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Three anti-social skills to improve your writing - Nadia Kalman

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You need social skills to have a conversation in real life -- but they're quite different from the skills you need to write good dialogue. Educator Nadia Kalman suggests a few "anti-social skills," like eavesdropping and muttering to yourself, that can help you write an effective dialogue for your next story.

Read the discussions of Wuthering Heights and Crime and Punishment in the article, “Creating Effective Dialogue,” by William H. Coles (available at http://fictioneditorsopinions.com/2009/08/creating-effective-dialog/). Now, consider some examples of fictional dialogue that you’ve particularly enjoyed reading. What do you think made the dialogue effective? Which techniques did the author seem to be using?

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Director Joyce Stenneke
  • Educator Nadia Kalman
  • Narrator Rose Eveleth

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