You’re sitting there, typing away, and then it hits you: your characters sound like robots. Or maybe they all sound like you on a very boring day. Sounds familiar? You’re definitely not alone in this.
Every writer, at some point, faces the dreaded dialogue dilemma. A boring dialogue makes weak characters. We don’t want that.
Want to learn how to write authentic dialogues? Here are some handy tips and tricks to help you level up your dialogue game. Let’s turn those dialogues from meh to mesmerizing!
8 Effective Dialogue Writing Tips to Write Naturally
A good dialogue should not just be literary — it should convey emotions, build up the plot, and reveal the unique traits of each character.
The tricky part is learning how to personify each character and make their conversations sound like something people would actually say in real life. Here’s the way to do it:
1. Listen, Observe, Write
If you want your dialogue to sound natural, the best dialogue writing tip is to observe how real people talk. Observe down to the last detail and take notes.
Listen to the vocabulary people use in daily conversations, observe their gestures, and catch what type of slang they use.
Another great way of listening and observing is watching TV shows with great dialogue. Some TV shows have much longer dialogues compared to books. So, you will have to learn how to shorten your dialogues.
2. Examples For Inspiration
Finding inspiration is another one of the best dialogue-writing tips. We always come across something that feels good to hear, be it in our daily lives or when watching any show. So why not write it down for later use?
Read more books and highlight dialogues that resonated the most with you. You can also visit book review websites and find clues from people who share quotes they love the most. Sharing through word of mouth or social media is a telltale sign of an effective and noteworthy dialogue.
The same thing applies when listening to people. Have a journal or diary to note down some specific style or habits to draw inspiration from when writing your dialogue later on.
3. Crafting Engaging Conversations
Let’s get this straight — writing authentic dialogue should never sound like a transcript. It’s about crafting engaging conversations. Writing dialogue is an art, so make it expressive.
For example, you can imitate stuttering, use slang words, add hand gestures — these all represent a natural conversation between characters.
4. Show-Don’t Tell-Approach
Use your storytelling skills when writing authentic dialogue. Readers like to see what the characters are doing and even more, the context and thoughts behind their actions. Paint a picture and then frame it for your readers.
For example, don’t tell the readers that the character is angry. Rather, show by throwing or slamming their fist on the table. Reveal characters’ traits, habits, and emotionality through dialogue. This way, the reader can relate to the character’s anger through their behavior.
5. Careful Use Of Dialect
Although using dialects when writing dialogue can show authenticity, don’t overdo it.
Dialects portray a solid identity for the character, particularly where they came from and the environment where they grew up. Just make sure you do ample research, or you’re well-versed in the dialect. We don’t want to sound pretentious (the readers will know).
Using dialects in writing when you do not have much experience with them can affect your character’s voice development. It can distract the reader from the main plot, and the worst case is, they’ll abandon your story. A few well-placed words and sentences can do the job for you.
6. Add Dimension Through Subtext
Just like humans, sometimes characters do not mean what they say. You have to make it clear for the readers by adding subtexts. Subtext is the underlying meaning of conversation, which the character cannot explicitly say. It gives depth to what the character is saying and builds good tension.
For example, a character may say, “I am fine” when in reality, they mean to say, “I am not fine and want you to care”. This adds dimension to the dialogue depicting real human emotions.
7. Avoiding Exposition in Dialogue
An exposition gives the reader the necessary background information to understand the plot. But, we do not advise using expositions, as it can make your dialogues look clunky. Your characters’ conversations may seem forced or unnatural, as if they’re speaking for the sake of plot exposition rather than engaging in authentic interaction.
Instead, weave subtle information into the dialogue through descriptive writing. According to URI, descriptive writing creates imagery in the reader’s mind and gives them a clear picture.
For example, instead of a character saying, “John has been depressed ever since his sister disappeared last year,” you could show John’s struggle through his actions and environment: “John paused at the doorway of his sister’s untouched room, the layers of dust a testament to his lost motivation since the day she vanished.”
Again — show, don’t tell. This approach enriches the narrative, making it more engaging and immersive for the reader.
8. Action Beats with Dialogue Tags
Dialogue tags are the words that indicate which character is speaking. Examples are — “she asked”, “I said”, “they replied,” etc. Dialogue tags guide the readers about the conversation’s dynamics, but relying on them too much can lead to a monotonous reading experience.
A good alternative is to use action beats — meaning a description of action along with dialogue. For example, instead of writing “she said”, you can write “she poured herself a drink”.
Bonus Tip: Check The Dialogue Rhythm by Reading Out Loud
Last but not least, read the dialogue out loud to check the rhythm. It’s best to do this after you’ve taken a break from writing dialogues for a while. This will give you a fresh perspective so you can spot any errors in your dialogue.
Want more insights? You can ask others for help and ask them to read it out loud. Ask them what they think. This will give you even more clarity when writing a revised dialogue version.
“Writing good dialogue is art as well as craft”
Stephen King
Crafting a compelling dialogue that captivates your reader is not an easy feat. Writing a dialogue that speaks volumes is an art in itself. It is a skill that takes a lot of practice and attention to even the smallest detail.
We hope these dialogue writing tips can help you master the art of crafting engaging conversations. Next time you sit down to craft the dialogue for your self-published book, keep these insights in hand.
Let them guide you as you sculpt conversations that resonate, entertain, and, above all, feel real.
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