Writing Dialogue with Rebecca Starford
Learn the craft of revealing character and narrative through dialogue
Join author, editor and teacher Rebecca Starford in this self-paced online writing course on the craft of writing dialogue.
Dialogue—a foundation of storytelling—is often overlooked in creative writing courses. Which is strange as most writers and editors will tell you that dialogue is the most challenging, and in turn rewarding, aspect of the storytelling process. It is also an element of writing where many writers fall short. But the art of listening, and turning that skill into authentic, compelling and plausible dialogue, can enrich your work immeasurably.
In this course, you will be presented with examples of compelling and diverse dialogue, and learn how and why it works so well on the page. You will undertake writing exercises that put yourself in other characters’ shoes, explore how to craft and vary your dialogue, and how economy of dialogue (less is more) can enrich your conversations and intrigue your readers. At the end of this course you will take away a set of comprehensive and insightful skills that can be used to improve and enhance the dialogue in your own writing projects.
You’ll learn:
- How real-life conversations reveal compelling and creative ways to craft dialogue in your writing projects
- The other narrative components of literary dialogue that enrich and add complexity to your written conversations
- How character can be revealed in new and interesting ways in your dialogue
- Different and varied techniques to produce intriguing and authentic dialogue to keep your readers engaged
- Examples of well-crafted dialogue in literature and what makes them so effective
The course is designed to take you 5-6 hours in total, and can be completed in short stages at your convenience. Scroll down to see the full course curriculum and a list of frequently asked questions.
KYD Members receive a 10% discount on this course and all other KYD online courses throughout the year. Become a member here, or contact [email protected] for more information.
Want to buy a course for a friend? Purchase a gift voucher here.
Your Instructor
Rebecca Starford is the author of The Imitator (2021) and Bad Behaviour (2015). Her books have been published in Australia, the UK, and the United States. She is also the publishing director and co-founder of Kill Your Darlings magazine, and a freelance editor. She is a regular teacher of creative writing. She has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Queensland. The limited-series adaptation of Bad Behaviour is forthcoming on Stan.
Course Curriculum
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StartPart One Introduction (1:14)
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StartA Notebook
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StartThe Dialogue Voice
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StartThe Words Themselves
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StartExercise: An Ear for Dialogue
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StartNot Just Words (1:14)
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StartThe Additional Components of Dialogue
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StartTone & Cadence of Speech
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StartGestures or Mannerisms
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StartPhysicality and Presence in the Scene
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StartOmission (what is not said)
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StartTension Between Substance and Interpretation
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StartExercise: Talking to Those Around You
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StartExercise: Expanding on the Scene
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StartReal-life Dialogue in Memoir
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StartExercise: Real consequence
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StartDialogue in Narrative Non-fiction (0:52)
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StartAvoidance
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StartExercise: Uncomfortable truths
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StartPart Two Introduction (0:57)
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StartThe Richness of Dialogue
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StartRevealing Character Traits
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StartExercise: Character
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StartSocial Milieu and Social Dynamic (0:58)
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StartThe Country Life
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StartExercise: Power imbalance
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StartWorld Building (1:33)
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StartMoral Hazard
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StartExercise: Different worlds
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StartMood and Disquiet