Fix Your Dialogue | Self-editing for fiction writers @NicoleWilbur

Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

Today we're looking at how to improve our dialogue writing using a practical exercise from Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. We'll take a look at their dialogue checklist, and then go in and edit this mini scene: stripping away unnecessary exposition and making characters sound more authentic.

Check out Don't Skip my Prologue: How to write an opening that HOOKS! nicolewilbur.com/dont-skip-my-prologue.html

I'm Nicole Wilbur, an author, writing mentor, and story theory nerd. I write about young adults breaking the rules, falling in love, and becoming versions of themselves they never expected. Pursuing traditional publishing and sharing the highs & lows!

🎥 V I D E O S F O R Y O U 🎥
My querying journey: youtu.be/vtH9ukSEMB4
How I got my Literary Agent: youtu.be/6AnfipxUACc
How I think about story structure: youtu.be/lGi7IhH6aoA
Should you take that writing course? youtu.be/jmpo7-Bg9rU

✍️ M Y A U T H O R N E W S L E T T E R ✍️
Say yes to a very nerdy party in your inbox: nicolewilbur.substack.com

💬 L E T ' S C O N N E C T 💬
Website | nicolewilbur.com
Pinterest | https://pin.it/3jx8lbC

Fix Your Dialogue | Self-editing for fiction writers

Is Bridgerton funny? Writing a comedic scene

Interviewing a debut self-published author / YA superhero release week!

Can editing ACTUALLY make a story better? // Lets fix these amateur writing mistakes

Releasing a Christmas short story 🎄Read some writing!

ACTUALLY make the book better / Editing using beta reader feedback

4 Ways to Think DIFFERENTLY about writing // I published a blog with NaNoWriMo!

How Im writing my first draft in TWO months + Querying is stressful

EVERYTHING you need to know about Cece Lyras writing WEBINARS | Emotion, interiority, line-level

Using the Story Grid for NaNoWriMo 2023 / preptober for plotters!

$Beyond Save the Cat Writes a Novel | 5 problems with the beat sheet Save the Cat by Blake Snyder and Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody are useful frameworks, but not the be-all-end-all. To write a great story today, you need more than a beat sheet. These are 5 problems (or holes) in Save the Cat. Subscribe to my newsletter for updates on my upcoming resource....this week was a story structure analysis of Project Hail Mary: https://nicolewilbur.substack.com/publish/post/193466353r=1odtbd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true 00:00 Intro 01:45 #1 10% is too late 06:00 #2 Midpoints as revelation 09:30 #3 Dont state the theme! 11:15 #4 Crises are the crux 14:00 #5 Fractal design Alternative Resources 1. https://www.jessicabrody.com/2020/07/four-catalyst-quick-fixes-for-save-the-cat/ (Save the Cat Writes a YA Novel mentions this content) 2. Into the Woods by John Yorke 3. https://youtu.be/lGi7IhH6aoA 4. https://storygrid.com/story-crisis/ 5. Into the Woods (again) and https://mythcreants.com/blog/your-plot-is-a-fractal/ Im Nicole Wilbur, an author, writing mentor, and adrenaline-chaser. I write about young adults breaking the rules, falling in love, and becoming versions of themselves they never expected. Pursuing traditional publishing and sharing the highs & lows! 🎥 V I D E O S F O R Y O U 🎥 My querying journey: https://youtu.be/vtH9ukSEMB4 How I got my Literary Agent: https://youtu.be/6AnfipxUACc How I think about story structure: https://youtu.be/lGi7IhH6aoA Should you take that writing course? https://youtu.be/jmpo7-Bg9rU ✍️ M Y A U T H O R N E W S L E T T E R ✍️ Say yes to a party in your inbox: https://nicolewilbur.substack.com/ 💬 L E T S C O N N E C T 💬 Website | https://www.nicolewilbur.com/ Pinterest | https://pin.it/3jx8lbC #savethecat #writinganovel #writertube$