Tips for Writing Effective Dialogue

For many authors, dialogue is one of the most challenging aspects of writing. This may seem odd, since conversation is a normal part of our everyday lives. But there is a lot of complexity when it comes to creating good dialogue.

So let’s break it down and look at what it takes to write effective, authentic dialogue.

Give Your Characters Unique Voices

We all know this is what we should be doing, but of course, it’s easier said than done. New writers who are especially good at writing dialogue tend to write in their own voices — the way they normally speak. But this can also be a hindrance, since it limits you to one particular voice and style and makes it difficult for you to develop unique voices for each character.

If you can take a conversation and swap the dialogue tags around without any confusion or noticeable effect, then your characters don’t have their own voices. Now, that being said, you don’t have to give each character wildly different accents or dialects. In reality, most of your characters are probably from the same area and time period, so they’ll all have a similar manner of speaking.

Your goal should be to make your characters unique people with distinct personalities — and their voices will convey that. Maybe one of your characters has an upbeat personality and is always looking on the bright side of life. Great! Show that in their dialogue — make it generally positive and optimistic.

Another character is a natural leader, so their dialogue is motivating, direct, and action-oriented. Then you have your more emotional, dramatic character who might tend to blow things out of proportion and use a lot of hyperbole. In short, write your characters’ dialogue according to their personalities and character traits.

Make it Sound Natural

Your dialogue should sound like actual human beings speaking to one another. And real live people use contractions, omit words, pause to gather their thoughts, interrupt each other, and use slang. So your characters should as well.

Here’s an example for you:

“I do not know what to think,” she said. “I never expected this from you. That you would commit a crime like this is simply unimaginable.”

“I don’t even know what to think,” she said. “I never . . . How could you do something like this?”

Which of these dialogue examples sounds more natural? Unless you’re a time traveler from the 1800s (in which case, take me with you!), it’s the second one, right? Now this is a pretty obvious example, but it gives you an idea of what natural dialogue should look and sound like, as opposed to stiff, antiquated dialogue.

Don’t Be Afraid to Say, “Said”

You’ve probably heard some well-meaning advice about the use of the word “said.” So let’s set the record straight — “said” is not a word that should be avoided at all costs. If a character mutters or shouts or grumbles something, then sure, great, use those dialogue tags.

But if your character is just talking in a normal voice with no intense emotions, feel free to use “said.” In fact, I highly encourage it. There’s nothing worse than reading a book where the author clearly tries to avoid having their characters just “say” anything. (Okay, fine, there are tons of things worse than that. But still, it’s annoying and obvious.)

Use Dialogue Tags Sparingly

Not every bit of dialogue needs to be tagged. In fact, if you follow the first tip and give your characters distinct voices, you can get away with not tagging quite a bit of your dialogue. It’ll be obvious who’s speaking, because each character has their own unique voice.

This is especially important for long conversations with a lot of back and forth. Adding “he said” or “she said” to every line of dialogue interrupts the natural flow of conversation. Use dialogue tags when needed to prevent confusion about who’s talking, but don’t overdo it.

Don’t Turn Your Characters Into Statues

By this I mean, don’t have your characters just standing there, frozen in place, every time they talk. Explain what they’re doing while they’re talking. Are they having a conversation while making breakfast? Then have them pour the coffee or crack some eggs while they’re speaking. Give your readers the context they need to form a picture in their minds of the scene.

A great way to do this is to imagine the scene yourself, as if it’s a TV show or movie. What are your characters doing? Are they standing there motionless, or are they moving around, performing tasks, fidgeting? Incorporate those actions into your dialogue tags to make your writing come to life.

Put “Show, Don't Tell” Into Practice

We’ve all heard the “show, don’t tell” adage a million times, but dialogue is where you really get to put that idea into practice. Don’t say your character was confused. Have him ask questions, even if it’s just, “Huh?”

This is also where dialogue tags other than “said” do come into play. Use descriptive, meaningful dialogue tags to help express your characters’ emotions and actions. Got a character who’s really pissed off? Have her fume or shout some strong dialogue.

Avoid Info-Dumping

This doesn’t mean that dialogue can’t be a useful tool for relaying characters’ backstories and other important content. What it does mean is that you shouldn’t have three pages of them continuously monologuing.

If you need to have them tell a long story to their companions, by all means, go ahead. But break the dialogue up into an actual conversation. Have their companions ask questions, insert some actions, let others react to what the character is saying.

Again, dialogue should be representative of real life, and in real life, storytelling is involved and fluid — not an endless monologue.

Read It Out Loud

The best way to make sure you’re incorporating these tips is to read your dialogue out loud. Reading aloud will help you assess the flow and wording and identify any awkward lines, overuse of dialogue tags, and indistinct voices.

And there you have it! You should be able to write perfect, natural-sounding dialogue with ease now — okay, maybe it’s not that simple. Writing natural, effective, smooth dialogue takes practice, but hopefully, these tips will help you develop your skills and become a better writer.

If you’re looking for more advice or professional help with your book, feel free to reach out to me at Nyx Publications. I offer all levels of editing, as well as coaching services and in-depth beta reading, and I’d love to help you polish your work and grow as a writer.