Category Archives: Designing Dialogue

How to Write Better Dialogue

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Stavros Halvatzis

Great dialogue sparkles. It imbues a script or novel with a sense of authenticity and character. It injects pace, interest, and relevance. Great dialogue draws the reader or audience into the story and holds them there, delivering meaning on various … Continue reading →

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What is Subtext?

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Stavros Halvatzis

Subtext, in writing, refers to the treasure that lies buried below the surface of a story — its inner meaning. If the “text” is concerned with surface detail — that which can be seen, heard, touched, smelled, or tasted, the … Continue reading →

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Five Ways to Increase Tension and Anticipation through Dialogue

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Stavros Halvatzis

Scarab, The Level, and how to harness the power of anticipation in dialogue. As promised, here are some essential techniques for creating anticipation in your stories, culled from classes I teach on screenwriting. Although there are many more techniques for … Continue reading →

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The Craft of Dialogue

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Stavros Halvatzis

In this series of articles I’ll be exploring some essential writing techniques that I’ve garnered over the years. Some, have migrated over from screenwriting, but they are applicable, with a little modification, to the novel or short story. Today’s topic … Continue reading →

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