This month we are going to be focusing on features of your writing. This week is dialogue, then character, point of view, setting, and plot. Each week I will upload a new piece of literature under the weekly readings tab on the Monday, and publish a review on the Friday explaining why this piece of literature works so well for it's theme.
Dialogue is a tricky aspect of literature to get right, but when it's done well it helps ground your piece in reality whilst also breaking up the page to create interest.
To get yourself started, begin tuning yourself in to how people speak around you. This could be done when you're out, at home, on the tv or in books.
Once you start listening, you'll realise how different people follow different speech patterns, emphasise certain words or use different accents. It can be particularly interesting to listen to people who are not native English speakers as they will use language differently, and give different importance to certain words. This can be really effective in a story, but always remember to reflect the accurately and appropriately!
Write down conversations and speech patterns in your notebook (although not word for word if you are using real people's conversations without their consent). This way you can refer back to them when creating a character.
Your notebook should contain a wealth of inspiration for you, and the more dialogue you put in it and practice writing, the more successful and realistic your character's dialogue, and internal monologue, will become.
Happy writing!
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