Talk to Me: Writing Dialogue That Works

The Purpose of Dialogue – More Than Just Talking

Photo by Chris Arthur-Collins on Unsplash

Welcome to the first post in our five-part series, Talk to Me: Writing Dialogue That Works. Whether you're drafting your first novel or revising your tenth short story, dialogue is one of the fastest ways to elevate your writing or derail it.

Great dialogue sounds natural, but heres’ the thing: it isn't.

It's crafted with intent, and in this first post, we’re going to talk about what dialogue is meant to do when we’re writing our stories.

What Dialogue Should Do

Dialogue isn't just about characters talking. If your characters are merely chatting, your readers will start skimming. Dialogue must earn its place on the page.

Effective dialogue should do at least one of the following, but it’s better if it does two things:

• Advance the plot

• Reveal character

• Build or diffuse tension

• Convey subtext (what's not being said)

• Establish setting or worldbuilding subtly

The best lines do two or more of these things at once. Let’s break them down after the paywall.

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