Today on the block, Barbara Wallace joins us to discuss the importance of honing your dialogue skills... in writing.  Dialogue is not just conversation between characters.  It is a vital story tool that, if done properly, should:

Advance the plot

Can often point out subtext

Reveal story information

Provide insight into character

Heighten tension

Character’s with heavy accents…don’t overdo it. Transition from very brief dialect and then make it easy for the reader going forward

Repetitive words that you hear in real life have no place in the story…”Um, Like, Well” readers don’t want to read them over and over again

Sex noises during love scenes are a no no

Don’t over vary or over use your tags…”She Said, they replied, and he asked” are examples of good easy tags that can lubricate the dialogue

Dialogue is not a tool for info dumping

May you be inspired, feel empowered, and B. Well.

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.