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Effective Dialogue Writing Techniques

The document provides guidelines for writing engaging dialogue, emphasizing the importance of entering conversations at impactful moments and using simple dialogue tags. It highlights the need for distinct character voices, developing relationships through interactions, and maintaining a dynamic back-and-forth exchange. Additionally, it outlines proper formatting and punctuation rules for dialogue presentation.

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eddiepierre08
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57 views2 pages

Effective Dialogue Writing Techniques

The document provides guidelines for writing engaging dialogue, emphasizing the importance of entering conversations at impactful moments and using simple dialogue tags. It highlights the need for distinct character voices, developing relationships through interactions, and maintaining a dynamic back-and-forth exchange. Additionally, it outlines proper formatting and punctuation rules for dialogue presentation.

Uploaded by

eddiepierre08
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Dialogue Notes

Entering the Conversation Late


•Enter the conversation at a point of shock,argument or just plain late
Dialogue Tags-Keep them simple
•He said, she’s said, she proclaimed, she whispered, he uttered etc.
•Example: “How do you feel about your competition in this years hunger
games?” asked Cesar.
Action Beats
•What is happening to character as they say it
•Example: I paused. He looked at me with a squinted eye. She breathed
out her frustration. He shivered with pain as the fire seared his arm. Her
mouth was dry as she yelled for him to duck
Make each character sound distinct
•Describe in a way that makes that person sound unique
Develop Character Relationships
•In the interview- capture the essence of Cesar and your characters
relationship with jokes and commentary
Show don’t Tell
•”Hey Jake. Long time no see.” “Tell me about it Ted. The precinct isn’t the
same without you.” “Well you know I had a good reason for leaving.” “I do.
But I also though you might change your mind.”
•Even if this is the first time together we’re meeting Jake and Ted, we can
deduce that they are police offices who used to work together, and that
Jake misses Ted-and possibly wants him to come back, despite Ted’s
resolve to stay away
Bounce Back and Forth
•When writing dialogue, it’s also good to bounce quickly back and forth
between speakers, like a tennis match
Format and Punctuate Properly
1. Indent every time a new person speaks
2. Put quotes around each statement
3. Put a comma before the quotes
4. Use a dialogue tag
5. Put the period after each dialogue tag
6. Capitals at the beginning

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