Writing Dialogue That Feels Real

Let’s be honest—writing dialogue seems easy until you actually sit down to do it. Then suddenly every conversation sounds either painfully stiff or like a confusing jumble. Great dialogue does more than fill space—it reveals character, builds tension, and moves the plot forward.

So how do you write dialogue that feels real while still serving a purpose? Let's break it down together.

Why Dialogue Matters

Think of dialogue as your story’s heartbeat. It adds rhythm, voice, and life. Dialogue gives readers a front-row seat to character dynamics, emotion, and conflict. It’s one of the fastest ways to show (not tell) what’s really going on.

Compare these two examples:

❌ Telling:

Sarah was nervous about the secret she was keeping.

✅ Showing with Dialogue:

“If he finds out, I’m dead,” Sarah whispered, twisting her bracelet around her wrist.

Which one pulls you in more? Yup—the second one.

What Good Dialogue Should Do

Great dialogue doesn’t just mimic real speech—it condenses it, sharpens it, and gives it purpose. Here’s what to aim for:

• Reveal Character: The way someone speaks says everything—tone, vocabulary, rhythm, even what they don’t say.

• Advance the Plot: Dialogue should drive something forward—whether it’s a decision, a secret, or a shift in power.

• Build Tension: What’s unsaid can be just as powerful as what’s said. Think subtext, sarcasm, hesitation.

• Sound Natural (but Polished): It should feel real, but without all the “um’s,” small talk, and filler we use in real life.

How to Write Dialogue That Works

Let’s dive into the how with a few actionable tips you can use right now:

1. Keep It Snappy

Avoid long, rambling speeches (unless that’s the point). Dialogue works best when it’s tight and to the point.

Example:

“You knew?”
“I guessed.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“Would you have listened?”

Notice how much tension lives in just a few lines.

2. Use Interruptions and Incomplete Sentences

People rarely speak in perfect grammar. Let your characters interrupt each other, trail off, or change direction mid-thought.

Example:

“I just think—”
“No, you don’t. You never think, that’s the problem.”

It feels real, right? That’s because it mirrors the way people speak under pressure.

3. Let the Words Reflect Who They Are

A scholar won’t speak like a street thief. A nervous teen won’t sound like a war general. Use vocabulary, sentence length, and slang to make voices distinct.

Example (from Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo):
Jesper: “No mourners, no funerals.”
That line drips with attitude, confidence, and a hint of danger—all traits of Jesper’s character.

4. Avoid the Info Dump

Resist using dialogue to awkwardly explain backstory. If your character wouldn’t naturally say it, don’t force it.

❌ Don’t do this:

“As you know, I’ve been training in the royal guard for 12 years ever since my father died in that mysterious fire.”

✅ Do this instead:

“Twelve years in that cursed uniform, and I still can’t forget the fire.”

See the difference? One feels like a lecture. The other sounds like someone actually talking.

5. Read It Out Loud

Seriously. This is the easiest trick in the book. Reading your dialogue out loud helps you catch anything clunky or unnatural. If it sounds awkward to your ears, your readers will feel it too.

Final Thoughts

Writing good dialogue takes practice—but when it clicks, it can make your entire story come alive. Listen to conversations around you. Read your favorite books with a highlighter and study how the best authors do it. Then practice writing scenes with nothing but dialogue. You’ll be surprised how much you can say with just words—and how much more you can say between the lines.

You’ve got this. Keep writing. Keep listening. And don’t be afraid to cut a line if it doesn’t serve the story.