This is, without question, the best Daily Dialogue article I've read on this site. I know you've written a lot, Scott, and I know many are really good. But this one, this one is money -- BECAUSE IT'S SO FREAKING TRUE! Think about how often we have these types of conversations in real life, where we're talking about something on the surface but only using it as a facade to mask the subject we're really talking about, which is often our inner battles and emotions that exist inside our heads. We're constantly trying to express ourselves but more often than not we're either not entirely comfortable with just coming out and saying it, or we don't know how because we've never done it before. Using an external, everyday subject to underhandedly talk about another deeper, moral issue is, in my opinion, one of the hallmarks of great writing. This scene exemplifies that.

Thanks, Kalen. In the dialogue class I teach as part of the Core curriculum, I spend a great deal of time talking about subtext. It's easy to say, "Hey, write more subtext," but how? The key is, as you might expect I'd say: Go into your characters. Specifically find out what their unconscious needs are and WHY they are unconscious. Also their CONSCIOUS needs, but why they may restrict themselves from expressing them. That's one key to subtext, simply discovering what it is that lies hidden within the character. Another thing: Creates obstacles that restrict a character from expressing their feelings directly and clearly. They can be INTERNAL obstacles, primarily of a psychological or emotional nature, or EXTERNAL obstacles, social circumstances which prevent on the nose speech. A third thing: Look for BOBs (Bits Of Business) character can talk about and through which the subtext can emerge, such as the Sideways wine example. Characters can project their feelings onto the object. It's like a talisman in a way, a physical object with a symbolic meaning. Those are three ways to approach writing subtext. Actually sounds like the makings of a blog post...

Yeah, it does. And a good one at that. Or maybe a Daily Dialogue theme? I'll keep these in mind though.