Class

“Say What?” Writing Dialogue that Speaks to the Reader

We talk every day. So why is writing dialogue so difficult? Dialogue serves many purposes in fiction: It reveals conflict and creates tension. It advances the storyline. It develops characters and must accurately represent the novel’s time and place. It must sound natural, but not too natural. Dialogue is important for what’s said—and what isn’t said. Those words between the quotation marks are the workhorses of your stories.

In this 4-session class, you’ll learn how to make characters speak so the reader listens. We’ll examine both the mechanics of dialogue—tags, dialect, speech patterns—as well how it serves your story.

We’ll read excerpts and stories from Honoree Fanonne Jeffers, David Burr Gerrard, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and others to examine how they elevate their dialogues. Both in-class and out-of-class writing exercises will help you develop your ear for how people speak.

Those who would like feedback on their writing will have the opportunity to receive it. If you’re mid-project with a story or novel, you’re welcome to bring dialogue-heavy scenes to work on in class. While not required, you will be encouraged to read your work aloud to allow you and your classmates to better hear the words on the page.

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.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.