Effective dialogue can bring life and dimension to your writing. It can make your characters feel more relatable and allow readers to connect with them on a deeper level. However, writing dialogue that is both realistic and compelling can be a challenging task. Here are some tips to help you create effective dialogue in your writing.
Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash
Listen to real conversations
The best way to write realistic dialogue is to listen to how people actually speak. Pay attention to the way people interrupt each other, use slang, and vary their tone and pace. This can help you avoid writing dialogue that feels stiff or forced.
You can listen to conversations in real life or use resources like podcasts or YouTube videos to hear how people talk. You can also practice transcribing conversations you hear to get a better sense of how people structure their sentences and express themselves.
Keep it concise
In real life, people tend to ramble on and repeat themselves. But in writing, it’s important to keep your dialogue concise and focused. This means avoiding unnecessary small talk and filler words that don’t add anything to the conversation.
Instead, focus on advancing the plot or developing your characters through their dialogue. Every line should have a purpose and move the story forward in some way.
Use dialogue tags sparingly
Dialogue tags are words like “said,” “asked,” and “whispered” that are used to indicate who is speaking. While they can be helpful in clarifying who is saying what, using them too frequently can be distracting and repetitive.
Instead, try to use other cues to indicate who is speaking. This can include actions, descriptions, or even the context of the conversation. For example, instead of writing “John said,” you could write “John raised an eyebrow.”
Vary sentence structure
When writing dialogue, it’s important to vary your sentence structure to avoid monotony. This means using a mix of short and long sentences, as well as varying the placement of dialogue tags.
For example, instead of always writing “John said” at the beginning of a sentence, you could write “Mary nodded. ‘I agree,’ she said.” This can help keep your dialogue flowing and engaging.
Show, don’t tell
When writing dialogue, it’s important to show the emotions and motivations of your characters rather than simply telling the reader how they feel. This means using body language, tone of voice, and other cues to convey the subtext of the conversation.
For example, instead of writing “John was angry,” you could write “John clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. ‘I can’t believe you did that,’ he said through gritted teeth.” This not only shows John’s anger but also makes the dialogue more dynamic and engaging.
When writing dialogue, it’s important to vary your sentence structure to avoid monotony.
Use subtext
In real life, people often don’t say what they really mean. This can be true for your characters as well. Using subtext in your dialogue can add depth and complexity to your characters and their relationships.
This means implying things through what is left unsaid or the way things are said. For example, instead of writing “I’m sorry,” you could write “Mary looked down at her feet. ‘I guess I messed up,’ she said.” This implies that Mary is sorry without explicitly stating it.
Read your dialogue aloud
Reading your dialogue aloud can help you identify awkward phrasing or unnatural dialogue. This can help you refine your dialogue and make it feel more natural and authentic.
When reading your dialogue aloud, pay attention to the pacing and rhythm. Does it flow smoothly or does it feel choppy? Are there any awkward pauses or stilted phrases? These are all things you can identify by reading your dialogue aloud.
Use dialogue to reveal character
Dialogue can be a powerful tool for revealing character. Instead of relying solely on descriptions or narration, use dialogue to show your characters’ personalities, attitudes, and beliefs. This can help your readers connect with your characters on a deeper level and make them feel more invested in the story.
For example, if you have a character who is sarcastic and witty, use their dialogue to showcase these traits. If you have a character who is shy or introverted, use their dialogue to show their hesitancy or reluctance to speak up.
Avoid exposition dumps
Dialogue can be a great way to provide information to your readers, but be careful not to use it as an excuse for an exposition dump. This means dumping a lot of information on your readers through dialogue instead of showing it through action or description.
Instead, try to sprinkle information throughout your story in a way that feels organic and natural. Use dialogue to reveal information only when it is necessary and relevant to the story.
Know your characters
To write effective dialogue, you need to have a deep understanding of your characters. This means knowing their personalities, motivations, and beliefs. When you know your characters inside and out, it becomes easier to write dialogue that feels authentic and true to their personalities.
Take the time to develop your characters before you start writing. Write character sketches, create backstories, and spend time thinking about how they would react in different situations. This can help you write dialogue that feels like it is coming from a real person, rather than a caricature.
To sum up, writing effective dialogue is all about creating realistic conversations that move your story forward and reveal your characters’ personalities. Use these tips to help you write dialogue that is concise, varied, and engaging. And remember, practice makes perfect. The more you write, the more comfortable you will become with writing dialogue that feels natural and authentic.
