Writing Dialogue for Scripts (Writing Handbooks S.) [Paperback]

Rib Davis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0713663804 | ISBN-13: 978-0713663808 | Publication Date: January 2003 | Edition: 2 Sub

This work deals with the media of stage, radio, television and film, giving plenty of practical advice. It includes examples of the most recent scripted dialogue. Chapters deal with how conversation works, naturalistic and stylized dialogue, pace and variation, scripted narration, comic dialogue and presentation. As well as highlighting the ways in which dialogue varies from one medium to another, this work shows how many of the skills of writing dialogue may in fact be applied to all the script media.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" Oh it's delicious! " Reviews Gate, 12th August 2008 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Rib Davis is an award-winning playwright and has had over fifty scripts performed on stage, radio and screen. He has also worked as a script reader for both the BBC and the Arts Council of Great Britain.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: A & C Black; 2 Sub edition (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0713663804
• ISBN-13: 978-0713663808
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,165,941 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on film dialogue that I've found!, March 25, 2009

By 

W. Rabeneck "billyrayhombre09" (Arkansas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Writing Dialogue for Scripts: Effective dialogue for film, tv, radio and stage (Writing Handbooks) (Paperback)

I've read four other dialogue books in an effort to improve my screenwriting skills, and this is the best one that I've found. This book is the real deal. It explains subtext in a way that none of the other books that I read have ever come close to. It also explains some situations that I never considered in my scripts before like: characters who brag, ly, and other traits, and how they impact scripts. It also runs through examples of good and bad exposition.

Good film dialogue books seem to be extremely rare. I'm rating this one five stars, and I wouldn't rate any of the other four that I've read more than two stars. In comparison to this fine book, they were virtually a waste of my time and money.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for writers, though it's incomplete, September 17, 2011

By 

Dr. Olaf Hasenbein - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Writing Dialogue for Scripts: Effective dialogue for film, tv, radio and stage (Writing Handbooks) (Paperback)

I have read this book in four days and tried to extracted all useful information out of it.
First, this book really offers a lot to learn. Rib Davis points out some aspects, which I haven't read in other books so far. Nevertheless there are some points, which, in my opinion, are inevitable for writing good dialogue, but I missed them in this lecture.

At the beginning he gives a good overview of the differences between written dialogue and naturalistic speech. His attempt to find a new form for written dialogue, so called naturalistic dialogue and further the hightened naturalism, is very helpful. The examples are perfect and his explanations are all easy to follow.

Until chapter 7 (out of 13) everything follows a logical order. Chapter 7 (Tone, Pace, Conflict) seemed to be too packed and sometimes confusing. The differences between mood, tone, form and so on don't really work for me. In the next chapters (the last third) he misses the track. He talks too much about narrating, rare dialogue forms and the chapter about comic dialogue was pretentious.

In the end, I can give this book without any doubt 4 stars. It's a helpful read and the first half has some astonishing insights, which really matter for professional writers. (Don't forget that Rib Davis is acutally a writer, who has accomplished something) Nevertheless there are some important points missing: one chapter about subtext, one chapter about communication without words and maybe one chapter about the action/reaction mechanism...

To be honest, I haven't found the "holy bible" according dialogue writing yet. So far I have read three books about writing dialogue, and several about creative writing and script writing, which always include one chapter about dialogue. I pick what helps me out of these books. So start to read, compare and most important try out and practice, that's the only advice, I can give you.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome. Best book I've read on dialogue., March 14, 2011

By 

The Z Man - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Writing Dialogue for Scripts: Effective dialogue for film, tv, radio and stage (Writing Handbooks) (Paperback)

I've read quite a few books on dialogue. They all stink, except for this one. Not only is this a great book on dialogue, but it is a great book to understand cinematic technique. This is one of those books that once you're done, you feel like you've learned some of those great secrets of film. The reason you'll feel this way is because indeed, you will. I can't say enough good things about this. I can say I've read quite a few other books on the subject, and none of them come close to this one. If there is any book you buy, make it Writing Dialogue for Scripts.