How to Write Natural-Sounding Dialogue in Fiction That Resonates with Readers
- Hayley Rushbrook
- Apr 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Writing dialogue in fiction can be more of a challenge than you might think.
But when executed well, dialogue not only brings your characters to life but also drives the plot forward and immerses your readers in the story. In this post, you will learn how to create natural-sounding dialogue that keeps your audience engaged and enhances your storytelling.
Understanding the Purpose of Dialogue in Fiction
Dialogue in fiction serves several key functions:
Character Development: Through dialogue, you reveal your characters' personalities, backgrounds, and motivations.
For instance, a character who uses bossy language may come off as authoritarian, and this may be because they were the youngest child who nobody ever listened to or took seriously when they were growing up. Now they're older, they want to make sure they are heard loud and clear!
Plot Advancement: Dialogue can drive your story forward by adding information, generating conflict or resolving tension.
For example, a character may reveal a secret that pivots the plot's direction.
Setting the Tone: The way characters communicate can establish the mood of a scene, whether it’s humorous, tense or emotional.
Consider how a simple 'I didn't know they were coming' can take on a lighter tone when ensconced in playful banter, but can sound more sinister when said in hushed voices.
By recognising these functions, you can create dialogue that is both realistic and effective in moving your story forward.
How to Write Realistic Dialogue
Listen to Real Conversations
One of the best ways to learn how to write natural-sounding dialogue is to observe real-life conversations. Listen to how people interact in various scenarios, such as at a coffee shop, during family get-togethers, or at casual dinners with friends.
Pay attention to the nuances:
Interruptions and overlaps in speech (can show excitement or urgency)
Unfinished sentences and trailing off (can show shyness or shock)
Use of slang and/or casual language (can show characters' age or informality)
Incorporating these elements can significantly enhance the authenticity of your dialogue.
Use Subtext
It's not uncommon for people to communicate more through what they don't say than what they do. This is called subtext and is an effective way to add another layer to your dialogue.
For example, in a tense argument, instead of a character directly acknowledging their hurt feelings, they might say, 'I guess you’ve got other priorities.'
This approach introduces complexity and encourages readers to dig deeper into character emotions, keeping them intrigued as they sense the underlying meaning behind the words.
Keep It Concise
In everyday conversations, people rarely speak in lengthy, complex sentences. Instead, they're more likely to use short phrases and quick responses.
Therefore, concise dialogue is key to making your fictional interactions sound natural and keeping the momentum. Remove filler words and focus on what your characters genuinely need to express.
For example, instead of writing, 'I believe that we might want to consider an alternative plan,' say, 'Maybe we should think of another plan.'
Reflect Character Voice
Each character should possess a unique voice that mirrors their personality, background and life experiences. Consider these three elements when shaping their speech:
Education Level: A character who graduated from university may use more sophisticated vocabulary, while a character with a lower education level may prefer simpler language.
Region and Culture: Using regional dialects or slang is important for making characters and their dialogue feel authentic.
For example, a character from Yorkshire, England, might use 'Ey up' as a greeting or 'How do' instead of 'how are you?'
Personality Traits: Is your character quick-witted, shy or upbeat? Their dialogue should reflect their distinctive characteristics.
Use Action Tags
First off, let's define how action tags differ from action beats. Though they are often used interchangeably, there is a small difference between their precise meaning.
Action beat is the term used to encompass the description of any type of action within dialogue or as a response to dialogue.
This can be as simple as a nod or something more complex, such as if the conversation were playing out whilst a character changed a tyre. They can occur before, after or within dialogue.
Action tag, on the other hand, is the term used to describe an action beat that specifically indicates who is speaking. These replace the need for dialogue tags, such as 'he said' or 'she asked' and are strategically placed to clearly identify the speaker.
For example, instead of writing:
'I'm going home,' he shouted.
You could write:
He yanked the door open. 'I'm going home.'
Incorporating action tags can enhance your dialogue by providing context and emotional depth. By weaving in actions the reader can visualise that reflect the character’s emotional state, the scene becomes more poignant, drawing the reader in.
Avoid Exposition Dumps
It's common for writers to use dialogue to help tell character backstory or reveal plot details, but it can feel forced and disrupt the natural flow of conversation.
Instead of writing something like, 'As you know, we became best friends at the age of eight,' integrate vital information organically.
One way you can show character friendship is by sharing snippets of their past in witty exchanges.
For example, 'Do you remember Mr Driscoll? I swear he had it in for me. He was always sending me to the headmistress's office.'
Read Aloud
One of the best ways to test whether your dialogue sounds natural is to read it out loud or use Microsoft Word's Read Aloud function. This can help reveal awkward phrasing or unnatural flows. If something feels or sounds off when spoken, it’s likely in need of revision.
Show, Don’t Tell
Now, you may have heard this one a lot, but I lie firmly in the camp that there is a time and place for everything and that a mix of the two can create more depth and charge in a manuscript than showing alone.
However, revealing a character's emotions through dialogue and actions creates more distinct imagery and emotional charge for the reader.
For instance, instead of writing, 'He seemed anxious,' write, 'Er... sir... would it be OK to talk with you?' the boy stammered, edging slowly into the room.
This approach encourages readers to infer emotions, making the dialogue more compelling and thoughtful.
Other Ways to Improve Your Dialogue
Practice: Writing natural-sounding dialogue requires practice.
Try drafting short scenes that focus solely on dialogue. This helps refine your skills without the pressure of constructing an entire narrative.
Analyse: Consider analysing dialogue in your favourite books or films. Reflect on what works well and what feels forced.
Wrapping Up
Creating natural-sounding dialogue is an art, but by understanding its purpose, observing real conversations and putting the above steps into action, you can write compelling exchanges that draw readers in and make your characters feel relatable.
Hayley Rushbrook is a respectful, human fiction line and copyeditor and proofreader specialising in mystery, crime and thriller, romance and general fiction, children's, middle grade and YA.
She gives your hard work the careful attention it deserves, so it is recognised for all the right reasons.
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