Dialogue Handout

Dialogue usage Handout, Class 5 Dialogue happens when characters speak out loud. It is usually distinguished by quotation marks (unless you’re very good at dialogue, always use quotation marks). Dialogue is used to: establish immediacy reveal character (both directly and indirectly) give information and add to reader’s knowledge reveal the opposite of what a p.o.v. character tells us give keys to characters’ origins, background, education, status, intellect, etc. Some rules for dialogue Start a new paragraph every time a new speaker speaks. Vary speech with character. Keep it brief. Don’t put thoughts in quotation marks. Terminal punctuation goes inside the quotation marks. Don’t repeat info the reader already knows in dialogue. This includes characters’ names. Don’t waste dialogue with useless information. If it’s not important, leave it out. Skip “hello.” Skip “how are you.” Dialogue should sound spontaneous, but avoid repetitions. Dialogue, as with all aspects of fiction, should keep the story moving forward. Dialogue should show relationships. Attribution “Said” works best 99.99% of the time. Don’t use adverbs to “explain” dialogue. Let the dialogue and actions do the work. In fact, you can use action to attribute dialogue as well. Re colloquial spelling Don’t do it. Dialect is distracting. Instead, use word placement to show dialect. Here’s an example: Bad: “Vat yoo min, ve kent doo dat? Iz nod sumting dey doo here?” Good: “What you mean, we can’t do that? Is not something they do here?” The other thing about dialect: Once in a while is enough. Establish the voice’s rhythm and the reader will get it without you reminding him/her all the time.