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Creating Dialogue
Introduction
Dialogue is all of the things a character says, and it’s a key part of a well-written play. Good dialogue can make the characters seem more realistic and the play more dramatically interesting, but it can also reveal the play’s message and theme. This guide will give you some tips on creating effective dialogue.
Terminology
Dialogue: the words spoken by characters in a play.
Rhythm: the pattern of a play’s dialogue.
Exposition: any information about the characters or the story that the audience needs in order to understand the play.
Free-write: writing whatever comes to mind without changing it or censoring it.
Subtext: the actual meaning behind a character’s words.
Context & Analysis
Preparation
Before you start crafting what your characters say, you’ll want to know as much about them as possible. That way you can give them a specific voice. After all, a fifteen-year-old student is probably going to speak differently than a fifty-year-old business executive. And a business executive who is stressed to the max is probably going to talk differently
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Kevan Dunkelberg
Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright