“‘Do you think,’ said Mira, leaning on her spade, ‘that the kind of person who can never say sorry is also the kind of person who can never say thank you, or do you think that those are two different categories of people?’
‘Ooh, that’s a good one,’ Shelley said. She considered it.
‘Because I saw this blog a while back,’ Mira went on, ‘where this woman had just decided to stop saying sorry, like, ever, and every time she would have said it, she found a way of saying thank you instead. So, like, instead of saying “sorry for being late”, she’d say, “thanks for waiting”, and instead of saying “sorry for being such a mess” she’d say, “thanks for being so understanding”, and on and on like that. And she wrote in this blog how this one little change like totally transformed her life and all her relationships, like all of a sudden, her friendships got so much healthier and more mature and more honest, and because she was appreciating everyone in her life way more, they started appreciating her back, and it was this whole thing.’” (Eleanor Catton, Birnam Wood)
Writing Exercise: Crafting Multi-Layered Dialogue with Subtext and Voice
Key Writing Practice Development Techniques:
1. Characterization Through Dialogue: The quotation exemplifies how dialogue can reveal a character’s personality, values, and worldview. Mira’s rambling, conversational tone establishes her voice and perspective.
2. Embedding Subtext in Conversations: The passage hints at Mira’s internal conflict and desires (e.g., her struggle with self-worth or relationships) without explicitly stating them, inviting the reader to infer deeper meaning.
3. Naturalistic Yet Purposeful Dialogue: The dialogue mimics natural speech patterns (e.g., fillers like “like” and “and on and on”) while still advancing character development and theme.
Writing Prompt:
Write a 500-word scene centered around a conversation between two characters, focusing on revealing their personalities, relationships, and unspoken tensions through dialogue. The scene must:
• Include one character sharing an anecdote, opinion, or story that reflects their values or beliefs (similar to Mira’s blog story).
• Allow the second character to react in a way that creates tension or contrast, whether through subtle disagreement, discomfort, or misunderstanding.
• Use subtext to hint at a deeper conflict or dynamic between the two characters without explicitly stating it.
For example, if one character shares a self-help tip, as Mira does, consider how the second character’s reaction might suggest skepticism, envy, or frustration while keeping their words civil or neutral.
Evaluation Criteria:
1. Strength of Character Voice:
• Strong: Each character’s voice feels distinct, and their personality and emotional state come through in how they speak (e.g., tone, word choice, speech patterns).
• Weak: The dialogue feels flat or interchangeable, lacking individuality or emotion.
2. Use of Subtext:
• Strong: The scene implies emotional undercurrents or a deeper conflict without spelling it out (e.g., a pause, a change in tone, or what is left unsaid).
• Weak: The dialogue is overly literal, leaving no room for interpretation.
3. Naturalism vs. Intentionality:
• Strong: The dialogue feels conversational yet purposeful, advancing characterization or relationships while staying believable.
• Weak: The dialogue is overly expository or too casual to serve a narrative purpose.
Follow-Up Workshop Questions:
• What does each character’s voice reveal about their personality, values, or emotions? How could their voice be sharpened further?
• How does the second character’s reaction add tension or complexity to the scene? Could it be made more subtle or layered?
• What subtext emerges from the dialogue, and how might it be deepened without becoming overt?
• Are there any parts where the dialogue feels unnatural or out of sync with the characters’ motivations?
Recommended Reading:
• Excerpt: The opening chapter of Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. Reid’s dialogue is sharp, layered with subtext, and reveals the complexities of race, privilege, and relationships.
• Short Story: The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This story masterfully uses dialogue and subtext to explore cultural dissonance and the unspoken tensions in relationships.
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