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Dialogue is the exchange of spoken words between two or more characters in a book, play, or other written work. In prose writing, lines of dialogue are typically identified by the use of quotation marks and a dialogue tag, such as "she said." In plays, lines of dialogue are preceded by the name of the person speaking.
It’s the magic that makes characters leap off the page, immersing us in their world. As a writer, I’m fascinated by the mechanics of great dialogue. So here are 20 of the best examples of writing dialogue that brings your story to life.
What is dialogue, and what is its purpose? Dialogue is what the characters in your short story, poem, novel, play, screenplay, personal essay—any kind of creative writing where characters speak—say out loud. For a lot of writers, writing dialogue is the most fun part of writing.
- Barbara Kingsolver, Unsheltered. In the opening of Barbara Kingsolver’s Unsheltered, we meet Willa Knox, a middle-aged and newly unemployed writer who has just inherited a ramshackle house.
- Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice. In the first piece of dialogue in Pride and Prejudice, we meet Mr and Mrs Bennet, as Mrs Bennet attempts to draw her husband into a conversation about neighborhood gossip.
- Naomi Alderman, The Power. In The Power, young women around the world suddenly find themselves capable of generating and controlling electricity. In this passage, between two boys and a girl who just used those powers to light her cigarette.
- Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go. Here, friends Tommy and Kathy have a conversation after Tommy has had a meltdown. After being bullied by a group of boys, he has been stomping around in the mud, the precise reaction they were hoping to evoke from him.
- Definition of Dialogue. Plato initially used the term “dialogue” to describe Socratic dialectic works. These works feature dialogues with Socrates, and they were intended to communicate philosophical ideas.
- Examples of Why Writers Use Dialogue. Dialogue, when used effectively in a literary work, is an important literary device. Dialogue allows writers to pause in their third-person description of a story’s action, characters, setting, etc., which can often feel detached to the reader if prolonged.
- Famous Lines of Dialogue from Well-Known Movies. Well-known movies often feature memorable lines of dialogue that allow the audience to connect with characters and have a greater understanding of the plot as well as enjoyment of the film.
- Writing Effective Dialogue. Writers often find it difficult to utilize dialogue as a literary device. This is understandable considering that most of the daily dialogue exchanged between people in reality is often insignificant.
Dec 5, 2021 · Captures the "voice" of a character. An opportunity for subtext and verbal irony. Written Dialogue. Dialogue in screenplays. Good dialogue tends to make or break a script, as the majority of what your reader will be doing is reading it. And of course, good dialogue on paper has to translate on-screen as well.
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Jul 8, 2022 · Dialogue examples from famous authors can help discover how to understand it and create your own. Get tips for writing dialogue and proper formatting, too.
