Writing Natural Dialogue: The Do’s and Don’ts
- Katie Zeliger
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Dialogue is the heartbeat of a story. It reveals character, drives the plot, and immerses readers in your world. But writing dialogue that feels natural yet engaging is a tricky balancing act. Done well, it makes characters come alive; done poorly, it can make them feel robotic or unrealistic. So, let’s break down the do’s and don’ts of writing compelling dialogue.
Do: Make Dialogue Sound Realistic Without Being Boring
Realistic dialogue doesn’t mean transcribing everyday conversations word for word. People say "um," "like," and go off on tangents in real life, but that doesn’t make for compelling storytelling. The goal is to capture the essence of real speech while keeping it sharp and purposeful.
How to Do It:
Keep it concise. Trim the fluff to maintain momentum.
Use contractions and natural phrasing. "I cannot believe you did that" sounds stiff, while "I can’t believe you did that" feels more natural.
Make characters sound different. A teenager, a professor, and a detective shouldn’t speak the same way.
Don’t: Overload Dialogue with Exposition or Clichés
Bad dialogue often falls into the traps of over-explaining or relying on forced tropes. If characters tell each other things they already know just to inform the reader, it feels unnatural.
Avoid These Pitfalls:
Info-dumping: "As you know, Bob, we’ve been partners for ten years, and ever since the Johnson case, you’ve been reckless."
Clichéd lines: "There’s no time to explain! Just trust me!"
Perfect grammar: Unless your character is meant to be extremely formal, overly polished speech can sound robotic.
Using Subtext to Add Layers of Meaning
Great dialogue isn’t just about what’s said, but what isn’t. Subtext—when characters mean more than their words—creates intrigue and adds emotional depth.
Ways to Add Subtext:
Contrast words and actions. A character saying, "I’m fine," while gripping the edge of a table tells us they’re anything but fine.
Leave things unsaid. People don’t always express exactly what they mean. A character might deflect or change the subject instead of admitting something painful.
Use tension. If two characters dislike each other but are forced to work together, let their dialogue simmer with hidden resentment.
Quick Exercise to Strengthen Your Dialogue
Want to test your dialogue skills? Try this:
Write a conversation between two characters who both want something different. No long speeches—just back-and-forth tension.
Read it aloud. Does it sound natural? Would a real person say it?
Cut 20% of the words. Does it still convey the same meaning, but sharper?
Mastering dialogue takes practice, but when done right, it makes your characters and story unforgettable. Happy writing!
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