Dialogue is the lifeblood of any fiction book.
It breathes life into characters and propels the story forward.
It makes our characters real, interesting, and engaging.
When done effectively, dialogue will make our readers feel as if they're eavesdropping on real conversations - and that’s powerful stuff.
Here's how I use writing effective dialogue in my fiction:
Good dialogue should sound like real conversation, but with the boring parts removed. Avoid transcribing actual speech verbatim, which can be repetitive and filled with unnecessary filler words.
Instead, create a polished version of how people talk, maintaining the rhythm and flow of natural speech while cutting out the excess.
Use dialogue to reveal character traits, emotions, and motivations without explicitly stating them. Instead of telling the reader a character is angry, show it through their words and actions. For example:
"I can't believe you did that!" Ed slammed his fist on the table.
This conveys Ed's anger without directly stating it, allowing readers to infer his emotional state.
Subtext is the underlying meaning behind what characters say. It adds depth and complexity to dialogue, creating tension and intrigue. Characters often don't say exactly what they mean, and this gap between what's said and what's meant can be a powerful tool for writers.
Avoid unnecessary words and vary your sentence structure and length. Short sentences can create tension, while longer ones can convey thoughtfulness or uncertainty. This variation adds rhythm and flow to the conversation, making it more engaging for readers.
Each character should have a unique way of speaking that reflects their personality, background, and current emotional state. This helps readers distinguish between characters and makes the dialogue more believable and engaging.
Stick to simple tags like "said" and "asked" most of the time. These become almost invisible to readers, allowing them to focus on the dialogue itself. Use more descriptive tags sparingly, and only when they add significant value to the scene. And don’t be too flowery. You want the dialogue to be heard, not the narrative mechanics.
Break up dialogue with meaningful actions and gestures. This not only helps pace the conversation but also provides additional context and characterisation. For example:
"I’m not sure about this," Charlotte said, twisting her wedding ring nervously.
Characters should rarely say exactly what they're thinking or feeling. Instead, have them talk around issues, use euphemisms, or even lie. This creates more realistic and interesting conversations and can be used to place secrets or hide plotlines from readers.
Every line of dialogue should serve a purpose, whether it's advancing the plot, revealing character, or creating tension. Ensure that characters have competing interests or goals, even in seemingly friendly conversations. Don’t make them talk for no reason.
One of the best ways to test your dialogue is to read it aloud. This helps you catch awkward phrasing, unrealistic speech patterns, and dialogue that doesn't flow naturally.
While accents and dialects can add colour to your dialogue, be cautious not to overdo it. A few well-chosen words or phrases can suggest an accent without making the text difficult to read or potentially offensive.
Some of the most powerful dialogue lies in what's not said. Allow readers to read between the lines and infer meaning from context, body language, and subtext.
Don't use dialogue as a vehicle for exposition. Instead of having characters explain things to each other that they would already know, find more natural ways to convey information to the reader.
With practice, you can create dialogue that not only sounds authentic but also engages readers, reveals character, and drives your story forward in a powerful way. Effective dialogue is an art form that requires practice and refinement. Keep honing your skills, and soon your characters will be speaking with voices that leap off the page and into will come alive in your readers’ minds.