STEP 3: Writing—Recording the Conversation
Regardless of the context in which the dialogue appears, the writing process is the
same:
-^ Write the exact words of the speaker, including spellings that help the reader
hear the pronunciation of the words.
-^ Use sentence fragments as appropriate or necessary to enhance characterization
or maintain style.
-^ Unless you are writing a script, enclose the speaker’s words in quotation marks.
[See Chapter 37, Scripts.]
-^ If a speaker’s words fall into two or more paragraphs, omit the closing quotation
marks at the end of all but the last paragraph. Open quotation marks, however,
should appear at the beginning of every paragraph. Study the sample dialogue
later in this chapter to see paragraph modeling.
- Add^ descriptions^ that^ help^ the^ reader^ hear^ the^ tone^ of^ voice^ or^ vocal^ inflections.
-^ Add descriptions that help the reader see the speaker’s nonverbal reactions.
-^ Start a new paragraph each time a new character speaks. Because a new
paragraph (followed by closing quotation marks) indicates a change in speaker,
you can eliminate many of the repetitious he said and she said tag lines. Study
the sample dialogue to see paragraph modeling.
STEP 4: Revising—Checking the Content
Read the dialogue aloud, perhaps with a friend or friends who will read other char-
acters’ parts. Listen carefully to the dialogue, asking yourself these questions:
- Does^ the^ conversation^ sound^ natural?^ Have^ I^ avoided^ a^ stilted,^ awkward,^
uncharacteristic speech pattern? - Does^ the^ conversation^ fit^ the^ character?^ Are^ his^ words^ and^ sentences^
appropriate for his age, sex, education, environment, occupation, and
emotional attitude?
-^ Will the reader be bored with too much irrelevant conversation, or is every part
essential to furthering the plot or the characterization?
-^ Is the dialogue snappy, to the point, avoiding lengthy speeches or lengthy
sentences?
Revise to improve the natural conversation flow and achieve your purpose.
STEP 5: Proofreading—Checking the Techniques
Certain techniques peculiar to writing dialogue require attention beyond the usual
checks for grammar, mechanics, and usage:
Dialogue / 179