Writing Dialogue: Mastering Conflict, Actions and Subtext

This class looks behind the words and focuses on the essential dramatic theories that create compelling scenes and complex characterisation.

Three class projects provide the scenarios and rules to write dialogue scenes which focus on:

1. Conflict – Engaging your audience in the struggle between goals and obstacles.
2. Actions – Revealing character by knowing what dialogue is actually doing.
3. Subtext – Creating complex characters by hiding what they really mean.

Writing Dialogue explains each concept before diving into examples from: Casablanca, Steve Jobs, LA LA Land, An Education, Skyfall and Atonement. All the scenes are available in the class resources.

‘Writing is rewriting’ and constructive feedback is incredibly important to writers. I know from experience! Share your class projects and I will be delighted to give feedback and discuss ideas.

Check out my other course ‘Write Your Screenplay: The Craft of Story, Structure and Script’ for a detailed look at the process of writing a screenplay.

• Introduction
• What is Dialogue?
• Conflict
• Conflict Example 1: Casablanca
• Conflict Example 2: Steve Jobs
• Conflict: Class Project
• Actions
• Actions Example: LA LA Land
• Actions Example: An Education
• Actions: Class Project
• Subtext
• Subtext Example 1: Skyfall
• Subtext Example 2: Atonement
• Subtext: Class Project
• Final Thoughts