Tips for Dialogue Writing

Dialogue writing is very challenging. When I edit books or consult on manuscripts, it’s one of the first things that I usually have to go through and change.

Biggest mistakes I see:

• The dialogue is too formal.

• The chapters contain pages of too much uninterrupted dialogue without any comments that help use “see” the characters as they speak.

• The dialogue is too “canned” or predictable and reads like a spoof.

Let’s look at how to resolve each one of these. First, though, let’s look at why every story needs dialogue. Here’s what good dialogue does:

• Dialogue moves the plot forward. Use dialogue to tell us what someone sees or thinks to let us know what is going to happen next or what is happening. Characters can reveal what they are experiencing or planning through dialogue.

• Dialogue gives readers the backstory without an information dump. “I really don’t want to go talk to her. My Dad and grandmother died in a similar car wreck. I just can’t face that conversation again.” OR “Look, my Mom walked out on us when I was five. It broke my Dad’s heart. Don’t hurt him again.”

• Dialogue establishes the mood for the story. “Get out! Get out, I told you! You aren’t welcome here!” she screamed to her brother as he stood in the hallway hoping for her to just let him stay for a moment. “Come on, Katie, I’m not here to argue. Can we please talk?” “Talk? You didn’t do much talking to any of us when you cleaned out Mom’s account and left, did you?”

To keep dialogue from being too formal, you have to write like people really speak.

• Use contractions…“I don’t see why you can’t leave earlier and get here on time.”

• Let the dialogue reflect different characters’ personalities. Some will say, “Yeah.” That will be their only answer. Other’s will answer with, “Of course.” Some will say, “Whatever.”

• The breaks woven through dialogue should also help the readers visualize the setting or the actions of the characters. Readers can be drawn into the scene with descriptions added to the comments. For example: “Mom, can I have a snack now?” Alex asked as he tossed his Minecraft backpack onto the table and left his Crocs nearby. “I’m ready to eat.”

“Not right now. Dinner will be ready soon,” she answered as she put a glass casserole dish filled with marinated chicken in the oven.

“But I’m hungry.” He reached into the cabinet to grab some chips, but Mom shut the cabinet door before he could get anything out. He sighed and walked out of the kitchen. He sat on the couch and grabbed his Switch to play a quick game before dinner. “Tell me when it’s done.”

To avoid too much dialogue:

• Skip the chatting unless it is necessary. For example, if a character is nervous, they will just chat about almost anything. Otherwise, keep it short and use it as we mentioned…to move the plot or reveal a backstory or set the tone.

• Remember the reader and the other characters. Think of how you feel when someone is just rattling on even if the topic is important. Your mind starts to drift off. So does the mind of the readers and the other characters.

To keep dialogue from feeling fake, canned or predictable, remember all of the character dynamics. No person fits any personality type perfectly. We need to see their humanness.