by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells
Dialogue is a conversation between two or more.
Primarily found in North America, dialog is an alternative spelling of the word dialogue. This alternative spelling became popular in the 1980s when it became a computer term and has become the spelling used most often in the United States. The Oxford English Dictionary still shows the preferred spelling as dialogue.
Beyond the spelling question, dialog is what characters say. Powerful stories are dialog driven through carefully chosen word selections.
The four purposes of dialog in your story include:
1. Move your story forward.
In Luke 1:30-33 Scripture reports, “The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
With a relatively short conversation, the angel provides a lot of information that greatly moves forward the story of God’s plan for the world.
2. Reveal something important about your plot.
The angel of the Lord provides a vital and life-changing plot point when the angel says to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger,” (Luke 2:10-12).
3. Show something important about your character.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him,” (Matthew 2:1-3).
Scripture says Herod was greatly disturbed by the report of the Wisemen. Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem with these instructions, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
With this concise exchange, we quickly understand the integrity of the wise men who traveled long and far to worship the Savior. We also see the cunning and conniving character of Herod.
4. Give your character a unique voice.
When Simeon takes the eight-day-old Christ child into his arms, we hear the unique voice of a faithful saint who has waited on the Lord’s timing and understands his own place in the story.
Simeon praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel,” (Luke 2:28-32).
When writing, filter your dialog through these four purposes to be certain the segment is earning its place as a contributor to your project.
If the words your characters are speaking do not add to your story, how can you reword or add value to your dialog? After all, the conversations that take place between characters are often the reader’s favorite part.
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This is great, PeggySue---such practical advice for all writers. And I have often wondered what the correct spelling is for dialogue since I see it both ways. :)
ReplyDeleteCrystal, we can spell dialogue either way and be correct :) Thank you for checking in!
DeleteCrystal, thank you for stopping by to talk writing. We see both spellings and it's nice to know both are correct.
DeleteThis is a clear, concise checklist PeggySue. Thank's so much! : )
ReplyDeleteChris, thank you. I'm a fan of clear, concise checklists when I want to know how to do something :)
DeleteClear, concise checklists are my favorite for sharing helpful info. Thank you for checking in!
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