Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips #92: The 5 Functions of Dialogue in Your Story
4 snips
May 23, 2023 AI Snips
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Refine Dialogue While Editing
- Focus on these dialogue principles while writing, but refine during editing.
- Truly understanding dialogue helps write stronger drafts, but perfection comes later.
Five Functions of Dialogue
- Dialogue should serve one of five functions: advancing plot, revealing character, establishing context, setting tone/mood, or revealing theme.
- Otherwise, it likely takes up unnecessary space.
Dialogue Example: The Ballerinas
- In "The Ballerinas", dialogue reveals information (350th anniversary), establishes conflict (casting choices, understudy), and changes scene dynamics (Natalie's firmness).
- This demonstrates how dialogue advances the plot.