If there’s one thing that can make or break a scene – especially in fiction – it’s dialogue. Get it right, and you’ll hook your reader in, without them even noticing the words on the page. Get it wrong, and it can pull them away from the story.
I’ve spent over twenty years exploring how people communicate: first as a screenwriter in training, and now as a novelist. I write emotionally rich fiction where dialogue does the heavy lifting: creating tension, revealing vulnerability, and drawing readers into relationships that feel layered and real. If you’ve ever read a scene where two characters say everything except what they really mean, that’s my favourite kind of writing.
If you want to write dialogue that feels authentic and compelling, but you feel you’re not quite there with it yet, here are my top five tips.
1. People Rarely Say What They Mean
When I was at university studying scriptwriting, our tutor one day said something that changed my writing forever: “People never say what they really mean.”
Conversation is rarely straightforward. We lie. We soften. We hide. We hint. And most of the time, we don’t even realise we’re doing it.
So in your work, start here. At the heart of every good piece of dialogue is a little tension between what’s said and what’s meant.
Think about what your character is feeling, and then ask: would they actually say that out loud? Or would they deflect, cover it up, or express it in a completely different way?
In my novel In the Blood, I explored this idea of unspoken truth through two characters (Penelope and David) who are deeply connected but don’t know how or why.
The first half of the book follows Penelope, who’s desperate for answers, but she’s surrounded by people who never really talk to her properly. The second half flips to David’s perspective, revealing his own struggle to communicate and the weight of what he can’t say.
Their conversations are full of tension, confusion and emotional restraint, because neither of them knows who to trust. After all, real relationships are rarely built on clear cut conversations. They’re built on what we’re brave enough to say, and everything we choose to hold back.
When your characters avoid the truth, your readers are grasped. They become part of the story, trying to work out what’s really going on beneath the surface.
2. Build Dialogue Around Desire
Every character wants something, even if they don’t consciously know it. That desire will shape how they speak. It might be love, power, approval, forgiveness or freedom. Whatever it is, your character’s dialogue should be influenced by what they’re trying to achieve.
In Emmett the Empathy Man, the story hinges on desire. A wish granting superhero brings people’s hidden wants to life, with comic and chaotic results. The dialogue works because the characters are saying one thing, apparently wanting another, and slowly learning how to face what they truly feel.
Whether you’re writing comedy, romance or drama, desire adds depth to dialogue. What your character wants, and how afraid they are of not getting it, should be baked into every exchange.
3. Let Miscommunication Be Emotional, Not Contrived
Misunderstandings are a powerful storytelling tool, but only when they grow from character, not convenience. Avoid using miscommunication just to force a plot twist or delay a resolution. Readers can tell when it’s manufactured.
Instead, let gaps in communication reflect who your characters are. In In the Blood, David’s silence isn’t a mystery for mystery’s sake. It comes from his personal history, his fears, and his way of showing care. Penelope talks more, but still doesn’t ask the right questions. These choices feel real because they’re character driven.
If you’re using miscommunication, ask yourself: is this true to who they are?
4. Use Subtext to Make Dialogue Richer
Subtext is what’s not being said, and it’s often more powerful than what is being said. When characters talk around a topic, your readers become more engaged. They read between the lines. They infer. They get involved.
Subtext also adds texture to conversations, making them feel layered and true to life. Think of how people flirt, argue, confess love, or hide disappointment. We rarely do it directly. The best dialogue is a dance, not a monologue.
5. Make Every Line Earn Its Place
Realistic dialogue isn’t the same as real conversation. In real life, we waffle, we repeat and we hesitate. In fiction, every line needs to do something: reveal character, create tension and move the story forward. Ideally all three.
That doesn’t mean everyone has to speak in perfect soundbites. But it does mean you should be intentional. Ask yourself: is this line adding to the moment, or just filling space? Know your characters and know what they want to say, and what they want to hide.
In my novel The Cat’s Eyes, in one scene two characters are caught in an emotionally fraught situation that neither of them can fully explain. I use long form dialogue scenes to let the emotional tension simmer. The words they don’t say carry just as much weight as what’s on the page. Whether they’re arguing, deflecting, or finally letting the truth out, every line is deliberate. Because when emotions run high, even small sentences have to work hard.
Your Work
I think dialogue is one of the most enjoyable parts of writing, but it’s also one of the trickiest to master. But if you can lean into how people really speak (and don’t speak), your characters will start to feel wonderfully alive.
Next time you’re writing a scene, don’t just listen to what your characters are saying. Listen to what they’re not saying as well. That’s where the magic happens.
If you want more top tips on writing your novel, take a look at our webinar “Professional Tips for New Writers.”
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