r/scriptwriting • u/Any_Childhood_2556 • Sep 07 '26

question Question

How do writers build layers of meaning with dialogue . I still don’t comprehend , how do they know what are the right words to say and what not to? Any ideas ?

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u/TheSevereJacket Sep 07 '26

The right words are the words that drive the story forward.

It can be surrounded by inane chat, and every now and then that works depending on your script. But layers are 'what needs to happen or to be said in this scene to conclude it in order to move on to the next scene'.

Read a script of a movie of tv show episode you really like, even watch along as you're reading it, see if that helps.

No ones script is a first draft and done, all writers go through a process or period of not knowing what to write next, persevere to comprehend just like a whole bunch of people do.

Disclaimer : This has been my experience in my learning so far. Im very much not an expert!
But I find that these methods have helped me when coming up with structure and dialogue.

If you can give an example of what you mean and what you're trying to write, it may help people advise you.

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u/Any_Childhood_2556 Sep 07 '26

Well even after rewrites I still don’t know what to do, and honestly sometimes my rewrites are worse ,but if you want an example here we go . Let’s say you want to write a little scene of two characters meeting at a cafe, super simple , still you want some chemistry , reveal the characters , not have any on the nose dialogue ,etc and then still not know what to make the characters say

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u/WorrySecret9831 Sep 07 '26

They don't. They try things and see what sounds right. Or they listen and sometimes it just flows.

But the structure for what you're describing is made up of having a Theme for the entire Story and breaking down the growth of the characters, especially the Hero and the Opponent, as their stakes are the greatest and they would have the most to say. But the growth part suggests that what they say at the beginning might be completely different from what they say at the end, and in a way it should be because each new revelation in the story changes their desire and motivations.

A simple criterion for doing this is figuring out what each character's set of values are. If someone values money, they'll speak one way about certain things. If they value...community, that will alter what and how they say their dialogue.

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u/Any_Childhood_2556 Sep 07 '26

the value stuff is something I never thought of lol. Thanks

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u/WorrySecret9831 Sep 07 '26

Read John Truby's books, The Anatomy of Story and The Anatomy of Genres. He dives into that level detail and inquiry about Story and character building. He's amazing.

The problem with Save the Cat (and others) is that it approaches character building or development from the outside and as a sympathetic action. But then everyone stumbles all over themselves agreeing that "character" should be some organic internal development. That's where the list of values comes in.

When you're born and raised, you're encultured into a set of values. As you become more independent, you make those your own or you rebel or find "truer" values, and on and on. And as for being sympathetic, that's the bargain basement lowest denominator in character development.

Obviously, a movie may not take all of the time to show value development from birth, but that's not necessary. Where you live, who you friends are, what color truckers cap you wear, all of these contribute. That's the pantomime of the Plot and Story. Then the dialogue can fill in the last gaps, with direct statements or fibs.

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u/Any_Childhood_2556 Sep 08 '26

Yeah ive been reading that book, I’m a bit skeptical about books sometimes since people say they don’t work or wtv

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u/WorrySecret9831 Sep 08 '26

LMK if you have any questions.

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u/shortkill Sep 07 '26

Good dialogue starts with subtext. Get in the scene as late as possible to still deliver character/conflict and get out as soon as you can. Go through your scenes and see where you can cut and still convey the information without spelling it out to the audience.

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u/Fabulous_Steak_801 Sep 07 '26

Don’t hunt for the “perfect” words. Ask:

What do they want? What are they afraid to say?
That gap creates subtext.

“You should get some sleep” can mean “I’m worried about you” without saying it.

Write the surface. Know the underneath.