This week at the Round Table, we talk about talking. What goes into writing natural sounding dialogue that is still artful in its delivery? What are the pitfalls of giving your characters speaking parts? How many ways can you make them sound wooden, artificial, or even annoying? Should you really use said? And does Robert have a dialogue pet peeve?
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
What we talked about:
Delivering information for the reader’s sake. (0:36)
Using names. (2:40)
Writing as if it is real life. (4:50)
Using repetitive words, and how it catches the reader. (8:40)
People doing normal things in dialogue. (9:20)
Make sure the performance is on the page! (12:12)
Literal versus Essential action, and showing what is going on in your scene. (13:25)
Dialogue tags versus action beats. (15:45)
How do you handle long dialogue? (21:40)
Remember you have multiple elements on the page. (29:24)
Robert’s pet peeve with dialogue and action beats, and how can you solve it? (31:50)
LINKS
Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.
Things we mentioned:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Want more about these topics? Check out:
SWRT 028 Emotional Wounds with Becca Puglisi
Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.
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About Your Hosts
Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.
Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.
Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com
Hi, Alida, Kathryn and Robert:
Listening to your Podcast on “Dialogue, Natural & Unnatural” was my first experience of Story Works. I found the entire program exhilarating and helpful. Your words, experience and insight hit home. I’m in the process of learning to write fiction. I thank you for sharing your thoughts, expertise and wisdom through this Podcast. I will continue to listen.
Robert, you cited a book at the beginning of the Presentation. What is the name of the book?
Hi Mary,
Thank you so much! (And gosh, we had some audio quality issues on this recording session, so extra thanks for sticking with the episode. We’re trying to sort that out for the next recording.)
Robert mentioned he’s reading books by Robert B. Parker. I assume the Spenser series. The series was taken over by another writer, Ace Atkins, after Parker’s death.
We appreciate your kind support of the show so much!
Alida
Hi Mary, many thanks for dropping by and taking the time to let us know, that’s lovely of you 🙂
(And I just listened to make sure it was the Robert B. Parker “Spenser” private detective series I was referring too – Alida is correct, and also correct the audio was not up to our usual standard, sorry about that!)
Almost any of the installments in the Spenser series will give you a sense of what I mean – you could go to Amazon and just Look Inside a few to see it. They have no fluff in verbal interchanges, just terrific repartee!
Glad you found our episode helpful 🙂 If you have any other questions about dialogue (or other writing craft), you know where we are, just ask!