WHAT MAKES A GOOD SPEECH?

• Perhaps it consists of one or more good sentences, logically organised.
• It is relevant to the plot.
• It is true to the spoken word, i.e. it sounds like real speech rather than written text being read aloud.
• Perhaps it is short, maintaining readers’/listeners’ interest and keeping the piece moving along.
• If it consists of more than a few sentences it is calculated to achieve a specific purpose. Examples of "good reasons" for longer speeches include:
  — scene-setting,
  — making and reinforcing a crucial point in the plot,
  — marking a key stage in the revelation/development of a character,
  — having a calculated effect on the audience (e.g. rousing, hypnotising, evoking empathy),
  — providing a summary of past or planned events and
  — acting as a bridge to mark the passage of time.
• Perhaps it facilitates the task of listening by exploring or reiterating complex words, ideas or aspects of the plot.
• Perhaps it makes provision for effective use of silence.
• Perhaps it refers to a previous speech or scene, giving a conflicting account which reflects the speaker’s particular point of view.
• Perhaps it contains inconsistencies that reflect the character of the speaker.

WHAT MAKES GOOD DIALOGUE?

• Each character’s speech prompts questions/issues in the other’s mind, directly triggering a response, or perhaps causing the next speaker to change tack.
• Each speech connects with the previous one, unless of course the speaker deliberately deviates from the established line of argument.
• Perhaps a speech challenges or contradicts a previous speech.
• Perhaps the characters’ contributions to the dialogue reveal conflicting motives or objectives.
• It reveals some new aspect of at least one of the characters involved, and ideally all of them.
• Perhaps it marks a significant development in the plot.
• Perhaps it resolves an outstanding issue and/or gives rise to a further issue to be resolved.
• It involves well timed interaction between the characters.
• It exposes aspects of character that might not be apparent from descriptive text.