Advice Quote by Ann Patchett
““ What is the trick for writing dialogue? That you are not running a wiretap for the FBI. I used to have a boyfriend who was an assistant District Attorney in narcotics in New York and he used to have to read wiretaps. And he would bring them home, three feet high, two women who were watching television in their separate apartments, saying, “I need Pampers! Do you have Pampers? Did you see what he just did on that show?” Four thousand pages. They were girlfriends of suspects and it was a real cautionary tale in how you don’t want people to go on and on. And dialogue is nothing at all like how people talk. Dialogue, hopefully, if you’re doing it well, is a couple of well-chosen kernels that stand in for conversation, that represent conversation. Conversation is very boring. Even interesting conversations.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Writing Dialogue Tips, 2020
Effective dialogue should be concise, focusing on essential ideas rather than mimicking real conversation, which can be tedious.
In simple terms: Write concise, purposeful dialogue.
Key Takeaway
Choose key ideas, avoid endless chatter.
Themes
writing
dialogue
craft
communication
clarity
Mood
thoughtful
instructional
analytical
Type
educational
practical
creative
When to use this quote
- screenwriting
- novel writing
- podcast scripts
- interviews
- teaching
Key Concepts
Narrative technique
conciseness
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide what to cut?
- What makes dialogue feel alive?
A Different Perspective
Real speech is often messy; dialogue must serve story.
