SPEAKING PARTS: writing effective DIALOGUE with SUE SMITH
In this half-day workshop we discover what one of Australia's most acclaimed writers for stage and screen can teach prose writers about creating effective dialogue. Screenwriter playwright Sue Smith will examine the uses and abuses of dialogue in the telling of stories: what’s the purpose of dialogue? Why do stories need it? What can a character’s way of speaking tell us about them? How much artifice is needed for ‘lifelike’ dialogue? We'll explore silence and speech – when to leave gaps, what best goes unspoken? We'll discuss the development of a writer's listening skills, and tuning your ear for revealing speech patterns. And we'll talk about when dialogue goes bad – common problems & pitfalls to watch out for.
Suitable for: Writers of fiction and narrative non-fiction.
Where: Workshops are held in Crows Nest, Sydney - details provided on booking. Please note that access to the venue is via stairs with no lift.
About Sue Sue Smith has written more than 15 of Australia's most acclaimed television and feature film scripts, including the ABC's The Leaving of Liverpool, Mabo, Brides of Christ and My Brother Jack, was co-writer on the Hollywood feature Saving Mr Banks, starring Emma Thompson, and author of five stage plays, including Sydney Theatre Company's Kryptonite and Machu Picchu, starring Lisa McCune. Sue has just been announced winner of the prestigious 2018 Sydney Theatre Company Patrick White Playwright's Fellowship.
