A Sneak Peek At The Dialogue Workbook
In this post we take a sneak peek at The Dialogue Workbook that was recently added to our workbook selection.
We launched The Dialogue Workbook last week and we’ve had a great response from our writers. I thought you might enjoy a sneak peek at the workbook…
A Sneak Peek At The Dialogue Workbook
Buy the workbook here: The Dialogue Workbook
Introduction
I love dialogue – it’s not a secret. Dialogue makes your story leap off the page. It brings the characters to life and it increases the pace of a story. Dialogue is a vital tool for telling your story. Modern novels are full of dialogue, and if you see a better-than-average movie adaptation, you’ll notice that the original writing most likely had plenty of dialogue.
The Function Of Dialogue
1. Shows Character
Dialogue reveals a lot about the speaker. What they say and do gives us clues as to who they are.
2. Moves The Story Forward
Secrets are revealed, instructions are given – whatever it takes to get your character moving.
3. Adds Conflict And Tension
Good dialogue will always add something to the scene, preferably conflict and tension, but also characterisation or setting detail.
4. Gives Information
We try to convey information through dialogue to save us from long explanations, but – as with any writing – make sure to avoid dumping large amounts of information on your reader all at once.
5. Creates White Space
White space is important for readers. We shy away from dense text and prefer text with lots of white space when we read.
This may feel overwhelming at first, especially if you don’t enjoy dialogue, but it becomes easier when we remember what dialogue includes:
- Words spoken aloud by the characters.
- Tags or attributions like, ‘he said’ and ‘she said’.
- The body language of the characters.
- The internal thoughts of the characters.
Did you notice all the elements that are included in dialogue? Did you always think it was just what they said? Well, if you only write down what your characters are saying, you will end up with something called ‘talking heads’.
The Last Word
The Dialogue Workbook is available in the shop. It was created for creative writers who want to master the art of dialogue.
TOP TIP: Learn to write better dialogue with The Dialogue Workbook
by Mia Botha
If you enjoyed this post, you will love:
- 7 Things You Can Do With Dialogue In A Story
- Writers Talk 5 | Short Stories
- The Craft Of Not-So-Subtle Conflict In Fiction
- The Art Of Subtle Conflict In Fiction
- 5 Essential Tips For Meeting Writing Deadlines
- When To Ignore The Writing Rules
- 4 Things To Remember When Receiving Feedback On Your Writing
TOP TIP: Learn to write better dialogue with The Dialogue Workbook