“The writing advice industry is very interesting to me, but the place where it is the most fraudulent is when people give advice on writing dialogue: “make sure your dialogue is doing plot” and “make sure your dialogue is doing x, y, and z.” That’s such a tacky and cheesy way to approach dialogue.
I try to write dialogue that has the shape of real-life speech, but an elevated texture and quality. The relationship I want to everyday speech is the same relationship that poetry has to its subject. I’m always aiming for something that feels like life, but isn’t directly imitative of life. A lot of it is determined by the characters.” (Jane Ratcliffe, Craft Advice With Brandon Taylor)
Character Development Writing Exercise: Dialogue with Depth
Key Writing Practice Development Techniques:
Authenticity with Artistic Flourish: Craft dialogue that sounds realistic but is enriched with a poetic quality that elevates the ordinary to the extraordinary.
Character-Driven Dialogue: Let the nuances in speech reflect distinct character traits and motivations.
Balancing Realism with Artistry: Maintain a balance between authentic speech patterns and a more stylized form to enhance narrative impact.
Writing Prompt (500 words):
Write a dialogue-driven scene between two characters who are meeting for the first time in a waiting room. One character is an aspiring poet who views the world through an artistic lens, while the other is a pragmatic engineer who values precision and efficiency. The scene should explore a potential conflict or misunderstanding, allowing their distinct voices and perspectives to shape the dialogue. Remember to infuse authenticity in their speech while elevating the language to convey deeper themes, much like poetry.
Evaluation Criteria:
Voice Distinction: Each character should have a distinct voice that reflects their background and personality.
Poetic Quality: The dialogue should elevate everyday speech with a poetic texture, without losing authenticity.
Character-Driven: Dialogue should reveal character motivations, traits, and contribute to character development.
Conflict and Resolution: The scene should effectively build and resolve a conflict or misunderstanding.
Follow-up Questions for Workshopping/Revision:
How does each character’s dialogue contribute to their development? Are their personalities and backgrounds clearly distinguishable through their speech?
In what ways does the dialogue enhance the theme or message of the scene?
Does the poetic quality of the dialogue enhance or detract from its authenticity? How might it be refined?
How does the dialogue drive the scene’s conflict and resolution? Is it effective?
Recommended Reading:
Read the short story “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway. Pay attention to how dialogue is used to reveal character and conflict, and how it balances the simplicity of speech with deeper thematic undertones.
Examples of Strong vs. Weak Responses:
Strong Response: The aspiring poet speaks in vivid metaphors and imagery, contrasting with the engineer’s direct, literal language. Their dialogue subtly reflects their differing worldviews, driving the narrative tension and enhancing character depth.
Weak Response: Both characters speak in a similar tone, lacking distinction in voice or depth in content. Dialogue may be overly realistic without inventive language or fails to contribute meaningfully to character or plot development.
This exercise should be completed in a 2-hour session, allowing time for writing, review, and initial revision based on the evaluation criteria and follow-up questions.
Regards,
RAR
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