🎙️ Struggling to write natural, engaging dialogue? Jeff Elkins is here to help.

In this episode of The Author Next Door, Cassie Newell and Angela Haas talk craft with Jeff Elkins, award-winning author, editor, and the brilliant mind behind The Dialogue Doctor. Together, they unpack what makes dialogue really work—and how to avoid the most common pitfalls.

We dive into:

The biggest dialogue mistakes writers make (and how to fix them)

Balancing inner thoughts and spoken words on the page

How to handle conversations with large casts (without confusing your reader)

Making your side characters stand out with just a few lines

Writing effective dialogue in short stories vs. novels

And how community and feedback can sharpen your storytelling

If you’ve ever cringed at your own dialogue, overwritten a scene to death, or struggled to make characters sound distinct—this episode is packed with practical advice and fresh inspiration.

👇 What’s your biggest dialogue dilemma? Drop it in the comments and let’s talk it out!

🔔 Subscribe for more! ➡  https://www.youtube.com/@TheAuthorNextDoor

To find and learn more about The Dialogue Doctor, Jeff Elkins via his website: https://dialoguedoctor.com/ 

Join The Dash: https://dialoguedoctor.com/the-dash-spring-2025/

🎙️ To Find More About The Author NextDoor ➡ https://theauthornextdoor.com/ 

🗺️ Other places to find us and connect:
ANGELA HAAS
Choose your own adventure 
🚀💕  https://ahaaswrites.com/

CASSIE NEWELL
Romance 🩷 https://ckdarling.com/ 
Young Adult 🧚  https://authorcmnewell.com/ 
Writing Coach 📚  https://www.sassywritingcoach.com/ 

keywords writing, dialogue, characterization, authors, storytelling, prose, editing, coaching, dialogue doctor, Jeff Elkins