Activity 2 — Telling a Story with Dialogue

Write a brief story (no more than a single page) using details from your own life. These can come from your building, neighborhood, school, the books you've read, etc. In your story, your character has a conflict with his or her most important person. Find any way to resolve this conflict. After you have finished, read this story aloud and discuss these aspects in a small group, if possible. (If not, share it with a writing partner or a friend). Think about these questions:

1. Who wants what (what is the conflict)?
2. How is the conflict resolved?
3. Is there anything that can be added to make everything understood even better?
4. Did you find any humor? Do you want humor?

Now, take the feedback you received in the discussion and rewrite your story as a dialogue between your two characters. If there is action, just write what the character does. DO NOT WORRY about spelling, punctuation, or form at this time.

For example, if I wrote a story about Clem the Watch asking Milo the Ring to sing him a song, I might have this:

Clem: Milo, I'm so sleepy. Can you sing me a song to get to sleep?
Milo: No way, Clem. I'm surfing the Web and can't be bothered by a baby like you.
Clem: You're mean.
Milo: So what? Go away and bug someone else.

(Clem starts crying and rolls over to a corner. His crying becomes very loud and soon disturbs Milo.)

Milo: Be quiet or I'll . . .
Clem: But you told me to go away. You hurt my feelings and I'm sad.
Milo: Geez, Louise, Clem! I didn't know you were so sensitive. Guess I'd better sing to you to shut you up, huh?
Clem: Yessssss! (And so Milo sings "New York, New York" to Clem and they both fall asleep happy!)

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