Are You Nailing Dialogue in Your Fiction Writing? A Beginner's Guide to Character Voice and Style

Okay, okay... have you ever found yourself completely absorbed in a book, only to realize the characters leap off the page through their gripping dialogue? As a writer, mastering the art of writing dialogue is crucial for creating engaging characters and compelling stories. It’s not just about what characters say, it's about how they handle themselves in the thick of it, and then how that creates tension and moves the plot. I want to explore the essential elements of crafting dialogue, character voice, and style that can elevate your fiction to the next level.

Understanding the Basics of Dialogue

If done well, effective dialogue does much more than convey information. It can build tension, reveal character motivations, and push the plot forward.

Using Dialogue Tags Wisely

One of the first skills to master is the effective use of dialogue tags. These are words that identify who is speaking. Common tags include "said" and "asked." You might feel tempted to use creative descriptors like "whispered" or "shouted". While those work on occasion, it's often best to keep it simple. Overly intricate tags can pull readers out of the moment and distract from the conversation.

Plain tags help maintain clarity; for example, saying "she said" allows readers to focus on the dialogue itself. Save variations for moments that really matter. If you're writing a tense scene, using "he snarled" might be impactful to convey intensity, but avoid using tags other than "said" or "asked" too often. "Said" is more likely to disappear (though there's a limit to that as well), where words like "shouted", "whispered", "hissed", and "snarled" will stand out like a sore thumb if used more than once every page or so. (Though, to be honest, that's still something I struggle with!)

sample from The Dark Descent by James Downe

How To Structure a Sentence With Dialogue

Over the years, I've seen beginner writers flounder when writing dialogue. Not just the voice and personality of the character, but the basic grammar and how to structure the sentences so that it's clear who is speaking.

When it comes to grammar and structure, there are specific rules for incorporating dialogue into your writing. These rules ensure clarity and readability while maintaining the natural flow of conversation.

Quotation Marks and Dialogue Tags

The most fundamental element of dialogue in fiction is the use of quotation marks to enclose spoken words. Dialogue is placed inside quotation marks to clearly indicate what a character is saying. For example:

Correct: "The wizard lives in a tower by the coast," she said.

Correct: "We need to get those thrusters back online," he said.

Notice that the spoken words are inside the quotation marks, and they are followed by a dialogue tag, such as "she said" or "he asked." Yes, this is the basic stuff, but I had to start somewhere.

Punctuation Inside Quotation Marks

Punctuation such as commas, periods, question marks, and exclamation points generally go inside the quotation marks.

Commas

When a dialogue tag follows the speech, use a comma before the closing quotation mark.

Correct: "This troll was carrying a lot of loot," she said.

Correct: "I'm gonna store the goods in the cargo bay," he said.

Periods

If the dialogue is a declarative sentence (a statement), end the speech with a period.

Correct: "I'm going to kill the king."

Correct: "We're cleared to dock at shuttle bay 4."

Question Marks and Exclamation Points

If the character is asking a question or exclaiming, the punctuation mark goes inside the quotation marks. If you use a dialogue tag, you would then end the whole sentence with a period.

Correct: "What time is the arch mage's execution?" he asked.

Correct: "Let's kill some dragons!" she shouted.

Correct: "How long until those thrusters are up and running?"

Dialogue Tags and Capitalization

The tag (such as "said," "asked," "shouted," etc.) typically comes after the dialogue. In this case, the first letter of the tag is not capitalized unless it is a proper noun or the start of a new sentence.

Correct: "I need to speak with the magistrate," she said.

Correct: "How'd you get by the ship's sensors?" he asked.

Incorrect: "Put down your sword," She said. (The “she” should not be capitalized here.)

Even if the dialogue ends with a question mark or exclamation point, the dialogue tag should still follow without a capital letter.

Correct: "How many trolls are in the castle?" she asked.

Correct: "Thrusters are back online!" he exclaimed.

Incorrect: "Then why aren't we moving?" She asked. (The “she” should not be capitalized here.)

Sometimes you'll see the dialogue tag BEFORE the dialogue itself. (I don't really like this method. I feel if it's an older technique, but I'm not sure about that.) When this is the case, the ending punctuation should go inside the quotation marks.

Correct: She said, "Get down to the market and sell those turnips."

Correct: He asked, "Can you really fly us through that asteroid field?"

Interrupting Dialogue

Sentence of dialogue can often be interrupted, either by another character or an action. In such cases, the interruption is placed inside the quotation marks, and a comma is used to separate the dialogue parts. The second part of the dialogue begins with a lowercase letter unless it's a new sentence.

Correct: "Ready your forces, captain," she said, "the battle will soon begin."

Correct: "Please," he begged, "you have to believe me."

If the dialogue is interrupted by an action (such as a character doing something), you still use commas or periods as appropriate. If it is a direct dialogue tag like "said" or "asked", connect it to the dialogue with a comma.

Correct: "This is my city, corporal," she said, walking toward the balcony, "and I won't let it fall without a fight."

If it isn't really a dialogue tag, like the character doing something physical or expressive, end the dialogue with a period.

Correct: "Hand over the power cells." He paused, arms crossed as he stared at the thief.

Ellipses and Dashes

Ellipses (…) are used to indicate trailing off or hesitation in speech. A dash (—) can indicate an abrupt interruption or change in thought.

Correct with ellipses: "This mist… where is it coming from?"

Correct with dash: "But I what about—" "Leave it. There's no time!"

sample from Sisters of Jade by James Downe

Writing Dialogue to Convey Character Voice

Each of your characters should possess a unique voice influenced by their background, personality, and motivations. For instance, a scholarly mage may use sophisticated terminology while a low born smuggler is likely to favour slang. This variance brings authenticity and richness to your dialogue.

Ask yourself what’s your character's educational background? Where did they spend their childhood? How do they express emotions such as anger or joy? By answering questions like this, you can create dialogue that feels true to each character's identity. Encourage their quirks and let them shine.

Keep It Concise

No one likes to wade through long-winded conversations that could have been summarized in a few phrases. Keep things simple, and keep your story moving. Each line of dialogue should serve a clear purpose, whether it be character development, theme exploration, or plot progression.

Writing Realistic Conversations

To create believable dialogue, listening to real conversations is invaluable. Pay attention to how people naturally speak, including interruptions, hesitations, and non-verbal cues. Observing real-life interactions can profoundly enhance your writing.

Listen to snippets of conversations around you. This practice can help you capture the natural rhythms and patterns of dialogue that can enrich your fiction. Pay attention to how your favourite authors do it. Listen when watching your favourite shows. Some do this better than others, but you'll soon start to be able to tell when dialogue is badly written or feels unnatural.

Mastering the Art of Dialogue

Writing engaging dialogue takes practice, but it's a skill worth developing. By focusing on dialogue tags, character voice, subtext, and flexible grammar, your conversations can resonate with readers on a deeper level. Experiment with it. Learn from real-life interactions.

As you continue refining your dialogue-writing skills, remember that every writer improves through practice. Keep working at it, and soon you will craft dialogue that flows and brings your characters to life.

Cheers, and thanks for reading!