Without dialogue a novel is no more than an endless essay. Only through their speech can the characters really come to life. We all talk to one another all the time, so it shouldn"t be too difficult to get our realistic dialogue into the mouths of our fictional characters. Yet for some writers it is an impossible task. This practical guide by prolific author Jean Saunders shows how it is done. Jean has defined all the necessary ingredients for creating realistic dialogue in fiction. Pointers include the actual layout of dialogue, basic principles of punctuation, avoiding trivia, and making your characters more believable through their speech. Many examples are given to demonstrate this vital part of successful fiction. Jean explains the primary purposes of dialogue; how to create an atmosphere; effective adverbs; how to use the listening ear; how to avoid the slush pile and so much more.