5 Unique Tips for Better Dialogue Writing
What do you think when you think of stories? Suspense? Twist? Conversations?
While no answer is wrong, one cannot deny the fact that the essence of any story resides in interesting conversations. In fact, if we talk about life, the same rule keeps the spark alive in relations. A good conversation is the hallmark of quality in stories and as well as life. Dialogue writing thus becomes a skill to learn when it comes to story writing. Imagine a story being described without any conversation? Would you be able to stay hooked?
Why Dialogues are Important?
5 Unique Tips For Dialogue Writing
Show settings and actions around
Don’t just describe random surroundings, but describe what the main character is seeing and thinking about. Eg: Character looking at a spider web and thinking.
2. Don’t make your character say exactly what they feel
Don't let your character speak every word out of their mind. Let their body language do the talking.
3. Evaluate the purpose of dialogue
Eg: A couple’s fight won’t be just about showing how distant they are, but should also be revealing something larger like a sudden realisation that their own preferences of choosing a partner were not clear enough
Or Main character comes to know about a major flaw which he/she couldn’t notice in the other person earlier.
Or The other person realises something new. It might be about changing demands with new phases of relationships.
4. Show clearly who is saying what.
Eg: “He didn’t sign the deal.” he said. “Oh, but you said he did?” she said
“he said”/ “she said” are distracting here. The dialogue could either have been better without these tags, or it could be written like this. Eg: “He didn't sign the deal” he looked outside the window in distance while making a smoke ring out of his ciggerate. “Oh, but you said he did?” Her hands stopped rubbing the foamy detergent to utensils and she looked at him trying to make an eye contact.
5. Stay true to your character
Read your dialogue out loud.
Simple & short is the key to a great dialogue writing.
Think how a character from educated but neuclear family will talk in comparison with someone less educated, but living in a joint family. Both characters' tone will differ to a great extent.
That’s all. You can apply these writing tips to take your dialogue writing to the next level. Once you know how to apply them, you are good to go.