Last week I presented a workshop at my local library, offering tips for writing great dialogue. Today, I’m sharing my resource links to help you keep your dialogue as fresh as the Spring we’re all waiting for. (My apologies for the layout below. WordPress has changed their blog formatting, and I’m still struggling to get it right.)
RESOURCES FOR WRITING DIALOGUE
9 Rules for Writing Dialogue
Harvey Chapman
Five Tips on Writing Dialogue
How to Write Effective Dialogue in Your Novel
Gary Smailes
https://bubblecow.com/posts/how-to-write-effective-dialogue-in-your-novel
Who Speaks? Pointers about Attribution in Dialogue
By Victoria Grossac
http://www.writing-world.com/victoria/crafting15.shtml
Do You Have “As You Know, Bob…” Syndrome?–How Writers Can Butcher Dialogue & How to Fix It
By Marcy Kennedy
Dialogue: Make Each Character Unique
Darcy Pattison
Are Your Characters Talking Heads?
K.M.Weiland
http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/2009/12/are-your-characters-talking-heads.html
10 tips for writing better dialogue
Alice Kuipers
Seven Keys to Writing Good Dialogue
Nathan Bransford
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2010/09/seven-keys-to-writing-good-dialogue.html
Beginnings, Middles and Ends
Nancy Kress
I Can’t Believe You Said That- Using Dialogue to Build Conflict
Eileen Cook
Here are a few writing prompts for April.
Opening Lines:
- I didn’t know that this would be the last time.
- Puddles were meant for splashing in..
- Judgement doesn’t become you.
- The plane’s engine sputtered.
- Henry never lost control.
- If there was a good day to break up with your boyfriend, this was it.
- The corners of the house were full of memories–not all of them good.
- Puppies!
- We huddled in our cloaks and moved closer to the fire.
- And all along, I’d believed I could trust him/her.
And here are some dialogue excerpts that you can expand into longer scenes, so you can practice your dialogue-writing skills.
- I’m so tired. Can we stop now?
- You weren’t tired when Henry was in charge.
- Maybe he treated us like humans.
- I’ve never seen Helen so angry.
- You haven’t known her long, have you?
- Did you get it?
- Yes.
- Well, where is it?
- I didn’t bring it with me.
- Why not?
- I don’t trust Henry like you do.
- Why is that light flashing?
- Don’t worry. We’re going to be fine.
- You didn’t answer my question.
- You’re right. Now, sit down and hold on.
Hope you have a writerly April!
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