How Do You Write Convincing Dialogue?

A writer has to create authentic voices but also has to keep the reader engaged. This means that it is unwise to write speech just as you hear it in the street. Most of us take longer to say what we mean than you have space for in a short story or screenplay. The magic lies in creating similar patterns of speech to those you hear in real life but editing enough to keep the story moving and hold the reader's attention. Writers must use their listening skills every day to learn more about how other people speak. Dialogue needs to be edited many times. A common mistake is to overwrite, to have characters say too much. Dialogue should be used to move the story along whether it features in a novel, short story, play or screenplay. In visual media it is important to consider whether a gesture or expression could be used instead of words. Always read dialogue aloud after each change to make sure it sounds right.

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