Bowen on Dialogue

Posted by J. Mark Bertrand
on Wednesday, September 15, 2004
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My first introduction to Elizabeth Bowen was a photocopy of her Notes on Writing the Novel, a hand-out in Dan Stern's novel workshop in the mid-1990s. For years I kept this essay on my desk, mining it for riches time and again -- it was second only to Henry James' The Art of Fiction. Recently, I read Bowen's novel The Death of the Heart, a satisfying, technically brilliant piece of work. So when I came across a list of Elizabeth Bowen's "rules of dialogue," I thought I would share them here. Without further ado:

1. Dialogue should be brief.
2. It should add to the reader's present knowledge.
3. It should eliminate the routine exchanges of ordinary conversation.
4. It should convey a sense of spontaneity but eliminate the repetitiveness of real talk.
5. It should keep the story moving forward.
6. It should be revelatory to the speaker's character, both directly and indirectly.
7. It should show the relationships among people.

And that about says it all. Someone should publish a book that collects famous authors' lists. I've already posted my cobbled-together vade mecum for craft (to read it, click here and scroll down to the entry "Story Mechanics.") If any Notes on Craft readers have compiled similar gems, I'd be interested in seeing them.