“Dialogue is not just quotation. It is grimaces, pauses, adjustments of blouse buttons, doodles on a napkin, and crossings of legs.” – Jerome Stern No matter how wonderful your description is, no matter how many unique metaphors or images you include, nothing can ever “make up” for poorly-written dialogue. Dialogue is the life of your story. It […]
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What is Chekhov’s Gun: Understanding the Most Useful Plot Advice
“If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don’t put it there.” – Anton Chekhov In brief, Chekhov’s Gun is the idea of including only what is necessary to the story. If it’s not essential, cut it. The Chekhov’s Gun concept has […]