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This week was all about dialogue, and specifically we looked at using a system from dance notation to build profiles of characters’ speech patterns. I ended up making a simple app for creating dialogue tables for characters. The app includes examples, so it can help to explore the different combinations.
Interestingly, I first heard about this method from voice actors who were using the same shorthand to characterize vocal quality. So in theory you could use the same set of features to characterize your characters’ vocal patterns, dialogue, gestures, or even how they react to conflict. It’s a highly versatile system.
Monday, July 29, 2024
🟡 Choreographing Character Dialogue
Exercise #288 Mastering Speech Affinities through Dance Notation
Strategy: Do your characters all sound the same? Does it seem as if they're all doing the same old dance, step after predictable step? It's time to shake things up! By borrowing a technique from the world of dance notation—Laban's efforts—we can infuse our characters' voices with unique rhythms, flows, and textures. Just as dancers use these efforts to bring physicality to life, we'll use them to breathe life into our dialogue. Ready to waltz into a world of distinctive voices?
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
🟡 The Long and Short of It
Exercise #289 Mastering Time in Dialogue
Strategy: Have you ever wondered why some characters speak in staccato bursts while others seem to have swallowed a thesaurus? Welcome to the fascinating world of dialogue Time is a key dimension in character voice. In this exercise, we'll explore the motivations behind brief and sustained speech patterns, creating a dialogue that showcases this contrast. Get ready to play with time and watch your characters' voices come alive!
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
🟡 Straight Talk and Roundabout Hints
Exercise #290 Mastering Direct and Indirect Speech
Strategy: Some characters cut straight to the chase while others take the scenic route in conversation. Welcome to the world of space in dialogue—another fascinating dimension in the Laban's efforts approach to defining character voice. In this exercise, we'll explore the motivations behind direct and indirect speech patterns, creating a dialogue that showcases this contrast. Get ready to navigate the space between bluntness and subtlety!
Thursday, August 01, 2024
🟡 The Gravity of Speech
Exercise #291 Mastering Weight in Dialogue
Strategy: What goes up must come down. But, have you ever noticed how some characters seem to float through life with a quip for every occasion, while others carry the weight of the world in their every word? Welcome to the intriguing realm of dialogue "Weight"—a crucial dimension in the Laban's efforts approach to character voice. In this exercise, we'll delve into the motivations behind light and heavy speech patterns, creating a dialogue that showcases this contrast. Prepare to balance the scales of conversation!
Friday, August 02, 2024
🟡 Mastering Flow in Dialogue
Exercise #292 Free Versus Bound Speech Patterns
Strategy: Ever met someone whose words seem to flow like a wild river, unpredictable and unrestrained? Or perhaps you've encountered those who speak as if reading from a carefully prepared script? Welcome to the fascinating world of dialogue "Flow"—the final dimension in our exploration of the Laban's efforts approach to character voice. In this exercise, we'll delve into the motivations behind free and bound speech patterns, creating a dialogue that showcases this contrast. Get ready to ride the rapids of conversation!
Saturday, August 03, 2024
🟡 The Changeable Tongue
Exercise #293 Mastering Speech Modulation
Strategy: Have you ever noticed how people speak differently depending on who they're talking to or what situation they're in? It's like they're verbal chameleons, adapting their speech to blend in or stand out as needed. This linguistic flexibility is a key aspect of creating believable, multi-dimensional characters. In this exercise, we'll explore how a character's voice can shift and change, revealing hidden depths and unexpected facets of their personality.
Sunday, August 04, 2024
🟡 Voices Under Pressure
Exercise #294 Exploring Extreme Speech Patterns
Strategy: Isn’t it surprising when you find yourself speaking in a way that feels entirely unlike you? Perhaps in a moment of extreme stress, joy, or fear? These instances when our usual speech patterns fly out the window can reveal fascinating aspects of our personalities. For writers, understanding and utilizing these extreme shifts can add layers of depth to characters and heighten the drama of pivotal scenes. In this exercise, we'll explore how normal speech can transform under pressure, unveiling hidden facets of a character's psyche.
Our next weekly theme will focus on chapters.