How to Write Good Dialogue

Sometimes, when it comes to dialogue, less is more

As a reader, I always appreciate good dialogue. Well written dialogue tells us something about the character who is speaking, it can add a great deal to the story telling, create drama or, in the case of erotica, sexual tension, arousal and excitement.

Bad dialogue, on the other hand, has the exact opposite effect - it can suck the life out of a story. In my experience, badly written dialogue instantly reminds me that I’m reading a work of fiction. I no longer believe in the fantasy world - it ceases to be ‘real’ to me.

The secret to good writing, be it dialogue or anything else, is to do it in such a way that the author’s ‘hand’ cannot be seen. As soon as a reader becomes aware of the writing process, the reading experience is ruined.

Words, Words, Words…

As a writer, I understand that writing good dialogue is not always easy, because you’re often trying to balance several things within your character’s words. However, I have formed some ‘rules’ to writing speech, that help me to ascertain the difference between good and bad dialogue.

• All dialogue has to have a purpose. If characters are speaking for the sake of speaking, you’re wasting a reader’s time. So, if the words coming out of your character’s mouth aren’t advancing the story, telling you something about him/her or another character - silence really is golden.
• A character’s words have to suit their personality, background and culture. And each character’s style of speech must be different. If you think about it, every single person has a different style/rhythm of speech. The same should be true of your characters. If you’re writing a character who would drop his aitches, then don’t be afraid to write, “He was always very ’andy with his fists.” If you’re writing a character who comes from a southern state in the U.S., make sure that’s evident in her speech - the words and vernacular she uses.
• There is a balance to be found between dialogue that sounds natural and dialogue that is bordering on painful to read. It’s always a good idea to listen to the way people speak. However, what you’ll notice is that almost everybody talks with a lot of ‘ums’, ‘errs’ and pauses. These should all be used sparingly in dialogue, however, as it looks ugly and reads very clumsily.
• Get to the point. Again, in normal, natural speech we all have a habit of rambling around the houses somewhat, before we actually get to the crux of what we’re saying. Now, there may be a character for which this style of speech is perfect (be warned, however, some readers will find this type of character annoying). However, if you use that technique with every character, you’re reader will soon want to stick pins in his or her eyes.
• Avoid clichés. I think, generally speaking, many authors go to great lengths to avoid clichés, but they can still creep up on you. Cheesy dialogue, especially in erotic novels and stories, can be intensely off-putting. Remember, perhaps more than any other form of fiction, it is important for erotic authors to transport their readers into a different world, one they can fully immerse themselves in. If you’re rolling out clichés of any kind, you’re killing the atmosphere.

Typically, I find that if a stick to these guidelines, my dialogue reads naturally and my work is not littered with two much jibber-jabber from my characters.

Do you have any golden rules for creating good dialogue? Do you disagree with any of mine? Feel free to share them below.