Good dialogue can make or break your novel. It's the fastest way to reveal character, advance plot, and create that elusive quality readers call "voice." Yet many writers struggle to make their characters sound like real people rather than awkward robots.
What Makes Dialogue Feel Real?
Real conversation isn't perfect. People interrupt each other, trail off mid-sentence, use contractions, and rarely speak in complete, grammatically correct sentences. They also:
Give Each Character a Unique Voice
Every character should be identifiable by their speech patterns alone:
The Professor: "I must respectfully disagree with your assessment of the situation."
The Teenager: "That's literally the worst idea ever, like, seriously."
The Southerner: "Well, I reckon that dog won't hunt."
Consider these elements:
Read Your Dialogue Aloud
This is non-negotiable. If you can't say it naturally, your readers won't believe it. Listen for:
Use Subtext Effectively
The best dialogue happens beneath the surface:
Surface level:
"How was work?"
"Fine."
With subtext:
"How was work?" Sarah asked, not looking up from her magazine.
"Fine." Mike dropped his keys louder than necessary.
The real conversation is about their relationship, not his workday.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
1. Dialogue that's too "on the nose":
"I'm angry because you forgot our anniversary!"
Better: "Enjoy your dinner. I'm sure it was important."
2. Using dialogue for exposition:
"As you know, Bob, we've been married for fifteen years..."
Nobody talks like this. Find subtler ways to convey information.
3. Perfect grammar in casual speech:
"I am going to the store. Would you like anything?"
More realistic: "Going to the store—need anything?"
4. Every character sounding the same:
Give each person distinct speech patterns and vocabulary.
Master the Art of Interruption
Real people interrupt each other:
"I think we should—"
"—go left instead of right, yeah, I agree."
"The thing about relationships is that you have to—"
"Stop. Just stop talking."
Use em dashes (—) for interruptions and ellipses (...) for trailing off.
Action and Dialogue Tags
Don't overuse "said." But don't avoid it either—it's invisible to readers. Instead, mix in action:
"I don't believe you." Maria crossed her arms.
"Why would I lie?" He couldn't meet her eyes.
"Because that's what you do."
The actions tell us as much as the words.
Dialogue Formatting Rules
Practice Exercise
Eavesdrop ethically—listen to conversations in coffee shops, on buses, in waiting rooms. Notice:
Then practice writing the same conversation in different ways:
1. Formal/polite version
2. Angry version
3. Rushed version
4. Between different types of characters
The Secret Ingredient
The best dialogue serves multiple purposes simultaneously:
When your dialogue accomplishes several of these at once, you've mastered the craft.
Remember: People don't just exchange information when they talk—they reveal who they are, what they want, and what they're afraid of. Make every line count.