A common flaw in fictional works, whether in prose or a script, is dialogue that is too "on the nose": that is, the characters speak too literally or expositionally. This dialogue states too precisely what a character is feeling or thinking—or is too obviously mastered to convey some essential background or plot point.

This literal approach can make for stilted, unnatural-sounding verbal exchanges. And it ruins suspense, as the reader or audience is always being told exactly what is going on. In real life, people often express themselves obliquely, speaking in a way that plays down or only gestures to what they are really feeling or thinking. And, of course, speeches of detailed exposition are rarely necessary in real life. In this workshop, we'll look at ways to take dialogue mostly off the nose, using exposition only surgically, and incorporating layers of subtext and meaning to create exchanges that are fuller and more life-like—and, most important, more interesting.

Paul Zimmerman is a writer and teacher who works across genres. As a screenwriter, he wrote the film A Modern Affair, and has developed feature length screenplays and corporate scripts for Tribe Pictures and many other production companies. His latest feature screenplay, Fleeing, is being produced by Magic Hour Productions and starts shooting soon with Rachael Holder directing. Among his stage plays, Pigs and Bugs was originally presented at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Festival, and has been produced in Los Angeles and Vermont. His one-person play, Reno, debuted in New York City, and was subsequently produced at performance spaces nationwide. He has published fiction in Confrontation Magazine, and authored the chapter on Character in Gotham Writers' Workshop's book Writing Movies (Bloomsbury USA). Paul is a grant recipient from the New York Public Theater, and holds an MFA in Playwriting from the Yale School of Drama. He currently teaches writing classes in New York City at Hofstra University, St. John's University, and the Gotham Writers' Workshop, and works as an independent script consultant.