Dialogue is one of the best tools you’ve got. It reveals character, builds tension, and keeps the story moving. But making it feel natural and purposeful? That takes a little finesse.
In this guide, we’ll break down how to write sharp, believable dialogue that actually does something.
Let’s dive in.
The Five Modes of Fiction Writing
The five modes of fiction writing—description, action, dialogue, exposition, and thought—are the core techniques writers use to tell their stories. They shape how information is delivered and how readers experience the narrative.
Right now, we’re talking Dialogue. Want to learn about the rest? Check out our other posts:
Here you can find writing prompts based on the five modes of fiction writing.
Dialogue Should Have a Purpose
Here’s the thing about dialogue: it needs a job. If your characters are just chatting to fill space, your readers will feel it—and probably start skimming. In fiction, every line of dialogue should earn its keep.
Think about how we talk in real life. Even when we’re just catching up with a friend or ordering coffee, there’s a purpose behind it—connection, information, action. Now crank that up a notch for storytelling. In fiction, dialogue doesn’t just sound real—it needs to matter.
Great dialogue usually does at least one of three things (and the best lines do more than one):
- Moves the plot forward: Something shifts. A decision is made. A secret slips out. If your characters are chatting about the weather, make sure that storm is about to ruin the wedding or sink the boat.
- Reveals character: What people say—and what they don’t say—can tell us a ton. A joke, a lie, a hesitation? That’s gold. Use it to show who someone really is.
- Builds tension or conflict: People rarely agree on everything. Good dialogue has layers—subtext, friction, power dynamics. That little spark of disagreement? It’s what keeps a scene crackling.
On the flip side, bad dialogue is like empty calories. It doesn’t move, reveal, or stir anything up. It just kind of… sits there.
The bottom line? If a line of dialogue isn’t doing anything, it doesn’t belong. Cut it, sharpen it, or give it a reason to stay.
The Difference Between Written and Spoken Dialogue
At first glance, it might seem like written and spoken dialogue should be pretty much the same. I mean, people talking is people talking, right? Not quite.
Real-life conversations are messy. We pause, backtrack, interrupt each other, go off on tangents, say “uh” and “like” way too much, and sometimes trail off without ever finishing a—
You get the idea.
In actual conversations, a lot of meaning comes from how things are said—tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures. We rely on all that extra context to understand what someone means. So the words themselves? They don’t always need to be sharp or clear.
But in writing? You don’t get tone or body language (unless you describe it). The words have to carry the weight.
That’s why written dialogue needs to be tighter, cleaner, and more intentional. It should feel natural—but not be natural. You’re capturing the rhythm and energy of how people talk, while trimming out all the noise that would bog down the page.
So, what does that mean for you as a writer?
- Trim the fluff: Cut the filler words unless they serve a purpose (like showing a character’s nerves or hesitation).
- Keep it focused: Every line should do something—reveal a feeling, move the plot, hint at what’s not being said.
- Make it sound real without being too real: You’re not transcribing. You’re sculpting something that feels natural, but is way more polished.
At the end of the day, good written dialogue hits that sweet spot: it flows like real conversation sounds, just without all the mess that makes real conversation so chaotic.
Make Every Character Sound Like Themselves
One of the fastest ways to make your dialogue fall flat? Having every character talk the same. If your cast all sounds like copies of each other, readers won’t connect—and your scenes won’t pop.
But when each character has a distinct voice that matches who they are? That’s when dialogue starts to feel real. You want readers to recognize who’s speaking without having to check the dialogue tag. Let’s break down how to make that happen.
Personality Shapes How They Speak
A character’s voice should reflect who they are at their core. Confident? Hesitant? Snarky? Sweet? That personality should shine through in every word they say.
Examples:
- Blunt & Bold: “No. That’s dumb. Try something else.”
- Nervous Overthinker: “Um… I mean, maybe? Unless you think it’s a bad idea. Is it?”
- Sarcastic & Jaded: “Oh, perfect. Let’s definitely do that. What could possibly go wrong?”
Even without tags, you can feel who’s speaking—and that’s the goal.
Background and Life Experience Leave a Mark
Where someone’s from and what they’ve been through shapes how they talk. A rich academic isn’t going to sound like a street-smart teen. A soldier won’t speak like a sheltered librarian. It’s not just about vocabulary—it’s about worldview.
Examples:
- Privileged & Polished: “Honestly, this entire situation is beneath me.”
- Rough & Resourceful: “Nah, man. I’ve seen worse. We’ll figure it out.”
Keep in mind: You’re not writing stereotypes—you’re writing characters with lived experiences. Let that guide their voice.
Sentence Style Shows Personality
Not everyone talks the same way. Some characters speak in quick, clipped bursts. Others take their time, using longer, more thoughtful sentences.
Examples:
- Blunt & Efficient: “Door’s locked. Someone was here. Be ready.”
- Thoughtful & Expressive: “It feels like the whole place is holding its breath, waiting for something to break.”
The way a character structures their sentences—short vs. long, choppy vs. flowing—adds another layer to their voice. Keep it consistent, and it’ll make them feel even more real.
Add a Quirk (But Don’t Overdo It)
A well-placed speech quirk or go-to phrase can make a character instantly recognizable. Just use it with a light hand. If every line sounds like a catchphrase, it starts to feel cartoonish.
Examples:
- The old mentor who always begins with, “Kid, listen close…”
- The uptight scientist who avoids contractions: “I do not believe that is wise.”
- The surfer who starts every line with, “Dude…”
A little goes a long way—but when done right, it sticks.
The Tagless Test
Here’s a simple trick: take out the dialogue tags. Can you still tell who’s talking?
If the answer’s no, it’s time to tweak. Characters should be recognizable by their words alone—not just by who’s standing in the scene.
Bottom line: Give each character a voice that fits them—their personality, background, and inner world. When you nail that, dialogue stops being just talk. It becomes character.
Subtext – The Importance of What’s Not Being Said
Most people don’t speak in perfect honesty—and your characters shouldn’t either. In real life, we dodge, deflect, hint, and let emotions slip through cracks in our words. That’s where subtext lives.
Take this: someone says, “I’m fine,” while white-knuckling a coffee cup? Yeah, they’re not fine—and your reader picks up on that. That quiet disconnect between what’s said and what’s really felt? That’s the gold.
Subtext makes dialogue feel layered and real. It adds tension without anyone yelling, and emotion without a character needing to spell it out. Instead of telling readers exactly how someone feels, you show it through what’s left unsaid—those awkward pauses, loaded glances, or a too-casual “whatever.”
It also reflects how people actually communicate. We lie. We hold back. We struggle to say what we mean. Good dialogue leans into that messiness.
Whether it’s romantic tension, buried guilt, or anger hiding under politeness, subtext lets your readers feel the weight of what’s not being said—and that’s what keeps them hooked.
How to Format Dialogue
Clean formatting helps your readers follow the conversation without getting lost or distracted. So let’s go over the basics to make sure your dialogue looks polished and professional.
1. Quotation Marks = Someone’s Talking
This one’s simple: when a character speaks, wrap their words in double quotation marks.
Example:
“I don’t think this is a good idea,“ she said.
If the speech goes on for more than one paragraph? Keep the quotes open until the character actually stops talking. No need to close them after the first paragraph if they’re still going.
2. New Speaker = New Paragraph
Every time a different character speaks, start a new paragraph. This makes things way easier to follow.
Example:
“Where were you last night?“ Jake asked.
“I was at home,” Sarah replied.
“Are you sure about that?”
See? No confusion. You can tell who’s saying what without needing to tag every line.
3. Get Your Dialogue Tags Right
Dialogue tags—like he said or she asked—tell us who’s speaking. Here’s how to use them without tripping over commas or caps:
- If the tag comes after the dialogue, use a comma inside the quotation marks.
“We need to leave now,” she said. - If the tag comes before, use a comma before the quote and capitalize the first word inside.
She said, “We need to leave now.” - If the line ends with an action, use a period inside the quotes, then start a new sentence.
“We need to leave now.” She grabbed her bag and walked out.
4. Punctuation Lives Inside the Quotes
Periods and commas go inside the quotation marks—always.
Examples:
“It’s too late,” he said.
“I don’t believe you.” She crossed her arms.
Same goes for question marks and exclamation points if they’re part of what’s being said:
“Are you serious?” he asked.
“That’s amazing!” she shouted.
5. Thoughts Aren’t Spoken—So Don’t Quote Them
When a character’s thinking to themselves (not speaking out loud), skip the quotation marks. Use italics or just state the thought plainly.
Examples:
I can’t believe this is happening, she thought.
or
She couldn’t believe this was happening.
6. Interruptions and Pauses
Sometimes, a well-placed interruption or pause can make your dialogue feel more realistic and give it a bit of extra energy.
Use “…” for a pause.
Use “—” for a sharp cut-off or interruption.
Examples:
“Wait… are you serious?”
“I thought… never mind.”
“If you’d just listen—”
Just don’t overdo it—too many pauses or cut-offs can make your dialogue feel choppy or forced.
Bottom line: Format matters. Clean, clear dialogue helps your story flow—and keeps your readers locked in instead of flipping back to figure out who said what.
How to Use Dialogue Tags
Dialogue tags are little phrases—like he said or she asked—that let readers know who’s talking. They’re small, but they make a big difference in keeping conversations clear without pulling attention away from the actual dialogue.
The best ones? The classics: said and asked. They’re basically invisible on the page, which is exactly what you want most of the time.
Examples:
- “I don’t think this is a good idea,” he said.
- “Where were you last night?” she asked.
Let’s look at how to use them well—without getting in the way of the story.
1. Where to Place Dialogue Tags?
Dialogue tags can appear before, after, or in the middle of dialogue, depending on the flow of the sentence.
- Tag at the end: “We should leave soon,” she said.
- Tag at the beginning: She said, “I don’t think this is going to work.”
- Tag in the middle: “I never wanted this,” he said, “but you left me no choice.”
Placing the tag in the middle works best when breaking up longer lines of dialogue so they don’t feel too dense.
2. Avoid Overusing Fancy Tags
Many new writers try to replace said and asked with creative alternatives like exclaimed, murmured, commanded, interjected, opined, etc. Overusing fancy tags can make dialogue feel forced or melodramatic.
Overdone tags:
“I don’t believe you,” he exclaimed.
“Are you sure?” she inquired.
“You have to trust me!” he pleaded.
Better:
“I don’t believe you,” he said.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“You have to trust me!”
Said and asked will get you a long way. Sometimes, however, dialogue tags that convey tone or volume (e.g., whispered, shouted) can add clarity. Just don’t overdo it.
Example:
“What is he wearing?” she whispered.
3. Don’t Overuse Tags—Let the Dialogue Flow
If two characters are having a back-and-forth conversation, you don’t need a tag for every single line. Readers can follow the flow naturally.
Too many tags:
“Are you serious?” Jake asked.
“Yeah,” Lisa said. “Why?”
“Because that’s crazy,” Jake said.
“I don’t think so,” Lisa said.
Better:
“Are you serious?” Jake asked.
“Yeah,” Lisa said. “Why?”
“Because that’s crazy.”
“I don’t think so.”
Here, the tags are trimmed down, making the conversation more natural and readable.
Integrate Action Beats With Dialogue
Instead of constantly using dialogue tags, you can replace them with action beats—small descriptions of what your character is doing while they speak.
1. Action Beats Instead of “Said”
Rather than constantly using “he said” or “she said”, use an action to indicate the speaker.
With a tag:
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” she said.
With an action beat:
She crossed her arms. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
By showing her crossing her arms, the reader knows she’s the one speaking, and it also hints at her mood (defensive, frustrated, or doubtful).
2. Action Beats to Show Emotion Instead of Explaining It
Instead of using a tag like “she whispered” or “he shouted”, show the character’s physical responseto indicate tone and intensity.
With an unnecessary tag:
“Get down!” he shouted.
With an action beat:
He grabbed her arm and yanked her behind the crate. “Get down!”
Now the reader feels the urgency instead of just being told about it.
3. Breaking Up Long Dialogue with Action Beats
When a character speaks for more than one sentence, an action beat can break up the dialogue, making it flow more naturally.
Without a break:
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while. We can’t just keep running forever. Eventually, they’re going to find us, and when they do, we need a plan.”
With an action beat for better pacing:
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while.” She paced near the window, chewing on her lip. “We can’t just keep running forever. Eventually, they’re going to find us, and when they do, we need a plan.”
The action adds movement and tension, making the scene feel more alive.
4. Action Beats for Subtext and Hidden Emotions
Characters don’t always say exactly what they mean, and their body language can reveal hidden feelings.
With a plain tag:
“I’m fine,” she said.
With an action beat that adds subtext:
She avoided his gaze, fingers tightening around her coffee cup. “I’m fine.”
Now, the reader knows she’s not fine without needing to be told directly.
Tags, beats, and clean dialogue all work together. Mix them up, use them with intention, and your scenes will read smoother.
Key Takeaways
- Make Dialogue Do Something: Every line should move the plot, reveal character, or build tension. No dead weight.
- Write for the Page, Not Real Life: Real conversations are messy. Written dialogue should sound natural, but be clean, purposeful, and easy to follow.
- Give Each Character a Voice: Let personality, background, and mindset shape how each character speaks. No clones—everyone should sound unique.
- Use Subtext to Say More with Less: People don’t always speak plainly. Let silence, body language, and what’s left unsaid carry meaning.
- Format Matters: Use proper punctuation, spacing, and paragraph breaks so your dialogue reads smoothly.
- Balance Tags and Action Beats: “Said” is fine. Mix in action beats to show mood or movement, but don’t overdo either one.
