Dialogue Writing

INTRODUCTION:  

“Can we talk alone?”  

No, one can never do that…………… 

We always need someone to talk to. The words, sentences, or phrases we use while talking are called dialogues.  

Dialogue is a conversation between two or more speakers. We come across several people daily in our school, college, workplace, etc. The conversation takes place every minute. 

Let us complete a sample dialogue. 

Susan is being interviewed for the job of teacher in a school. Complete the dialogue by filling in the gaps. 

Interviewer : Why do you think you (i )…………………………….? 

Susan : Mam, I am qualified for the job and I have a passion for children and teaching. All these traits make me suitable for the job. 

Interviewer : Can (ii)……………………..any foreign language? 

Susan : Yes, I can speak and write German. 

Interviewer : What (iii)………………………. in graduation? 

Susan : Mam, I have graduated in Chemistry Honours. 

Interviewer : Do you (iv)……………………… experience? 

Susan : Yes, I have teaching experience of 5 years in a public school. 

Interviewer : Well, then we may consider you for the job. 

Here Are The Answers 

1. Are suitable for the job  

2. You speak  

3. Were your subjects  

4. Have any teaching 

Put the sentences in proper order to prepare a meaningful dialogue: 

(General theme.) 

1. Michael prefers coffee please. 

2. Thanks a lot. 

3. Would you like to have tea or coffee? 

4. Ok. Two coffees please. 

Here Are The Answers!!!! 

1. Would you like to have tea or coffee 

2. Michael prefers coffee, please. 

3. Ok. Two coffees please. 

4. Thanks a lot. 

Effective way to write dialogue writing 

• Read the entire questions thoroughly.  
• Understand the gist of the entire conversation. 
• Using the grammatical skill of the direct speech /voice, complete the unsolved dialogues by going through the previous or the next dialogue to get the clue what is being discussed. 

Tips To Write A Good Dialogue: 

1. First read the preceding dialogues and the following dialogues. 

2. Then try to understand the topic being discussed. 

3. Tense of the dialogue should be used according to the situation. 

4. It should appear to be natural. 

5. The words and expressions used should be to the point so that they convey the idea clearly. 

Dialogue writing takes place between two or more characters are represented as exchanging their ideas. 

1. Some common conversations for dialogue writing are: 

1. Greeting conversation 

1. Seeing off people 

2. Interviews/discussions/enquiries etc. 

3. Regarding goal 

4. Personal talks and discussions with family members and relatives. 

5. Miscellaneous. 

2. Greeting conversation starters are for dialogue writing: 

1. Hello! / Hi! 

2. Good morning / afternoon / evening 

3. How are you? / How are you doing? /Hope all is well 

4. Fine / Fine, thanks / Okay 

5. What’s new? / What’s new with you? 

6. Not much / Not too much 

3. Phrases for ‘seeing off people’ in dialogue writing 

1. Goodbye! / Bye! 

2. Good night! 

3. Take care! 

4. See you later / soon / tomorrow 

1. Special features of dialogue writing  

In a dialogue there are two winners. I learn from you; you learn from me. We may compromise or agree to differ. It is profoundly reciprocal and acknowledges similarity and difference equally.  

2. Dialogue Rules: 

1: A direct quotation begins with a capital letter. James shouted, “See you in the playground!”  

“Is it true?” asked Huck. 

2. When a quotation is interrupted into two parts with words like “he asked” 

 or “the teacher demanded,” the second part begins with a lower-case letter. 

For example:  

“What are some of the things,” Mrs. Jones inquired, “that make college  

 so much fun?” “One thing I like,” replied Smith, “is recess!” 

3. When writing a dialogue, all punctuation marks at the end of the quotation go inside the quotation marks. “Let’s visit the museum,” suggested Jennifer. Joseph replied, “Didn’t we go there last weekend?” “But when we did,” Linda added, “we didn’t see the Ancient Egyptian exhibit.” 

4. Make a new paragraph (indent) when a different person begins to speak. “Last night, I dreamt that I ate a giant marshmallow,” Lawrence said. “Was that anything like the dream you had about eating your way through a mountain of fruit cocktail?” asked Samson “Scarier,” Liva explained. “This time I woke up and my pillow was gone.”