Great Artists Steal Exercise

“THE WORLD OUTSIDE”
OVERHEARD DIALOGUE
FADE IN:
INT./EXT. ANYWHERE EXCEPT IN FRONT OF YOUR COMPUTER - NOW

SCRIPTED WHIM   As a writer, what you observe in

   the world around you is as
   important as what you dream up
   in your head. Go to any public
   space-- a restaurant, a park, or
   the grocery store-- and really
   study the people around you.
   Write down any interesting
   tidbits of conversation that you
   hear. Listen to the natural
   rhythm of speech and pay
   attention to what people talk
   about when they think nobody can
   hear them.
SCRIPTED WHIM    The opening scene from Reservoir                 Dogs is a great example of
   amazing dialog. Build a short
   scene around one or two lines of
   overheard dialog. Create new
   characters and scenarios, but try
   to remain true to the overheard
   lines. Then, go back and punch up
   the dialog. Sometimes, you’ll
   overhear some real gems. And
   sometimes you won’t. It’s up to
   you to fill in the blanks.
FADE OUT:
THE END