Novel writing ,
Dialogue Prompts To Kickstart Your Creativity
By Neil Chase
Dialogue prompts, and writing exercises in general, are an excellent way for writers to get their creative juices flowing.
They provide a starting point and inspiration for writing conversational dialogue between two or more characters in your novel or short story.
In this article, we will discuss 45 dialogue writing prompts that you can use in your story; whether you’ve just started writing or don’t know how to start your final scene.
What Are Dialogue Prompts?
Dialogue prompts are excellent for writers looking to improve their dialogue skills.
With dialogue prompts, writers are given a specific situation or scenario to write about, helping them to focus their dialogue and create more natural speech.
Additionally, dialogue prompts can help writers to practice different dialogue styles and experiment with different voices for their characters.
They can consist of a single line, or contain the opening of a conversation, and each provides a strong idea that will spark inspiration.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, dialogue prompts are a great way to improve your dialogue writing!
Tips For Using Dialogue Prompts
Writing dialogue can be one of the most challenging aspects of creating a short story or novel. After all, how do you capture the way people actually speak?
You can quickly improve your dialogue-writing skills with a few simple tips:
Pay Attention To The Way People Talk In Real Life
Notice the rhythm of their speech and how they use inflection to emphasise specific words. Then, when it’s time to write dialogue, try to capture that same natural rhythm.
Keep Your Dialogue Brief And To The Point
People rarely speak in long, drawn-out speeches, so avoid writing dialogue that sounds unnatural.
Make Sure Your Dialogue Matches Your Genre
If you’re writing a romance, for example, your dialogue should contain some love and passion.
On the other hand, if you’re writing a thriller, your dialogue should be full of tension and suspense.
Matching your dialogue to your story’s genre helps set the tone for your story and engages your readers.
Many writers find that trying dialogue exercises, such as using writing prompts, helps them write a new story.
Experiment with them – there’s no wrong way to use a prompt!
45 Dialogue Prompts To Jumpstart Your Writing
- “I’m going to give you ten seconds to pick that shirt up off the floor.”
- “How did you last only five days at that job?”
- “I’ve had it with this guinea pig! Greg, get over here!”
- “Things haven’t been right between us since Thailand. You can’t say you haven’t felt the same.”
- “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: This isn’t what I signed up for!”
- “You’re not listening to me. Did you ever really care?”
- “It’s time you loosen up and have some fun for once! Let’s go roller skating!”
- “I don’t know why you keep on denying that we need help with this project.”
- “You are supposed to be my best friend, but you’re not holding up your end of the bargain.”
- “You don’t think I know what you’re doing? I see you sneak out at night.”
- “I’m tired of being the only one who takes this seriously. Is everything a joke?”
- “You think I’m being unreasonable? You should listen to yourself some time!”
- “What makes you think I don’t understand what’s happening here?”
- “The dog or me. Your choice.”
- “It’s time for a change – and it needs to start with our family.”
- “I can’t believe we made it. What were we thinking?”
- “It feels like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment.”
- “I don’t think I can ever get enough of you, no matter how much time we spend together.”
- “Don’t turn around – I’m warning you!”
- “It’s too late for us now. We’re all going to die.”
- “My world changed when you walked into it – and I’ll never be the same again.”
- “Don’t move… I can feel your fear from here.”
- “I can’t do that! It’d be like trying to say ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ three times fast!”
- “I know what you did. And you won’t go unpunished.”
- “I’m surrounded by the most ridiculous people in the world. What am I going to do with all of you?”
- “The only way out is through me…”
- “Didn’t I tell you not to touch that button? Now, look what you’ve done!”
- “I bet you I can get to the top of this mountain before you can – what do ya say?”
- “Let’s all take a break and come back to this later. Agreed?”
- “This isn’t the world I remember. What happened here?”
- “And this is where they found the body? That can’t be right!”
- “We don’t have much time. We need to get out of here now!”
- “We’ve been searching for this land for so long – but now that we’re here, what do we do next?”
- “Do you think we’ll ever make it out of this forest alive?”
- “The fate of our kingdom rests on that diamond. Where did you hide it?”
- “We’re in over our heads – but it’s okay, I have a plan!”
- “I can’t believe we have to stay late! How are we supposed to get out of here?”
- “Well, here’s the bad news. We need to find £1000, and fast. Any ideas?”
- “Is anyone else as bored as I am?… Ooh, I know! Let’s get the Ouija board.”
- “I’m so sick of being cooped up. Want to take a drive?”
- “You won’t believe what happened to me today.”
- “Did you hear that strange noise? We should check it out.”
- “Let’s make a pact – no matter what happens, we’ll always be there for each other.”
- “You will not believe the dream I had last night! You were in it, but it was terrifying.”
- “Words cannot describe the beauty of this place. I’ve never seen anything like it!”
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The 5 Elements Of Dialogue?
Dialogue includes the following elements: the speaker (who is speaking?); tone & mood (how does the speaker sound when they’re speaking?); content (what is the dialogue about?); interaction: (how do other characters respond to the dialogue?); and setting (where does the dialogue take place, and what environment is it taking place in?)
How Do You Write Compelling Dialogue?
You can write great dialogue by avoiding long speeches, using dialogue to reveal character and advance the story’s plot, and using it to create tension and conflict in your story. And by using these prompts, of course!
Using Dialogue Writing Prompts
Creative dialogue writing prompts are a great way to jumpstart your story ideas and your writing.
They can help you get out of a rut and start writing, push through writer’s block, or provide a new challenge to keep your creative writing fresh.
By mixing up your dialogue, you can also create more engaging and believable characters. So, why wait? Try some dialogue prompts and get writing!
By Neil Chase
About the author
Neil Chase is a story and writing coach, award-winning screenwriter, actor, and author of the horror-western novel, Iron Dogs. Neil has won over 100 international awards for his writing and filmmaking, including the prestigious FilmMaker’s International Screenwriting Grand Prize Award & the ScreamFest Best Screenplay Award. His directorial-debut feature film, Spin The Wheel, is currently in post-production. Neil believes that all writers have the potential to create great work. His passion is helping writers find their voice and develop their skills so that they can create stories that are both entertaining and meaningful. For more on Neil, check out his website and Instagram for tips and inspiration!
