Dialogue Writing Article Archives - Now Novel Blog | Now Novel

Voices on the page: points to consider when writing dialogue

Arja Salafranca — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:09:58 +0000

The central job of dialogue in a novel is to move the plot forward, provide exposition and reveal who the characters are. Read on for some ways to write dialogue

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Dialogue writing examples from top books vs AI (2023)

Jordan — Mon, 15 May 2023 16:47:55 +0000

Dialogue writing examples from popular reads and AI teach us interesting things about what makes human-written dialogue better, juicier with voice, viewpoint, and balance between elements. Learn more.

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Context and subtext in dialogue: Creating layered speech

Jordan — Mon, 01 May 2023 14:13:23 +0000

What are context and subtext in dialogue? Why do they matter? How can you use both to create multiple levels of meaning and significance in speech? Find out.

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Writing dialogue: Complete guide to storied speech

Jordan — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 10:46:00 +0000

Writing dialogue is an important skill to develop so that characters' speech is imbued with voice and advances the story. Learn more in this complete guide to dialogue writing and formatting, with examples.

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Dialogue 101: Using dialogue tags vs action tags

Jordan — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 15:56:27 +0000

How do you show who's speaking in dialogue? When do you use 'she said'? When do you not? How else can you show a person's emotions or state of mind in conversation? Read definitions clarifying the uses of dialogue tags vs action tags, and examples that illustrate effective dialogue attribution:

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How to make dialogue in writing carry your story

Jordan — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 17:37:59 +0000

Dialogue in writing is tricky to master, but good dialogue carries the story. Dialogue may build pace and conflict, add tone and atmosphere, introduce and develop characters and more. Here are 5 tips to make your dialogue serve multiple useful purposes:

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7 dialogue rules for writing fantastic conversations

Bridget McNulty — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 12:30:58 +0000

Dialogue rules aren't set in stone but help us create believable characters who have distinct, memorable voices. The best dialogue gives insights into characters and their motivations. Getting dialogue punctuation right is important, as is keeping dialogue entertaining. Here are 7 dialogue rules for writing conversations worthy of eavesdropping:

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Writing conversations using setting (examples)

Jordan — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 15:43:32 +0000

Writing conversations that don't involve setting is like writing action scenes that don't involve movement. Great dialogue has more than disembodied voices. It anchors us in a place, in the context that occasions characters' interaction. Read tips for creating realistic dialogue by involving your setting:

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Realistic dialogue: Creating characters’ speech patterns

Jordan — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 11:18:59 +0000

Realistic dialogue moves stories along. When you give each character an interesting voice and persona, it's a joy to read their conversations. Varied, entertaining speech takes readers into the heart of your characters. Here are six ways to make characters' speech colorful and interesting:

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Writing tense dialogue: 5 ways to add arresting tension

Jordan — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 14:01:12 +0000

Writing tense dialogue is effective in making characters' conversations interesting. When every exchange is a pleasantry or obvious observation, dialogue doesn't do the work it can to move a story along. Tense dialogue, whether an argument between colleagues, lovers, or hero and villain, adds a note of exciting unpredictability. Here are 5 ways to add tension to your dialogue:

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