Writing dialogue seems like it would be so easy. We talk all the time, right? How hard could it be to just write it down?
But it takes a little more than that to make dialogue seem real. Frequently, the dialogue we imagine for our characters sounds stilted or overly formal. That’s partly because, when we’re talking, we put in a lot of “ums” and “wells” and “I means.” We stutter and interrupt ourselves and each other.
Now, if we added all of those “ums” and interruptions on the page, our dialogue would go too far in the other direction. Our characters would seem scattered and difficult to understand. But a smattering of realistic hesitations and interruptions can bring dialogue to life. Check out this example:
“There is good news, however,” Crevan says. “Or, well, perhaps it’s not good news. Except that it is, if you think about it from our perspective.”
“Crevan,” Conran says patiently. “What is the news, good or bad?”
Much gets revealed through Crevan’s hemming and hawing, no?
One last tip: before you click “save,” try reading your dialogue aloud, as if you’re acting in a play. Get someone to read with you, if you can. Make note of any lines that feel awkward, and pay attention to what’s flowing!
