SWRT 297 | Dialogue
May 9, 2024
person typing on MacBook Pro on brown wooden table during daytime photo

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This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn talk dialogue. We’ve noticed what may be some poor advice and some frightening trends in dialogue floating around out there. Time to bust some myths and pop some speech balloons! 

  • How should dialogue be formatted and how does it differ from interiority and thoughts?
  • When and why does it make sense to honor trusted conventions?
  • How would “experimentation” work in the voice of AI?

We draw on the past two Writers Book Club short stories for examples of dialogue, interiority, and narrative point of view. There is a lot of craft to unpack in this week’s episode, a bit of silliness, and a writing prompt, too!

“Dialogue is an art form all in and of itself. So be aware of what you’re putting on the page.”

“Dialogue should reveal something to the reader.”

 

 

VIDEO

 

 

AUDIO

 

 

SHOW NOTES

Things we talked about: 

Defining dialogue – including necessary punctuation! (0:58)

Don’t make your readers work too hard. (2:55)

Establishing the convention. (4:34)

Why are these conventions so important? (7:36)

What is the function of dialogue (and how to do it right)? (11:00)

The dialogue tag issue. (13:30)

Keep your stories readable! (17:20)

Balance out your dialogue. (18:25)

Alida’s shameless plug for the Story Works Guide to Writing Point of View. (19:45)

Writing Prompt! Put this information into action! (20:34)

 

 

LINKS

Things We Mentioned: 

James Joyce 

The Story Works Guide to Writing Point of View 

Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.

 

 

Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group

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About Your Hosts

Alida

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
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
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