Nothing pulls a reader into a story faster than great dialogue. It brings characters to life, moves the plot forward, and creates emotional depth. But nothing kills immersion faster than dialogue that feels forced, unnatural, or—worst of all—boring.
Many new writers struggle with dialogue, and there’s one mistake that stands out above all others. We’ll get to that soon, but first, let’s look at what makes dialogue work—and what can make it fall flat.
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What Makes Dialogue Feel Real?
Great dialogue isn’t just about mimicking real speech. If you wrote exactly how people talk in real life, your pages would be filled with “ums,” half-finished sentences, and pointless small talk. Instead, effective dialogue captures the essence of real speech while cutting the fluff.
Key Traits of Realistic Dialogue
- Natural rhythm: It flows like real conversation, without sounding robotic.
- Subtext: What’s left unsaid is often as important as what’s spoken.
- Distinct character voices: No two characters should sound the same.
- Purpose: Every line of dialogue should serve a function—revealing character, advancing the plot, or setting the tone.
The #1 Mistake New Writers Make with Dialogue
The most common mistake new writers make? Exposition dumping through dialogue.
Also known as “As You Know, Bob” syndrome, this happens when characters explain things they already know just to inform the reader. It feels unnatural and clunky.
Example of bad exposition:
Lisa sighed. “As you know, Mark, we’ve been best friends since third grade, and your father, the town’s most powerful lawyer, has always disapproved of our friendship.”
Real people don’t talk like this! Mark already knows they’ve been friends since childhood—there’s no reason for Lisa to say it.
How to Fix It
- Reveal information naturally. Let details emerge through action and implication, not forced dialogue.
- Use conflict. People bring up the past when it’s relevant to an argument or situation.
- Trust your reader. You don’t have to spell everything out.
Better example:
Lisa crossed her arms. “Your dad never liked me, huh?”
Mark rubbed the back of his neck. “He thinks I need ‘better influences.’”
Lisa scoffed. “Right. Because we got detention in third grade?”
This version feels more natural. The information is there, but it unfolds organically.
How to Make Your Dialogue Stronger
Cut the Fluff
Real-life conversations are filled with pleasantries and small talk. In fiction, these bog down the pacing.
Weak dialogue:
“Hey, how are you?”
“I’m good, how about you?”
“Can’t complain.”
Unless small talk is building tension or revealing character, cut it.
Give Each Character a Unique Voice
People speak differently based on background, personality, and life experiences. Your characters should too.
Example:
A professor might say, “That hypothesis lacks empirical support.”
A teenage rebel might say, “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Use Action and Body Language
Dialogue isn’t just words. Real people express themselves through tone, gestures, and silence.
Example:
Instead of:
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said.
Try:
She turned away, arms crossed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
The second version adds depth without extra words.
Let Characters Talk Over Each Other
Real conversations aren’t perfectly structured. People interrupt, talk over each other, and trail off.
Example:
“I just think—”
“No, you don’t!”
Read Your Dialogue Out Loud
If it sounds unnatural when spoken, it will feel unnatural on the page. Reading aloud helps identify awkward phrasing.
Common Dialogue Mistakes to Avoid
Too Many Dialogue Tags
Writers often overuse dialogue tags like “he said” or “she exclaimed.” Too many can make dialogue feel clunky.
Example of overuse:
“I can’t believe you did that!” she exclaimed.
“Why not?” he questioned.
“Because it was reckless!” she shouted.
Better:
“I can’t believe you did that!”
“Why not?”
“Because it was reckless!”
Readers can follow the conversation without excess tags.
Avoiding “Said” Too Much
Some writers fear using “said” too often, replacing it with fancy alternatives like “he proclaimed” or “she uttered.” This can feel forced.
“Said” is nearly invisible to readers, so don’t be afraid to use it.
Overuse of Accents or Slang
Too much phonetic spelling or slang can make dialogue hard to read.
Hard to read: “Ah dunno whatchu talkin’ ‘bout, mate.”
Better: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
A little flavor is fine, but keep it readable.
Making Dialogue Work for Your Story
Great dialogue isn’t just about sounding real—it’s about feeling authentic to your characters, your world, and your story. Avoid exposition dumps, cut the fluff, and give each character a distinct voice. With practice, your dialogue will leap off the page and keep readers hooked.
