Why Dialogue Is Hard to Fix

“Wooden.” “Clunky.” “Flat.”

Those are the words writers hear when dialogue isn’t working. None of them tells you what to change.

So you guess. You cut the dialogue tags, then put them back because no one can tell who’s talking. You give a character a longer speech to explain what’s going on. It still sounds wooden, and you still don’t know why.

Usually it isn’t one big mistake. It’s a handful of small choices: a tag that draws attention to itself, two characters who use the same words, a line that delivers information instead of revealing anyone. Each one is easy to miss, and together they make a conversation feel staged.

Once you can see those choices, you can fix them. And dialogue that works is one of the most efficient tools a writer has: a single line can show who a character is and raise the tension in the same breath.

What You’ll Discover

In this workshop with author and Flash Fiction Magazine editor Laura Besley, you’ll work through dialogue from both sides: the storytelling choices that make it come alive, and the technical rules that make it read cleanly.

By the end of this workshop, you’ll know how to:

• Make each character sound like themselves through word choice, sentence structure, register, and formality
• Know the difference between realistic dialogue and effective dialogue, and why editors want the second one
• Use action alongside dialogue so the reader knows who’s speaking and what they really mean
• Avoid the info dumps and monologues that make dialogue sound staged
• Handle reported speech and quoted speech without confusing the reader
• Decide when a dialogue tag helps and when to cut it, and which verbs belong in the tags you keep
• Punctuate dialogue with confidence, from commas and quotation marks to capital letters

Plus: You’ll write new pieces built around dialogue and leave with examples and workshop materials you can reference forever.

What’s Included

• Two intensive 3-hour days with Laura Besley
• Examples showing dialogue that works, and why
• Guided writing exercises for every technique, from tags to character voice
• Clear guidance on the technical rules of dialogue, so punctuation stops being a guessing game
• A list of dos and don’ts covering contractions, dialogue verbs, fragments, and info dumps
• Interactive feedback opportunities to share and discuss your work
• Lifetime access to all recordings, materials, and resources

Perfect For Writers Who:

• Have been told their dialogue is wooden, clunky, or flat, but don’t know why
• Have a draft with several characters that is calling out for a conversation
• Summarize what characters said because writing the actual lines feels too risky
• Notice that all their characters sound the same, or all sound like the narrator
• Are ready to use dialogue to sharpen characterization and tension
• Want to write dialogue but aren’t sure how to punctuate or format it
• Want dialogue that zings on the page and holds up in front of an editor

“I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed learning from the great authors and teachers on this platform! I’ve had insights and been prodded to write so many stories and bits of stories that I’ve filled notebooks with words I can be proud of.”

— Denise Greenwood-Loveless

“All of the workshops have been fantastic […] You do a great job with compiling and saving the workshop recordings and materials for us, so I just need to plan times to go over the things I miss.”

— Marcia Ehinger

“Really appreciate the sessions hosted by Flash Fiction Magazine… each one growing my understanding and making me a better writer.”

— Janine

“I’ve really enjoyed all the workshops I’ve taken thus far, and found them incredibly helpful in my development as a writer.”

— Bernard Lohr

“It’s so great to have all the handouts, slides, and replays organized and in one place. It’s a treasure trove of information that I’ll be coming back to a lot.”

— Renee Tawa

⏰ 👉 Not sure if this time works for you? Check your local time here

Day 1: November 7

10 AM PT / 11 AM MT / 12 PM CT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM GMT (3 hours)

• The technical rules, part one: dialogue tags, when to use them and when to omit them
• Commas, quotation marks, and capital letters, so your dialogue reads cleanly on the page
• Characterization through dialogue: how age, gender, status, class, and even names shape the way someone speaks
• Using action as part of dialogue to show who’s talking and what they mean
• Dos and don’ts: when to use contractions, which verbs belong in a dialogue tag, and how to avoid info dumps and monologues
• Write and share new work using each technique

Day 2: November 8

10 AM PT / 11 AM MT / 12 PM CT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM GMT (3 hours)

• The technical rules, part two: reported speech versus quoted speech, and when to choose each one
• A look at accents and dialect, with examples and a chance to try it in a writing exercise
• Characterization through register and formality
• How to make sure your characters sound unique from each other, and from your narrator
• Dos and don’ts: using sentence fragments and “incorrect” grammar on purpose
• Realistic dialogue versus effective dialogue, and why the most realistic line isn’t always the right one
• Write and share new work, and leave ready to bring dialogue into the drafts you already have

Can’t make it live? All participants receive LIFETIME ACCESS to workshop recordings and materials.

Underprivileged discounts are available to a handful of students. Please email shannon@101words.org and provide an explanation of your situation.

Picture two characters trading four short lines. By the end, the reader knows who holds the power in the room and what neither of them is willing to say. No narrator had to explain any of it.

That’s what dialogue can do in a story. It isn’t padding, and it isn’t something to try only when you have words to spare. Used well, it’s one of the most efficient tools you have, because a single exchange can characterize, advance the plot, and build tension at once.

None of this depends on having a natural ear. The rules for tags and punctuation can be learned, and so can the choices that make one character sound different from another. Once both feel natural, your attention goes to what each line needs to do instead of where the commas belong.

Your Investment

Workshop Price: $99
Value: Lifetime access to techniques you’ll use every time a character opens their mouth

Underprivileged discounts are available to a handful of students. Please email shannon@101words.org and provide an explanation of your situation.

What skill level is this workshop designed for?

This workshop benefits writers at all levels, from beginners seeking a strong foundation to published authors looking to refine their techniques.

Will I get individual feedback on my writing?

While we don’t offer one-on-one feedback, volunteers can share their exercise work during class, and the instructor will provide live feedback that benefits all participants.

What if I can’t attend the live session?

No problem. You’ll receive recordings of both complete sessions plus all materials, so you can work through everything at your own pace and return to the content whenever needed.

Will I have time to write during the sessions?

Absolutely. This is a hands-on workshop with multiple guided writing exercises. You’ll create new work and have opportunities to share and receive feedback.

Can I ask questions during the workshop?

Yes! This is an interactive session with questions and discussion integrated throughout the workshop.

I have another question.

Feel free to reach out to Shannon: shannon@101words.org

This workshop covers both halves of the problem: the rules that make dialogue read cleanly, and the choices that make it sound like your characters.

After two days with Laura, you’ll know what dialogue can do for a story and how to write it so an editor reads it as a strength.

Underprivileged discounts are available to a handful of students. Please email shannon@101words.org and provide an explanation of your situation.

Can’t attend live? No worries! All participants receive access to workshop recordings.

Questions? Contact shannon@101words.org