Easily the most common question I get asked is, "How do I write good dialogue?". It's an important question to ask--dialogue is oftentimes the heartbeat of a story. What our characters say, or don't say, can make or break a story, and how they say it is equally important.
Dialogue can be very tricky, and just like anything, it takes practice; but there are a few key rules for good dialogue that will help you build a strong foundation.
Good dialogue serves a purpose. Dialogue shouldn't simply exist for no reason. It should either drive the story forward somehow, or show the relationship between characters. Before you write a conversation, think about why that conversation exists. Characters shouldn't ramble endlessly with no purpose served; this makes for very tedious reading. However, conversations between characters that don't relate directly to your plot are important for adding flavor and personality to your story. Look for ways to strike a good balance!
Exercise: Take a line or two of dialogue at random out of your story. Does it feel like something is missing? If so, your dialogue serves a purpose! If not, reevaluate the purpose of each line of speech you've written.
Good dialogue is character-specific. Different people speak in different ways. Some people are more formal, others casual; some people use lots of big words and others pause or stutter. Age is important; writing a character as speaking in a way that doesn't suit their age is one of the fastest ways to make your dialogue feel false (no matter what the protagonists in YA romance novels might say, most teenagers don't speak in complex metaphors or Shakespearian quotes). People also speak differently depending on who they're talking to. You wouldn't talk to your boss the same way you would your best friend! Think about the ways your characters' personalities affect the way they speak, and the words they use.
Exercise: Write a random conversation on any topic featuring your characters, but don't tag the dialogue. Can you still tell who is saying what? Can you tell what the relationships between these characters are? Can your readers?
Good dialogue isn't all verbal. When you hold a conversation with your friends, do you keep the same expression, posture, and tone of voice throughout? Strong dialogue that makes use of personality will also make use of a character's body language and mannerisms. Remember that characters say just as much, and sometimes more, through their body language as they do with their words--and that the two don't always have to match up.
Exercise: Close your eyes and picture your character speaking their lines, as if they were an actor in a movie. How does their body language change depending on what they say? Alternately, put yourself in the role of your character, and speak your dialogue out loud. How does your voice change? What other things about your body do you notice? Take note of these details, and use them.
Good dialogue flows naturally. This doesn't mean that your dialogue has to be perfectly realistic--stories are stories, and if we added every unnecessary thing that is said in our everyday conversations, our writing would be unreadable. "Natural" is different from "realistic". "Natural" means that your dialogue both makes sense and is placed well. This is a skill that comes with practice, and builds off of the rules we've learned so far.
Exercise: This is an all-around great exercise for writing natural dialogue that makes use of our other rules. Before you write the prose or action of your story, write out what you imagine the dialogue will be--almost like a movie script. Don't worry about making it perfect; this will serve as a sort of "sketch" that you can write your prose around. Now perform the lines out loud to yourself, or in your head, if you prefer (it may feel silly, but I find that an out-loud approach really is the most helpful!). How does it sound, and more importantly, how does it feel? If it feels natural to say or hear in your head, without the distractions of prose or action sentences, you've got a strong start!
YOU ARE READING
Writing: A Crash Course for Beginners
Non-ficțiuneNew to writing? Start here for tips and tricks from your friendly local writing mentor. Want specific tips or lessons? Leave a comment on the Introduction chapter!