dialogue-crafting

# Dialogue Crafting Skill ## Purpose Create distinctive, character-specific dialogue that reveals personality, advances plot, and creates subtext. Great dialogue sounds effortless but is carefully constructed to serve multiple purposes simultaneously. ## The 5 Functions of Dialogue Every line should serve at least one: | Function | Description | Example | |----------|-------------|---------| | **Character** | Reveals who they are | Vocabulary, syntax, rhythm | | **Plot** | Advances the story | Information, decisions | | **Conflict** | Creates tension | Opposition, evasion | | **Subtext** | Says what isn't said | What they mean vs. say | | **Atmosphere** | Sets mood/tone | Rhythm, word choice | ## Character Voice ### Voice Components ``` VOCABULARY ├── Education level (erudite vs. simple) ├── Regional dialect (y'all, eh, innit) ├── Professional jargon (cop, doctor, lawyer) ├── Era/period (23-skidoo, YOLO) └── Cultural background SYNTAX ├── Sentence length (short/punchy vs. long/flowing) ├── Grammar (proper vs. informal) ├── Contractions (can't vs. cannot) └── Incomplete sentences RHYTHM ├── Pace (rapid-fire vs. measured) ├── Pauses (significant silences) ├── Interruptions (talks over others) └── Patterns (repeats certain phrases) QUIRKS ├── Catchphrases ├── Verbal tics (um, like, you know) ├── Mispronunciations └── Unique expressions ``` ### Voice Examples **Educated, Formal:** ``` "I find your proposition intriguing, though I confess to harboring certain reservat...