How to Write Dazzling Dialogue: The Fastest Way to Improve Any Manuscript (Bell on Writing)

by James Scott Bell

The movie is about which philosophy Terry will ultimately accept. And it will be Edie's philosophy after all. So let's have Edie state her philosophy outright. It

Put the counterargument in the mouth of another character

Now, turn this into a real argument between the two characters

Here's a bonus tip: See Terry's last line? "I'd rather live like an animal …" A very cool way to present your theme is this: have the character who is going to change at the end state the opposite of the theme at the beginning. For example, in The Wizard of Oz, what's the lesson Dorothy learns? "There's no place like home." Early in Act 1, she argues the opposite.

So in your own novel, once you're set on the theme, have your Lead (or the character who changes) argue the other way sometime in Act 1.

Comic Relief

Comic relief via dialogue is one of the great, overlooked uses of fictional talk. When you can seamlessly integrate some light talk within a dramatic context, it is highly pleasing to readers.

Any novel or screenplay can benefit from moments of comic relief. They are fun to write, too.

Period Dialogue

You know what drives me crazy? Period dialogue that sounds too contemporary. Phrases that come from our time and are transported back into a medieval thriller.

So what's the answer? A good rule of thumb is to be as neutral as possible, and sprinkle in a period word every now and then.

Another tip: for educated and upper class characters, you can avoid contractions,

But for the lower classes in certain periods, the language would be somewhat less formal. You can make up your own contractions,