Dynamic Dialogue: Letting Your Story Speak

The Red Sneaker Writers #4

by William Bernhardt

Dynamic dialogue can turn an otherwise ordinary novel into a delightful read, but dull, uninspired dialogue will cause readers to lose interest and try something else. In this book, bestselling author William Bernhardt, renowned for his handling of dialogue, explains his techniques for making characters come to life through their words. He explains the importance of matching character and dialogue, of avoiding dialogue that’s “on-the-nose,” and the value of using dialogue to suggest what no one will say aloud. Bernhardt explains how to enrich your story and quicken the pace with dramatic and clever dialogue exchanges, skillful use of dialogue beats, and subtext. The book also includes exercises designed to help writers apply these ideas to their own writing. William Bernhardt is the bestselling author of more than thirty books, including the blockbuster Ben Kincaid novels and The Final Case of Eliot Ness, currently in production as an NBC miniseries. Bernhardt is also one of the most sought-after writing instructors in the nation. He is the only person to have received the Southern Writers Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (U Penn) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (OSU), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." The Red Sneaker Writing Center is dedicated to helping writers achieve their literary goals. What is a red sneaker writer? A committed writer seeking useful instruction and guidance rather than obfuscation and attitude. Red sneakers get the job done and so do red sneaker writers, by paying close attention to their art and craft, committing to hard work, and never quitting. Are you a red sneaker writer? If so, this book is for you.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference

150 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 2, 2014

About the author

William Bernhardt is the author of over sixty books, including the bestselling Daniel Pike and Ben Kincaid legal thrillers, the historical novels Challengers of the Dust and Nemesis, three books of poetry, and the ten Red Sneaker books on fiction writing.

In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring writers. The Center hosts an annual writers conference (WriterCon), small-group seminars, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-weekly podcast. More than three dozen of Bernhardt’s students have subsequently published with major houses. He is also the owner of Balkan Press, which publishes poetry and fiction as well as the literary journal Conclave.

Bernhardt has received the Southern Writers Guild’s Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (University of Pennsylvania) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (Oklahoma State), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." He has been nominated for the Oklahoma Book Award eighteen times in three different categories, and has won the award twice. Library Journal called him “the master of the courtroom drama.” The Vancouver Sun called him “the American equivalent of P.G. Wodehouse and John Mortimer.”

In addition to his novels and poetry, he has written plays, a musical (book and score), humor, children stories, biography, and puzzles. He has edited two anthologies (Legal Briefs and Natural Suspect) as fundraisers for The Nature Conservancy and the Children’s Legal Defense Fund. OSU named him “Oklahoma’s Renaissance Man.”

In his spare time, he has enjoyed surfing, digging for dinosaurs, trekking through the Himalayas, paragliding, scuba diving, caving, zip-lining over the canopy of the Costa Rican rain forest, and jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 feet. In 2013, he became a Jeopardy! champion winning over $20,000.

When Bernhardt delivered the keynote address at the San Francisco Writers Conference, chairman Michael Larsen noted that in addition to penning novels, Bernhardt can “write a sonnet, play a sonata, plant a garden, try a lawsuit, teach a class, cook a gourmet meal, beat you at Scrabble, and work the New York Times crossword in under five minutes.”

Reviews

[Rick Ludwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and reviewed each of the four books so far available in this series. In earlier reviews, I have said that, next to attending on of Bill Berhardt's excellent seminars, these books are the best way to benefit from this fine author's grasp of what it takes create compelling fiction. But this fourth installment deserves special praise. Dialogue is the bane of most beginning and even established authors. How do you make it interesting, believable, and still use it to move the story forward without telegraphing your surprises or neglecting important undercurrents? In clear, direct prose, containing numerous spot-on examples, Mr. Bernhardt demystifies a complicated component of writing and provides the budding writer with real tools to tame this wild creature called dialogue. What he teaches makes sense and allows the student to repair and enhance his or her own attempts. The exercises take time and effort, but yield tangible results. This not a read through once and feel enlightened book. This is writing tool that you will return to again and again. Buy it and use it to improve your writing and inform your reading. It's a gem.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loads of practical advice on the effective use of dialogue.

Be sure to read this book before you begin your novel. It will make your use of dialogue far more effective. Then review your manuscript from time, using the suggested exercises at the end of each chapter. If you implement Bernhardt's tips, it will mean the difference between a good novel and a superior one. In this book, I learned much outstanding, helpful information that I have found nowhere else.

[Peter West · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great guide to writing better dialogue

Dialogue can be tricky in writing, even when you know what you are doing.

It can easily sound flat or unnatural.
This book highlights a broad selection of problems in dialogue and many ways to add depth and realism.

With Bill's help, any author should be able to turn flat, repetitive dialogue into dialogue that sings on the page.

Hint:
There's more to it than you might think.

[Joel Cutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The entire Red Sneaker series is very accessible for new novel writers and helped me get my first novel from idea to polished, published product. I recommend it for anyone who is trying to write their first novel or wants to. This book was one of several I studied to perfect my dialog, and now both readers and editors say my dialog in both my novels and screenplays is quite strong. Thanks, Mr. Bernhardt!

[Lisa Kovanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for aspiring writers

Even more experienced authors would do well to go back to the nuts and bolts, the fundamental writing conventions. For newer writers, you have to be well versed in the rules of writing before you can break them intentionally.

[Peggy Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best talk!

This is a must read and study for any writer of fiction, and then some. This book details everything you must know to write the most sparkling dialogue. Bernhardt have you the tools to be the best.Each

[Kelly Haas Shackelford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good Stuff

His books always hit the mark! If you are a writer, this is a must have series. Solid advice and easy to implement.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than expected. William Bernhardt's book on dynamic dialogue is matter of fact, informative and full of wisdom. Don't miss this one.

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this guy, a great writing guru!

[R.A.Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seperti buku-buku lainnya, yang ini pun sangat mencerahkan. Caraku nulis dialog gak akan sama lagi setelah ini.

[D.M. Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sucked. But I'm giving it a 5 for being a successful con job. Don't hate the player, hate the game

[BookCupid · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading other books about dialogue, they all sound the same. I did enjoy the tip about on the nose dialogue. Revisions to see if characters talk similarly are becoming easier with AI.

[Troy Blackford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read another of Bernhardt's 'Red Sneaker Series' of writing books before this one, and came away from the experience a little bit smarter about writing but not terribly impressed. Still, I could tell the man knew what he was talking about. I didn't know (and still don't) that I agreed with his rationale for writing several short writing books, each on only one topic, rather than one long one (he says its so you don't have to take a huge break from your writing to read them, but I suspect it's because he can charge more for them separately than together) but I found a good deal on three more of them and so I grabbed them.

Just as before, there's some good stuff. My sense that he was shilling for his own fiction wasn't as strong as before, which was good. He speaks with authority but not with pompousness, and his advice was good to ponder. This book on dialogue was a useful tool full of good thoughts, and again, though it was not the most genius of all writing books I've ever encountered, I'm glad I read it.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent guide to writing dialogue. Easy to read with lots of good advice. Better than another book on dialogue I read. Here is a sample:

Great Dialogue
• reveals character
• advances the story
• suggests what is not being said
• reveals hidden motivations
• reflects the characters’ history and or baggage
• reflects the hierarchal relationship between the person speaking and the person or persons listening
• refers back to something said earlier
• foreshadows what is yet to come
• has a purpose
• has emotional impact
• is memorable or even quotable

He also recommends and entire draft of a manuscript be devoted to improving the dialogue. I wish more authors actually did this.

[Destiny Rose READS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful advice for writing better dialogue

As an author and editor I agreed with much of Mr Berhardt's writing advice, but felt he spent a great deal of every chapter promoting his own fiction novels as examples of excellence. Perhaps a quote now and then would have felt acceptable, but when comparing his own books with famous literary masterpieces, it felt vain.

However, most of his lessons would drastically improve an author's ability to write dynamic, engaging, memorable dialogue. I do recommend this book as a creative writing lesson.

[Tracy Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tool

Another great book in the Red Sneaker Writers Book series. I especially was interested in this, since dialogue is a concern for me. The author used good examples and gave solid exercises. I look forward to putting them to use and hope they help.

[Irena Pasvinter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, but tightly packed with valuable practical advice regarding many different aspects of creating effective dialogue. Very useful.

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good, very practical. I listened to a lot of books on the topic of writing and this one is very high on the list.

[Steven Atwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stuff

William truly illustrated several key points on making dialogue in fiction come alive. I recommend this book to any aspiring writer.

[Doug Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy all these books in the series they are quick and concise and give you great ideas on how to further your writing.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dynamic dialogue can turn an otherwise ordinary novel into a delightful read, but dull, uninspired dialogue will cause readers to lose interest and try something else.

[Abigail Sands · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Sneaker Writer's Series is an excellent resource for writers. Easy to understand and easy application.

[Joshua Mays · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is short, concise, and full of useful information.