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Main Text From August 13, 2025 Meeting
August 2025
August 2025
Study and reference Notes
Mastering Dialogue
Crafting Authentic, Layered, and Purposeful Conversations in Fiction
August 13, 2025
Dialogue is the lifeblood of compelling fiction—it reveals character, advances plot, and immerses readers in your story’s world. But writing great dialogue isn’t just about transcribing speech; it’s an art form that balances realism, subtext, and narrative efficiency.
So, how do you craft dialogue that feels authentic yet purposeful? Let’s break it down.
1. The Art of Eavesdropping: Stealing Real Speech for Fiction
Why Eavesdrop?
Writers like Norman Mailer and Tom Robbins didn’t just invent dialogue—they stole it. Real conversations are messy, unpredictable, and full of quirks that polished fiction often lacks.
Where to Listen:
Cafés (the ultimate writer’s goldmine)
Public transit (overheard confessions, arguments, and absurdities)
Gyms (people mutter the weirdest things mid-workout)
Phone calls (one-sided convos force you to imagine the other half)
Ethical Eavesdropping:
Don’t record private conversations (that’s creepy).
Focus on speech patterns, not personal details.
Jot down rhythm, slang, interruptions, and unfinished thoughts—these make dialogue feel alive.
Pro Tip:
Notice non-verbal cues—how someone’s tone shifts when lying, or how a pause speaks louder than words. These nuances add depth to your characters.
2. Writing Natural (But Not Too Natural) Dialogue
Real speech is full of "ums," tangents, and small talk. Fiction? Not so much.
The Balancing Act:
Keep it concise—cut filler words unless they reveal character (e.g., a nervous speaker might stammer).
Read aloud—if it sounds clunky, it is clunky.
Use contractions ("I’m" vs. "I am")—unless your character is a robot (or a very formal Victorian).
Example:
Real speech: "Well, I was just thinking, um, maybe we could, like, go to the store or something?"
Fiction-ready: "We could go to the store." (Unless the hesitation reveals something important.)
3. The Magic of Subtext: What’s Not Said
Subtext is the implied meaning beneath the words—the tension, secrets, and unspoken emotions that make dialogue crackle.
Techniques for Layered Dialogue:
Avoid direct answers:
"Did you steal the money?"
"Why would I need to steal?" (Deflection = guilt?)
Use metaphors or sarcasm:
"Nice weather we’re having," she said, as the storm raged outside.
Let tension reveal motives:
Two characters discussing the weather while avoiding the real issue (a breakup, a betrayal).
Editing for Subtext:
Revise to cut obvious explanations. Trust your reader to read between the lines.
TIP: Hemingway’s short story, “Hills Like White Elephants” has been cited as a Master Class in use of subtext. It is in our list of recommended reading. Click this Link to read.
4. Grounding Dialogue: Avoiding "Floating Head" Syndrome
Ever read dialogue where characters talk in a void? No setting, no reactions—just words on a page? That’s ungrounded dialogue, and it’s disorienting.
How to Fix It:
Anchor speech with action:
"I can’t believe you did that." She crushed the napkin in her fist.
Use the environment:
"We need to talk." The coffee machine hissed, drowning out his reply.
Limit dialogue tags—but not too much.
"I’m leaving," he said. (Fine.)
"I’m leaving," he ejaculated. (Please, no.)
5. Exposition Without the Info-Dump
Nothing kills dialogue faster than characters explaining things they already know ("As you know, Bob, we’ve been married for 20 years…").
Exposition—background information about your world or characters—should flow naturally within dialogue, not feel forced or artificial.
Reveal Information Organically: Let characters mention details as they become relevant, rather than dumping information all at once.
Use Character Motivation: Characters should have a reason to share information. Reminiscing between old friends can reveal shared history.
Dialogue is for Characters, Not the Reader: Ensure that what’s said makes sense for the characters, not just to inform the audience.
Sprinkle, Don’t Dump: Spread out exposition in small, relevant pieces.
Sneaky Ways to Reveal Backstory:
Arguments: People reveal secrets when angry.
Miscommunication: "You never listen!" "I listened when you said you hated kids!"
Casual slips: "Your sister always did this too." (Wait, what sister?)
Final Checklist: Is Your Dialogue Working?
Before you call it done, ask:
✅ Does it sound natural when read aloud?
✅ Is there subtext, or is everything on the nose?
✅ Are characters reacting to their environment?
✅ Does it advance plot or reveal character? (If not, cut it.)
✅ Have I avoided "talking heads" with no grounding?
Now, Go Listen and Write!
The best dialogue feels effortless—but it’s the result of careful observation, revision, and a willingness to let characters speak for themselves (even when they’re lying).
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Discussion Questions With Model Answers
Discussion Questions
Mastering Dialogue
August 13, 2025
1. The text suggests "ethical eavesdropping" for dialogue inspiration. What are the boundaries between legitimate research and invasion of privacy, and how might writers navigate these ethical considerations?
Model Response: Writers should focus on capturing speech patterns, rhythms, and general conversational structures rather than personal content. The goal is understanding how people naturally speak—their hesitations, interruptions, and verbal tics—not documenting private information. This means avoiding recording devices, not taking notes on sensitive personal details, and treating overheard conversations as inspiration for authentic speech patterns rather than material to directly transplant into fiction.
2. The author argues that fiction dialogue should be "natural but not too natural." What specific elements of real speech should writers preserve versus eliminate, and why?
Model Response: Writers should preserve elements that reveal character or create authenticity—like stammering that shows nervousness or regional dialect that establishes setting. However, they should eliminate meaningless filler words, excessive tangents, and mundane pleasantries that don't serve the story. The key is selectivity: every "um" or incomplete thought should have a purpose, whether it's character development, tension building, or plot advancement.
3. How does subtext function differently in dialogue compared to narrative description? What makes subtext effective versus heavy-handed?
Model Response: Subtext in dialogue works through implication and indirection—characters say one thing while meaning another. Unlike narrative description, which can be explicit, dialogue subtext relies on the reader's ability to interpret underlying meanings. Effective subtext feels natural and allows multiple interpretations, while heavy-handed subtext becomes obvious symbolism or forced metaphor. The best subtext emerges from genuine character motivations and conflicts.
4. The text warns against "floating head syndrome." How does grounding dialogue in physical action and environment enhance the reader's experience?
Model Response: Grounding dialogue connects speech to physical reality, making conversations feel three-dimensional rather than abstract. When characters interact with their environment while speaking—fidgeting, reacting to sounds, moving through space—it creates a more immersive experience and often reveals additional layers of meaning. A character's physical actions can contradict their words, showing internal conflict or dishonesty.
5. What are the most common mistakes writers make when using dialogue to reveal exposition, and how can these be avoided?
Model Response: The biggest mistake is having characters state information they already know purely for the reader's benefit—the dreaded "As you know, Bob" syndrome. This breaks the illusion that we're overhearing real conversation. Better approaches include revealing information through conflict, misunderstandings, or casual references that feel organic to the situation. Characters should speak to serve their own needs, not the author's need to inform readers.
6. The author emphasizes reading dialogue aloud as a revision technique. What specific problems does this practice help identify that silent reading might miss?
Model Response: Reading aloud reveals rhythm problems, unnatural word choices, and awkward sentence structures that the eye might skip over. It helps identify whether dialogue flows smoothly, if characters have distinct voices, and whether the pacing matches the emotional content. Tongue-twisters, repetitive sounds, or sentences that leave you breathless all become apparent when spoken, as do moments where the dialogue doesn't match how people actually speak.
7. How can writers develop distinct character voices in dialogue while maintaining overall narrative coherence?
Model Response: Writers can create distinct voices through vocabulary choices, sentence structure, speech patterns, and what characters choose to say or avoid saying. Each character should have consistent linguistic fingerprints—perhaps one speaks in short sentences while another rambles, or one uses formal language while another prefers slang. The key is ensuring these differences feel motivated by character background and personality rather than arbitrary, and that all voices still serve the story's overall tone and purpose.
Writing Exercise
August 13, 2025
Exercise 1: The Subtext Café (Moderate Challenge)
Setup: You're sitting in a coffee shop and overhear two people having what appears to be a casual conversation about weekend plans. However, through careful listening, you realize they're actually discussing something much more serious—perhaps the end of a relationship, a job loss, a family secret, or a betrayal—without ever directly stating it.
Your Task: Write a 400-500 word dialogue scene where two characters discuss surface-level topics (weekend plans, the weather, ordering coffee, etc.) while the real conversation happening underneath is about something emotionally significant. The actual issue should never be explicitly stated, but readers should understand what's really going on through subtext, word choice, and the tension between what's said and what's meant.
Requirements:
Include physical actions and environmental details to ground the dialogue
Use deflection, metaphors, or indirect responses when characters avoid direct answers
Ensure each character has a distinct voice
Read your dialogue aloud before finalizing to test its natural flow
Exercise 2: The Chatter Box (Advanced Challenge*)
Your Task: Write a short story (up to 600 words) using dialogue and subtext only. (No exposition)
Requirements:
Reveal (flowing naturally without it feeling forced or artificial):
Character background, motivation, and emotion.
Story setting, plot, conflict, tension, climax, and resolution.
For Both Exercises, Come prepared to read your dialogue aloud to the group and discuss which techniques you employed and how you balanced authenticity with narrative purpose.
*TIP: Hemingway’s short story, “Hills Like White Elephants” has been cited as a Master Class in use of subtext. It is in our list of recommended reading Click this Link to read.
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