Peggy Arthur

By Peggy Arthur

Greetings readers, writers, and everyone in between!

One of the biggest areas I’m currently focused on in my manuscript is dialogue.

I’ve learned something simple but powerful: one of the fastest ways to improve a manuscript is to improve the dialogue. That realization shifted how I approached my rewrite entirely. Dialogue isn’t just conversation. It’s structure, tension, subtext, and movement. It has a job to do.

At its core, narrative dialogue is a form of action within a story. According to The Art of Fiction by John Gardner, dialogue is “a form of action” that reveals character and advances the narrative. That definition alone reframed how I see every exchange on the page. Dialogue isn’t there to sit still; it’s there to do something.

To support this phase of my writing, my editor included a resource in my editorial letter. But before diving into that, I asked her about a book I already had on my shelf: How to Write Dazzling Dialogue by James Scott Bell.

She mentioned she hadn’t read that particular book, but she’s familiar with his work and trusts the quality of his teaching. That was all I needed. The green light.

My First Mistake: Rushing the Process

Naturally, I did what I tend to do.

I tried to read the entire book in three days… while taking notes… and rewriting at the same time. The age-old story of setting one’s own self up!

Needless to say, that didn’t work.

While the book itself isn’t long, it is dense. Especially if you’re actually trying to absorb the material and apply it to your writing. I wasn’t studying. I was skimming. And there’s a difference.

The Shift: Slowing Down

Instead of rushing to finish the book, I started reading it alongside my rewrite.

That changed everything.

Rather than consuming information passively, I began applying concepts in real time. Line by line, scene by scene. Dialogue started to feel more intentional. More alive. More layered.

One of the most notable ideas that stayed with me is this: dialogue is not stagnant; it is action.

Bell writes, “Dialogue is not just talk; it is a form of action.” (How to Write Dazzling Dialogue, James Scott Bell)

That line clicked instantly.

It reminded me of water. The way it flows, shifts, moves around obstacles, and shapes everything in its path. That’s what dialogue should feel like. It should carry the story forward, not pause it. It should reveal, conceal, push, and pull. It should move.

And once I understood that I started seeing where my dialogue had been standing still.

What I Recommend to Fellow First-Time Authors

We’re living in the age of information. Resources are everywhere. Books, blogs, videos, courses. There’s no shortage of knowledge. I’ve always said: data is king.

But access to information isn’t the same as growth.

Here’s what I’m learning about how to actually use those resources:

• Don’t rush through reading. Study it! 

  Rushing made me skim instead of see. Slowing down allowed me to recognize what wasn’t working in my own scenes.

• Take notes. Then read your notes

  Writing something down is only step one. Go back. Reflect. Let it sink in. Your notes become your personalized guide to the craft.

• Apply as you go

  Don’t wait until you’ve finished the entire book to try something new. Test it immediately. See how it feels on the page.

• Use it or lose it

  Craft knowledge fades if you don’t practice it. Every scene is an opportunity to sharpen the skill.

• Let the material breathe

  Give yourself time to process. Growth doesn’t happen in a rush; it happens in layers.

• Enjoy the process

 Writing doesn’t have to feel like pressure all the time. Everyday life brings enough challenges. Let this be a space where you can explore, create, and even escape a little.

Where I Am Now

I was able to fully lean into this slower, more intentional approach while rewriting Chapter 2, which is new…new.

And honestly? It feels better.

More grounded. More thoughtful. Truer to the story I’m trying to tell.

The dialogue flows. It moves. It works.

This is just one piece of the process, but it’s already making a difference. And more importantly, it’s changing how I engage with the craft itself.

Sometimes leveling up isn’t about doing more.

It’s about slowing down enough to do it right.

More to come.

🌿 Join the Conversation

If you’re on your own writing journey, drop a comment or connect with me—I’d love to hear where you are in your process.

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