Crafting Authentic Dialogue: Unleash Your Characters' Voices

Welcome to "Writing While Distracted," the podcast that transforms scattered thoughts into literary brilliance. I'm Brenda Murphy, your neuro-spicy writing coach, and today, we're diving into the art of dialogue in your writing.

Dialogue can make or break a novel, and for many, it’s the most challenging part of storytelling. Whether you're neurodivergent or neurotypical, our unique perspectives can add depth and authenticity to dialogue. In this episode, we explore strategies to polish your dialogue, making it natural, purposeful, and character-driven.

Learn how to cut out filler words, balance dialogue with action, and use subtext to convey emotions and relationships. We discuss the importance of avoiding info dumps and how to effectively tag dialogue with actions rather than overusing "he said, she said."

We also delve into the technical aspects of punctuating dialogue and offer insights from classic and contemporary films that excel in dialogue. By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with the tools to create engaging and authentic conversations in your writing.

Join us next time on "Writing While Distracted" as we continue to unravel the mysteries of the writer's mind. Until then, keep writing, keep wandering, and embrace the distractions that fuel your creativity.

Show notes

Free resources for writers

https://brendalmurphy.com/resources-for-writers/

Sign up for my newsletter and get a free character workbook https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ofxxsx32dj

My podcast about revisions and editing:  Mastering Revisions: Turning Rough Drafts into Polished Gems https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xhk2p-167fa2b

Sandra Gerth’s fantastic book Show Don’t Tell:  https://www.amazon.com/Show-Dont-Tell-descriptions-characters-ebook/dp/B01LXFJ0AC/

MIlianote

    https://milanote.com

Scrivener

https://www.literatureandlatte.com

Revisions and Editing Steps

To recap the process, I use to get my rough as hell draft to a finished product to send to an editor, publisher, or out on submission is:

• Round1: Revisions: structure, pacing, character arcs, genre conventions, continuity, and attending to items that require research.


• Round 2: Language: word choice, refining prose, pacing, dialogue, scene descriptions, character descriptions, continuity. *At this point I send it to my beta readers.


• Round 3: Proofing: Suggestions from Beta readers, grammar, spelling, punctuation, copy edits, line edits formatting for submission or publication. Copy edits, line edits.


• Round 4: Final proofing read through before submission or publishing.