Said, Unsaid, and Everything in Between with R.W.R. McDonald

Craft dialogue that reveals, conceals, and transforms your story.

Writing great dialogue isn’t just about what’s said—it’s about what’s left unsaid. In this engaging online workshop, award-winning author R.W.R. McDonald will guide participants through the craft of writing layered, purposeful dialogue. Through examples, discussion, and short exercises, you’ll explore real-world vs written speech, subtext, action beats, and voice consistency. Learn to avoid ‘on the nose’ writing, build tension, and use dialogue to drive plot. Suitable for writers at any stage, this session will give you the tools to revise, sharpen, and elevate your dialogue—transforming character interactions into something truly compelling.

Learning outcomes

As part of this workshop, participants will:

• Understand the difference between real-world and story-driven dialogue.

• Learn how to write character-specific voices and avoid ‘on the nose’ dialogue.

• Explore how to use subtext, pacing, and contrast to create compelling scenes.

• Practice integrating dialogue with action, setting, and suspense.

• Gain confidence in editing for rhythm, believability, and narrative drive.

Format

This is an online workshop with a focus on writing craft; it will be hosted via Zoom. This workshop is suitable for writers of all levels and writing backgrounds.
      

About Robert

R.W.R. McDonald is an award-winning author of crime fiction, based in Naarm/Melbourne. His debut novel, The Nancys, won Best First Novel at the Ngaio Marsh Awards and launched a series praised for its heart, humour, and mystery. His work includes Nancy Business, An Ambush of Widows (audio), and the picture books Happy Millionth Birthday and Rainbow Street. Rob has tutored with Faber Academy and Writing NSW, mentored with Kill Your Darlings, and co-founded Queer Writes Sessions. As a facilitator, he offers thoughtful, strengths-based feedback that helps writers reflect, develop, and grow in their own voice.        

For more information about Queensland Writers Centre’s Program of Events and answers to FAQs, please visit: www.queenslandwriters.org.au/program-info