Writing Natural Dialogue That Flows

The Art of Conversation on Paper

Good dialogue does three things simultaneously: reveals character, advances plot, and sounds natural. It's one of the most challenging aspects of writing because real speech and fictional dialogue serve different purposes.

1. Listen to Real Conversations

Spend time listening to how people actually talk:

• Interruptions: People cut each other off
• Incomplete thoughts: We don't always finish sentences
• Subtext: We rarely say exactly what we mean
• Repetition: We repeat words and phrases
• Filler words: "Um," "well," "you know"

2. Each Character Needs a Unique Voice

• Vocabulary: Education, background, and profession affect word choice
• Sentence length: Some speak in short bursts, others in long speeches
• Formality level: Casual vs. formal speech patterns
• Cultural background: Regional expressions and speech patterns
• Age and generation: Different generations use different slang

3. Dialogue Tags and Action

Use tags and actions to enhance, not overwhelm:

• "Said" is invisible: Don't avoid it for fancy alternatives
• Action beats: Show what characters do while speaking
• Emotional context: Let dialogue show emotion, not tags
• Pacing: Use pauses and actions to control rhythm

4. Subtext: What's Really Being Said

The best dialogue operates on multiple levels:

• Surface meaning: What the words literally say
• Emotional subtext: What the speaker feels
• Hidden agenda: What they're trying to accomplish
• Reader understanding: What the audience picks up

Common Dialogue Mistakes

• Info-dumping: Characters explaining things they already know
• Too formal: Everyone sounds like they're giving speeches
• No conflict: Conversations without tension are boring
• Identical voices: All characters sound the same
• Overwriting: Too many adverbs and fancy dialogue tags