Writing dialogue is one of the most essential skills every writer must master. Whether you’re crafting a gripping novel, a short story or even a screenplay, how you write dialogue can make your characters and your plot. The ability to create natural, realistic dialogue that flows naturally is what keeps readers hooked and invested in your story. But, how do you go about achieving that perfect balance of authenticity and intrigue? Join us today at What We Writing as we explore the art of writing dialogue, offering our best tips and techniques to help ensure your conversations pop off the page. From the importance of subtext to mastering pacing and voice, we’ll cover the most effective practices for writing conversations, avoiding pitfalls like overused dialogue tags and forced exchanges, and reveal how to make your characters’ voices feel unique and distinctive!
Why Dialogue Matters In Writing
Dialogue is one of the most crucial tools a writer possesses. It’s more than just a means for a character to communicate – it serves as a lens into their personalities, motivations and emotions. Whether you’re writing a novel, short story or screenplay, writing great dialogue is essential for creating engaging, memorable characters and pushing your narrative forward.
Characterisation Through Dialogue
One of the most important roles of dialogue in writing is in character development. Through the way in which characters speak, writers are able to unveil their backgrounds, beliefs and emotions. A character’s tone, word choices and speech patterns offer readers hints about their personality, social status and even their mood. An example of this may be an intelligent character using formal language, whereas a blue-collar worker might use a more colloquial, relaxed tone. By crafting distinctive voices for each character, writers can make their personalities come alive on the pages, allowing readers to connect with them more easily.
Advancing The Plot
Dialogue also serves to advance the plot without having to rely on extensive exposition. Through conversations, characters can exchange information, reveal secrets, and express their hopes and conflicts that move the story on. A well-timed conversation can introduce key plot twists, build suspense or kickstart a dramatic showdown. Writing dialogue that feels natural and relevant helps maintain a consistent pace, which keeps readers engaged.
Constructing Mood And Tension
The pacing of dialogue is another crucial component in writing effective conversations. Fast-paced, snappy exchanges can ramp up tension, whilst slower, more reflective dialogue often creates a sense of suspense. Dialogue also establishes the mood of a scene, whether it be lighthearted banter or an emotional breakthrough. By mastering the art of writing dialogue, you can harness its full potential to influence a story’s emotional impact.
Creating Natural, Realistic Dialogue
One of the most important aspects of writing compelling dialogue is making it sound natural and realistic. Readers are capable of quickly spotting dialogue that feels forced or stilted, which can turn them off your story. Writing natural dialogue requires attention on the flow of a conversation, the way in which people actually speak, and how to capture those subtle nuances in your writing. Here are some tips on crafting dialogue that feels genuine.
Listen To Real Conversations
To write natural dialogue, it’s essential to pay attention to how people talk in the real world. Conversations are hardly ever perfectly structured, often featuring interjections, unfinished thoughts and various tangents or incomplete sentences. These sorts of imperfections can be used to make your dialogue feel more authentic. Whether it’s in a cafe, at a bus stop or on a film or podcast, try listening to conversations around you to help get a better grasp of the rhythm of how people speak, and how they convey meaning without using every word perfectly.
Avoid Overly Formal Language
One mistake writers commonly make is using language that is too formal. Whilst it may work for some characters i.e. a scholar, teacher or politician, most people speak casually in their everyday lives. Keep your dialogue grounded by avoiding complex sentence structures and using contractions e.g. ‘can’t’ instead of ‘can not’. Characters should speak in the same way they would in a natural conversation, which means sounding more relaxed and less ‘scripted’.
Emotion Through Actions, Not Just Words
In real life, we often express our emotions through our actions and tone just as much as our words. To create realistic dialogue, think about the ways in which your characters’ body language, facial expressions and movements can convey feelings. A nervous character may fidget or avoid eye contact, whilst another character who is angry could clench their teeth and use snappier sentences. Adding these small details helps bring the dialogue to life and make it more grounded in reality.
Edit And Trim Excessive Words
Real-life conversations are sometimes filled with unnecessary filler words like ‘um’, ‘like’ or ‘you know’. But, when writing dialogue, it’s important to strike a balance between clarity and authenticity. Too many filler words can bog down the pace of a conversation. In a first draft, don’t pay too much attention to trimming. However, when editing, take the time to go through and chop down any excessive words that don’t have a purpose. This will help tighten your dialogue and make every exchange feel more purposeful.
Subtext: What Isn’t Said
In the art of writing dialogue, what’s not said can sometimes be just as powerful as what is. Subtext – the underlying meaning or unspoken message in a conversation – adds depth and complexity to your characters and interactions. It allows readers to read between the lines and feel the tension, emotions or secrets lurking beneath the surface.
Understanding Subtext
Subtext occurs when characters don’t say exactly what they mean, or when they convey emotions indirectly. This can either be a deliberate choice to hide the truth avoid confrontation, or say something that is too hard to say outright. In the real world, people use their tone and body language to bridge over the words they don’t use. As a writer, it’s important to replicate that subtlety in your dialogue.
Building Tension Through Subtext
One of the most effective uses of subtext is in building tension. Imagine a conversation between two characters where one individual knows a secret, but isn’t prepared to share it. The other character could sense that something is up but doesn’t have the full information. In this situation, a reader can pick up on clues such as nervous pauses, evasive answers and changes in tone to pick up on the fact that something isn’t being said. This creates suspense as the reader waits for the truth.
Subtext In Emotion And Conflict
Subtext also plays a prominent role in conveying emotions or conflicts that characters aren’t willing to express openly. For example, a character may be angry, but might only hint at it through sarcastic retorts or a terse tone, as opposed to outright saying they’re irked. Not only does this make dialogue feel more realistic, but also allows readers to interpret the emotions of the characters in a more layered way.
Check Out Our Guide To Writing Subtext
How To Develop Unique Character Voices
One of the most effective ways to create memorable, dynamic characters in your writing is through distinctive, authentic dialogue. Every character should have their own recognisable voice – one that reflects their personality, background and emotional state. Crafting individual voices for your characters not only adds depth to a story but also makes every exchange feel fresh. Here are some time tips to help you develop unique character voices.
1. Consider Backgrounds And Upbringing
A character’s background plays a huge role in shaping how they speak. Someone who grew up in a rural, working-class environment may use more casual language or regional slang, whilst a more gentrified individual may speak with more formality and precision. Think about a character’s education, cultural influences, and social status when crafting their voice. The words they use and the way in which they construct their sentences could be shaped by their experiences.
For example, someone well-educated may prefer longer, more complex sentences. Someone who has a more practical upbringing might use short, straightforward language. These subtle differences will help readers recognise instantly who is speaking.
2. Personality Through Speech Patterns
Personality traits should also be reflected in how your characters talk. A confident character might speak assertively, with a direct and clear tone, while a more insecure character might hedge their words or avoid eye contact. A sarcastic character might use a dry tone and exaggerate certain sentences, while someone who is earnest might speak in a more sincere way.
It’s a good habit to think about how your character would express their emotions or desires. For instance, a character who is impulsive might not think before they speak, leading to quick and scattered dialogue. A more introspective character may be more deliberate with their choice of words.
3. Use Voice To Convey Emotion
A character’s emotional state should also affect their dialogue. When someone is angry, their tone and pacing will likely change – they might speak more quickly or with harsher words. On the other hand, a character who is sad or dejected may speak more slowly and softly. By adjusting the rhythm and intensity of your character’s speech based on their emotions, you can convey their feelings more effectively.
4. Paying Attention To Dialogue Tags And Beats
How a character speaks is important, but so is what they do whilst they are speaking. Adding action beats to your dialogue i.e. fidgeting, avoiding eye contact or pausing to take a breath can further enhance their voice. These actions add layers to your character’s dialogue and make their words feel even more personal.
By considering your characters’ backgrounds, personalities and emotional states, and incorporating subtle actions and speech patterns, you can develop voices that feel authentic. With practice, your characters will speak in a way that not only represents who they are but also resonates with readers in a deeper way.
Pacing Through Dialogue
Dialogue doesn’t just reveal characters or progress a plot forward – it also shapes the pacing of your story. The speed and rhythm of conversations can build tension, evoke urgency or provide a moment of reflection. Learning how to control the pacing of your dialogue is essential for keeping readers engaged and ensuring your story flows consistently.
Fast-Paced Dialogue For Action And Tension
Rapid, snappy exchanges are ideal for scenes that require energy, such as arguments, action sequences or moments of heightened tension. Short sentences, interruptions and incomplete thoughts can create a sense of rapid movement. An example of this could be:
“Where is it?”
“I don’t know!”
“Don’t lie to me!”
This clipped back-and-forth builds intensity and propels the reader through the scene at a faster pace. Avoid bogging down these moments with long dialogue tags or excessive description – let the dialogue carry the momentum by itself.
Slowing Things Down For Emotion
In contrast, slower-paced dialogue works effectively for introspective or emotionally charged scenes. Longer sentences, reflective pauses and descriptive beats can help conjure a quieter, more thoughtful tone. For example:
“I just… I don’t know if I can do this anymore,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Moments like these give the reader time to breathe and absorb the weight of the emotions being conveyed. The slower pace invites them to linger on the characters’ thoughts and feelings.
Balancing Dialogue And Action
To maintain the right pacing, balance dialogue with action and internal thoughts. A rapid-fire conversation can be interrupted by a character slamming a door or pacing around a room, whereas a slower dialogue may include gestures such as a wistful glance or a hesitant shrug. These details help keep the pacing dynamic and engaging.
Utilising the rhythm of dialogue ensures your story’s pace matches the emotion and narrative of the story, helping to keep readers suitably hooked.
Avoiding Common Dialogue Problems
Writing great dialogue takes practice, but even the most experienced of writers can fall into common traps that make conversations feel unnatural or ineffective. Identifying these pitfalls can help you craft dialogue that feels authentic and engaging.
Exposition Overload
One of the most common dialogue mistakes is using it as a tool to dump information on the reader. This happens when characters say things they already know purely for the audience’s benefit. Here’s an example:
“As you know, Steven, we’ve been friends for ten years and started this company together.”
Instead, weave necessary information into the narrative or show them through action. Allow dialogue to reveal information naturally, without sounding forced or unrealistic.
Characters Sounding Alike
When all your characters speak the same way, it weakens their individuality. Pay close attention to their unique quirks, backgrounds and personalities. A teenager, a professor and a military general won’t all use the same vocabulary. Ensure every character’s voice reflects who they are so that readers are able to distinguish them without requiring constant dialogue tags.
Overusing Filler Words
While people often use fillers like ‘um’ in real conversations, overloading your dialogue with these can slow the pacing and leave readers frustrated. Use them sparingly to suggest apprehension or nervousness, but don’t allow them to dominate how a character speaks.
Overly Formal Or Stiff Language
Characters who only speak in impeccable sentences often come across as unnatural. Real people use contractions, slang and even sentence fragments. Adjust your characters’ speech to suit the personality and situation.
Neverending Small Talk
Realistic dialogue doesn’t mean repeating every mundane detail of real-life conversations. Avoid scenes filled with greetings and pleasantries such as: ‘Hi, how are you?’ unless they serve a purpose. Every line of dialogue should move the plot forward, develop a character or add depth to the story.
By steering clear of these common issues, you can create dialogue that feels authentic, dynamic and essential to a narrative.
Using Dialogue Tags And Beats Effectively
Dialogue tags and beats are essential tools for ensuring your conversations flow naturally and keep the reader engaged. When used effectively, they clarify who is speaking, add depth to characters and enhance the overall tone of a scene. But, overusing or misusing them can take away from the dialogue itself.
Choosing The Right Dialogue Tags
The main purpose of a dialogue tag is to identify the speaker. Simple, unobtrusive tags such as ‘said’ or ‘asked’ are the most popular choice because they fade into the background, allowing the dialogue to take centre stage.
Resist the urge to rely heavily on the more elaborate tags like ‘exclaimed’ or ‘murmured’. While they have their place, overusing them can take the attention away from the dialogue. Instead, allow the words and context to convey the emotion.
Adding Beats For Impact
Beats – small snippets of action or description interwoven with dialogue – can add depth and help break up long stretches of conversation. For example:
“I don’t believe you.” She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes.
Beats allow you to show what your characters are feeling or doing without explicitly stating it. They also provide natural pauses, making dialogue feel more grounded and giving readers the time to process the exchange.
Avoid Overloading Your Dialogue
Whilst tags and beats are effective tools for writing dialogue, overusing them can clutter your writing. Not every line requires a tag or beat, especially when it comes to rapid back-and-forth conversations. When the speakers are clear, you can omit tags entirely to maintain a brisk pace.
By balancing dialogue tags and beats, you can ensure your conversations are not only clear, but also rich in emotion and atmosphere, keeping readers fully engaged with the story.
Exercises To Improve Dialogue Writing
Like any skill, writing great dialogue requires practice. Regularly engaging in exercises can sharpen your ability to craft conversations that feel natural and meaningful. Here are some of our favourite exercises to improve your dialogue writing.
1. Eavesdrop And Transcribe
Pay attention to real-life conversations around you. Sit in a coffee shop, park or other public space and listen to how people talk. Jot down snippets of dialogue, noting speech patterns, interruptions and slang. This will help you capture the natural rhythms and quirks or real conversations.
2. Write Without Tags Or Description
Write a short dialogue-only scene, leaving out any tags, beats or descriptions. Focus on making the characters’ voices so distinctive that readers can tell who’s speaking without any additional help. This exercise will force you to sharpen your characters’ voices.
3. Rewrite Existing Dialogue
Take a scene from a show, movie or book and rewrite the dialogue with a different voice or purpose. For instance, twist a friendly conversation into an argument or infuse humour into a tense exchange. This exercise helps explore the different ways in which dialogue can shape a scene.
4. Subtext Practice
Write a dialogue where the characters are saying one thing, but mean something else. For example, have two characters discuss the weather whilst subtly arguing about a deeper issue. This will strengthen your ability to incorporate subtext.
Consistently practising these exercises will help you create dialogue that is dynamic, authentic and impactful.
Wrap Up
Becoming a dab hand at writing dialogue takes time and practice, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Dialogue is a powerful tool for revealing character, advancing the plot and immersing readers in your story. By understanding why dialogue is important, creating natural conversations, incorporating subtext and developing unique character voices, you can take your writing to the next level.
Avoid common pitfalls, use dialogue tags and beats effectively and experiment with pacing to make your conversations dynamic and compelling. The exercises provided above will help you hone your skills, whether you’re refining your characters’ voices or practising subtle subtext.
Now’s the time to put these tips into practice. Start small, practice often and don’t be afraid of revising. The more you write and refine your dialogue, the more confident and adept you’ll become. Keep experimenting, and let those character voices shine!
