Writing Interesting and Effective Dialog

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Dialog performs several functions in a story.

1. Dialog allows the reader to hear the voice of the character. It is an opportunity to use regionalisms and particularities of speech. Even to write in pauses if that was typical of the person.

“Ain’t much wrong with it,” my grandfather would say when he was pleased with something.

2. Dialog allows us to show and not tell. It permits the writer to put “tell” elements into the voice of the character rather than that of the author. It thus become...