Dialogue and Characterisation Techniques for Fiction Writers

The best characters seem to have an existence almost independent of their authors. This course, by playwright Timothy Daly. will take participants deep into the principles of character creation, as well as the many dialogue techniques and tips that make dialogue memorable.

Characterisation principles studied in the course will include: giving characters a rich inner life; making characters mysterious, symbolic – and real; writing characters who speak differently; and creating characters worth caring (and reading) about.

Dialogue techniques studied include syntax, punctuation, rhetoric, imagistic writing, dialogue patterns and many other practical and usable techniques; and how to turn ‘ordinary’ conversation into nuanced dialogue.

Participants are given detailed and clear explanations via explanatory worksheets and there are many hands-on opportunities to try out the techniques in class.