I am an avid supporter of self-published authors. Everyone has a story inside their heads, awaiting transition into book form. Self-published authors are aware that they need to produce quality material to be competitive. Sadly, some technical aspects of the craft remain elusive to them. 

I once stumbled upon a self-published political novel where the protagonist had to deliver a very long speech to inspire his supporters and move the country into action. My reading experience became tedious and boring. Lengthy blocks of dialogue can diminish the drama for the scene. If a character goes into a long speech, it becomes written prose instead of dialogue, and the character remains static as he blabbers on.

Example scenario: A newly-crowned king needs to address his discontented subjects--farmers, fishermen, peasants, and other ordinary workers in his kingdom. The king's predecessor has driven the kingdom into disarray from lavish spending and excessive taxes. He needs to assure his people that change is coming; he must convince them that he will be a better king. If he fails, a revolution threatens to dethrone him, and the kingdom could go into a crisis.

If the king delivers his entire speech in one full sweep, it becomes prose, not dialogue. Written dialogue should be dynamic, and it must complement ongoing action. In a play, a character that goes into a long monologue is fine, as visual action goes with his speech. In a novel, the written word is all the reader has. Whatever agenda or political issue the character is addressing becomes lost, and the reader disengages himself. He loses connection with the setting and the event. The writer has discontinued any links to the speech with the scenario and supporting characters. The writer must effectively craft the long speech into chunks of manageable paragraphs interspersed with action and other dialogues coming from other characters.

To do this, the writer may begin with several lines of speech to establish that the king or any character is speaking.

Example: "My beloved subjects, I stand before you as your new king, and I bear the task of bringing back this kingdom's lost glory. But I cannot do it alone. I am only one man and it takes the collective power of every person to create a kingdom. . . ."

The thousands of angry and disheveled faces stared at him with indifference. The torches and pitchforks looked threatening to him. This is going to be difficult, the king thought, as he told them that his first decree is to suspend the collection of taxes for six months. As he said this, he heard his finance minister behind him fix an itchy throat.

". . . You are all aware that I am inheriting a kingdom that has been ravaged by unreasonable spending at your expense. I know you all hate the late king--my father. . . ."

"But you are your father's son!" A female peasant shouted, "how can you be any different!" The crowd roared in agreement. Father, what have you done to these people? He raised his hand to stop the noise. "Yes, I am my father's son, and it will be difficult for you to trust me. Right now, all I am asking you is to give me a chance. We will rehabilitate the kingdom, and renew ties with our neighboring nations. Easteros is a great kingdom, and as I speak, we have enemies that could try to take advantage of our vulnerability. We cannot afford another war. My priority is your welfare!" He could sense the crowd mellowing, and he sensed that he was winning them to his side.

Continue this technique until the character finishes his speech, or the writer could also cut it down and deliver the essential elements that the character must impart to the audience.