Creative Muscle Workouts - A Character's Internal Dialogue

Writing dialogue is more than just words said... it's motive, meaning, and the dynamics of the relationship. It's intentional and yet filled with subtext. 

But what about one's internal dialogue? 

Is it simpler because there is only one person involved? 

OR...

Is it just as complex because of the truth and lies tug-o-war going on in one's head?

Consider this example... 

When the pie fell to the floor, Lorinda let out a scream. 

"Nooooo! This can't be happening. This is my year." 

She knelt beside the pie and tried to scoop it back into the pan, but she knew it would never win the blue ribbon. 

Tears began to slide down her cheeks as she rolled to her back and let the spatula fall to the kitchen floor beside her. 

"I'm never gonna win. 

And I'm not sure why... because I make the very best cinnamon apple pie. 

How does she still win? She's been gone a year and that girl is still messing with me. 

Well, no more.

I have another hour before the tasting. I can do this."

And with that Lorinda got up, put a towel over the mess on the floor, and began to measure ingredients. 

"You stole Jim," she murmurs to the air as she meticulously measures the flour for the perfect crust.

"He was a lousy husband anyway," she adds as she cuts the butter into the flour.

"You stole the apple pie contest every year by flirting with the judges," she says as she transfers the irritation to the rolling pin on the dough. "And with the same recipe as me," she yells as she tosses the warm apples with butter and cinnamon. 

"But you never had the secret ingredient." 

She pinches the last corner and places it into the oven for cooking. 

She pulls her chair next to the oven and watches her prize pie cook. 

"You were a terrible sister, Geraldine," she whispers as tears tumble down her cheeks.  

She looks at the recipe to check the bake time and sees a picture of herself, her mom, and Geraldine as they baked together year ago. This Cinnamon Apple pie was their family tradition and now she was all that was left of it. 

Along the bottom of the page, in moms handwriting read, "Never forget the family secret ingredient... LOVE." 

She pulls the pie out of the oven and as the fragrance fills the air she knows this is the blue ribbon pie. 

"If you can hear me now... I'm sorry that I was terrible too."

Now it's your turn... 

Creative Muscle Exercise 

This is easiest with an established character... so for the first time, choose one that is already out and about in another story. 

Place your character in one of their favorite places and let them have a conversation with themselves about a recent disappointment (in the story or one you determine)

• What are the complexities of this conversation? 
• How is self-doubt versus self-belief a part of the conversation? 
• How are truth and lies both a part of the person's struggle? 
• Do they reach any breakthrough? 

This may take some time. Let yourself dig into this. Some of the dialogue will flow and sometimes a new motive, struggle, lie, or emotion will pop up and then you rewrite. But commit to it... because this skill is super powerful! 

DEBRIEF: 

1. What popped up as you started writing? How did you incorporate it into the dialogue? 

2. Did your character get to any breakthrough? How? 

3. What was hard about writing this? Why do you think this was difficult?