Ali Luke’s guest column,10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Dialogue, on Write To Done made me reflect on a few tips that I learned over the years about dialogue, going beyond the 10 easy ways:
1. The best dialogue reflects what’s not being said.
2. In every conversation, ask yourself: Who has the power? Who wants to know something? Who is withholding information—and why?
3. Make use of avoidance, such as a character who changes the subject or backs out when the conversation gets difficult or becomes emotionally charged.
4. Give one of the speakers a hidden agenda.
5. Dialogue can reveal class or a lack of education. It can reveal attitude, prejudices and fears. Some characters are afraid to swear, or recoil when they hear swearing. Characters who are unsure of themselves may speak hesitantly. Others may repeat words or phrases, as if talking to a child. Most people use contractions, but when they are angry, they don’t. (as in “I do not want to go.”)
Why do we use dialogue? Partially to give information (while avoiding what’s called the “As you know, Bob…” information dump) and move the story forward, but more importantly, to show how our characters think and interact, good and bad.
These pointers really do go beyond the basics, and they make all the difference between boring dialogue, or tense dialogue that makes the reader sit up and take notice..
Thanks for the great reminders, Linda!
Thanks… writing them out was a good refresher course for myself!
I think in nearly every conversation, one person wants something. That’s such a useful point to keep in mind.