No matter how compelling a narrative is, poorly written dialogue can turn away countless readers. Flat conversations are like flat soda — technically fine, but who’d want it?
That’s why dialogue is so important: it can make or break a scene, story, or entire reading experience. In this post, let’s look at four actionable tips for writing believable, sparkling dialogue. Whatever you’re drafting, these strategies are sure to help you along the way!
1. Make the dialogue sound natural
Great dialogue feels real — but that doesn’t mean you should include tons of filler words (“um”, “you know”, “like”, etc.), which can be tedious. To write realistic conversations, focus on keeping the rhythm, tone, and quirks of natural speech while trimming the fat.
Think about how people actually talk. Even if you’re writing historical fiction, characters will most likely use contractions (“don’t” instead of “do not,” “can’t” instead of “cannot”) and some amount of casual language. Also make sure you include sentence fragments and interruptions for even more authenticity. You can let your characters talk over each other, or even trail off mid-thought…
Here’s an example of dialogue that starts off less-than-exciting, but is made more interesting by removing pleasantries and turning some sentences into fragments:
Before: “Hello, how are you doing today?”
“I am doing well, thank you. How about you? How are you doing?”
“I am fine. Did you hear about the news?”After: “Hey, did you hear the news?”
“Yeah! I’m still in shock.”
“Right? Thought he’d never crack.”
The second version is leaner, snappier, and sounds much more like something people would say in real life.
2. Ensure every character speaks differently
Think of two different people you interact with regularly, like a relative and a work colleague. Would you be able to tell who is who just by seeing their speech written out? The answer is most likely yes — because no two people speak in exactly the same way.
Keep this in mind while creating conversations between various characters. The words they say and the manner in which they speak can inform readers about their background, emotional state, worldview, and more.
Let’s say one of your characters is a sarcastic teenager, while the other is an older, jaded lawyer. If you have a scene in which they’re both annoyed about something, they’d definitely express their frustration in totally different ways.
Teenager: “Ugh, seriously? This is, like, the third time today. I swear, I’m gonna lose it.”
Lawyer: “At this point, I’d almost be impressed by this — if it weren’t so staggeringly
incompetent.”
Something I’ve found useful while writing a diverse cast of characters is keeping a character reference sheet, or “character bible.” This can help you quickly pinpoint each character’s tone, speech quirks, tone, and even go-to phrases while writing.
3. Use dialogue to reveal subtext and build tension
What’s not said in a conversation is often just as important as what is. To take your dialogue to the next level, make sure to incorporate subtext, which is basically just meaning hidden beneath the surface. Have your character dodge a question, change the subject, or say one thing when they obviously mean something else.
Doing this can add tension and drama in a realistic way. In real life, after all, many of us don’t say what we mean — especially when we’re in the middle of a tough situation.
Here’s an example of a phone call between two people who’ve just started dating:
Sam: “You didn’t call me last night.”
Jamie: “I was busy.”
Sam: “With work?”
Jamie: “Something like that.”
Jamie’s evasive replies hint that there’s a potential issue, without spelling it out too obviously. Also keep in mind that dialogue can have a huge effect on pacing! Curt lines like Jamie’s can make a conversation turn urgent or tense, while long, rambling sentences can show your reader that someone is stalling, lying, or hiding something.
4. Break up dialogue with beats and action
If you’ve got characters talking back and forth without actually doing anything, your reader might feel like everyone’s floating in some void.
That’s where action beats come in. Have someone glance at a door, look out a window, or inspect their fingernails as they speak — anything that could hint at their emotional state or the atmosphere of the scene.
As with the length of your lines, action beats can also help establish a certain pace or tone in your story. Let’s look at the following example:
“I don’t think this is working,” she said.
He looked down, twisting his wedding ring. “Since when?”
“A few months now.” She reached for her coat but stopped short of putting it on. “I just
didn’t know how to tell you.”
Here, gestures add texture to what’s already a tense moment. No one’s being directly told that he’s nervous or she’s hesitant; all of that is evident in what they do.
Remember, writing strong dialogue is more than just having characters talk at each other. It’s all about revealing who they are, what they want, and what they’re not saying. With a bit of revision and a good ear, your dialogue can bring your characters — and your entire story — to life.
Savannah Cordova is a writer with Reedsy: a marketplace that connects authors with editors, designers, and marketers to help get their books published. In her spare time, Savannah enjoys reading contemporary fiction and writing short stories.
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