Dialogue is one of the most powerful tools an author has. It brings characters to life, reveals their personalities, and drives the plot forward. However, crafting effective dialogue requires more than just putting words into a character’s mouth. It’s about understanding how people speak, why they speak, and how to use their words to shape the reader’s experience.
In this post, we’ll explore techniques and tips to help you write compelling, purposeful dialogue that enhances your storytelling.
1. Know Your Characters’ Voices
Each character should have a distinct voice that reflects their personality, background, and current emotional state. Dialogue isn’t just about what is said, but how it’s said.
Consider background and upbringing: A character’s dialect, vocabulary, and syntax can reveal where they’re from, their level of education, and their social standing.
Emotional state matters: Is your character anxious, angry, or elated? These emotions will color the words they choose, the length of their sentences, and the tone they use.
Give them unique patterns: Some characters may speak in short, clipped sentences, while others might ramble. Using consistent speech patterns helps differentiate characters even when tags like “he said” or “she said” are omitted.
2. Keep It Natural, But Not Too Realistic
One of the common pitfalls in writing dialogue is making it overly realistic. While we aim for a natural flow, actual conversations are often filled with awkward pauses, ums, and repetitive phrases. Good dialogue is a streamlined version of real speech—snappy, purposeful, and engaging.
Avoid filler words: Dialogue should get to the point. In everyday conversations, we say "um" or "you know" frequently, but too much of this can bog down the pacing of your story.
Cut the small talk: Real conversations often involve pleasantries and irrelevant exchanges, but in fiction, these can bore readers. Every line of dialogue should serve a purpose, whether it’s developing character, advancing the plot, or building tension.
Use contractions and informal phrasing: People rarely speak in full, grammatically correct sentences, especially in casual conversations. Let your characters use contractions and incomplete thoughts to make their speech more relatable.
3. Subtext: What’s Left Unsaid
Often, what a character doesn’t say is just as important as what they do say. This is where subtext comes into play—using dialogue to imply thoughts, emotions, or motives that are not directly stated.
Hint at inner conflicts: A character might say one thing, but their true feelings are revealed through subtle cues—body language, tone, or what they avoid discussing. This adds depth and complexity to both the character and the narrative.
Create tension: If two characters have unspoken issues or unresolved tension, let their dialogue reflect that. They might avoid a subject altogether, dance around it, or speak in passive-aggressive tones.
Show hidden motives: Characters may use dialogue to manipulate, mislead, or conceal their true intentions. Readers love to decode these underlying motivations, and it adds an extra layer of intrigue.
4. Dialogue as a Plot Driver
Dialogue should not be an afterthought—it’s a dynamic force that can propel your plot forward. Well-crafted exchanges can reveal crucial information, introduce conflict, or deepen relationships between characters.
Move the story along: Each conversation should contribute to the overall narrative. Whether it’s revealing a plot twist, establishing a relationship, or setting up future events, dialogue needs to pull its weight in the progression of the story.
Reveal information organically: Instead of relying on exposition dumps, use dialogue to convey important details. Let characters reveal necessary information through their conversations with others rather than having the narrator explain everything.
Raise the stakes: Conflict is the heart of a good story, and dialogue is a great way to introduce or escalate it. Whether it’s a heated argument, a subtle disagreement, or a sarcastic remark, use dialogue to increase tension and drive the plot forward.
5. Dialogue Tags and Action Beats
The "he said, she said" tags can become monotonous if overused, but they’re also essential for clarity. The trick is to balance them with action beats and vary your tags to keep the dialogue engaging.
Keep tags simple: Most of the time, sticking with “said” or “asked” is better than trying to vary every tag. Readers tend to skip over simple tags, while words like “exclaimed” or “whispered” can distract if used too often.
Action beats over tags: Instead of using a tag, try incorporating an action beat that shows what the character is doing while speaking. This helps paint a more vivid picture. For example:
Instead of: “I can’t believe you did that,” she said.
Try: “I can’t believe you did that.” She slammed the door behind her.
Avoid adverb overkill: Let the dialogue and context speak for themselves. Instead of writing, “he said angrily,” try to show the anger through what he says and how he acts.
6. Read It Out Loud
One of the best ways to test the effectiveness of your dialogue is to read it aloud. This will help you catch awkward phrasing, overly formal sentences, or anything that doesn’t feel natural.
Pacing and rhythm: When you read your dialogue out loud, you’ll get a sense of its natural rhythm. Does it feel rushed or stilted? Are there too many long speeches without a break?
Flow of conversation: Pay attention to how the dialogue flows between characters. Does it feel like a natural exchange? Do the responses build on one another, or do they seem disjointed?
7. Create Conflict and Contrast
In real life, conversations don’t always go smoothly. Characters will disagree, misunderstand each other, or simply have different communication styles. Use dialogue to introduce conflict and contrast between characters.
Use miscommunication: Misunderstandings or misinterpretations can add layers of tension to your dialogue. Perhaps one character takes something literally that was meant as a joke, or someone misreads another’s intentions.
Contrasting speech styles: When characters speak differently, it can highlight their differences in personality or background. For example, a character with a formal, precise way of speaking will stand out against someone with a more casual, slang-heavy style.
Conclusion
Dialogue is more than just conversation—it’s an opportunity to reveal character, build tension, and drive the plot. By paying close attention to your characters’ voices, using subtext, and keeping the dialogue purposeful, you can elevate your storytelling to a new level. Keep practicing, read your work aloud, and watch your characters come to life in a way that captivates your readers.
Happy Writing!
Michelle Files
Michelle Files writes Mystery/Thrillers, Small Town Dramas, and Non-Fiction Books for Authors. She is also a professional copy editor and proofreader. Find her at MichelleFiles.com or TheAuthorFiles.com.
For a complete lists of Michelle's blogs, go to TheAuthorFiles.com.
