dialogue

The power of pauses: how to use silence effectively in fictional dialogue This is going to sound contradictory, but… silence matters in dialogue. Sometimes, it’s as important as what’s actually being said. The thing is, real conversations aren’t just about words flying back and forth at lightning speed. In fact, some of the most memorable […]

Dialogue vs exposition: finding the balance So, here’s the trouble with showing and not telling: showing usually takes a lot more words. There’s a wonderful quote from Anton Chekhov that goes: “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” I love it and I use it a

When (and how) to use fragmented dialogue in fiction You know how real conversations rarely sound like perfectly polished sentences? People um and ah, interrupt each other, trail off mid-thought, or just don’t quite say what they mean.  So why would fictional dialogue want to look like a grammar textbook?  I’ve talked elsewhere about how

Dialogue tags: What they are and how to use them Dialogue is one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s arsenal—but it’s also the tool that causes the most anxiety in emerging writers. Keeping your characters’ conversations flowing while injecting expository information, managing each individual voice, avoiding clunky phrasing, and charting a path around

Are you worried about making your characters’ dialogue sound “natural”? It’s much less important than you might think. Here’s why.

Dialogue is an amazing tool for an author, and often underappreciated. Read on for 5 tips and tricks to make your writing shine with dialogue.