Knowing how to write dialogue in a novel is right up there, on
the same level of importance, as the knowing how to write the
scenes that contain the dialogue. There are two things a
novelist needs to know about dialogue. Dialogue in any novel
must always perform the following huge functions: 1. Dialogue
must characterize and individualize the speaker. 2. Dialogue
must give the plot, the story forward momentum. You may
recognize these function as being the same things said of
writing scenes. It’s true, in this way, scenes and dialogue are
united in purpose, go hand in hand, and all that. Learning how
to write dialogue that shines involves some work, but if you can
learn to write a compelling scene, you can also learn how to
write dialogue that talks volumes. To get started, let’s look at
some dialogue writing techniques. How to Write Dialogue that
Shows Individualization This first function requires a thorough
understanding of your characters. From the discussion about
developing characters, you know: - The pr