Dialogue is an important element of the short story. The first time you write one, though, you may not pay close attention to dialogue. You’re worried about “capturing” the characters and story you’ve imagined in your head and you’re struggling to get it out on paper. What your characters say–and what they don’t–can reveal a lot about them. In “Vampires in the Lemon Grove,” for example, we learn that Clyde’s “life” before he met Magreb was influenced by his perceptions of vampirism. He was foolish and didn’t know it. As readers, we learn this through dialogue. Think about “Hills Like White Elephants” or other short stories you’ve read. Pay close attention to how the writer uses dialogue to reveal character. Then, write a brief journal entry explaining what you’ve discovered. How did you use dialogue in your story? No spoilers necessary, just technique. What might we learn about your characters from the things they say?
The Things They Say
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