Crafting Dynamic Dialogue: The Complete Guide to Speaking, Conversing, Arguing, and Thinking in Fiction

by Writer's Digest Books (Editor), Cheryl St. John (Foreword by)

Overview

Write authentic dialogue that invigorates your story!

Exceptional dialogue isn't just important when writing fiction--it's essential. In order to impress an agent or editor and keep readers turning pages, you need to deliver truly standout dialogue in every scene. Crafting Dynamic Dialogue will give you the techniques and examples you need to impress your readers.

This book is a comprehensive guide to writing compelling dialogue that rings true. Each section is packed with advice and instruction from best-selling authors and instructors like Nancy Kress, Elizabeth Sims, Steven James, Deborah Halverson, James Scott Bell, Donald Maass, Cheryl St. John, and many others. They'll show you how to:

   • Bend the rules to create a specific effect
   • Understand the role of dialogue in reader engagement
   • Use dialect and jargon effectively
   • Give every character a believable, unique voice
   • Set the pace and tone
   • Reveal specific character background details
   • Generate tension and suspense
   • Utilize internal dialogue
Whether you're writing flash fiction, a short story, or a novel-length manuscript, Crafting Dynamic Dialogue will help you develop, write, and refine dialogue to keep your readers hooked.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440345586
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	06/23/2016
Series:	Creative Writing Essentials
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	558,349
File size:	642 KB

Table of Contents

Foreword Cheryl St. John vi

Introduction 1

Part I An Introduction to Dialogue

Chapter 1 He Said, She Said Jack Smith 4

Chapter 2 The Purpose of Dialogue Gloria Kempton 13

Chapter 3 Rewriting the Rules Steven James 27

Chapter 4 "Say What?!" Quick Tips for Your Characters Sarah Domet 35

Chapter 5 Strengthen Your Dialogue Jerry Cleaver 40

Part II Crafting Great Dialogue

Chapter 6 The Source of Great Dialogue Elizabeth Sims 48

Chapter 7 Keys to Great Dialogue Jeff Gerke 59

Chapter 8 How to Craft Flawless Dialogue Elizabeth Sims 67

Part III The Basics of Dialogue

Chapter 9 Manner of Speech Jeff Gerke 76

Chapter 10 Believable Dialogue Deborah Halverson 84

Chapter 11 Handling Dialect & Jargon Jack Smith 105

Chapter 12 The Quirks of Using Dialogue in Science Fiction & Fantasy Steven Harper 113

Part IV Characters & Dialogue

Chapter 13 What Dialogue Can Do for Your Story Gloria Kempton 128

Chapter 14 Make Your Characters Sound Real Elizabeth Sims 133

Chapter 15 How Your Characters Speak Nancy Kress 154

Chapter 16 A Variety of Voices Chris Rogers 160

Part V Dialogue Sets the Stage

Chapter 17 Dialogue as a Means of Pacing Gloria Kempton 165

Chapter 18 Creating Active Dialogue James Scott Bell 181

Chapter 19 Using Dialogue to Reveal Story Setting & Background Gloria Kempton 187

Chapter 20 Putting Dialogue to Work James Scott Bell 206

Chapter 21 Using Dialogue to Set the Mood & Facilitate Emotion Gloria Kempton 210

Part VI Dialogue Drives the Plot

Chapter 22 Constructing Scenes with Dialogue Jordan Rosenfeld 232

Chapter 23 Tighten Your Scenes with Dialogue Donald Maass 247

Chapter 24 Understanding Internal Dialogue Elizabeth Sims 252

Chapter 25 Conflict in Dialogue James Scott Bell 261

Chapter 26 Fight for Those Arguments Nancy Kress 275

Chapter 27 Dialogue & Suspense James Scott Bell 280

Chapter 28 Talk It Out Sarah Domet 286

Permissions 289

Index 292