‘How are you?’ [Mr. Holmes] said cordially, gripping my hand with a strength for which I should hardly have given him credit. ‘You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.’

‘How on earth did you know that?’ I asked in astonishment.

‘Never mind,’ said he, chuckling to himself. ‘The question now is about hemoglobin. No doubt you see the significance of this discovery of mine?’

‘It is interesting, chemically, no doubt,’ I answered, ‘but practically—’

‘Why, man, it is the most practical medico-legal discovery for years. Don’t you see that it gives us an infallible test for blood stains? Come over here now!’

“A Study in Scarlet” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Dialogue is everything.

In this initial glimpse of the famous Sherlock Holmes, we learn so much about his character and his future relationship with Watson. Can you see the details that paint the picture in your head? 

Without effective dialogue, Sherlock Holmes would not be famous. Great books would not be remembered. Readers would be snoozing after the first few pages. 

There is a sad lack of effective dialogue in today’s books. I dare you to open up a book from this year and compare it to something like “A Study in Scarlet.” It’s been a long while since a modern book has wowed me with dialogue. Authors try so hard to make flashy, unique plots that they neglect putting effort into characters and dialogue. 

But when you read a book with stellar dialogue, it stands out—so let’s learn how to master this subtle but noble art! 

The Art of Natural Dialogue 

The number one thing to keep in mind when creating effective dialogue is to keep it natural. If your dialogue isn’t believable, that’s where its effectiveness ends. Surprisingly, this first step is where most authors fail. Some people have a gift for natural dialogue, while others have to write, rewrite, read it aloud, and rewrite it again before it sounds right. Don’t assume that just because the dialogue sounds good in your head means it’s actually good. 

Conversations in real life are complicated. People talk over each other, intentions are misunderstood, and words have double meanings. Look back at the example from “A Study in Scarlet” and take note of the nuances—it’s these that bring the dialogue to life! And notice that it’s not only the dialogue that’s important, but the action happening around it.

Take a look at this example from Pride and Prejudice, where Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are trying to figure each other out early on in the novel:

‘There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil—a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.’

‘And your defect is to hate everybody.’

‘And yours,’ he replied with a smile, ‘is willfully to misunderstand them.’

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Even in just a few lines, you get a sense of the playfulness of the conversation. Of course, the language is a bit different than what we use today, but it still feels natural and witty, fitting the characters perfectly. 

So, how do you tell if your dialogue is natural? Try reading it out loud. Then read it to someone else and see how it sounds to them. Make sure you have some kind of tried and true system of checking how natural your dialogue is, because if you don’t master this, your dialogue won’t fulfil its purpose.

Character-Driven Dialogue

You know how I always say that characters are sadly neglected nowadays? One of the culprits is the lack of good dialogue. Because yes, dialogue is an important part of conveying who a character is, developing their arc, and progressing their relationships throughout the story. Take this simple example from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: 

‘Sorry, Jack. I’m not going to be your leverage.’

Will Turner, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Will Turner utters this line after suddenly knocking out Jack Sparrow in the middle of executing their plan. This line might seem insignificant, but consider if Will would have hit Jack and walked away. The scene would tell us practically nothing. But the line reveals something important to us: Will is changing. He begins the movie as a strict rule-follower who detests pirates. Then, he makes a deal with a pirate. Now, he’s betraying others to look out for himself and accomplish his goals, acting just like a pirate would.

Speech can define a character on a more superficial level as well. Giving characters distinct ways of speaking not only lessens the need for speaker tags (like “he said,” “she exclaimed,” etc.) but also gives us insight into a character’s personality and background. Does your character talk quietly, only contributing their opinion when pressed? Do they chatter endlessly? Do they have an accent or a particular word or phrase they say often? Don’t overdo a character’s voice so it becomes annoying to read, but consider how you can distinguish your characters’ voices and so add more depth to your book.

Advancing Plot and Theme 

Dialogue is one of the best ways to portray your theme and develop your plot. Remember what I said about the Will Turner dialogue snippet? It not only reveals his character but hints at the whole theme of the movie. It’s later stated out loud by Governor Swann: 

‘Perhaps, on the rare occasion, pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy. Piracy itself can be the right course.’

Governor Swann, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

While you shouldn’t have a character say, “The lesson I learned is. . .”, weaving the theme naturally into the dialogue like this is an excellent way to drive the point home to your reader. 

When it comes to plot, dialogue is a great way to prevent info-dumping exposition. Just remember, it is still very possible to “tell” and not “show” in dialogue. Exposition still must be natural.

Keeping with the Pirates theme, take a look at this clip of the conversation between Elizabeth (one of the main characters) and Barbossa (the main antagonist) the first time they meet.

This scene is mostly dialogue, but it’s riveting, full of tension, reveals characteristics about Elizabeth and Barbossa, and changes the course of the entire story. Because of Elizabeth’s control over the pirate’s medallion and her lie about her last name, Barbossa takes Elizabeth and sets the whole plot in motion. Don’t underestimate the driving power of a good conversation!

If You Practise Nothing Else, Practise Dialogue! 

Hopefully, by now, you’ve realised just how powerful dialogue is. It’s one of the smallest, yet most effective tools you can use in your stories. Sadly, most people ignore it, but you don’t have to make that same mistake. 

Practise dialogue. Read your characters’ conversations out loud. See how you can use the spoken word to slowly reveal the theme, push the plot forward, and make your characters more realistic. Do that, and you have the makings of a great story on your hands. 

Have questions about dialogue? Or maybe an example of great dialogue you often think of? Let me know in the comments! And if you’re wondering whether your dialogue is living up to its full potential, contact me about my book critique services! My rates start at just $10 for flash fiction and story excerpts. 

Happy writing!
—E.J.

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Photo by Eliott Reyna on Unsplash