Writing authentic dialogue: five top tips
Dialogue is one of the most important components of almost any novel. It performs a variety of vital functions, illuminating character, adding pace and driving plot – but writing it badly is one of the quickest ways to pull readers right out of your story.
By badly, I mean inauthentically. Unrealistically. Writing dialogue that sounds nothing like real speech (or is simply not believable – on which more, later) is sure to inspire head-scratching at least, and wholesale abandonment of your novel at worst.
So, here are five tips for making sure your characters’ speech truly sparkles.
1. Mimic real speech patterns
Engage in a little active listening. By which I mean, go to your local coffee shop, supermarket or pub and… eavesdrop a bit. Pay attention to how real people talk, and you’ll quickly notice that speech is full of uncertainty, informalities and interruptions. People frequently forget what they’re saying and drift wildly off topic. They also allow emotions to overtake their ideas, often becoming less articulate as their feelings heighten.
You need to replicate this in your writing. While your characters should probably be more eloquent and less meandering than the average Tesco shopper (I’ll explain why in a minute), they also need to sound human.
Consider the difference between one old friend asking another “Would you like a cup of tea?” or “D’you want a cuppa?” To me, the second feels far more natural.
Using contractions is a key way to ensure your dialogue comes off as authentic (assuming you’re writing contemporary characters). True fact: I once abandoned a book I was partway through because every time a character should have said ‘don’t’, they said ‘do not’. It drove me to distraction.
Also, think about how different the following exchange would be if the two characters I’ve invented for it were taking polite turns to speak, instead of cutting across one another:
“That was a step too far, Alison.”
“Too far? Rubbish. I didn’t go far enough.”
“Careful, or you’ll leave me no choice but to – ”
“Fire me? You can’t. I quit!”
“Now see here, you can’t just – ”
“Goodbye, Roger. And good luck. I think you’ll need it.”
This back-of-an-envelope example hopefully demonstrates the point. Even with no dialogue tags or description, the rhythm of the conversation makes clear the power balance between these two people has just shifted. Alison is no longer prepared to put up with Roger’s nonsense, whatever it may be. Good for her, I say.
2. Strike a sensible balance
On the other hand, you can make your dialogue too realistic. If your characters spoke in precisely the way real people do, they’d bore your readers to tears. On the page, the sort of small talk most of us regularly engage in falls utterly flat – so avoid writing pointless chit-chat.
You can’t afford to include speech that doesn’t advance your readers’ understanding of your characters, help you establish setting or propel your plot. Craft dialogue that’s articulate and efficient enough to deliver against one of these objectives, but not so perfect it feels jarring or too on-the-nose.
3. Consider context
If you’re the right age to have watched the TV show Dawson’s Creek, you’ll remember the furore around its dialogue, too. The criticism thrown at its writers was that they had a crop of teenagers striding around Massachusetts using the sort of vocabulary you’d expect from mid-lifers with English Literature PhDs. It was derided as unrealistic, though that didn’t stop me tuning in…
Context is critical. My earlier point about contractions, for example, doesn’t stand if you’re writing a historical novel, or a high fantasy book where formal speech is standard. Aim for consistency within the world of your book. What sort of speech is considered ‘normal’ there?
Which brings us back to Dawson’s Creek – and the fact that its writers sort of… got away with it. Every character on the show spoke with a sophistication far beyond what could be considered believable. In the end, nobody’s hyper-articulate pontificating stood out.
4. Build conversations, line by line
This sounds obvious, but it’s easy to lose sight of. If you’re writing dialogue designed to deliver information or speed up the action in your story, the temptation to brain-dump can be strong!
But real conversations are reactive. One person says something, and then another responds to that thing.
Dialogue where there isn’t a close enough connection between one line and the next feels odd and inauthentic – like a series of random statements:
“Apple pie’s my favourite dessert.”
“I like chocolate fudge cake.”
Think of alternate speakers’ contributions to a conversation as like links in a chain. The overlap doesn’t have to be significant, but it needs to be there. For instance:
“Apple pie’s my favourite dessert.”
“More proof of your terrible taste. Chocolate fudge cake forever.”
5. Differentiate characters’ dialogue
Just because characters live in the same world, that doesn’t mean they should sound the same. Giving them distinct, individual voices will lend their conversations richness and authenticity, as well as show readers something of who they are.
Accent and dialect have a role to play here, but handle these with care. Rendering accents phonetically, for example, feels disrespectful (and typically looks daft).
Consider giving particular characters mannerisms or vocabulary that’s unique to them. Bonus points if this hints at where they might have grown up or how educated they are. A character who uses the word “champion” instead of saying “OK” is likely to be quite different from one who’d say “capital” or “superb”. So, play around and see what little tics could work well for you.
Want to hone your dialogue writing skills? Then why not join us on this autumn’s Novel Writing Course or Ultimate Novel Writing Programme. You’ll get expert, one-to-one support with developing your craft, creating a writing routine that works for you and building confidence in your work – as well as support with preparing to submit it to literary agents, if you choose or upgrade to the Ultimate Novel Writing Programme. The deadline for applications is 7 September – so get yours in now!