What is Dialogue?

Dialogue is the exchange of spoken or written words between two or more characters in a story, poem, or other literary work. Dialogue serves several purposes in writing and can be used to advance the plot, provide insight into characters, and provoke thought or reflection in the reader. Dialogue is a very important part of writing, and can be used to give characters’ voices, show a particular culture or social context, and to develop relationships between characters.

The Mechanics of Dialogue

Dialogue is comprised of two main elements: spoken words, and identification tags. Spoken words are the words that characters say to one another during a conversation. The identification tags serve to identify the speaker. An identification tag should identify the speaker in the context of the conversation, such as “John said,” or “Susan asked.”

The proper punctuation of dialogue consists of double quotation marks (“), and ends with commas, colons, or periods depending on the tone of the sentence and the context of the conversation. For example, a period is usually used at the end of an independent clause (a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence) when the speaker has finished making a point. Dialogue should also be broken up into separate paragraphs when the speaker changes. This helps the reader keep track of who is speaking, and provides a smoother reading experience.

Writing With Dialogue

Dialogue is a powerful tool that can be used to create believable characters, vivid settings, and compelling stories. In order to effectively write dialogue, authors should take time to consider the character’s goals, personalities, and relationships. The way characters talk to each other can provide insight into the relationship between them, so it’s important to consider how each character responds to the other. Authors should also strive for realism with their dialogue. Characters should speak in a way that reflects the character’s worldview and experiences.

Writing dialogue can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Taking time to consider character goals, personalities, and relationships, and maintaining a commitment to write as realistically as possible can help authors create effective dialogue that engages the reader and helps tell a compelling story.