Dialogue. Dramaturgy.
R McKee[3] specifies three main functions of dialogue as: exposition, characterization and action. Let’s reflect on how those three components are relevant to the dialogue based storytelling.
Exposition
Exposition as a method of linear narratives can be also used in non-linear narrative structures. Let’s imagine the plot of CBIS[4] as a geographical map with wobbly borders of many storyworlds. Each of those will have a story ruler (main character of an act) and special laws. An actant arrives at the storyworld and needs to be aware of the main challenges given to him/her. Exposition can be used here as preparation for an actant. For example, as an introductory performance revealing the main challenges in a specific storyworld.
The same as in screenwriting, method “showing” will work better than “telling”. In the exposition of interactive drama Façade, the main characters are not telling their relationship troubles directly to an actant, but showing the conflict as an action: argue in another room. From that point the main conflict of the scene is quite clear: the couple is having a big crisis in their relationships but they are trying to look as if nothing is happening.
Characterization
Whatever the character will be chosen for storytelling, it should be a personality with a detailed portrait, which contains all his main features and biography. Such a character with a natural manner will attract an actant. In characterization it is very important to reason all the features out: from the style of speech to the drama hiding behind that.
Action
What should not be forgotten, that simultaneously with individualization and “jewelry faceting” of the main characters, those characters are united by the common purpose. There is a whole map lined by thousand possible ways, where every dialogue will be a milestone of the narrative. Therefore, every intent of a character, hidden behind its words, we can call narrative action.
[3] Robert McKee 2016. Dialogue: The Art of Verbal Action for Page, Stage, and Screen.
[4] Character-based Interactive Storytelling