Writing dialogue is sometimes the most challenging thing when writing your novel. What are the best ways to approach writing dialogue and writing more authentic conversations between your characters?
Show, don’t tell
This is always great advice for writers but it extends to dialogue as much as the action and narrative of your writing. Dialogue allows you to show the reader character traits, emotions and inner struggles. Well-crafted speech can show the reader the relationships between characters without you having to explain or tell, this to the reader. Keep your writing purposeful and with meaning but also…
Keep it natural
The best dialogue mirrors real-life conversations. Keep your ears open to the way people around you, who are similar to your characters, are speaking. Without making it obvious you are listening in, eavesdrop on people as much as you can! Steal their mannerisms, colloquialisms, pauses and interruptions to make the dialogue you write in your novels as authentic as you can.
Trim the excess
When we speak, we uhm and ahh a lot. We have filler words and we stop and start, restart and repeat lots in true dialogue. While the aim might be to create authentic dialogue, this is not needed in fiction as it slows the pace and the reader doesn’t need it! Watch out for repetitive phrases that creep into your writing and ensure that each time you write dialogue it is moving the story forwards.
Vary sentence structure
Avoid monotonous-sounding speech by varying the structure and the length of sentences. Just as we speak in different ways in real life, so should your written dialogue. Sometimes we use just one-word answers, other times we expand and go on and on. Use this variety to your advantage and to make your dialogue engaging for the readers.
Pay attention to the rhythm
When to use long passages of dialogue and when to use reported speech or description is a key skill for writers of fiction. Consider the pace of the novel and how the passages of dialogue add to the rhythm of the book.
In conversations between characters, are there short bursts or are there longer, more reflective speeches that carry the information across effectively? How do characters bounce ideas off each other?
Writing good dialogue that moves the story forwards and is authentic and realistic helps engage the reader and make the world you have created more believable. Keep a note of speech patterns and things you overhear to use in your next story.
If you want support making your dialogue authentic and effective, think about how developmental editing and copyediting can improve your writing. Alternatively, beta reading which focuses on the dialogue can also be an effective way to improve your writing. Get in touch today to find out more.
More dialogue advice here: https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/how-to-write-dialogue/
Nick (he/him) is an experienced, professional editor and proofreader, specialising in LGBTQ+ writing. Use this form to get in touch right now!
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