Class

Let's Talk: Writing Dynamic Dialogue

Dialogue is so much more than characters talking. Dialogue can communicate a story’s tone, dictate the energy of a scene, move the plot forward, express important information, provide background context, and make the world come to life—all while sounding like the authentic voice of a character. No wonder it can be hard to write! In this no-pressure, single-session class, we’ll learn what goes into compelling dialogue—and what should probably stay out of it. We’ll watch clips and read scenes from TV shows and films to see examples of dialogue in action, and we’ll use the lessons we learn to improve our own dialogue writing. We’ll explore the many roles dialogue can play in a script, and experiment with how dialogue interacts with the visual elements of a scene. Through writing exercises, we’ll learn about the best places to start and end conversations, how to create distinct voices for our characters, and how to be sure the words we write feel authentic to the characters who speak them. While this class will focus on dialogue in screenplays—both on the page and on-screen—writers of all genres will learn practical tips to boost their dialogue, no matter the medium!

All Classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Time.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.