Ron Carlson’s Take on The Function of Dialogue

In discussing dialogue, in terms of the craft of writing, many books place dialogue as a function of the story that it serves the story by advancing it. In Ron Carlson's Write a Story, Carlson suggests that dialogue is not subservient to the story. 

"The thinking that dialogue serves story, the way a wheel serves a car; it is meant to advance the story. I'm not all sure dialogue is meant to advance the story; I know that sometimes it is the story." (41)

In considering using dialogue in my short story, "Ersi," I would have to agree with Carlson that the true center of the story in "Ersi" rests in the dialogue between Ersi and her nephew. 

"I want to say story is meant to advance the dialogue; more frequently than I would even list, the heart of the story is shown most clearly in the dialogue." (41). 

However, in re-rereading this section, I would go a step further to imply that what Carlson is really suggesting here is that dialogue is actually a function of character. Like how a character may react in a particular situation in a scene, how they respond verbally is also a part of that character makeup. It's the character's responsibility to serve the scene, and if the scene requires dialogue or conversation/confrontation between two characters, then it's the character's job to deliver the dialogue. 

"The scene had a point, and it became the characters' responsibility to deliver it, just as if they had been hired by the author, out of central casting to get the job done." (41)

However, writing dialogue using this approach means that the writer must know the characters on a very deep level to be guided through the conversation, as Carlson suggests:

"Writing dialogue is about observing closely what is on each character's mind and how willing and how able he or she is to share it." (43)

When writing dialogue as a function of characters, the writer must know the words, the pace, and the sounds of that character. The conversation or exchange between characters is authentic because each character is coming into the scene with their own agenda, creating believable and credible characters. 

It places the burden of credibility on the characters' shoulders. Dialogue needs to be written with the same strength and force congruent with that particular character's agenda. Just like their actions are unique to themselves. Dialogue needs to match that or line up to that. 

"What is powerhouse about dialogue is that it is the one time in all your writing, when your characters stand-alone, unvarnished by your interpretation and what they say, direct dialogue, can be the most potent evidence in fiction." (44)