Dialogue in writing should feel like a real conversation—not a robotic exchange of perfectly structured sentences. People interrupt each other, trail off, change topics midway, and don’t always finish their sentences.
Here’s how to make your dialogue sound natural and engaging:
✅ Do’s
✔ Make it flow naturally – Write like people actually talk, not like they’re reading from a script.
✔ Use contractions – "I’m" instead of "I am," "don’t" instead of "do not."
✔ Let characters interrupt each other – People don’t always wait for their turn to speak.
✔ Add personality – How a character talks should reflect who they are.
✔ Use incomplete sentences – People don’t always finish their thoughts.
✔ Include subtext – What they don’t say is just as important.
✔ Vary sentence lengths – Some responses are short and snappy, others are rambling.
❌ Don’ts
✖ Avoid robotic, perfect grammar – No one speaks in textbook English.
✖ Don’t over-explain through dialogue – People don’t talk in full info-dumps.
✖ No forced exposition – "As you know, Mark, we’ve been friends since childhood!"
✖ Avoid long, uninterrupted speeches – Keep exchanges punchy.
✖ Don’t make everyone sound the same – Each character should have their own way of talking.
Example of a Blunt, Boring, and Unnatural Conversation
👎 The Wrong Way:
"Hello, Ryan. How are you today?"
"I am doing well, Josh. How about you?"
"I am also fine. Did you complete your assignment?"
"Yes, I did. It was very difficult, but I managed to finish it on time."
"That is great to hear. I also completed mine."
❌ What’s wrong here?
- Sounds too formal and stiff.
- No personality—this could be anyone talking.
- Feels robotic—no contractions or real flow.
Now, Here’s a More Natural Version
👍 The Right Way:
"Bro, tell me you finished the assignment."
"I mean… define ‘finished.’"
"Ryan—"
"Okay, okay! Chill. I technically finished it. Might be a disaster, but hey, it’s done."
"Dude, I swear, one day you’re gonna fail just to test the system."
"Maybe. But today is not that day."
✅ Why does this work?
✔ It has personality – Ryan is clearly a procrastinator, Josh is the responsible one.
✔ It flows naturally – It sounds like something real friends would say.
✔ It’s not robotic – People don’t say “How are you today?” in casual conversations.
✔ There’s chemistry – The way they joke around shows their dynamic.
Final Thoughts
Good dialogue doesn’t just tell us what’s happening—it shows relationships, personalities, and chemistry. If your characters sound like real people having a conversation, your reader will feel like they’re right there with them.
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