While dialogue isn’t real speech, but a form of stylized speech, it still needs to sound as natural and authentic as possible. Read on for ways to achieve this
Category: Dialogue Writing
Dialogue writing is key for novels and other stories.
Find every article on dialogue writing in Now Novel’s archives here.
Read about using action tags versus dialogue tags. See examples, along with dialogue formatting tips and tricks.
Find out how to write conversations between multiple characters. How to make dialogue tense. Find other words for said and learn how to make your characters’ personalities shine through their speech.
The central job of dialogue in a novel is to move the plot forward, provide exposition and reveal who the characters are. Read on for some ways to write dialogue
Dialogue writing examples from popular reads and AI teach us interesting things about what makes human-written dialogue better, juicier with voice, viewpoint, and balance between elements. Learn more.
What are context and subtext in dialogue? Why do they matter? How can you use both to create multiple levels of meaning and significance in speech? Find out.
Writing dialogue is an important skill to develop so that characters’ speech is imbued with voice and advances the story. Learn more in this complete guide to dialogue writing and formatting, with examples.
How do you show who’s speaking in dialogue? When do you use ‘she said’? When do you not? How else can you show a person’s emotions or state of mind in conversation? Read definitions clarifying the uses of dialogue tags vs action tags, and examples that illustrate effective dialogue attribution:
Dialogue in writing is tricky to master, but good dialogue carries the story. Dialogue may build pace and conflict, add tone and atmosphere, introduce and develop characters and more. Here are 5 tips to make your dialogue serve multiple useful purposes:
Dialogue rules aren’t set in stone but help us create believable characters who have distinct, memorable voices. The best dialogue gives insights into characters and their motivations. Getting dialogue punctuation right is important, as is keeping dialogue entertaining. Here are 7 dialogue rules for writing conversations worthy of eavesdropping:
Writing conversations that don’t involve setting is like writing action scenes that don’t involve movement. Great dialogue has more than disembodied voices. It anchors us in a place, in the context that occasions characters’ interaction. Read tips for creating realistic dialogue by involving your setting: