Dialogue ,
Writing authentic dialogue: five top tips
By Laura Starkey
Dialogue is one of the most important components of almost any novel. It performs a variety of vital functions, illuminating character, adding pace and driving plot – but writing it badly is one of the quickest ways to pull readers right out of your story.
By badly, I mean inauthentically. Unrealistically. Writing dialogue that sounds nothing like real speech (or is simply not believable – on which more, later) is sure to inspire head-scratching at least, and wholesale abandonment of your novel at worst.
So, here are five tips for making sure your characters’ speech truly sparkles.
1. Mimic real speech patterns
Engage in a little active listening. By which I mean, go to your local coffee shop, supermarket or pub and… eavesdrop a bit. Pay attention to how real people talk, and you’ll quickly notice that speech is full of uncertainty, informalities and interruptions. People frequently forget what they’re saying and drift wildly off topic. They also allow emotions to overtake their ideas, often becoming less articulate as their feelings heighten.
You need to replicate this in your writing. While your characters should probably be more eloquent and less meandering than the average Tesco shopper (I’ll explain why in a minute), they also need to sound human.
Consider the difference between one old friend asking another “Would you like a cup of tea?” or “D’you want a cuppa?” To me, the second feels far more natural.
Using contractions is a key way to ensure your dialogue comes off as authentic (assuming you’re writing contemporary characters). True fact: I once abandoned a book I was partway through because every time a character should have said ‘don’t’, they said ‘do not’. It drove me to distraction.
Also, think about how different the following exchange would be if the two characters I’ve invented for it were taking polite turns to speak, instead of cutting across one another:
“That was a step too far, Alison.”
“Too far? Rubbish. I didn’t go far enough.”
“Careful, or you’ll leave me no choice but to – ”
“Fire me? You can’t. I quit!”
“Now see here, you can’t just – ”
“Goodbye, Roger. And good luck. I think you’ll need it.”
This back-of-an-envelope example hopefully demonstrates the point. Even with no dialogue tags or description, the rhythm of the conversation makes clear the power balance between these two people has just shifted. Alison is no longer prepared to put up with Roger’s nonsense, whatever it may be. Good for her, I say.
2. Strike a sensible balance
On the other hand, you can make your dialogue too realistic. If your characters spoke in precisely the way real people do, they’d bore your readers to tears. On the page, the sort of small talk most of us regularly engage in falls utterly flat – so avoid writing pointless chit-chat.
You can’t afford to include speech that doesn’t advance your readers’ understanding of your characters, help you establish setting or propel your plot. Craft dialogue that’s articulate and efficient enough to deliver against one of these objectives, but not so perfect it feels jarring or too on-the-nose.
3. Consider context
If you’re the right age to have watched the TV show Dawson’s Creek, you’ll remember the furore around its dialogue, too. The criticism thrown at its writers was that they had a crop of teenagers striding around Massachusetts using the sort of vocabulary you’d expect from mid-lifers with English Literature PhDs. It was derided as unrealistic, though that didn’t stop me tuning in…
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By Laura Starkey
About the author
Laura Starkey is part of the Marketing team at Jericho Writers. She lives in a small village in the West Midlands with her family, her constantly expanding book collection and a mini menagerie of pets. A former teacher, copywriter and digital content designer, she is the author of four romantic comedies including Love Off Script and The Spare Room, which was a top 10 Amazon bestseller in both the UK and Australia in 2024.