Mastering Dialogue

Tips from a published author who loves writing dialogue!

Dialogue is an integral part of any novel. Whether you love it or hate it, you need it! Here are three quick tips to remember when you're writing dialogue.

1. Remember the Character:

   • Does your character...

     • Talk a lot?

     • Have an accent?

     • Have a speech impediment?

     • Have a filter?

   • Their dialogue should show...

     • Their voice

     • Their personality

     • Their mood/emotion

     • *Their culture.

   • *Dialogue is a great way to show who your characters are. If your characters grew up rich and privileged, maybe they use elevated language. Or maybe they think before they speak, so they don’t use dialogue very often.

2. Remember the Purpose:

   • Dialogue is supposed to...

     • Advance the plot

     • Increase tension

     • Reveal character

     • Reveal emotion

   • It is NOT supposed to...

     • *Info dump

     • Have no purpose

     • Be overwhelming

     • Be used in place of action

   • *Information that both characters know doesn’t need to be said. Implement this info in small ways for the reader to learn.

3. Remember the Extras:

   • Your reader should be able to identify which character is speaking even without a dialogue tag. This is why it’s so important to give a unique voice to every character.

   • “Said” is not dead, but it should not be overused, just like any other dialogue tag. Use variety!

   • Only speak if it’s something the character would say, OR if the character and the reader both need the info.

   • Use italics when needed to give emphasis and meaning.