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The Intention of Action and Dialogue

Intention makes action happen.

David Gane
David Gane

Physical actions and dialogue are the same thing. They are both done with the intention of making something happen and causing change.

A character could threaten someone with words, or they could threaten them with a fist. Both are threats but different approaches.

Their intention is the goal of the scene—to get something that takes them closer to the want within the story. Maybe they want the person to leave the room, leave them alone, or tell them where their loved one is. Again, it is always to cause change.

So when working on your scenes and writing the beat-by-beat, back and forth between action and response, ask yourself what the intention of your characters is. If you don’t know it, take the time to figure it out.

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David Gane

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Co-writer of the Shepherd and Wolfe young adult mysteries, the internationally award-winning series, and teacher of storytelling and screenwriting.

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