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Published byGeorge Barber Modified over 9 years ago
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By Award-Winning Dialogue Writer John Geary
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1. An Overall Subject 2. Pre-writing 3. Writing 4. Feedback 5. Editing
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Pick from a list Be told what to write about Pick a subject out of thin air Don’t make subject too broad
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1. Creating web of ideas 2. Make a possible timeline 3. Free Writing
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Know Your Actors Keep it appropriate (level, content) If using difficult language, do it phonetically Style – narrative, persuasive, descriptive Know Your Audience Keep it appropriate (level, content) Keep it interesting
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Imagine you are the actors speaking Don’t write as if you are speaking it, but as if THEY (the actors) are speaking it. Don’t worry about grammar and mechanics.
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Check it Yourself Read it through for time purposes Check grammar, spelling, mechanics Run through with Actors Have actors read in front of you Get their opinion Make notes on anything too difficult or too wordy.
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Using notes from feedback, re-write dialogue. Read final draft for time appropriateness. Make copies for number of actors.
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San Hu Elementary’s Director comes to John. “We have a dialogue competition and we would like you to write some dialogue. The subject is beautiful vacation places in Taiwan, so we want you to write about your winter break vacation.” Two of our sixth grade girls will be reading the dialogue.
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The two girls see each other for the first time after winter break back at school. They are very excited to see each other. Penny : Hey Sally! It’s good to see you! Sally : It’s good to see you, too, Penny. Where did you go for your break? Penny : Oh, I just stayed at home. How about you? Where did you go? Sally : Oh my God, it was so cool. I went down to Kunding. Penny : I am so jealous. How was it? Sally : It was beautiful. I took the high speed rail down to Kaoshiung (make a gesture like a rocket), and then I took a taxi to the hotel.
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Penny : Was the hotel nice? Sally : It was real nice. It was called the Surf Shack Hotel, Bar and Grill. The restaurant served hamburgers and sandwiches. Penny : What did you see while you were there? Sally : First I went and had a picnic in Kunding Park. I saw some monkeys and a goat. Penny : That is so neat. Sally : Yes, but the best part was going swimming at Baisha. Penny : You went swimming?? Wasn’t it cold?? Sally : You’d think so, looking at all the people NOT in the water. I don’t understand those silly people. The temperature in the air was 24 degrees, but the water temperature was 25 degrees. It felt great.
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Penny : Did you see any sea monsters? Sally : No, silly, but I did come face to face with a baby sea snake. Penny : Oh my gosh, Sally, don’t you know the sea snake is the deadliest snake in Taiwan? Sally : Yes, but I’ve seen enough Animal Planet to know that sea snakes will not attack. Remember, Look, don’t touch!! Penny : Well thank you Mrs. Jock Coo-stoe. You’ll have to tell me more about your trip later. We have to get to class. Sally : You mean, like the giant ball I got in and rolled down the hill? Penny : I am so jealous. Sally : Next time we can both go.
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I am proud to say that the only change the girls wanted me to make was to change the names of the girls (I forget their names). I am even more proud to announce that these girls won second prize in the contest.
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Write some dialogue. For 2-3 people Time limit for dialogue 2-3 minutes Topic: the dangers of driving in Taiwan
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