Let’s take a closer look at the power of dialogue using an example.

I’ve paraphrased a scene from Tobias Wolff”s This Boy’s Life where a young Wolff announces he won’t go to Paris because he doesn’t want to use his stepfather’s name. While my paraphrase captured the essence, the actual dialogue brought it to life.

The exchange between the characters, Dwight’s anger, and Wolff’s responses paint a vivid picture.

Writing dialogue might demand more effort, but it’s worth every word to make your story resonate with readers.