How to Write Good Dialogue
Dialogue should sound authentic…does yours?
Dialogue is a crucial component of storytelling, bringing characters to life and driving the narrative forward.
Good dialogue can reveal character traits, build tension, and enhance the overall flow of a story.
But crafting realistic and engaging dialogue requires skill and practice.
Here are some essential tips and techniques to write compelling dialogue.
Understanding the Purpose of Dialogue
Before diving into the mechanics of writing dialogue, it’s important to understand its purpose.
Dialogue serves several key functions in a story.
- Revealing Character. Dialogue can showcase a character’s personality, background, and motivations.
- Advancing the Plot. Conversations between characters can move the plot forward and reveal crucial information.
- Creating Tension. Dialogue can build conflict and tension, keeping readers engaged.
- Providing Exposition. Dialogue can convey important background information without resorting to lengthy descriptions.
So make sure your dialogue is tight before you publish.
Essential Tips for Writing Good Dialogue
1. Keep It Natural
Listen to real conversations. Pay attention to how people speak in real life. Notice the rhythms, pauses, and idiosyncrasies in their speech.
Avoid formality. Unless it suits the character, avoid overly formal language. People often use contractions and colloquialisms in everyday speech.
2. Show, Don’t Tell
Reveal things through Speech. Use dialogue to show what a character is feeling or thinking rather than explicitly stating it.
For example, instead of saying, “He was angry,” you could write, “I can’t believe you did that,” he snapped.
Use subtext. Allow underlying meanings to emerge through what is left unsaid. Characters often hint at or imply things rather than stating them outright.
3. Create Distinct Voices
Each character should have a unique way of speaking that reflects their background, education, and personality. This can include their choice of words, sentence structure, and tone.
And remember to use consistent language. Once you establish a character’s voice, be consistent throughout the story.
4. Use Dialogue Tags Sparingly
Don’t use basic tags.
Simple tags like “said” and “asked” are often sufficient and don’t distract from the dialogue.
Avoid overuse of adverbs. Instead of using adverbs to modify dialogue tags (e.g., “he said angrily”), let the dialogue itself convey the emotion.
5. Pacing and Rhythm
Break up long speeches. Long-winded monologues can bore readers.
You can do this with actions, thoughts, or reactions from other characters.
Use pauses effectively.
Pauses, indicated by ellipses (…) or em dashes ( — ), can add realism and tension to dialogue.
6. Incorporate Action and Body Language
Use action beats.
Integrate actions and body language with dialogue to provide context and add depth.
For example, “I don’t know,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
Show emotions.
Use physical reactions to show how characters feel. For instance, “Sure,” he muttered, avoiding her gaze.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Exposition Overload
Avoid using dialogue to dump large amounts of background information (especially when it’s not relevant to the story). Integrate exposition naturally through conversation.
Whenever possible, show important details through actions and interactions rather than lengthy explanations.
2. Unrealistic Dialogue
Avoid perfect grammar (IN DIALOGUE ONLY). People don’t speak in perfect grammar, so your dialogue shouldn’t either.
Steer clear of overused phrases and expressions that can make dialogue feel stale and unoriginal.
In my article, The Top 10 Common Writing Mistakes in Self-Published Manuscripts, I talk about the use of cliches and how you can avoid them by coming up with original phrases of your own.
3. Overuse of Accents and Dialects
SubtWhile accents and dialects can add authenticity, overuse can make dialogue hard to read. Use them sparingly and provide context clues to indicate speech patterns. Subtlety is key.
Practicing Dialogue Writing
Wanna get some practice? Here’s how you can do it.
1. Dialogue-Only Scenes
Write scenes that consist solely of dialogue to focus on character voices and interactions without relying on narration.
2. Reading Aloud
Sound check.
Read your dialogue aloud to ensure it sounds natural and flows well.
This can help identify awkward phrasing and improve rhythm.
3. Peer Feedback
Get input.
Share your dialogue with others and ask for feedback on its realism and effectiveness.
Fresh perspectives can provide valuable insights.
Creating Realistic, Believable Characters with Great Dialogue
Good dialogue is essential for creating engaging and believable characters and stories.
By keeping it natural, revealing character through speech, creating distinct voices, and incorporating action and body language, you can write dialogue that captivates readers.
Practice regularly and seek feedback to refine your skills.
With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of writing compelling dialogue.
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