Why read Dialogue?

Book cover of Dialogue: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Effective Dialogue (Write Great Fiction Series)

Book description

Craft Compelling Dialogue

When should your character talk, what should (or shouldn't) he say, and when should he say it? How do you know when dialogue--or the lack thereof--is dragging down your scene? How do you fix a character who speaks without the laconic wit of the Terminator?

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Dialogue as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Rib Davis

Author

I enjoyed this book because it made me re-examine how I write dialogue. Kempton emphasizes how dialogue should reveal rather than state, which I found a helpful reminder.

There are many exercises which I found extremely useful and the author frequently refers to her own experience as a writing coach, dealing with the real problems faced by writers, so I loved its practicality.

From Rib's list on The best books to make you a great writer of dialogue.

William Noble

Author

I find her goal of showing dialogue as a natural extension of breathing and talking both provocative and crucial. Writers need to become the characters they are writing about and Kempton shows how dialogue can set a mood, intensify story conflict, reveal character motives, and develop setting and background. She provides challenging dialogue-writing exercises at the end of each chapter.

From William's list on The best books on writing provocative, dramatic dialogue.