How To Write Great Dialogue In A Novel - That Is Human, Realistic and Engaging
Dialogue is one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s arsenal, allowing characters to reveal themselves, advance the plot, and create a sense of realism within a story. Whether in novels, short stories, screenplays, or plays, dialogue can make or break a narrative. Realistic and engaging dialogue captures the unique voices of characters, provides insight into their personalities, and keeps readers invested in the story. However, writing dialogue that feels true to life while maintaining narrative momentum can be tricky.
Understanding the Role of Dialogue
Before delving into the specifics of writing good dialogue, it’s crucial to understand the role that dialogue plays in storytelling. Dialogue serves several important purposes:
Revealing Character: Through dialogue, characters express their thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. The way they speak—whether formal, casual, humorous, or aggressive—tells the reader about their background, personality, and worldview.
Advancing the Plot: Dialogue can move the plot forward by delivering key information, setting up conflict, or creating tension. Conversations can introduce new ideas, reveal secrets, or even lead to plot twists.
Creating Conflict: Dialogue is often the primary vehicle through which conflict emerges between characters. Disagreements, misunderstandings, and hidden motives all come to light through what characters say (and sometimes what they leave unsaid).
Building Atmosphere: The tone and pacing of dialogue contribute to the atmosphere of the story. Whether it’s a tense confrontation or a lighthearted exchange, dialogue can set the mood of a scene and shape the reader’s emotional experience.
Now that we understand the importance of dialogue, let’s break down how to craft it effectively.
Write Dialogue That Sounds Natural
The hallmark of realistic dialogue is that it sounds natural. But natural doesn’t mean boring or rambling. To write natural-sounding dialogue, you need to listen carefully to how people actually speak. Pay attention to the rhythms of everyday conversation, which are often messy, repetitive, and full of non-sequiturs. However, to keep your writing readable, you’ll need to refine this messiness, omitting filler words and irrelevant tangents, while still capturing the essence of real speech. You’ll also need to ensure that what is being said matters. Dialogue should always serve the plot, no matter how low-key or naturalistic it seems. In a crime novel, if characters are talking about going for a coffee, it’s because that matters to the plot in some way – not just because they really like coffee!
Key Elements of Natural Dialogue:
Interruptions: In real conversations, people often interrupt each other. These interruptions can convey tension, eagerness, or conflict. However, be cautious—too many interruptions can make dialogue hard to follow.
Hesitations and Pauses: People often hesitate when speaking, especially when they’re unsure, thinking, or struggling with their emotions. Phrases like "um," "uh," and "you know" can add authenticity, but avoid overusing them.
Incomplete Sentences: We frequently start sentences and don’t finish them, or we trail off without explanation. These moments of linguistic ambiguity can capture the feeling of real conversation, especially in emotionally charged moments. But the risk is it become diffuse, confusing or hard to follow. So be careful.
Repetition: People often repeat words or ideas for emphasis or clarity, particularly when they’re nervous or passionate. A character might say, “I just… I just can’t believe it,” to emphasize their disbelief. But repetition is usually quite boring to read, so use it only sparingly and deliberately.
Distinct Character Voices
Each character in your story should have a distinct voice that reflects their background, personality, and current emotional state. Different characters will use different vocabulary, sentence structures, and speaking styles based on their education, profession, social status, and personal experiences.
For instance, a highly educated character might use more formal, complex language, while a more younger or less educated (generalising here!) character may use slang or contractions. A character who is nervous or shy might speak in shorter, more tentative sentences, while a confident character may speak with clarity and assertiveness.
Tips for Creating Distinct Voices:
Consider Background and Education: A character’s upbringing and education will influence how they speak. A well-educated person might have a more expansive vocabulary, while someone with less formal education might rely on simpler words.
Use Regional Dialects or Slang: If appropriate for your setting, regional accents, dialects, or slang can add authenticity to your characters. However, be careful not to overdo it or make it stereotypical.
Pay Attention to Emotional State: A character’s emotional state should influence their speech. A character who is upset or angry may speak more abruptly, while someone in love might use more poetic language.
Dialogue Tags and Action Beats: The way a character speaks can often be underscored by their actions. For example, a character who speaks nervously might also fiddle with their hands, avoid eye contact, or speak in short bursts.
Keep Dialogue Relevant to the Story
Every piece of dialogue in your story should serve a purpose. This purpose could be to reveal character, advance the plot, or add depth to the themes of your story. Avoid conversations that veer off-topic or feel like filler—every line should bring something to the table.
While it’s important for dialogue to sound natural, it should never be random or meandering. It should always lead somewhere. Characters may chit-chat, but their conversations should still reveal something about who they are or what they want. Even small talk should provide insights into character dynamics or set up future events.
Use Subtext to Add Depth
Subtext is what’s left unsaid in dialogue—the underlying meaning beneath the words. In real life, people don’t always say exactly what they mean. They hint at things, dance around difficult topics, or say one thing while meaning another. Subtext can be used to add complexity to your dialogue, especially when your characters are avoiding the truth or trying to communicate in indirect ways.
For example, a character might say, “I’m fine,” when they’re obviously not, or they may express frustration without directly confronting another character. Subtext can create tension, intrigue, and emotional depth, as readers are often drawn into trying to understand what’s being left unsaid.
Pace Your Dialogue for Effect
Pacing in dialogue refers to the speed at which characters speak and how this affects the rhythm of your scene. Quick, snappy exchanges can build tension and increase drama, while slow, drawn-out conversations can create a sense of calm or melancholy.
Be mindful of how long your dialogue stretches on. Too many long-winded conversations can bog down the pacing of your story, while quick exchanges can ramp up the tension. Use short, punchy lines during moments of conflict or high energy, and longer, more reflective dialogue during emotional moments or when a character is processing something complex.
Be cautious of dialogue sequences extending beyond a few pages. It can get boring very fast.
Revise Your Dialogue
Good dialogue doesn’t just happen in the first draft—it requires revision. Once you’ve written your dialogue, read it out loud to see if it sounds natural. Does it feel real, or does it seem stilted or forced? Do the characters’ voices remain consistent throughout the scene?
During revision, also check for redundancy and unnecessary words. Trim any lines that don’t serve the plot or reveal something important about the characters. Make sure your dialogue is tight, engaging, and true to each character.
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