Dialogue is one of the most essential aspects of storytelling, whether you're crafting a heart-wrenching drama, a gripping thriller, or a light-hearted rom-com. It helps build characters, advance the plot, and give the reader insight into the world you're creating. Well-written dialogue makes your characters feel real and allows readers to connect emotionally to the story.
If you want to improve the dialogue in your novel and make it come alive on the page, here are eight tips that can elevate your writing.
The good rythm
The way your characters speak should flow naturally and reflect the pace and mood of the scene. Think of it like music – you need the right balance between pauses, beats, and bursts of energy. If the rhythm is off, your dialogue can sound forced or awkward.
To achieve a good rhythm, focus on varying sentence lengths. Too many long sentences in a row can make the conversation sound monotonous, while too many short ones can make it feel stilted. A combination of both will create a more engaging flow.
For example, if a character is angry, their dialogue may come in short, clipped sentences. If they’re relaxed, they may speak in longer, more thoughtful phrases.
It’s also important to consider the pace of the scene. If you’re building to a tense moment, you might use rapid exchanges, with characters speaking over one another or cutting each other off. On the other hand, if the scene is more contemplative or emotional, slow down the dialogue and give the characters time to process their words.
Show, don’t tell
Instead of simply having your characters say things outright, show their emotions and intentions through their words, actions, and body language. This adds layers to the dialogue and allows the reader to infer meaning rather than just being told everything.
For example, instead of having a character say, “I’m so angry,” you can show their anger through their words and actions: “He slammed the door so hard the walls shook. ‘You think I’m going to just sit here and let you get away with this?’”
This kind of subtlety makes your dialogue more engaging because it invites the reader to think critically about what the characters are really saying. It also adds depth to the scene, turning a simple conversation into something dynamic and multifaceted.
Use subtext
Often, characters don’t say exactly what they mean, or they might be withholding information for various reasons. This is where subtext comes in: it’s the tension between what is said and what is not said.
Subtext can make your dialogue feel more authentic because in real life, people don’t always speak their minds directly. In conversations, people may hint at something, use sarcasm, or speak in ways that convey a hidden message. This adds complexity to the interaction.
Take this example: a character might say, “You really like her, don’t you?” The response might be, “She’s… interesting.” The subtext here is that the character feels something more but is reluctant to express it fully. The reader can pick up on this tension, which creates a richer narrative.
Subtext also allows for conflict in dialogue without direct confrontation. It’s the underlying tension that keeps the conversation charged, even when the words themselves seem polite or neutral.
Interrupt people
In real life, people rarely speak in perfectly uninterrupted, flowing sentences. Conversations are often chaotic, with people speaking over each other, cutting off sentences, and reacting impulsively to what the other person has said.
Incorporating interruptions into your dialogue can help it feel more natural and realistic. A well-timed interruption can also increase the tension between characters. For example, if two characters are in a heated debate, having them interrupt each other can demonstrate their frustration or impatience.
Take this dialogue as an example:
“I don’t understand why—”
“Because you never listen!”
This interruption shows a burst of emotion and adds an extra layer of conflict to the conversation. It also mimics the natural flow of human conversation, where we often talk over each other, especially when emotions are involved.
Use banter
Banter's playful, witty back-and-forth that gives the characters personality and helps break up the heaviness of a more dramatic conversation. Banter often reveals a lot about the relationship between characters, whether it’s friendly, flirtatious, or adversarial.
Banter can be used to build tension between characters by showing how they are interacting on a deeper level. A couple might exchange playful teasing, which indicates affection, or two rivals might engage in verbal sparring that highlights their competitive nature.
Here’s an example of a banter-filled exchange:
“You’re really going to wear that?”
“Why? Are you jealous of my fashion sense?”
“Of your ‘sense’? It’s more like a tragedy in the making.”
This light, sarcastic exchange reveals the playful dynamic between the characters, making their relationship feel real and entertaining.
Little monologues
A well-placed monologue can give the reader insight into the character’s emotions, motivations, or internal struggles. Monologues are also an effective way to slow down the pace and build tension before an important event.
Monologues don’t have to be long or dramatic. Sometimes, a character’s simple reflection on a situation can add layers of meaning. For example, a character might take a moment to express their frustrations about a failed relationship:
“I thought I could change things, but now I realize that it’s just never going to work. And maybe I’m the one who’s been fooling myself all along.”
Monologues can also be used in moments of high emotion, where a character might need to express everything they’ve been holding inside. This can be a powerful tool in character development and can break through the normal ebb and flow of dialogue.
Be careful with accents
Overdoing an accent can make the dialogue hard to read and come across as exaggerated. Instead, you should focus on the key features of the accent that make it distinctive, such as pronunciation, rhythm, or specific words they might use. Use it sparingly, and avoid writing every single word phonetically.
For example, instead of writing out every word as it sounds, you might use a few subtle clues to indicate the accent:
“I dinnae know what you mean,” she said, her Scottish brogue thickening the words.
This gives readers an impression of the character's accent without overwhelming them with phonetic spellings.
It’s also important to make sure that the accent serves the character and story. An accent should reflect something about the character’s background or identity, not just be a gimmick.
Read aloud
Once you’ve written your dialogue, read it aloud. This simple but effective technique helps you catch awkward phrases, unnatural pauses, or pacing problems that you might miss when reading silently. By hearing the dialogue, you can better understand how it sounds and whether it flows naturally.
Reading aloud also allows you to get into the mindset of your characters. Does the dialogue sound like something they would actually say? Are there any moments where the character’s voice doesn’t match their personality or emotional state? Listening to the dialogue can highlight these issues and give you a clearer sense of how to improve it.
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