I struggled again today when I started my writing, and once again, I really wanted to rewrite parts of the scene as I read up on it to continue. I mostly kept myself from getting sucked in.
I also managed to bring the scene to a close, though I have no idea if it was any good. I struggle with dialog and trying to steer the characters in the direction the story should go.
Actually, it’s not that different from my own conversations. I have a tendency to launch off on tangents based on responding to one thing in a person’s conversation, rather than sticking to the point that I want to make. If I can’t do it in real life, it’s not going to come easy in writing, either, I suppose.
But unlike real life, I can come back to this conversation later – I have to – in the editing phase. Maybe then I can look at it with the “what I wish I’d said” lens and fix the dialog to keep it on target.
In the meantime, perhaps that should be my next craft book. Something about writing more compelling dialog. I think Robert McKee even has a book with that title.