Bad dialogue can pull a reader out of the story faster than almost anything else. If it’s boring, unnatural, or no one can tell who’s talking, they’re likely to put the book down or at least skip to the next narration. On the other hand, good dialogue keeps them fully invested and turning the pages right til the end.
Compelling dialogue doesn’t just mean it’s interesting; it should also move the story forward. Though it sounds natural, it has to be crafted.
There are some rules to follow and things to avoid, so check out these do’s and don’ts when writing dialogue.
DO:
- Use subtext: You don't need to spell out the character's emotions for the reader to get it. For instance, a character might give a short reply to show they're annoyed. Saying “I’m fine” can actually say a lot more than it seems!
- Use contractions: Writing without contractions can make your dialogue feel a bit stiff and might even come across as old-fashioned. Since contractions are a natural part of how we speak English, there's no need to avoid them just to sound fancy. Think of Data from Star Trek—he never used contractions, but really wanted to so he could seem more human.
- Make all your characters sound different: Each of your characters should have their own unique voice. This might mean they toss in a “bro” at the end of a sentence, use some slang from their generation, or sprinkle in a few local expressions. Just a tip: try to avoid writing out accents phonetically. It can be tricky to get right and might end up distracting or even bothering some readers.
- Avoid adverbs as part of your dialogue tags: Using adverbs in your dialogue tags might feel a bit clunky and isn't really needed. Instead of writing “he said defiantly” or “she asked hesitantly,” try to let the dialogue itself show those feelings. Sometimes, you can even skip the tag altogether. Just moving to a new paragraph can let readers know someone else is speaking.
DON'T:
- Turn your dialogue into an information overload: People just don't talk that way. Try not to include details that the characters already know. If a character begins with, "As you know," it's a tip-off that you might be about to unload too much information, which could make the reader wonder why the dialogue is necessary. Instead, focus on a natural conversation with the character, not the reader. Keep the extra details and descriptions for the narrative sections.
- Make your dialogue a tennis match: It can be a bit dull when things are too predictable. So, trim out those conversational fillers like "ums" and "uhs" and keep sentences snappy. You don't really need all those yes's and no’s; instead, toss in some non-sequiturs (those fun, unexpected replies we all use in real life). Feel free to skip over questions, too, just as we often do naturally. This way, the conversation stays fresh and lively.
- Include much or any dialogue in which characters agree: A little conflict is good, even if it’s just a tiny difference in perspective. When characters all agree, it can get a little boring and might not really push the story forward. It’s more engaging for readers when characters chat about something important, and that usually involves a touch of a disagreement. It keeps things lively and interesting.
- Use the character’s names much or at all: People rarely say the names of those they are talking to, so it comes off as very awkward when reading it.
- Get fancy with your dialogue tags: Many writers like to keep things fresh and avoid repeating "she said" too often in a dialogue section, so they might reach for the thesaurus and try out words like "intoned," "declared," or "affirmed." While those words can stand out, "said" is more like a trusty background player that readers often don’t even notice. It's best to save those fancy dialogue tags for when they really fit the bill, like "asked," "replied," "continued," or "remembered." And, it's perfectly fine to mix it up a bit, as in "said Jane"…but maybe skip the "said she" part.
Watch the video below for an in-depth exploration of how to craft excellent dialogue for movies, which is also relevant for fiction writing.
Finally, we'll leave you with a few tips on how to improve your dialogue writing:
- Read your dialogue out loud to make sure it sounds right, and trust your ear.
- Read lots of books with great dialogue, especially ones in the same genre as your book.
- Go back and polish your dialogue repeatedly throughout your writing process.
- Make your dialogue work for you. It should be doing at least two of the following things: conveying information, characterizing, providing exposition, setting the scene, advancing the story, foreshadowing, or reminding us of something else.
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