Adding dialog lets readers “hear” how a character sounds. Does he sound like a southerner, an immigrant or does he speak formally annunciating each word? Of course, we’re generalizing.

1. Go through the story and introduce dialog—direct and indirect.
   •    She said she can’t make it to the Christmas partyis indirect dialog.
   •    “I can’t come to the Christmas party,” she said.This is an example of direct dialog.
   •    Sometimes, adjectives can be changed into dialog. She was furiouscan be changed to “Don’t ever use that tone with me again or you’ll get a lickin’ you’ll never forget.”
2. Make a list and check it twice: does your character have any pet words or phrases? My grandmother would often say it was as dark as the inside of a pocket.