3 Things Good Dialogue Accomplishes
- Bair Klos
- Jul 31, 2020
- 3 min read
When writing dialogue, does it ever come across as awkward and clumsy, or downright unnatural? Are you unsure whether or not you should keep a spoken line of dialogue? Or uncertain whether or not it has any real purpose?
If you're struggling to write dialogue, you're not alone.
Admittedly, there have been times where I have avoided writing dialogue altogether because I hated having to write it, as it always felt clunky and weird. I never knew why it always came across off, until I learned that when it comes to dialogue, and good dialogue at that, it should have a cadence, a good rhythm that it should accomplish three things. If it doesn't, you should either rework it or cut it entirely.
So while I'll keep this blog post short and sweet, by the end of this post, you'll be able to write natural dialogue with intention and real purpose.
Here are 3 Things Good Dialogue Should Accomplish.
1. It should reveal and define your characters.
How a character speaks should show what kind of person they are. It should reflect a character's personality, mood, education, gender, age, race, socio-economic status, and profession.
So knowing your characters inside and out before ever having them sit down and conversing with each other is crucial, because one line of dialogue that rings clear and true can reveal character in a way that pages of description cannot.
2. It should set the mood or create suspense.
As the mood and tension shifts and changes in a scene or chapter, a character's dialogue should reflect that.
So don't forget that a character's dialogue should adjust as their mood or situation changes and that it can also reflect an internal struggle.
For example, if a character is fighting, their dialogue should be short and clipped; their voices urgent and ever-rising as the fight becomes fiercer. Or if they're depressed, their tone of voice is soft and somber, their voice distant or deaf in their own ears.
So the usage of narration and dialogue together can and should help set the scene, as this can also help with suspense.
Remember: Not only can a reader's emotion be sparked with a few words, but that action and dialogue are the catalysts that propel a story forward.
3. It should move your story forward.
A single line of dialogue can completely change the direction of the story. For example: "I know what to do... I'm going to write a letter to the King."
If what is being spoken doesn't help move your story forward or reveal anything about your characters, cut it. It's not doing you any good and is just extra filler you most certainly do not need.
*Pro-tip: While writing dialogue, be as concise as possible. Get rid of any unnecessary or filler words that are clogging your sentences.
And if you don't know whether your dialogue is realistic or not, either have your computer read it aloud for you, read it aloud yourself, or have someone like your writing buddy or critique partner read it over for you.
I hoped this helped! And that you keep these in mind next time you go sit down to write. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!
See you in the next blog,
A hui hou~
—Bair✍︎
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