The Writer's Craft: Modern Insights
(Dialogue)
By Olivia Salter
CHAPTER 9
SPEECH in Fiction Writing: The Power of Dialogue
Dialogue in fiction is more than just characters talking—it’s a vital tool that shapes the story, deepens character development, and advances the plot. When mastered, it adds layers of authenticity and engagement to a narrative. Here’s how the various elements of dialogue come into play in fiction writing:
Potency of Dialogue
Dialogue must carry weight. Each line should serve a purpose, whether it’s revealing something about a character, adding tension, or advancing the plot. Strong dialogue is charged with meaning, even when it appears casual. Writers must learn to strip away the unnecessary and focus on the essential, making each spoken word count.
Mechanical Distribution
Mechanical distribution refers to the balance of dialogue and narrative. Too much dialogue without narrative or action can make the story feel like a script. Too little can leave the reader disconnected from the characters. Finding the right rhythm between speech and action ensures that the story flows naturally and stays engaging.
Naturalness
Characters should speak like real people—but with the sharpness and conciseness that fiction demands. This means avoiding overly formal or stilted speech unless the character specifically calls for it. Natural dialogue captures the essence of human interaction while cutting the excess, helping the reader stay immersed in the world of the story.
Directness
Effective dialogue often cuts straight to the point. Characters should avoid long-winded explanations or unnecessary pleasantries unless it serves a specific purpose (such as to highlight a character’s personality). Direct speech keeps the pacing tight and maintains tension in key scenes.
Dialect
Using dialect can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it gives characters a distinctive voice and reinforces their background or regional identity. On the other, it can distract or alienate readers if overused or presented inaccurately. Writers must strike a balance, using just enough dialect to hint at a character’s origins without overwhelming the reader.
Situation
The situation in which a conversation takes place often dictates the tone and content of dialogue. Characters might speak more formally in high-stress situations or be more casual in relaxed environments. Writers must always be aware of how the context shapes what is said and how it is delivered.
Three Resources to Meet Demands of Situation
In any given conversation, writers have three primary resources to draw from: voice (how characters sound), action (what they do while speaking), and thought (their internal responses). Balancing these resources allows for dynamic scenes that go beyond mere dialogue, capturing a fuller spectrum of character and emotion.
Physical Effect
Dialogue should often have a tangible effect on characters or the world around them. This can be reflected in physical responses—gestures, facial expressions, or shifts in body language. Well-placed dialogue can cause a character to hesitate, laugh, or become defensive, showing how words affect not just the mind, but the body.
Ellipsis
Ellipsis, the omission of words or unfinished thoughts, can add layers of meaning to dialogue. It can create tension, indicate hesitation, or leave something unsaid, allowing readers to fill in the gaps. Used sparingly, ellipsis can make dialogue feel more realistic and charged with subtext.
Elements of Language
Understanding the elements of language—syntax, diction, tone, and rhythm—is key to crafting strong dialogue. Writers should consider how these elements reflect the personality and background of each character. A teenager might use short, clipped sentences, while an older professor may speak in more complex phrases.
Style
Each character should have a unique style of speaking that reflects their personality, education, and emotional state. Style can be conveyed through word choice, sentence structure, and tone. Distinctive speech patterns help differentiate characters and give them life beyond the page.
Verbs of Utterance
Verbs that accompany dialogue (e.g., "said," "whispered," "shouted") play a crucial role in shaping the reader's perception of how something is said. While "said" is often invisible and allows the dialogue itself to take center stage, more specific verbs can add nuance and emotion, but they must be used sparingly to avoid over-explanation.
Transcription of Speech for Its Own Sake
While real-life speech is often disjointed or repetitive, transcribing it verbatim in fiction can be boring or confusing. Writers must shape speech to serve the narrative, making it more polished, direct, and relevant to the story. This creative process ensures that every line of dialogue drives the story forward while still feeling authentic.
Creative Process
Ultimately, writing dialogue is part of the broader creative process of fiction. Crafting compelling speech requires intuition, experimentation, and revision. Writers must inhabit their characters, hear their voices, and refine their words until they feel natural yet purposeful. Through this process, dialogue becomes a powerful tool to enrich the story’s themes, characters, and emotional impact.
By mastering these elements of dialogue, fiction writers can wield speech with precision and purpose, using it to build compelling characters and unforgettable stories. The key lies in balancing technical skills with creative intuition, ensuring that every word spoken on the page contributes to the larger tapestry of the narrative.
