You, Too, Can Capture The Music of Sorkin's Dialogue

Probably my favorite part of screenwriting is the dialogue. And there are very few writers who have as distinct dialogue as Aaron Sorkin.

He's known for his lightning-fast "walk and talk" scenes and razor-sharp wit in his characters...and himself.

Sorkin has a signature style that is instantly recognizable. But what is the secret sauce behind those iconic lines in The Social Network or The West Wing?

In a recent clip from his MasterClass, Sorkin dives deep into his philosophy on dialogue, and I think there's a lot we can all glean from it.

Let's dive in.

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The Time Signature of a Scene

Sorkin views dialogue as a performance art governed by the same rules as a musical composition. So when he's writing, he breaks down every scene into three core elements:

• Cadence: The rhythmic flow of the words.
• Tone: The emotional "key" of the delivery.
• Volume: The dynamics of the conversation.

Now, I know zilch about music, but this kind of makes sense to me.

Sorkin argues that a script has a literal time signature. And he writes to see what comes out of the scene and to see what can help engage a story.

That's why he's so fastidious with his work. He wants people to hit the notes he feels he's written out and can hear in his head.

"The actors will know if they have dropped a syllable or added a syllable accidentally," Sorkin notes.

When the rhythm is off, the "music" of the scene breaks.

The Symphony of a Screenplay

I think we've written about writing as music before, but the metaphor really holds up for me. I think just like you sing a song in your head, you should be imagining your story unfolding.

By applying musical structures to your story, you can control the "tempo" of your audience's experience. You're like playing the notes the way you want them to feel.

Let's go a step deeper:

• Solos and Duets: Monologues and intense two-person scenes.
• Allegros: Fast-paced, high-energy sequences.
• Adagios: Slow, melodic, emotional beats.
• Arias: The big, show-stopping moments where a character truly pours their heart out.

'The West Wing' CREDIT: Eddy Chen/NBC

How to Apply This to Your Writing

Again, I am not a music guy. But I understand this and how we can take it into what we do every day,

Here are things that have drastically helped me and my dialogue over the years.

1. Read it Aloud: This is the ultimate litmus test. If you stumble over a sentence, the rhythm is broken. Even if you do nothing else, do that.
2. Count Your Syllables: If a joke or a dramatic reveal isn't landing, try adding or removing a single syllable to change the "beat" of the punchline.
3. Vary the Tempo: Don't let every scene move at the same speed. Use short, punchy sentences for tension and longer, flowing prose for reflection.

Summing It All Up

Focusing on the rhythm and tempo of your characters' voices. Find out how that affects your stories and your scenes. Once you master that, you can move beyond simple communication and start creating a performance that truly resonates.

What do you think? Does your dialogue have a rhythm, or are you just focused on the meaning of the words?

Let us know in the comments!