Dialogue Sketch

Creative Writing

ASSIGNMENT: Create three pages (double or 1.5 spaced) of meaningful dialogue

between two characters.

GOAL: To create a dialogue that is:

 interesting and holds the reader’s attention

 a “natural and realistic” exchange between 2 people
 more than JUST WORDS – it should reveal character, be dramatic, create a mood,
convey important information, OR further the plot.
 NOT CONFUSING – the reader knows which person is talking at all times. All
spoken words should be in quotation marks; speech tags should be added WHEN
NECESSARY; each new piece of dialogue should begin on a new line.

Techniques: Keep in mind

1. People generally don’t give LONG SPEECHES – dialogue is an EXCHANCE

between two people: they RESPOND to one another.

2. Be careful in your choice of words/ language – make sure it’s appropriate to the kind
of character who’s speaking. DON’T HAVE A VALLEY-GIRL/GUY TYPE
TALKING LIKE A HARVARD PROFESSOR, OR VICE-VERSA.

3. Don’t repeat the some speech tags (he said/she said) over and over. Use some variety
in tags:

Sheila pouted, “Darling, don„t be so suspicious.”

Jack smiled, “You need not worry about her.”
And don’t put speech tags all at the end or beginning- put a few into the middle of the
spoken words

“Dear,” Sheila purred, “I want a divorce.”

4. Add some description into the dialogue, and mannerisms of the people speaking.

She flicked her ashes into the tray and let out a deep sigh.
“Sheesh,” she said, her voice nearly an exasperated whisper, “what
are we going to do about her?”
 REQUIREMENTS FOR DIALOGUE

1. Type name, period, date in the upper-right hand corner, single-space.

2. Skip a line, then add a title.
3. Give a brief description of the setting and characters.

Student Example

Allie Anderson
Period 3
April 20, 2012

Dialogue Sketch: “Kristi, Jill, and the Left-over Prom.”

Jill – a mature, young person – is driving her friend Kristi – a “Valley Girl” type – to
school. They are having a conversation about going to the Prom. Kristi wants Jill to double date
with her because her date, Aaron, has a cousin from out-of-town and, unless Kristi can find his
cousin a date, Aaron cannot go to Prom.

“So, Jill,” Kristi said excitedly, “have you been, like, asked to the prom?”
“Asked to what?”
“Oh, the Prom, of course!” Kristi battered her heavily mascared eyelashes in surprise
at Jill’s attitude.
“Oh,” Jill said with a sigh, “no, I haven’t. Just lucky, I guess.” She turned to Kristi
and smiled.
“Lucky? How can you say that? The Prom is, like, it’s like – totally IT.”
“It?”
“Yes, IT.”
“Well, I guess I’ll just have to be without… it.” Jill exaggerated her comment with a
toss of her hair.
“Oh, Jill. I can’t believe you. You are so uncool.” She took her neon lipstick from her
purse and dropped the visor of Jill’s car down to look in the mirror. As he daubed the
lipstick on, she said, “I’m going with Aaron… he’s doing the total package… tux, limo,
dinner, hotel.” For effect, Kristi kneaded her lips together satisfactorily, flipped the visor
back, and coolly added, “His cousin Aaron is looking for a date.”
“Aaron who?” Jill asked nonchalantly…
Synonyms for the word “SAID”
Avoid the overuse of the word “said” in your Dialogue Sketch by alternating
these words in your dialogue. Be sure to use the appropriate synonym for
the setting’s tone.

Anger Questions Softly Loudly

argued asked breathed barked
asserted answered croaked bawled
barked agreed gasped bellowed
bawled begged grumbled called
bellowed disagreed hissed cried
complained explained mumbled exclaimed
countered implored murmured hollered
cried inquired muttered howled
demanded interrogated prayed roared
disagreed posed (as in a purred screamed
exclaimed question or theory) squeaked screeched
fussed pressed whispered shouted
growled pried whimpered shrieked
grumbled proposed squawked
hissed queried wailed
howled questioned yelled
huffed replied yammered
quipped requested
ranted responded
raved retorted
retorted suggested
roared
screamed
screeched
shrieked
snapped
snarled
sneered
sputtered
squawked
yelled
ASSIGNMENT
You can create your own scenario, or choose 1 of the7 “scenarios” from below. Don‟t
forget to write a three-sentence summary of the setting description before you begin your
sketch.

Scenario #1: Dialogue between high-school girl and boy. Boy finally gets up the courage
to ask out a girl he really likes, walks up to her, she then turns to ask what he wants. Take
it from there…

Scenario #2: Mother has found a gun in her son‟s bedroom. She confronts him with it
after school one day. She‟s concerned, worried; he‟s angry, resentful. Take it from
there…

Scenario #3: Two high school girls talking about prom; one is like “totally into it.” The
other sees it as just another social hoop to jump through. Take it from there…

Scenario #4: War scene; 2 men; friends. One has been injured rather seriously; the other
is trying to get him to hang on, talking to him. They wait for the chopper. Take it from
there…

Scenario #5: Lake Erie, 11am on a Sunday morning. Character 1 has just discovered
he/she just ran out of fish bait -- nightcrawlers – when Character 2 shows up with her
rod and reel, and two children – nephews –she is watching for the afternoon. The kids
are wearing lifejackets. Character 1 asks Character 2 for bait… take it from there.

Scenario #6: City Mall, Bath and Body Works Shop, 5:50 on a Thursday evening.
Character 1 Has a difficult time trying to find a present for that “someone” special when
Character 2, who works at the shop, appears… take it from there.

Scenario #7: Fairgrounds, 15th Annual Cowboy Days, Aug 25-30 (yahoo!) Character 1
has been saving seats for friends for the “Battle of the Monster Truck” races. Friends
haven‟t appeared yet, but Character 2 has, and she has brought her grandmother. They
want your seats that you‟ve been saving for a ½ hour…take it from there.