For the Young Writers

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• For the Young Writers

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Why write dialogue?

• To communicate our ideas!
• 1. We write because we have something to share!!
• 2. There is an overall meaning of the play. This
  is called the theme.
• 3. We want the audience to learn something.
• Write down the theme of your play.

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Conflict of a Play

• Conflict is the basis of the play.
• Two opposing forces are at work.
• Somebody or something must win by the end of the
  play.
• Write down the two opposing forces of your play.

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Three Ingredients of Dialogue

• Character
• Information/Exposition
• Plot

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Character

• Character wants or needs something.
• Through words, audience discovers a characters
  personality.
• A character has a personality by acting and
  reacting to the action around them.
• A character must learn or change in some way by
  the end of the story.
• Write down two characters in your play.

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Information/Exposition

• Uncover the information needed for the audience
  to understand the story.
• Tells us the time of year, the time of day, the
  geographic location of the play, or the exact
  date, if necessary.
• Gives important background to the conflict.

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Plot

• Sequence of events in the story.
• There is an order that is to be revealed using
  action and dialogue.
• Beginning, middle and end.

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Plot

• Beginning
• Something said or done must start the action in
  motion.
• Exact moment within the script.
• Two forces can be identified.
• Write down the beginning of your play.

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Plot

• Middle
• Something happens within the play that turns
  those two forces toward each other.
• Audience knows that the two forces will meet at
  some point.
• Usually occurs half way through the play.
• Write down the middle of your play.

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Plot

• End
• The two forces meet and a winner emerges.
• Someone in the play gets what they want.
• Someone in the play overcomes their obstacle.
• Conflict is resolved.
• Write down the end of your play.

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TIPS

• Dialogue is meant to spoken aloud.
• Do not write ums, ahs, gees in to the
  dialogue. The actor can do that!
• It is best not to write too much slang in
  dialogue.
• Listen to what your characters are saying in your
  imagination.

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REMEMBER

• Dialogue is meant to reveal aspects of the
  conflict in character, information, or plot.
  Everything else should be cut!

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THANKS!!!

• Now lets get to work..