By: Deb Courtney
Among the many reasons I am a fan of Improv writing (writing
to prompts) is that it can allow us to focus tightly on improving very specific
skills. For the 7/11 “Write Drunk*, Edit Sober” Improv meeting, we drew in
tightly on dialog – both spoken and inner dialog.
Dialog serves two very basic functions in fiction:
1)
Reveal Character
2)
Drive Plot
There are a number of techniques that can be employed when
writing dialog, but essentially they play out to perform the following:
Dialog that reveals character does so via interaction with
others or vis interactions with self. Your characters reveal traits, thoughts,
feelings, life approach, and more, to each other and to the reader when they
speak directly to each other. Direct and indirect inner dialog reveals the POV
character to the reader, and sometimes provides insight into the POV character
FOR the POV character (as in those moments when you realize something important
about yourself).
Inner dialog technically is accomplished two ways.
1)
Direct Inner – typically enclosed in quotes and
indicate the POV character is speaking directly to his or herself. Generally,
but not exclusively used for short statements.
2)
Indirect inner – this is more a stream of
consciousness or running commentary, and might be in italics but not enclosed in
quotes. Used for longer passages.
Inner dialog is used for revelations, self-talk (this can be
negative and used to set up dichotomies between a character’s internal views of
self versus the presented views to other characters), and for not-quite direct
interaction with the reader. This is not to be confused with the narrator or
narrative voice, which may or not be the same as your main POV character, but
in some cases will be (First Person, certainly).
Keeping all of that in mind, I set out to design prompts,
which did not suggest locale, vaguely suggested potential conflict, and were
springboards for either inner or outer dialog. In addition, I used
gender-neutral names so as not to insinuate specific situations. Prompts for
dialog night were presented in First Person but participants were encouraged to
change to any other POV that would suit them.
The Prompts:
1)
I never knew what would come out of my mouth
next.
2)
Taylor’s eyes narrowed and I tensed. “Don’t go
there,” I urged myself.
3)
It was the same conversation I always had with
myself.
4)
It appeared Chris really was talking to me.
And because we had time, and I had the forethought to put
one together, one bonus that was not as general or vague.
Bonus: Why did you
have to make me fall I love? I asked in a small voice.
Hope one of these inspires you to write a short
dialog-focused response. Feel free to share in the comments if you do!
“Write Drunk*, Edit Sober,” takes place on the second
Wednesday of every month at Bar-K located in Downtown Colorado Springs. The
format is generally a brief setup of the focus for the session’s prompts,
followed by 4 approximately 15 minute writing sessions. *Pikes Peak Writers does not advocate
actually writing drunk. Please imbibe responsibly. Alcohol consumption is not a
required component of the improv sessions.
About the
Author: Deb holds a degree in Fiction
from the University of South Florida, where she was a Saunders Scholar in
Fiction. She has had numerous short stories published and has worked as a
freelance journalist. Her background includes marketing and public relations in
several business sectors. Her most recent venture is Courtney Literary.
