One of the most critical elements in fiction writing is dialogue. Realistic dialogue brings characters to life, adds depth to the story, and engages readers. Crafting dialogue that sounds natural can be challenging, but with the right techniques, you can master this essential skill.
Crafting Realistic Dialogue: My Top Tips
Here are some actionable tips I like to use to create authentic and compelling dialogue in your fiction.
1. Listen to Real Conversations
The best way to write realistic dialogue is to listen to how people speak in real life. Pay attention to conversations around you, whether it’s in a coffee shop, at work, or during family gatherings. Note the differences in speech patterns, vocabulary, and tone among different people.
For example, people often use filler words such as “like” or “um” when they’re talking, especially if they’re uncertain or nervous for some reason.
For practice, consider carrying a notebook or using your phone to jot down snippets of dialogue you hear throughout the day. This will help you understand the natural flow of conversation and the unique voices of different individuals.
2. Read Your Dialogue Aloud
Reading dialogue aloud is a powerful technique to ensure it sounds natural. I find it super helpful to actually hear the words spoken aloud — you’ll quickly notice if anything feels forced or out of place. You might be surprised how different your dialogue sounds compared to how it seemed in your head.
If possible, have a friend or writing partner read a scene with you, each of you taking different roles. This will help you catch any awkward phrases or unnatural rhythms while also highlighting areas where the speech might be interpreted differently from how you intended.
3. Avoid Exposition Dumping
Dialogue should sound like a conversation, not a monologue filled with backstory or exposition. Characters don’t typically speak in long, uninterrupted blocks of text, especially not to relay information the person they’re speaking to already knows.
Instead, break up lengthy pieces of dialogue with actions, descriptions, or inner thoughts. If you need to convey background information, try to weave it naturally into the conversation or use it in small doses throughout the narrative.
Try to put yourself in your characters’ shoes and be sure that it makes sense for them to be discussing the information you want to communicate. If not, try finding other ways to weave your background information into the narrative.
4. Use Contractions and Slang
People rarely speak in complete sentences. They use contractions, slang, and sometimes even incorrect grammar. These elements make dialogue feel more realistic and true to the character’s background and personality.
Consider your character’s age, location, and social background when developing their voice. Adjust their speech patterns accordingly, using contractions and colloquial language that they would naturally use.
5. Show Character Through Dialogue
Dialogue is an excellent tool for revealing character traits. As I touched on above, how a character speaks can convey their education level, social status, personality, and even mood.
To help give each character a unique voice, create a character profile that includes their way of speaking. Are they formal or informal? Do they use a lot of jargon or slang? This consistency will make your characters more distinct and believable.
6. Flavor Your Dialogue With Action
People don’t communicate exclusively with their words. Body language, pauses, and non-verbal cues are important parts of a conversation.
When you’re writing your dialogue, break it up with short descriptions of what your characters are doing while they’re talking. Does your protagonist shift her weight from foot to foot during a tense discussion, as if she wants to run from the confrontation? Does the standoffish love interest cross his arms while listening to an emotionally vulnerable speech?
7. Edit Ruthlessly
Dialogue should be concise and to the point. Long-winded conversations can slow down the pace of your story and lose the reader’s interest.
During revision, cut any dialogue that doesn’t serve a clear purpose. Ensure every line either advances the plot, develops a character, or adds to the tension. Keep your dialogue tight and impactful.
8. Use Dialogue Tags Wisely
Dialogue tags (e.g., “he said,” “she asked”) help clarify who is speaking and add rhythm to the conversation.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “said is dead” when it comes to using dialogue tags. It’s actually often best to use simple dialogue tags like “said” or “asked.” They’re unobtrusive and keep the focus on the dialogue. Too many uncommon dialogue tags stand out and become a distraction, so use them sparingly and only when they will really make an impact.
In some cases, you might not even need a dialogue tag. As long as it’s clear who’s speaking, it’s okay to have a stretch of back-and-forth dialogue without tags. This is especially impactful when characters are speaking with urgency and you want to make the speech feel faster.
Conclusion
Writing realistic dialogue takes practice and attention to detail. Here’s a quick recap of my top tips:
- Listen to real conversations so you can emulate them
- Read your dialogue aloud to catch any awkward phrasing
- Avoid exposition dumping in your dialogue
- Use contractions and slang to sound natural and casual
- Show character with unique speech patterns
- Incorporate body language and other non-verbal elements
- Editing ruthlessly to keep dialogue concise
- Use dialogue tags wisely, avoiding too many uncommon tags
By honing your dialogue-writing skills, you’ll create more engaging and believable characters that captivate your audience from start to finish. Keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to revise and refine your dialogue until it feels just right.
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Molly Tyler
Molly received her B.A. in English in 2016, and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing in 2019. She now works full time as a digital content marketer.