Elements of the Writing Craft. Part Two: Character, Lesson Forty-Five: Moving Out of Dialogue

Ref: Pages 55 and 56 of the text by Robert Olmstead

  • List five sets of characters, relatives, or friends who might have a conversation similar to the one in the lesson. As you make your list include for each, a reason and an issue for the conversation.
    Brothers standing before a washed-out bridge.
    Husband and wife chatting over wine.
    A Captain excusing her company for leave.
    Father and son before a hunt.
    A druid and her pet dragon discussing what to have for lunch.

  • Pick one from the list and begin in dialogue. For example:
    “You’ll like it there, I promise. There are a lot of parks, nature. That kind of stuff.”
    “Mother, I don’t care all that much for nature.”
    “Well, that about does it. You don’t care for nature.”

“What about sheep? You’ve always liked sheep.”
“I grow tired of their meekness and pulling wool from my teeth.”
“Well then, I think I know where this is headed.”

  • Continue. Move into narrative the way the lesson does, gradually. Start with: We’ve been having these conversations pretty regular now…

We’ve been having these conversations pretty regularly now, his tastes are changing. He hungers now for more than satisfying his belly. He seeks their terror and that frightens me. He is becoming increasingly aware of his power and grows further by the day from my guidance. Soon he will be untethered and I know not how to stop him.

“What about sheep? You’ve always liked sheep.”
“I grow tired of their meekness and pulling wool from my teeth.”

“Well then, I think I know where this is headed.”
We’ve been having these conversations pretty regularly now, his tastes are changing. He hungers now for more than satisfying his belly. He seeks their terror and that frightens me. He is becoming increasingly aware of his power and grows further by the day from my guidance. Soon he will be untethered and I know not how to stop him.

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