Mastering Dialogue in Your Novel: 6 Expert Tips to Make Conversations Come Alive

Writing dialogue in novels is an art, but it’s often one of the biggest challenges for writers. How do you ensure that your characters' conversations feel natural and engaging, not just lifeless filler that drags the story down? How do you reveal information and progress the plot without making readers feel like they’re slogging through repetitive, empty exchanges? In this blog post, we’re going to dive deep into the mechanics of dialogue, covering how to make it flow naturally and keep readers hooked.

Common Dialogue Complaints from Writers

Before we dive into tips, let’s address the common frustrations you might be experiencing with your own dialogue:

• "The dialogue feels boring and flat."
• "It drags on for too long without adding anything to the story."
• "I struggle to communicate the information I need without it feeling forced."

You’re not alone in these concerns. Many writers wrestle with these issues, especially in the early drafts of their novels. But by the end of this post, you’ll have a clearer idea of how to create dialogue that’s not just functional but also engaging.

Tip 1: Know Your Characters Inside and Out

Writing strong dialogue starts with a deep understanding of your characters. Think of yourself as a detective observing every little detail about them, or a mother who instinctively knows how her child will react in any given situation. The better you know your characters, the more authentic their dialogue will be.

Ask yourself:

• What are their strengths and weaknesses?
• How do they view the world?
• How do they react under pressure?
• What are their motivations?

When you truly understand how your characters think and behave, their dialogue will feel organic. It will sound like it’s coming from them, not from you as the writer. This way, each conversation becomes an extension of their personality, not just a way to advance the plot.

Example:

A high-strung, overly confident character will speak with quick, sharp sentences. They’ll be dismissive, maybe even sarcastic, cutting people off mid-sentence. In contrast, a thoughtful, methodical character will speak more slowly, pausing between sentences to reflect. Their dialogue won’t just reveal their thoughts but also hint at their personality traits.

Tip 2: Cut the Fluff—Avoid Empty Conversations

One of the most common mistakes writers make is adding meaningless, repetitive dialogue that bogs the reader down. Here’s a typical example of a conversation you’d want to avoid:

• “How are you?”
• “I’m fine. And you?”
• “Fine, thanks. Did you see what happened today?”

In real life, these exchanges are fine. But in a novel, they add no value. Dialogue should either reveal something about the character or move the plot forward. If it doesn’t do either, it’s filler.

Fix:

Instead of dragging readers through polite small talk, summarize it. For example: “They exchanged greetings before diving into the main topic.” This keeps the pace tight and keeps the reader’s focus where it belongs—on the meaningful aspects of the conversation.

Tip 3: Be Mindful of Language and Tone

Different characters will speak in different ways depending on their background, upbringing, education, and personality. If you’re writing historical fiction, a refined nobleman in 18th-century London won’t speak the same way as a street urchin. Likewise, a modern-day tech CEO will have a different cadence and vocabulary compared to a high school student.

Think about:

• Era: Make sure your dialogue matches the time period.
• Education: An uneducated character may use slang, while a professor might speak with precision.
• Status: A king will not speak the same way as a servant.

Consistency in language use will make your characters more believable and enhance the immersion of your story.

Example:

If you're writing about a 1920s gangster, they won’t say, “I’m sorry, sir, I’ll get it done.” Instead, they might say, “Don’t worry, boss. I’ll handle it.”

Tip 4: Give Dialogue a Purpose

Every line of dialogue should serve a purpose. In fiction, dialogue generally achieves one of the following goals:

1. Revealing Character Traits: A character’s unique way of speaking can reveal their values, personality, and relationships.
2. Moving the Plot Forward: Characters should be discussing things that are relevant to the story’s progression.
3. Breaking Up Description: If your novel contains long paragraphs of description, dialogue can be a breath of fresh air that breaks the monotony.

If your dialogue doesn’t fulfill one of these functions, cut it. Readers can quickly pick up on dialogue that serves no purpose, and this can cause them to disengage from the story.

Example:

Instead of:

• “How’s the weather?”
• “It’s fine, a bit cloudy.”

Try:

• “It’s overcast. The perfect kind of day for bad news.”

Here, the weather conversation isn’t just about the weather. It sets the mood for an upcoming conflict or grim event.

Tip 5: Limit the Number of Characters in a Scene

It’s difficult to keep track of multiple characters in a conversation. Readers can quickly become lost, especially if everyone has similar-sounding voices. To avoid confusion, limit the dialogue in each scene to two or three characters. If you need more characters in the scene, ensure that each has a distinct voice and purpose in the conversation.

If you do have more characters talking, make it clear who’s speaking by using dialogue tags or small descriptive actions. For example:

• “He said,” or
• “She rolled her eyes and muttered.”

These small actions will help the reader visualize the scene and follow the conversation more easily.

Pro Tip:

If you’re writing a scene with lots of characters (for example, a group meeting), write the entire dialogue out first without any descriptions. Once the dialogue is down, go back and add character actions or emotions to break up the conversation and make it easier to follow.

Tip 6: Show Emotions Through Body Language

Not all communication happens through words. Often, a character’s body language, facial expressions, or gestures convey more emotion than their dialogue. Describing these non-verbal cues will add depth to your characters and make your dialogue scenes feel more alive.

For example:

• Instead of saying, “He was angry,” show it: “He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening with barely suppressed rage.”

These small descriptions give the reader clues about the characters' emotions and state of mind, even if the character doesn’t explicitly say how they feel.

Practice Scene:

Here’s a snippet of dialogue from a novel I’m working on. Pay attention to the body language and how the conversation reveals both plot and character emotions:

---

After the thieves left the room quietly, Kian felt exhaustion creeping in. As sleep began to overtake him, Isabella’s cries shattered the silence.

"Where is my father? Where is my mother? Somebody save me!"

Kian jolted awake, sword in hand, eyes wide and alert. He found Isabella sobbing, her voice a desperate plea. He groaned.

"Please, just let me sleep. Don’t you feel even a little sorry for me? If you hadn’t broken my back, you wouldn’t be alive now. Stop crying!"

Her sobs quieted as she sniffled and asked, "Will you untie me if I stop?"

Kian grumbled, dragging himself up, his muscles protesting every movement. He freed her from the ropes, collapsing back onto the bed. But as soon as he closed his eyes, the sobbing began again.

Kian’s eyes snapped open, irritation flaring. "What now?"

---

By adding small details—Kian’s exhaustion, his body language, and Isabella’s tearful gestures—you can make a simple scene more engaging and emotionally charged.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Dialogue

Incorporating these six tips into your writing will make your dialogue sharper, more engaging, and purposeful. Dialogue shouldn’t just be filler; it should be an essential part of the storytelling process, revealing character depth and driving the plot forward.

So the next time you sit down to write, remember: get to know your characters inside out, cut the fluff, be mindful of language, give your dialogue a purpose, limit the number of speaking characters, and don’t forget to show emotions through body language.

Happy writing!