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This writing course about dialogue and characterisation techniques takes place at Writing NSW in Sydney.

This course takes participants deep into the principles of character creation, as well as the many dialogue techniques and tips that make dialogue memorable.

The best characters seem to have an existence almost independent of their authors. To that end, characterisation principles studied in detail include: giving characters a rich inner life; making characters mysterious, symbolic—and real; writing characters who speak differently; and creating characters worth caring (and reading) about.

Is this course right for you? Read our FAQ >

Dialogue techniques studied include syntax, punctuation, rhetoric, imagistic writing, dialogue patterns and many other practical and usable techniques; and how to turn ‘ordinary’ conversation into nuanced dialogue.

Participants are given detailed and clear explanations in the many explanatory sheets given during the course, as well as many hands-on opportunities to try out the techniques in class. After the success of Timothy Daly’s sold-out Narrative Structure course, this workshop is a great follow-on, but it’s by no means a pre-requisite.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

1. Receive frequent feedback on the written work completed during the course
2. Gain opportunities to practice the many dialogue and characterisation principles taught in class
3. Learn a variety of writing styles useful in expanding and intensifying the tonal palette of their writing.

Participant Requirements

No previous fiction writing experience is needed, other than a desire to explore a range of dialogue, character creation and dialogue writing techniques. This new course can follow on from the success of Timothy Daly’s sold-out Narrative Structure for Fiction Writers workshop, but it is not a pre-requisite for joining this course. Many notes are provided. Please bring a pen and paper, or a fully charged device.

Please read our FAQ before enrolling.

If you have questions about this course, please contact us.

Reviews

‘The advice and techniques were specific and practical. I liked the amount of group participation and that we applied strategies on the spot.’ – Kim, 2022

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