Writing Dialogue

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Writing Dialogue

• (and internal monologue)

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Why write dialogue

• Information about a characters background,
  social status, and education.
• What the character is thinking
• Advance the plot
• Build up dramatic tension

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Example

• She looked sadly off in the distance. I
  realized nothing I do will ever be good enough.
  I just want my mom to love me - Kelly stopped,
  choking on the words.
• Jane watched her friend, not knowing what to do
  or say. Finally, she hugged her friend tightly.
  You dont ever have to prove yourself to me.
• Kelly wiped a tear away. I knowIm just
  tired of trying

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Formats to use

• Dashes (-) to show sudden break in thought or
  interruption
• Ellipses () to show faltering speech or pause
• Tab (new paragraph) when a new person is speaking
• Double quotation marks vs. single quotation marks.

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Now you try!

• Look at your photograph/mental snapshot. What
  sort of dialogue will you be having?

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Internal Monologue

• Writers use interior monologue to get inside
  their characters (and in this case, that would be
  you and the people involved with your memory) to
  reveal THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS.

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Interior Monologue Format

• It is suggested that you use italics to highlight
  a characters internal thoughts.
• I wonder if she ever loved me, Brad thought to
  himself. There was a knot in his stomach as he
  walked up to the door.

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You try!

• Look at your photograph/memory again. What
  thoughts were racing through your head as your
  were experiencing your memory?