What We Talk About When We Talk About Dialogue (Online)

Great dialogue should have two goals: to 1) demonstrate conflict (i.e., further the plot) and 2) develop or reveal character. But how do we manage this sophisticated multitasking without our dialogue becoming stilted or, worse, mere filler? During this two-hour craft class, we will explore the work of Louise Erdich, Richard Ford, and J. D. Salinger to see how we can create tension, employ humor, and build character—all in the hope of driving our stories toward a more richly textured and satisfying completion.