Have you ever had a conversation with somebody and they just seemed to talk about everything and nothing at the same time? Like you knew words were coming out of their mouth, but you had no idea what they were talking about? Yeah. That person seems that they don’t really grasp the idea of a good dialogue, do they? They don’t really know how to get a conversation going.

A good dialogue is just as important in writing as it is in real life. It’s not solely about conveying information from one character to another; it’s about advancing the plot, revealing character, and creating emotional impact for the reader. But what is the secret to effective dialogue in a story, and what are some ways that you can improve and avoid common mistakes? I’m no expert, but here are some of the most important components that I have found for writing realistic and moving dialogue…

I. Common Dialogue Mistakes

• Info Dumps: Characters telling each other things that they and the reader already knows.
• Stiff or Unnatural Phrasing: Dialogue that sounds like it came from a textbook.
• Overuse of Clichés: Avoid tired phrases or expressions.
• Lack of Subtext or Nuance: Dialogue that’s too on-the-nose.
• Characters Sounding the Same: Failing to give each character a unique voice.

II. Writing Believable Dialogue

• Subtext
  • People rarely say what they mean in real life. Why should it be different in writing? Using subtext can allow you to create tension and intrigue, and even allow you to create some foreshadowing if you have a plot twist planned for later on.
• Individual Voice
  • What if the wealthy business owner talked exactly like the penniless street urchin? What if everybody in Star Wars talked backwards like Yoda? What if everyone’s voice was as nasty and hair-raising as Gollum’s in The Lord of the Rings? The story and, more importantly, the characters would lose their uniqueness. Give each of your characters an individual voice that differentiates one from another. Make one speak faster than another. Give another one a more advanced vocabulary. Their background, personality, and emotions can also be great influences on their speech patterns.
• Natural Rhythm and Flow
  • Real conversations involve interruptions, hesitations, and incomplete sentences. Do the same for your characters’ dialogue! Go crazy and experiment with pacing to create different moods. An argument might have shorter sentences and more interruptions. A speech might be lengthier and drawn out depending on who is speaking.

III. Techniques for Writing Effective Dialogue

• Listen to Real Conversations
  • Go to a coffee shop or store and eavesdrop on conversations between other people there (ethically, of course; I don’t want you to come across as a stalker). Pay attention to the way different people interact: the nuances of their conversation, their tone, and whether or not they use their hands to talk.
• Read Your Dialogue Out Loud
  • It might seem a little psychotic to read a conversation between two or more of your characters by yourself, but trust me, this is one of the best ways to catch any awkwardness or unnatural phrasing in your dialogue. Sure, you might look a little crazy to the people around you, but as long as you know what you’re doing, who cares, right?
• Use Dialogue Tags Sparingly
  • The most common dialogue tag is, of course, your trusty old ‘said/say.’ But if everyone is just ‘saying’ stuff, it doesn’t make for a very engaging scene. Add some action! For example, instead of the sentence ‘”That’s final!” he said angrily,’ try, ‘He slammed his fist on the table. “That’s final!”‘ The second sentence makes for a much more interesting read than just telling your reader that he’s angry.
• Show, Don’t Tell Through Dialogue
  • Have you ever noticed that you can tell more about a person based on what they say and how they say it? Use this strategy when you’re writing. Rather than just telling someone that your character is sad, add a quiver to their voice or a few hesitations or stutters. Make it believable but interesting as well.
• Use of Silence
  • ‘Silence is golden.’ Well, that isn’t entirely wrong. Sometimes what isn’t said is just as important as what is. Pauses have the opportunity to create tension and drama in ways that statements and conversations cannot. I can vouch for this on a personal level: sometimes my sister and I can have a whole conversation with just our eyes, and we know exactly what the other person is talking about!

Ultimately, every line of dialogue serves a purpose, whether that be moving the plot forward, character development, or even subtle foreshadowing. I encourage you to practice writing and perfecting your dialogue, focusing on the areas where you think you need to improve the most. Don’t be afraid to dig in and ask for feedback, either. Anything helps!

If you have any dialogue tips or if there’s an area where you think you struggle in writing dialogue, feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email! I’d love to hear from you!