Dialogue: Last Words

[Rachel Fox]

"Developing a feel for natural dialogue is, perhaps, one of the greatest difficulties that faces the beginner ... [It] is a subconscious, rather than a conscious process." -- Albert Terhune, "The Working Philosophy of a Playwright," Guide to Good Writing (Writer's Digest Books, 1994) at 43.

To develop this ability a writer needs to listen. Listen to those around you talk, absorb the rhythm and words of their speech and then translate those to the page. Hear the words as you write them. Read them out loud after they are written. Then refine, revise and polish until it sounds right.

Very often when I write, I see and hear the scene -- yes, like a movie -- and that is what I put on paper. I guess I am one of the lucky ones that can see and hear my story and make the transition to the written word. But I think anyone who really has the desire and the burning need to write can learn to do this -- it just takes time and lots and lots of practice.

Moni aka Monette Michaels/Rae Morgan and, of course, Rachel Fox