3 Keys to Immersive Dialogue (with examples!)

Do you want to write better dialogue? If so, this new podcast is for you. When dialogue is written well, it can take your WIP to new heights, making your story feel vivid and realistic... but when written weakly, dialogue can feel difficult to believe and connect with, and actually distract from the message you are trying to communicate to your reader. In this podcast, we're diving deep into dialogue and showing you side-by-side comparisons of sloppy vs strong writing. So whether you're working on a novel, a series, a screenplay, a comic, or anything in between, these vital dialogue basics we're sharing today are for everyone-all writers looking to tighten their stories, and sharpen their characters.
CHAPTERS:
00:19 Intro
07:08 Find The Focus
18:47 Using Tags
28:35 Character Voice
44:30 Final Pro Tip for Character Voice
#nanowrimo2022
#preptober
Keep this podcast alive and free of interruptions: / thekateandabbieshow
MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
Writer better action: • How to Write Addictive...
Show don't tell: • How to SHOW instead of...
Abbie's character video: • The Ultimate CHARACTER...
✨ DON'T MISS OUR CO-WRITE RELEASE - get on the waiting list here: mailchi.mp/kae...
Buying our books is the best way to support us as artists!
Get my first book, The Blood Race here: www.amazon.com...
Get Abbie's book, 100 Days of Sunlight here: www.amazon.com...
Like this episode? Give us a thumbs up, subscribe, and tell us what you thought.
Start Kate's meditation course - designed specifically for creative writers: ✨ kaemmons.teach...
Abbie's Scrivener masterclass: www.learnfroma...
Abbie's Scrivener Themes: www.learnfroma...
Abbie's Immersive writing session video : • 2 HOUR IMMERSIVE WRITI...
Connect with Kate on Instagram (@lonehawkwriter) or her blog: www.heretocrea...
Connect with Abbie on Instagram (@makeyourstorymatter) or her blog: www.abbiee.com/

[@KAEmmons]

CHAPTERS: 00:19 Intro 07:08 Find The Focus 18:47 Using Tags 28:35 Character Voice 44:30 Final Pro Tip for Character Voice

[@johnsmith4602]

This is your best episode yet. I really like this format showing us examples of good, bad, and mediocre writing.

[@KAEmmons]

SOOO thrilled you like this format and that it could serve! We want to do more episodes like this. Thank you for being here!

[@dilitidarn]

When I write dialog for a scene, I start with the dialog and leave out everything else. It really helps me focus on Just The Dialog without all the distracting actions and settings that would go along with the conversation.

[@eugenetswong]

That's a great idea! I just realized that if we can't keep track of the speaker, after we finish the draft, then we know where the tags are needed.

[@milomazli]

This is a MASTERCLASS! Thank you so much!!! Could we get a "romance" edition? ("how to build romantic tension in dialogue?" as I think thats the most exciting part (at least for me)) I would paaaaay for thiiiiis!!!! :)))

[@Chanelle208]

Yessss agreed

[@iamluyu]

YES, omg that's such a good idea!!!😭😭

[@zenebornman7917]

It's only when I struggle with something that Abbie and Kate are my heros dropping in right on time. 😍💕

[@avtpro]

Being an visual artist, I really like how Kate used the painting analogy. The realizing the similarities between writing and visual art is what finally got me into writing. I also like Kate cutting dialog down to "Barebones" because it also help prioritize the focus. Excess dialog may be a result of not knowing the focus.

[@gaganjotsingh4967]

❤thanks for having such a great content for free ❤

[@spontaneousgyan373]

👍🏻

[@Amy_Mi6]

Example of wrong character voice: Kate: Extensive, detailed outlines are SO key! Like, if you don’t have at least a 50,000 word outline, you might as well just chuck your story idea in the bin right now. I am VERY big on keeping rules and that’s a big one for me. It’s, honestly, my favorite part of the process though, so it’s an easy one to keep. Abbie: I don’t know… do outlines really matter though? I mean, I feel like outlines should be super minimal. Like, only be as long as your elevator pitch - that’s really all you need. Me, personally, I hate writing them so sometimes, I don’t even write one at all. I just surf that creative wave and see where it takes me. 😄

[@KAEmmons]

HAHAHA! This is the best! 🤣 you've got our voices nailed, Amy

[@Amy_Mi6]

@@KAEmmons 😄💜 Thanks, Kate!! ✨️

[@georginakosi5411]

You just have to make everything a lie, they both say, and boom! Wrong cahracter voice 2.0: Abbie: Write what comes to mind, make characters, the plot does the rest for you🤣 Abbie's horribly wrong character voice in ONE SENTENCE: Story is about what happening, and NOT about why what's happening matters to the characters.

[@racyrowdyrocket]

Approx 22:40; seems like you guys don't fully comprehend what "dialogue tags" are. You seem to mix them up somewhat with "dialogue beats", that are actually a way of showing. And not a bad thing at all, when you don't overdo them. You're welcome.

[@songsfordragons]

Kate you would be perfect to record an audiobook just like Abbie did!! I don’t know if you have a project like that, but your voice is so good with each character!

[@KAEmmons]

Thank you so much for your kind words, friend!

[@charleneantrobus6337]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@eugenetswong]

@@KAEmmons I agree with Monica about the audiobook. When you read, I visualized a teenage version of you acting in a movie version in this story.

[@dcutestluv9023]

Your first focus example actually made me want to read the entire book, you are that good!

[@travismiddleton8218]

Great examples. Very insightful and informative video. Will be a lot of help 👏👍

[@songsfordragons]

i struggle so much with dialogue but this breakdown made me excited to try it and go back to old docs and see how i can tight them up! great episode!

[@worthfightingfor2299]

One of my favorite episodes so far!!! I LOVED the examples and the tips you gave, and that pro tip is genius. *goes off to try it*

[@KAEmmons]

Yayy! We are so happy you enjoyed it and that it could serve you! 🙏

[@eugenetswong]

@@KAEmmons I agree about the examples. I'm so grateful that you demonstrated 2 ways to rewrite passages. I love examples. I agree with you, only after demonstrating, that the characters are more consistent in the rewrites. I hate James as a person, but I love his purpose as a character. The same goes with "I", but I like I's personality.

[@julshearts]

i LOVE it when you show examples that you've written. It's my favorite type of episode!

[@sallyscrive]

Hi girls! I love writing dialogues, whenever I can I make characters interact: dialogue makes the story going forward, makes characters grows and I always prefer to give informations and providing history about the protagonist o the other character thru dialogue.

[@SuheinBeck]

The amount of preparation you did for this episode 😮 wow 💡 and thank you both so much!

[@odistabettor]

Great vid. One note, though--skeleton keys aren't necessarily old. If this were taking place in a future with no physical keys or only keycards, then yeah, it would obviously be old, but a skeleton key just means a key made to fit multiple locks. It doesn't necessarily imply something old as they can be found in most key shapes.

[@lindagutierrez5409]

Could say: guided only by moonlight. Or feeling our way, through the moonlit room. Love Fixer Upper show example!

[@TheLittlechicthings]

Thanks for thecexamples, much more interesting and helpful. ❤

[@chadsimmons4496]

Excellent presentation, ladies. Enjoyed the direct examples laying out the contrast. Thanks for the video. ✌️

[@relaxingmusicbyrajesh]

Kate and Abbie's parents are blessed to have these two little angels as their daughters.... Welcome to India....Kate and Abbie ❤

[@JulieAVL]

This was exceedingly helpful! And just what I needed. Thanks❤

[@Marayot]

This came out with Divine timing! It is what I'm working on in my story! Thank you, thank you!

[@azureascendant994]

I write the setting in the paragraph before the dialogue. Less confusion and the reader already has an image of the setting as characters speak.

[@unknownunknown5244]

Same. Sometimes i feel like im writing a script tho 😅

[@azureascendant994]

@@unknownunknown5244 Organization is very important when I write.

[@eugenetswong]

Ha! Another commenter here does the opposite. He starts with nothing but dialog. I gave you both an up vote. It seems starting with only 1 or only the other is the best way to start for most writers.

[@JorgenMadson]

awesome video thank you so much! this was incredibly helpful

[@KSTFantasy]

This is very good advice. Thanks. Like... Now I exactly know what to do. But... its hard :D and I can see these slowing descriptions after I wrote them and when I look back at what I wrote :D

[@sallyscrive]

I usually write the all dialogue without tags, only with "Name: " before. Than I add some tags, action and descritions of the environment (if necessary). Thank you for the video! 😊

[@KAEmmons]

That is brilliant! Thank you for sharing

[@amandasibilia572]

Ladies you should create a how to write a novel course! Pleeease! 😆

[@leholen381]

I started writing a story the other day and I have a section of dialogue that is a very quick and urgent exchange and I’m not a writer, this is my first attempt but adding in those dialogue tags felt clunky so I left them out. To me it’s clear who is talking but I wasn’t sure it was actually the way it should be done. I’m curious what people here think. The captain of the local garrison, having been alerted by a soldier on patrol, came out to meet the man as he fought to stop his mount. "Are you sure it's the Empress?", the captain asked with a hint of worry. "Yes!", gasped the man, "They're about two hours away." "Did you see how many there were?" "About fifty." "So, few? Cocky bastards."

[@pattydee9389]

This was so good. Thank you ladies.

[@Mcvthree3]

Very valuable content. Thank you.

[@janellescott210]

I really appreciate y’all! Thank you

[@melindagordon7621]

Thanks for the informative examples on Dialogue.

[@Verityrowley]

This was incredibly helpful! Thanks so much! :)

[@mbarekjawhari8081]

Thank you so much for the video, very interesting

[@user-ex1yu8sm2e]

haha mini art tutorial u guys r the best

[@DeeperStoriesbyTT]

I guess I need this video because I'm really struggling to agree with your central point.

[@biancalawrence3178]

Please could you do something about whether a book needs a villain. My novel (in production) has lots of conflict but there's no villain.

[@mbarekjawhari8081]

May have your schedule of both of you 😉🤠

[@LV-bk4it]

The first example lends a lot of atmosphere. The second is a skeleton. Perhaps there is a happy medium? Not everything is sound-bites. Read fine novels instead of just some flash-fiction. The thing is, you've chosen a piece that is suspenseful - so the more slowly you write/read, the more suspense it builds. This is not something that could be considered classic literature - shouldn't we be striving for this? The pro-tips are good but the writing itself is pretty basic.

[@KAEmmons]

Be sure to listen to the "in between" examples, friend! As we said, these are springboards for your OWN ideas, not set-in-stone guidelines. Find what works for you! Thanks for being here & for listening 🙏

[@aluhvsickstay]

Didn't you see that they did show the third example which was like an in-between??

[@damladeniz]

Turkish subtitle please

[@colibrireader]

It's a shame the text is not properly punctuated with indents. That is so important to clarity to the narrative and the concept of turn taking.

[@jayashreechakravarthy4949]

Every freedom-lover who thinks this is okay, will get to contribute in the same way every time there is a problem.

[@thefatbat5556]

Any Emmons women not have a voice I could fall for?

[@Marty13153]

Excellent, very helpful. Focusing on the most important part of the conversation so the story can move, sprinkling in some flavor... right on the money.