Short answer: yes. The question is complicated, though, by what counts as ‘dialogue’.

Can you write a novel without dialogue?

You absolutely can write a story with no dialogue. You also can write a story using only dialogue. You can and may do anything you wish in a work of fiction. That’s what fiction is about.

What do you call a book with no dialogue?

Non-Epistolary Novels Without Dialogue.

What does it mean when a story has no dialogue?

“No dialogue” meaning “no one speaks” is just narration describing what’s going on.

How important is dialogue in a novel?

A capable writer uses dialogue to drive a story’s plot forward, to bring the reader closer to its climax and, ultimately its conclusion. Dialogue can also help charge scenes with emotion, heightening tension between characters or building suspense ahead of a key event or turning point in the plot.

How do you write a story with no dialogue?

Quote from video: So we knew a few things that would help us along the way firstly. The story needed to be 100%. Visual no bloated backstory a nice simple structure a single goal a single obstacle.

How do you tell a story without dialogue?

Shorter videos tend to work best without dialogue. The narrative is condensed, and the action on screen is enough to keep your audience enthralled. Granted, there are plenty of examples of feature-length films that succeeded without words, like A Quiet Place, or any of these other silent hits.

Can you write a book with only dialogue?

Write a story containing only dialogue



If you’re not using play formatting, limit the story to a dialogue between two characters, to keep things straightforward. You could use the two characters you’ve been working on for the past two days since you already have their voices and a sense of who they are.

What percentage of a novel should be dialogue?

Some non-genre novels have higher proportions: The Great Gatsby has 51.32%; Martin Eden has 50.58%.



Proportion of dialogue in novels.

Why is writing dialogue so hard?

Dialogue needs purpose.



Why is dialogue so hard to get right? Because it’s tasked with doing so many things at once. Effective dialogue results from the purpose of the scene, while simultaneously feeling as though it results from the character speaking it.

What are the 5 purposes of dialogue?

The 5 functions of a dialogue

• Show a character through their voice.
• Advance the plot.
• Provide information about time and place of the narration.
• Break the monologue of the narrator.
• Use the flashback to present memories.

What can I say in a story instead of said?

‘Said’ synonyms for emotionless contexts

1. stated.
2. replied.
3. reported.
4. mentioned.
5. noted.
6. observed.
7. commented.
8. added.

What is the dialogue in a book called?

Dialogue, in literature, is a verbal exchange between two or more characters (but can also involve strategic use of silence). If there is only one character talking aloud, it is a monologue.

Can you write a book with only dialogue?

Write a story containing only dialogue



If you’re not using play formatting, limit the story to a dialogue between two characters, to keep things straightforward. You could use the two characters you’ve been working on for the past two days since you already have their voices and a sense of who they are.

How do you say said without saying said?

It becomes essential to have alternatives for the word “said” if you want your writing to sound decent.



Use Words Other than “Said”

1. Whispered.
2. Breathed.
3. Murmured.
4. Sighed.
5. Purred.
6. Blurted.
7. Gurgled.
8. Chuckled.

How do you begin a story?

Try one or more of these strategies.

1. Strategy 1: Begin with action or dialogue. …
2. Strategy 2: Ask a question. …
3. Strategy 3: Describe the setting. …
4. Strategy 4: Begin with background information. …
5. Strategy 5: Have the main character introduce himself or herself.

How do you end a story?

How to End a Story

1. 6 Ideas to Consider for How to End a Story.
2. Conclude your story in a neat and tidy way.
3. Leave your reader hanging from a cliff.
4. Provide a twist in the tale.
5. Play around with ambiguity and unreliability.
6. End on an epilogue.
7. Choose a cyclical ending.