Dialogue is a crucial element in storytelling. It can bring characters to life and advance the plot. However, writing effective dialogue can be challenging. Here are some tips to help you improve your dialogue writing skills.
What is Dialogue Writing?
Dialogue writing is the art of creating conversation between characters in a story, play, or screenplay. It is a way to bring characters to life and move the plot forward.
Here is an example of dialogue writing:
“I can’t believe you did that,” John said.
“What are you talking about?” Mary asked.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” John replied, his voice rising. “You promised you wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“I didn’t tell anyone,” Mary protested.
“Liar!” John shouted. “Everyone knows about it now.”
In this example, the dialogue between John and Mary creates conflict and tension, revealing their personalities and motivations. It also advances the plot and engages the reader.
Some Important Benefits of Dialogue Writing
There are many benefits of dialogue writing, including:
- Brings characters to life: Dialogue can help bring characters to life by giving them unique voices, personalities, and perspectives.
- Advances the plot: Dialogue can be used to advance the plot, reveal character motivations, and add conflict or tension to the story.
- Makes the story more engaging: Well-written dialogue can make the story more engaging and immersive for the reader.
- Increases emotional impact: Dialogue can be used to convey emotions and create a deeper connection between the reader and the characters.
- Improves writing skills: Writing effective dialogue requires practice and skill, which can improve overall writing abilities.
Suitable Situations for Dialogue Writing
Dialogue writing can be used in a variety of writing genres and formats, including fiction, plays, screenplays, and even nonfiction.
Here are some common situations where dialogue writing can be used:
- In fiction, dialogue can be used to reveal character personalities and motivations, create conflict or tension, and advance the plot.
- In plays and screenplays, dialogue is essential for creating dialogue-driven scenes and conveying the story through the spoken word.
- In nonfiction, dialogue can be used to add context and convey interviews, speeches, or conversations that took place in real life.
Useful Dialogue Writing for Beginners
Here are some helpful dialogue writing tips:
Sound natural
People tend to speak in a casual and informal way, using contractions, slang, and sentence fragments. Therefore, you should try to make your dialogue sound like real conversation.
For Example:
Incorrect: “I will be going to the store tomorrow.”
Correct: “I’ll be heading to the store tomorrow.”
Dialogue tags are the phrases that identify who is speaking, such as “he said” or “she asked.” While these are necessary, try to avoid overusing them, as it can become repetitive and tedious to read.
For Example:
Incorrect: “I don’t think we should go,” John said. “Why not?” Mary asked. “Because it’s too dangerous,” John replied.
Correct: “I don’t think we should go,” John said. “Why not?” Mary asked. “It’s too dangerous,” he replied.
Show, don’t tell
Dialogue can be an excellent tool for conveying information about a character or situation. However, it’s important to avoid using dialogue to simply tell the reader what’s happening. Instead, use dialogue to show the reader what’s happening.
For Example:
Incorrect: “I’m really angry right now,” Jane said.
Correct: “Jane slammed her fist on the table. ‘I can’t believe you did that!'”
Add Variation in Sentence Structure
To make dialogue more interesting, vary the sentence structure and length. This can help to create a more natural flow and prevent the dialogue from becoming monotonous.
For Example:
Incorrect: “What do you want for dinner?” Tom asked. “I don’t know,” Jane replied. “How about pizza?” Tom suggested.
Correct: “What do you want for dinner?” Tom asked. “I don’t know,” Jane replied. “I was thinking maybe we could try that new Thai place down the street,” Tom suggested.
Use subtext
Subtext is the underlying meaning of a conversation, which is often left unsaid. Using subtext can add depth to your dialogue and create tension or intrigue.
For Example:
Incorrect: “I’m not sure if I want to go to the party,” Sarah said.
Correct: “Sarah twirled her hair nervously. ‘I just don’t know if it’s my scene, you know?'”
Add interruptions and overlaps
Instructions: Real conversation is rarely smooth and uninterrupted. To make dialogue sound more natural, use interruptions and overlaps to create a sense of chaos.
For Example:
Incorrect: “I can’t believe you did that,” John said. “What are you talking about?” Mary asked. “You know what I’m talking about,” John said.
Correct: “I can’t believe you did that,” John said. “What are you talking–” Mary began, before John cut her off. “You know what I’m talking about!”
Give each character a distinct voice
Each character should have their own unique voice and way of speaking. This can help to differentiate characters and make them feel more real.
For Example:
Incorrect: “I’m really tired,” Jack said. “Me too,” Jill replied.
Correct: “I’m beat,” Jack said. “Same here,” Jill agreed with a yawn.
How do you write a dialogue?
Writing dialogue involves creating a conversation between two or more characters. Here are some steps to follow when writing a dialogue:
Pick Your Characters:
Identify the characters involved in the conversation and their personalities, backgrounds, and motivations. This will help you create authentic dialogue that reflects their unique voices.
Set the Goal:
Determine the purpose of the conversation. What do the characters want to achieve or convey to each other? This will help you structure the dialogue and keep it focused.
Strong Opening:
Start the dialogue with a strong opening line that captures the reader’s attention and sets the tone for the conversation.
Add Expressions
Use body language, actions, and facial expressions to add depth to the conversation and convey the characters’ emotions.
Impressive Ending
End the dialogue with a strong closing line that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
Pro Tip: Read your dialogue out loud to ensure that it sounds realistic and flows smoothly.
What is a dialogue writing format? (Free Template)
Dialogue writing follows a specific format to make it clear who is speaking and what they are saying. Here’s a template for dialogue writing:
Character 1 name: [Dialogue], she said, twirling her hair nervously.
Character 2 name: [Dialogue], he replied with a shrug.
You can also use dialogue tags, such as “said,” “asked,” or “replied,” to indicate who is speaking, like this:
Character 1 name: [Dialogue], she said:
Character 2 name: [Dialogue], he replied:
Each line represents a character speaking. Use the character’s name or a pronoun to identify who is speaking. Use quotation marks around the dialogue to make it clear that it’s spoken aloud. Punctuation marks like commas, periods, and exclamation points go inside the quotation marks.
Here’s an example:
Tom: “What are you doing this weekend?”
Sara: “I’m going camping with some friends. How about you?”
Tom: “I’m thinking about going to the beach, but I haven’t decided yet.”
In this example, Tom and Sara are having a conversation. Tom asks Sara a question, and she responds with her plans. Then Tom answers her question and shares his own plans. The dialogue is formatted so it’s clear who is speaking and what they’re saying.
What are the 10 rules of dialogue?
Here are 10 rules for writing effective dialogue:
- Keep it concise: Avoid long-winded speeches or overly complex sentences. Don’t forget to add quotation marks enclosing every character’s dialogue.
- Sound Natural: Dialogue should sound like real people speaking, so avoid stilted or overly formal language.
- Use contractions: Contractions like “I’m” and “don’t” sound more natural and conversational than their non-contracted counterparts.
- Avoid information dumps: Don’t use dialogue solely as a way to convey information to the reader. Instead, use it to reveal character and advance the plot.
- Show, don’t tell: Use dialogue to show character traits and emotions rather than simply telling the reader about them.
- Use interruptions: Interruptions can add realism to dialogue and make it feel more natural.
- Use subtext: Dialogue doesn’t always have to say exactly what it means. Use subtext to create tension and depth.
- Use dialect and accents sparingly: Overuse of dialect or accents can be distracting and difficult to read.
- Make each character’s voice unique: Each character should have their own way of speaking that sets them apart from the others.
- Use dialogue tags sparingly: Use “said” or “asked” instead of fancier dialogue tags like “exclaimed” or “interjected.” And avoid using dialogue tags too often; instead, use actions and body language to indicate who is speaking.
Conclusion
Writing good dialogue takes practice, but with these tips on style, format, and examples, you’ll be on your way to creating more compelling conversations between your characters. Keep experimenting and refining your technique, and you’ll soon be a master of dialogue writing.
