1. DIALOGUE Kimmery Martin kimmerymartin.com
Note: In this session, we will refer to the sample dialogue printed in the handout

2. “THE RULES”
1. Cut The Small Talk

3. 2. Avoid Unnatural Exposition
“THE RULES”
2. Avoid Unnatural Exposition

4. 3. Don’t Recreate Actual Speech
“THE RULES”
3. Don’t Recreate Actual Speech

5. 4. How To Use Dialogue Tags
“THE RULES”
4. How To Use Dialogue Tags
Sparingly: Avoid them if not needed.
Simply: Fancy is not necessarily good.
Accurately: does the word denote speech?

6. “THE RULES”
5. Avoid Adverb Abuse

8. “THE RULES”
6. Utilize Action Beats

9. Wrong: “Have this patient removed, please,” he sniffed arrogantly, waving at security.
Still wrong: “Have this patient removed, please,” he waved at security.
Not Wrong: “Have this patient removed, please.” He waved at security.

10. SPEAKING OF GRAMMAR….

11. 7. Stay True To Your Characters
“THE RULES”
7. Stay True To Your Characters

13. “THE RULES”
8. Tell, Don’t Show

14. 9. Reveal Information Through Conversation
“THE RULES”
9. Reveal Information Through Conversation

15. “THE RULES”
10. Create Some Drama

16. TROUBLESHOOTING Will The Story Make Sense Without The Dialogue?
Does Dialogue Add To Tension And Suspense?
Does Dialogue Impact the Character’s Situation?

17. TROUBLESHOOTING Do The Sentences Contain Variation?
Can You Tell Which Character Is Speaking?

18. EXERCISES & QUESTIONS