Writing Subtext in Dialogue

“It’s not what you say; it’s what you don’t say.”

Subtext involves the hidden feelings beneath spoken words—anger, love, mistrust—all the emotions characters don’t dare admit aloud. It can add sizzle to drab dialogue and make the speakers sound like real people. If you’ve ever been told your conversation scenes feel “too on the nose,” this video is for you.

You can read a text version of this video on Medium:   / writing-subtext-in-dialogue  

Love my channel? Treat me to a cup of coffee at https://ko-fi.com/quotidianwriter.

My Published Stories and Poems: https://www.quotidianwriter.com/my-wr...

Twitter:   / quotidianwriter  

Title Music: “Clockwork” by Vindsvept -    • Fantasy Music - Vindsvept - Clockwork  

What Is Subtext? (0:00)
Body Language (1:05)
Secondary Emotion (3:51)
Sugarcoating (5:37)
Implied Accusation (7:51)
Passive Agressiveness (9:27)
Why We Use Subtext (11:55)
Writing Exercise (13:16)