How to Make Dialogue Realistic

When dialogue works, it feels effortless—like you’re eavesdropping on a real conversation. When it doesn’t, it can pull a reader right out of your story.

The trick to writing realistic dialogue isn’t about perfectly replicating how people talk in real life. In fact, real-life conversation is full of filler words, tangents, and half-formed thoughts that would make for a very dull page.

Realistic dialogue is about capturing the essence of human conversation—its rhythms, tensions, and emotions—while keeping your reader engaged.

Here’s how to make your dialogue feel authentic and alive.

1. Listen Like a Writer

One of the best ways to improve dialogue is to listen to how people actually speak. Pay attention to:

• Word choice: Does someone say “going to” or “gonna”?

• Pace: Do they speak quickly or pause often?

• Subtext: What’s left unsaid but implied?

When you’re out in the world (or eavesdropping at a coffee shop—no judgment, I do it too), notice the ways people avoid direct answers, interrupt each other, or change topics midstream. Those quirks can inspire dialogue that feels human.

2. Cut the Small Talk

In real life, conversations often start with polite greetings and weather updates. In fiction, you can skip all that—unless it reveals something about your characters. Readers want to get to the heart of the exchange quickly. If a character says “Hi, how are you?” it should either serve the plot or reveal emotional context.

3. Let Characters Speak Differently

Not everyone talks the same way, and your characters shouldn’t either. Consider:

• Vocabulary: Does your character use formal language or slang?

• Sentence structure: Are they concise or prone to long-winded explanations?

• Tone: Do they sound warm, sarcastic, hesitant, blunt?

Giving each character a distinct voice makes it easier for the reader to tell who’s speaking without relying on dialogue tags.

4. Use Dialogue Tags Wisely

Overusing creative tags like exclaimed, said, or murmured can be distracting. Let the dialogue and action carry the emotion.

Instead of:

“I can’t believe you did that!” she shouted angrily.

Try:

“I can’t believe you did that!” She slammed the cupboard door.

The action beat shows the emotion without overloading the sentence.

5. Layer in Subtext

People rarely say exactly what they mean, especially in tense or emotional moments. That is why weaving in subtext—the meaning beneath the words—adds depth to dialogue and sounds more natural.

Example:

“You’re working late again?”
Could mean genuine curiosity, mild annoyance, or deep resentment, depending on the scene and character relationship.

6. Keep It Tight

Good dialogue moves the story forward. If a line doesn’t reveal something new about the plot, character, or relationships, consider cutting it.

7. Read It Out Loud

One of the fastest ways to spot clunky or unnatural lines is to read them aloud. If you stumble over a phrase or it feels awkward to say, it’s worth revising.

Realistic dialogue doesn’t mean word-for-word real life—it means believable, engaging exchanges that reveal character, advance the story, and keep readers turning the page. When you combine sharp listening skills with intentional editing, your dialogue will start to breathe.

Go deeper on the craft of writing dialogue in the Crafting Your Novel course.