At the writing workshop

“What’s the use of dialogue—anybody?” said the facilitator.

A young writer, who’d attended the writing workshop, raised her hand and said, “To communicate.”

“What else?”

The young writer turned to look behind—

“No, I am still on you,” the facilitator said. “What else?”

“Uhm…I don’t know...”

“Think.” The facilitator snapped his fingers. “Think. Think.”

“Well…” the young writer said, “it’s like when you w—”

“You said to communicate. When you communicate what happens?”

“Share information.”

“Good. Tell us, what kind of information is interesting—in storytelling?”

“Hidden information,” the young writer said.

“Great!” He snapped his fingers again. “Secrets. Secrets surprise. Secrets pull the readers. So, through dialogue, characters can share out secrets, slowly, throughout the story. Great. Go on—what’s your name?”

“Milly,” the young writer said.

“Good, Milly. What else? What else do we use dialogue for?”

“I think,” Milly said, “through the talking, we can…we can learn who the character is?”

“U-huh…”

“Yea, kind of—like, we can know the nature of the char—”

“Brilliant, Milly. Yes, we can know the disposition of the character, from the way the character talks—continue.”

Milly scratched her head.

“Go on,” the facilitator said.

“For example,” Milly said, “words give a mood. Like, if the character is using sad—or happy words, then the scene will be the same…I think.”

“Tone!”

“Yes, tone.”

“Go on, Milly.”

“Maybe somebody else can add?”

“Ha. You want somebody else to help you? Choose.”

Milly selected another young writer to her left.

“Ummh…” the gentleman said, “to advance theme?”

“Are you sure?” the facilitator said.

And the gentleman said, “Yes, because…”

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