How Can I Write Better Dialogue?
Dialogue is the heartbeat of your manuscript. Beyond just relaying information, great dialogue reveals character, builds tension, and moves your plot forward without the need for heavy exposition. At selfpublishing.com, we recommend mastering these five core techniques to ensure your characters sound authentic and engaging.
1. Show, Don’t Tell Through Dialogue
Don’t have your characters state their emotions directly. Use their word choice and subtext to "show" the reader how they feel.
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Before (Telling): "I am very angry that you forgot my birthday," Sarah said.
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After (Showing): Sarah slammed her mug onto the counter. "I didn't realize the calendar was optional this year."
2. Give Each Character a Distinct Voice
Every character should have a unique "verbal fingerprint" based on their background, education, and personality. If you remove the dialogue tags, a reader should still be able to tell who is speaking.
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Tip: Vary sentence length. A nervous character might use short, clipped sentences, while a confident or academic character might use longer, flowing descriptions.
3. Use Dialogue Tags Effectively
The primary job of a dialogue tag is to tell the reader who is speaking without distracting them.
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Stick to "Said" and "Asked": These are "invisible" tags that don't pull the reader out of the story.
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Use Action Beats: Instead of using an adverb (e.g., he said angrily), use an action to show the emotion.
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Example: "We're done here." Mark grabbed his coat and headed for the door.
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4. Avoid "Info-Dumping"
"As you know, Bob" dialogue occurs when characters tell each other things they both already know just for the benefit of the reader. It feels forced and unrealistic.
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Instead: Reveal information naturally through conflict or necessity. If two characters are experts, they should speak like experts, not like they are explaining a concept to a child.
5. Read Your Dialogue Aloud
The "Cringe Test" is the most effective editing tool. If you read a line of dialogue out loud and it feels clunky or like something a human would never say, it needs a rewrite.
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Before: "It is imperative that we arrive at the destination before the sun has set below the horizon."
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After: "We have to get there before dark."
Additional Resources
If you are looking for more advanced techniques, check out our selfpublishing.com Blog for deep dives into fiction craft.