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What are some techniques to reveal your theme through dialogue without being preachy?

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Dialogue is one of the most powerful tools in a writer's arsenal. It can reveal character, create tension, convey information, and express emotion. But dialogue can also serve a deeper purpose: to advance the plot and theme of your story. In this article, you will learn some techniques to use dialogue effectively to enhance your storytelling.

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Express themes through actions:

Instead of having characters state the theme, show it through their choices and struggles. This approach keeps dialogue natural and engages readers in discovering the deeper message.### *Leverage subtext and tension:Use hidden meanings and conflicts within dialogue to reveal the theme. This creates suspense and allows readers to infer the underlying message without feeling preached to.

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1 Define your theme

Before you write any dialogue, you need to have a clear idea of what your theme is. Theme is the central message or insight that your story conveys. It is not a moral or a lesson, but a universal truth or question that resonates with your readers. For example, some common themes are love, justice, freedom, identity, and fate. To define your theme, ask yourself: what do you want your readers to think or feel after reading your story? What is the main conflict or dilemma that your characters face? How do they change or grow as a result?

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2 Show, don't tell

One of the most common mistakes that writers make is to use dialogue to tell the readers what the theme is, rather than showing it through the actions and reactions of the characters. This can make your dialogue sound preachy, unnatural, or boring. Instead of telling your readers what your theme is, show them how it affects your characters and their choices. For example, instead of having a character say "I believe in freedom", show them fighting for their freedom, or struggling with the consequences of their freedom. Use dialogue to reveal your characters' opinions, beliefs, values, and motivations, and how they relate to your theme.

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Melissa G Wilson

Helping Thought Leaders Write, Publish, Launch, and Market their Books | Publishing Innovator and Book Creation Coach | Ask About Our Unique Marketing Support Circles
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For dialogue here is a non-fiction example: "Boy Gene, I can't go to our team meeting today. I'm just too busy." Jack said. "I understand but we would appreciate your help. Can you please make some time to pitch in?" Gene responded. "I would if I could, but if I don't pay attention to my main workload, I might not have a job next week," Jack stated. "Jack, I have projects too, but your help will be invaluable and could mean the difference between success and failure." Jack thought for a moment before finally nodding his head. "Ok. I'll find some time to help out on the project." "Great! We really appreciate it," said Gene with a thankful smile. "No problem, just let me know what needs to be done and when," replied Jack.

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???Matthew J. Gaydos???

Cost and Center Sales at Weis Markets, Inc.
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Yes. I make my thoughts come alive through my adjectives and explanations. I will never hurt you to have people look over your work just to make sure you are on the right track. It just may make you a better person. Melissa, I like your thoughts Keep up the good work.

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Gregory Prince

Sales Development, BDR, Powerlifter, Author, Proud Father, Artist, Creative
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There's a lot of telling in this instruction. One might say that contradicts the point being made. Shall we say there is a balance to achieve with showing and telling.

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Deanna Russo

Teaching People LinkedIn? Using The Triangle Strategy/LinkedIn? Trainer, Speaker & Author/Attract The People You Want To Talk To/Mom Taxi/Buffalo Bills Fan
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Telling the stories does a much better job in getting your value across to your audience because you are taking your readers on a journey. You are showing them how it’s done instead of telling them “Do it this way.”

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3 Use subtext and conflict

Another way to use dialogue to advance your plot and theme is to use subtext and conflict. Subtext is the hidden or implied meaning behind what the characters say or don't say. Conflict is the opposition or tension between the characters or their goals. Subtext and conflict can create interest, suspense, and drama in your dialogue, and also reveal your theme indirectly. For example, if your theme is betrayal, you can use subtext and conflict to show how your characters lie, manipulate, or distrust each other, or how they cope with being betrayed or betraying someone else. Use dialogue to create gaps, contradictions, or surprises between what the characters say and what they mean or do.

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Theresa Carr

Functional Skills tutor North West
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I write children's adventure stories for my great nieces and nephews. Their own personalities, favourite films, books, create the adventures. Excerpt shows how dialogue can reveal suspense and intrigue: “Hey! You two, why have you boarded my special yacht?!I'm Sir Walt you know!" "Well, Mr Walt, umm...we need to save all the Disney costumes! We escaped our ship, as we overheard some nasty strangers plotting to sell them off!!" sobbed Olivia and Emelia. "Mmm.." thought Walt to himself, "that's news, that doesn't happen in my films or scripts, here's a challenge!" "Jump on board girls, no tears, lets get steering and saving!!" "Emelia, his name sounds familiar doesn't it?" whispered Olivia. "Yes, but where from ?" replied Emelia curiously.

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4 Vary your dialogue

Finally, to use dialogue effectively to advance your plot and theme, you need to vary your dialogue according to the context, tone, and purpose of each scene. Not every dialogue scene has to be about your theme, but every dialogue scene should serve a function in your story. For example, some dialogue scenes can be used to establish the setting, introduce the characters, or provide exposition. Other dialogue scenes can be used to build the mood, foreshadow the events, or create humor or irony. Vary your dialogue according to the genre, style, and voice of your story, and use different techniques such as dialogue tags, beats, pauses, interruptions, or dialects to make your dialogue realistic, engaging, and distinctive.

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What are some techniques to reveal your theme through dialogue without being preachy?

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1 Define your theme

2 Show, don't tell

3 Use subtext and conflict

4 Vary your dialogue

Writing

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What are some techniques to reveal your theme through dialogue without being preachy?

1

2

3

4

1 Define your theme

2 Show, don't tell

3 Use subtext and conflict

4 Vary your dialogue

Writing

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