1. Session 9: Grounding Dialogue in Scenes
Teaching Point: Today I want to teach you how to insert dialogue into your story to enhance it for your readers and that you need to make sure that you ‘turn on the lights’ in your stories by grounding your characters in scenes. Make sure to show your characters’ actions as well as the time or place, so your readers don’t feel disoriented!

2. But first…let’s discuss dialogue!
What is dialogue? What does it look like?

3. Understanding Dialogue
Dialogue is an essential part of creating a unique story. Much of what makes dialogue successful is the author’s use of “Dialogue tags,”
There are many different ways to say things to create a picture in your readers head
Review the alternate words sheet

4. 5 rules of dialogue
Rule #1: When you are using a dialogue tag to introduce a quote, place the comma between the last letter of the tag and the quotation marks.
Example:
The man looked around the room saying, “Must I never be at peace?”

5. Dialogue Rules cont.
Rule #2: When you place a dialogue tag in the middle of a sentence, you must place commas on both sides of the dialogue tag and a period at the end of the quote. You only capitalize the first part of the sentence.
Example:
“I was wondering if we might be able to go to the park,” Ashley said, “because it is such a beautiful day.”

6. Dialogue rules cont.
Rule #3: A period can be used if the dialogue tag is in the middle of two separate sentences without a transition word such as “because” or “so”.
Example:
“People are mistaken about George,” Robert stated. “He is a big man, but a real nice guy.”

7. Dialogue rules cont.
Rule #4: If the person speaking is asking a question and the question mark is before the dialogue tag, the quote does NOT need a comma before the last quotation mark and dialogue tag. Also, if there is a question, there needs to be a period after the dialogue tag and the first letter after it needs to be capitalized.
Example:
“I thought we were going to the store?” Rita asked. “I really need to pick up milk for the baby.”

8. DIALOGUE RULES CONT.
Rule #5: If you are creating dialogue between two people, make sure the first line of each quote is indented. If the dialogue consists of short, direct statements, each statement or question needs to be indented.
Example:
“True,” she said, “I didn’t think about it like that.”
“Why not?” Peter replied. “It seems to be something that you are used to doing without question.”
“I know,” Peggy answered, “but I guess I wasn’t that prepared.”
“That just isn’t like you.”
“Peter, I realize that. Please give me a little slack,” Peggy retorted.

9. Scenes
Story from my life: Woke up in the middle of the night in the pitch black and was disoriented
Sometimes your readers get just as lost and disoriented when they read your pieces. You need to make sure that doesn’t happen!
Remember SCENES are:
Are small moments, or mini-stories
Include a clear setting that is woven throughout the moment
Have characters who are thinking, talking, acting, or perhaps doing all of those things
Contain a character motivation and obstacle of some sort

10. Student Example to Analyze
I was so embarrassed. I didn’t know what to say, “Um…” “Just apologize,” she said. “I’m sorry,” I said. “You’re forgiven. Let’s go get a slice,” she said.

11. Thoughts? Some things work here! Characters are talking
We can tell how they are feeling
But they are floating!
Readers are disoriented.

12. Revised Story
Make sure it is a complete scene! Characters are talking, thinking, feeling and moving within a setting!

13. I was so embarrassed. I didn’t know what to say
I was so embarrassed. I didn’t know what to say. “Um…” I kicked a pile of leaves that had gathered at the base of one of the trees on Bergen Street. My face felt like it was so hot it would melt. A breeze wooshed and leaves danced on the sidewalk. “Just apologize,” she said. She pulled her collar tighter and buttoned the top button. I snuck a glance at her face. She was biting her bottom lip. I knew it was hard for her to ask for an apology. An acorn fell off a tree and ricocheted off a car parked on the corner. The smell of tomato sauce and garlic wafted in the cool late October air. My stomach growled. I snuck another peek at her and now she was stomping every leaf on the sidewalk. Moving intentionally to them and then crushing them under her boots as she walked. My heart pounded. What if I apologize and she didn’t forgive? What if I didn’t and she never spoke to me again. “I’m sorry,” I said. She turned her head and smiled. “You’re forgiven. Let’s go get a slice,” she said. She pointed to the pizza shop, two doors down. I raced ahead, stomach still growling, so I could hold the door.

14. Thoughts: Could you picture what was going on? Did you see the place?
Group Story: You try it
As a group pair up or work is a team of three and write a scene containing your characters.
Remember you are each responsible for writing your characters part
Use the rules of dialogue to guide you!

15. Workshop Time Group Story
Review the scene you put your characters in yesterday involving a trip to the movies.
Now work to revise your sections putting in dialogue to tell a better story.
Only work to revise your characters lines
Use all the proper rules of dialogue
You will have 6 minutes!
Individual Story – You need to begin to connect dialogue to your story
Spend the rest of class putting your characters into a scene – that involves dialogue