A Writers Guide To: Dialogue

Understand Your Characters

Each character should have a distinct voice that reflects their background, personality, and motivations. Consider their age, education, and experiences. For instance, a teenager might use slang and informal language, while an older, more formal character might choose precise vocabulary. This differentiation helps readers intuitively recognize who is speaking. Let characters express their traits through what they say and how they say it.

Keep It Natural

Pay attention to how people speak in everyday life. Notice the rhythm, interruptions, and informalities that occur. This can provide a realistic foundation for your dialogue. You might even consider jotting down snippets of conversations you overhear for inspiration. Real dialogue often includes hesitations, slang, and incomplete sentences. Embrace imper-fections to make conversations feel authentic. Characters might mumble or trail off, reflecting real human behavior.

Use Subtext

Effective dialogue often involves more than just the words spoken. Characters may have underlying emotions or conflicts that aren’t directly expressed. For example, a character might say “I’m fine” while their body language suggests otherwise, creating tension. Complement dialogue with body language and tone to convey what characters are really feeling. Descriptive cues can enhance the emotional weight, such as a character crossing their arms or avoiding eye contact, indicating defensiveness or discomfort.

Test Your Dialogue

Read your dialogue out loud to see how it sounds. This can help you catch awkward phrasing or unnatural speech patterns. Hearing the dialogue can reveal pacing issues and help you refine the flow, ensuring it feels authentic.

Show, Don't Tell

Integrate action or gestures within dialogue to break up long exchanges and provide context. Instead of a character simply stating their frustration, show them pacing or gripping the edge of a table. This visual element makes the scene more dynamic. Help the reader visualize the setting and the characters' interactions during the dialogue. Describe the environment subtly to enhance the scene without overwhelming the dialogue itself. For example, mention a bustling café background to set the mood.

Focus on Purpose:

Ensure that every line of dialogue serves a purpose, whether it’s to advance the plot, reveal character, or build tension. If a piece of dialogue doesn’t serve a clear function, consider cutting it or rewriting it for clarity.

Pacing and Rhythm

Use a mix of short and long sentences to create a natural flow. Short sentences can increase tension, while longer ones can be used for reflection or exposition. This variation mimics the ebb and flow of real conversation. Characters can interrupt each other to create urgency and convey conflict. This can make conversations feel more dynamic and realistic. Consider how people often interject in discussions, especially when emotions run high.