How to Write Dialogue by Marcy Kennedy

Author:Marcy Kennedy
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Dialogue, Fiction Writing, Education and Reference, Writing Skills, Publishing Guide, Editing
Publisher: Tongue Untied Communications
Published: 2013-12-01T16:00:00+00:00

CATCH-UP DIALOGUE

Catch-up dialogue is a unique situation because it’s almost the flip of As-You-Know-Bob Syndrome. Instead of a character telling another character something they already know for the sake of the reader, it’s a character telling another character something the reader already knows for the sake of that other character.

We’ve all hit those points where the reader has watched the scene play out, but now the character must return to his allies and tell them what went on. If he doesn’t tell his allies, how will they know what happened? Catch-up dialogue can be necessary at times, but because the reader already knows about what one character is telling another, it’s boring.

How do we manage catch up dialogue?

Add a new level of tension by leaving out a key detail. Has your character forgotten something important that changes the nature of what they’re saying? Are they leaving something out on purpose to protect one of the other characters? Are they leaving out something because they don’t completely trust their allies or because they’re watching out for their own interests rather than the interests of the group?

Summarize through indirect dialogue. This is the easiest, smoothest, and least intrusive option.

“I wasn’t sure I was going to make it out alive.” I told them how I escaped. “But we need to keep moving. Once they figure out I’m gone, they’ll be after us.”

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