Workshop: The Music of Dialogue – Crafting Conversations that Breathe Life into Storytelling
- rileytommy10
- Aug 17
- 4 min read
By Tom Riley
Part I – Introduction
Dialogue is not filler—it’s the lifeblood of a story. More than just words exchanged between characters, it is the rhythm of human connection, the pulse that moves scenes forward, and the silence that speaks louder than speech. Strong dialogue reveals what characters think but cannot say, captures conflict and desire, and gives readers the pleasure of reading between the lines.
Great dialogue lives in the tension between surface and subtext. Ernest Hemingway called this the Iceberg Theory: only a small portion of meaning floats above the surface, while the greater truth lies submerged, waiting for the reader to discover. Consider a simple line like:
“It’s getting late.”
On the surface, it may sound like an observation. But in context, it could mean:
Hidden Desire: A character subtly asking the other to stay.
Conflict: A signal that the conversation should end because of tension.
Subtext of Fear: A warning about danger lurking outside.
What makes dialogue powerful is this layering—where every word has weight, and what’s unsaid lingers in the reader’s mind.
Why Writers Struggle
Many writers believe they’re “not good at dialogue,” but in truth, if you can hold an interesting conversation in real life, you already have the raw material. Writing strong dialogue is a skill that can be honed, just like playing an instrument—you practice, you listen closely, and over time you learn the rhythms of real speech.
The core of your dialogue is subtext. Without it, conversations sit flat on the page, like an exchange of information rather than a clash of goals, secrets, and emotions. With it, every line becomes charged. For example:
Flat Dialogue (no subtext):“Do you want to go to the party tonight? ”No, I’m tired.”
Dialogue with Subtext: "You’re really not coming? ”I’ve had enough of parties lately.” “Or enough of the people at them?”
The second version shows reluctance, tension, and hints at a deeper conflict—all without being explicit.
Principles of Strong Dialogue
Conscious & Specific: Every line should reflect a character’s goal, emotion, or hidden agenda.
Layered: Dialogue must operate on more than one level—what’s said, what’s implied, and what’s left unsaid.
Memorable: Unique voices, rhythms, and quirks distinguish one character from another.
What Weak Dialogue Looks Like
Bad dialogue is long-winded, generic, or purely informational. It exists only on the surface, with no tension or subtext. For instance:
“We should go to the store because we are out of milk and eggs, and breakfast will be ruined without them.”
This line communicates information but has no character, no conflict, no spark. Compare it to:
“If you’d gone shopping yesterday, we wouldn’t be eating dry toast again.”
The second line conveys the same need but also layers in frustration, blame, and tone. Suddenly, the scene has conflict and energy.
The Goal of the Workshop
In this workshop, we’ll break down dialogue into its core functions—authenticity, conflict, pacing, tone, and relationship-building. Through examples and practice, you’ll learn to:
Create exchanges that reveal hidden agendas.
Use pacing—quick bursts or lingering silences—to shape narrative momentum.
Build character relationships through rhythm, tone, and subtext.
Avoid “on-the-nose” dialogue and instead make readers work to piece together meaning.
By the end, you’ll see dialogue not as chatter but as storytelling in its purest form—where every pause, interruption, and unfinished thought has power.
Part II – Building Authentic Dialogue
Core Idea: Authentic dialogue mirrors real speech, but with purposeful shaping for storytelling.
Techniques:
Listen to real conversations (eavesdropping, observation, journaling snippets).
Read dialogue aloud to check rhythm and believability.
Incorporate interruptions, unfinished sentences, or colloquial speech.
Give each character a unique voice that reflects their background, worldview, and emotional state.
Exercise: Write a short exchange between two characters with distinct social or cultural backgrounds. Remove all tags and see if readers can still tell who’s speaking.
Part III – Conflict as the Engine of Dialogue
Core Idea: Conflict is the heartbeat of conversation—it reveals character and propels the plot.
Techniques:
Opposing goals: ensure each character wants something different.
Use subtext: let characters avoid saying what they really mean.
Add tension through interruptions, sarcasm, or evasions.
Exercise: Write a scene where two characters disagree about something mundane (e.g., dinner plans), but the underlying conflict is deeper (e.g., control, insecurity, or resentment).
Tone, Subtext, and Silence
Core Idea: Words alone rarely convey the full message; tone and silence add emotional weight.
Techniques:
Tone shifts meaning (sarcasm vs sincerity, tenderness vs menace).
Strategic silence conveys vulnerability, hesitation, or tension.
Pauses highlight unspoken truths and alter dynamics.
Exercise: Take a three-line dialogue. Write it three times, changing only the tone (sarcastic, romantic, threatening). Note how subtext transforms the meaning.
Part IV – Dialogue and Story Pacing
Core Idea: Dialogue controls tempo—speeding scenes up or slowing them down for reflection.
Techniques:
Quick, snappy exchanges = urgency and momentum.
Slower, reflective conversations = emotional depth.
Balance rhythm to avoid monotony and keep readers engaged.
Exercise: Rewrite the same dialogue twice: once as a rapid-fire exchange, once as a slow, deliberate conversation. Observe how pacing changes the scene’s effect.
Part V – Revealing Character and Relationships
Core Idea: Dialogue is a lens through which readers see relationships unfold.
Techniques:
Show power dynamics, affection, rivalry, or distrust.
Use vocabulary, rhythm, and formality to reveal history or intimacy.
Subtext hints at unresolved emotions.
Exercise: Write a conversation between two characters who are hiding their true feelings (love, jealousy, fear). Focus on how relationship dynamics emerge indirectly.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
On-the-nose dialogue (characters stating everything directly).
Exposition dumps (unnatural info-sharing).
Flat voices (characters who sound identical).
Over-tagging (“he said, she said” every line).
Takeaways
Dialogue is action, not filler—it must serve story purpose.
Conflict, tone, pacing, and silence are the invisible music behind words.
Distinct voices and authentic rhythm make conversations unforgettable.
Great dialogue reveals character, advances the plot, and keeps readers engaged.
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