How to Edit Dialogue in Fiction | Leisure Learning | UNB Art Centre | UNB

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College of Extended Learning

How to Edit Dialogue in Fiction

Dialogue matters because readers want to hear characters speak

Readers pay close attention to dialogue, often even before they buy a book. That’s why it’s so important to get it right. Whether you have finished a draft or you’re still writing, this workshop will help.

In this three-hour session, you’ll learn about:

  • format: when to start a new line; interruptions and trail offs; which marks go where
  • punctuation: the conventions versus what the professionals do
  • speech tags and action beats: when they’re needed and where to put them
  • verbs and adverbs in speech tags: which to use and which to avoid

You’ll take away examples drawn from contemporary fiction as well as a list of print and online resources.

No materials are required.

Note: This sentence-level session is technical in nature.

Fall term

Saturday, Nov. 23 (1 class)
1 - 4 p.m.
$65 (+ HST)

Register now

Winter term

Saturday, March 1 (1 class)
1 - 4 p.m.
$65 (+ HST)

Registration opens Oct. 18.

About the instructor

Shelley Egan works as a freelance editor and writing coach. As well as a certificate in the developmental editing of fiction, she has earned a BA in English, an MEd, and a publishing certificate from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), formerly Ryerson University. There, she was nominated by her copy-editing instructor for an award for excellence in book editing.

A former Hansard editor, and college and university ESL instructor, Shelley is an enthusiastic lifelong learner. In addition to studying fiction editing through TMU, Editors Canada, and Club Ed Freelancers, she has taken writing and editing workshops from, among others, author-instructors David Corbett, Jennifer Lawler, Tim Lott, Claire McGowan, Roz Morris, and Susan Pohlman - as well as from Sarah Burton and Jem Poster, co-founders of Cambridge University’s master’s program in creative writing.

An Editors Canada member and volunteer, Shelley leads workshops for UNB’s College of Extended Learning, teaches courses for Club Ed Freelancers, and belongs to a writing group with members in England, Barbados, and British Columbia.