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Q&A How to casually reveal the relationship of two recently introduced characters?

The answer to this is crushing simple. You tell us that they are brother and sister. "Pass the butter," Pamela said. "Get it yourself," her brother replied. Don't try to slip information...

posted 7y ago by Mark Baker‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2020-01-03T20:41:53Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/27916
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T06:25:48Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/27916
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T06:25:48Z (almost 5 years ago)
The answer to this is crushing simple. You tell us that they are brother and sister.

> "Pass the butter," Pamela said.
> 
> "Get it yourself," her brother replied.

Don't try to slip information into dialog that naturally and properly belongs in narration. It will always sound forced and unnatural and there is no earthly reason to do it.

If you are doing this in service of "show don't tell", learn a new rule: Show when appropriate. Tell when appropriate.

In a screenplay, this would be a genuine problem. One of the advantages of the novel format is that you don't have to jump through hoops to convey these simple pieces of information. Take advantage of the liberty that the form gives you.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2017-05-05T15:53:37Z (over 7 years ago)
Original score: 2