Meeting Dialogue

Don't know of any guides, but if you have lots of people, you have to do something (tags/movement) to show who's speaking.

So right, Janet. You told me this last year and now, I can see what's lacking. Movement/ action gives a sense of place and time without having to describe the people and surroundings ad nauseum. No clocks, calendars or sundials required.

Vern has a point, too.

I discovered a trick one day when I was faced with a screenful of bits I wanted to use in some way. (They became "The Blonde on the Beach.") Now I use it all the time. I type every bit as a separate phrase or sentence, each on its own line. Then I start playing around with them--If A said this, what would be B's and C's reactions? When everything fits together in a sequence I like, I turn the phrases into sentences, and the sentences into paragraphs, and there you are. Need a little action? Use actions instead of dialogue tags.
"Order in the court!" The judge banged his gavel until it broke and went flying across the courtroom.
Juror number 5 leapt out of the way. "Hey, Judge! Look out!"
The defense attorney picked up the offending piece of wood and brought it back to the bench. "I believe this is yours, Your Honor."
No boring tags, plenty of action.

If there are axes being raised, etc., then pick what is relevant to the story unfolding and show it. You don't even have to do it all within the meeting proper; someone's statements or reactions could be shown at a different time and place either in another conversation or in narrative to get to another stage of the plot, etc. Each segment is still merely another scene to describe; pick which ones should be shown and gloss over the rest. Just as with any other action scene, you don't write out every single detail; you don't bring in every curve or turn and squealing tire in a car chase for instance.

You might write out the entire script for the meeting with every bit of detail you can think to throw in and then go back and cut out what is not really relevant to the story or glaciates the pace, etc. Unless this meeting is the be all end all for the storyline, probably the less you dwell on it the better for the reader who doesn't want to get bogged down in minute detail. Just a thought. Take care. Vern

I took it to be the plural of "ax" as in an "ax to grind." Sorry for the misunderstanding, but if you're looking for tension, I visualize them chasing each other with axes, rather than revolving around one another, but either way, the solution is the same albeit one picture is a little less colorful, lol. Take care. Vern

Well, I hope you keep it to yourself, lol. Take care. Vern

JP suggested that I submit The Cat and her Ship, Chapter 3 as an example of meeting dialog. Those that wish can take a look at it and comment.

~Tom