and stuff. 

[CassieQ]

I abhor outlines, so I use them as little as possible.  If I'm writing a really complicated storyline with a lot of moving parts, then yeah, I'll use one.  But I've never outlined my dialogue.  Dialogue is one of my favorite things to write, so it always comes really easily to me.