In last month’s post, I talked about how every line of dialogue should serve a purpose: revealing character, advancing the plot, building tension, or deepening theme. I also explored voice, subtext, and how to balance dialogue with internal thought and action. Today, I’m taking it a step further. Let’s look at five additional ways to elevate your dialogue, so it not only sounds real but lingers with readers long after the scene ends.
Let Dialogue Reveal Emotion, Not Announce It
Weak dialogue tells emotion. Strong dialogue shows it.
Instead of: “I’m angry with you, and I don’t want to talk.”
Try: “Don’t. Just don’t.” She grabbed her keys and shoved past him toward the door.
Readers don’t need your character to label how they feel. They’ll feel it through tone, rhythm, and behavior. Let the tension simmer under the words, rather than splashing emotion across the surface.
Use beats and pacing (short sentences, pauses, or interruptions) to mirror the emotion. Rapid-fire exchanges create urgency. Long silences heighten unease.
Use Dialogue to Control Pacing
Dialogue speeds up a scene. It creates momentum and keeps the story moving. But too much rapid back-and-forth can make readers feel breathless—or worse, detached.
How do you do this? Let’s take a look at some examples.
For fast-paced scenes, keep exchanges short and snappy to reflect tension or urgency.
For slower, emotional scenes, stretch pauses, add introspection, or allow one character to dominate the conversation.
Example:
“Run!”
“What? Why?”
“Now!”
Versus:
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said, his voice low. Tense.
“Neither did I.” Her eye lowered to the scar on his hand.
Both convey emotion, but one races forward while the other lingers in place.
Let Power Dynamics Shape the Conversation
Dialogue is rarely neutral. Every exchange has an undercurrent of power—who’s in control, who’s retreating, who’s trying to gain ground.
A confident boss might use short, declarative sentences. An insecure employee might hedge with qualifiers or questions. As the scene evolves, those dynamics can shift, creating subtle tension even in ordinary conversation.
Ask yourself this when creating the dialogue:
Who holds the upper hand in this exchange?
How can I show that through speech patterns, interruptions, or what’s not said?
Cut the Stage Directions
New writers often overuse dialogue tags and adverbs to prop up flat exchanges. Hint: Try to write your story without any adverbs.
Example:
“I don’t care,” she said angrily.
“You should,” he replied forcefully.
Instead, let the words do the heavy lifting:
“I don’t care.”
“You should.”
The emotion lands harder when the prose trusts the reader to infer it.
Use “said” and “asked” when you need tags; they’re invisible workhorses. But lean on action beats and rhythm to carry emotion, rather than cluttering dialogue with unnecessary explanations.
Layer the Meaning with “Echoes”
Great dialogue doesn’t just live in the moment; it echoes throughout the story.
A phrase repeated at key points (“You promised me”) can take on new weight as context changes. A bit of humor shared early can return later with deeper emotional resonance. These callbacks make dialogue feel intentional and layered, showing growth, irony, or heartbreak.
Example:
Early in the story:
“Don’t fall for me,” she said, her tone teasing while she grinned over the rim of her coffee mug.
“Too late,” he said. “I already did.”
Later, near the end:
“You told me not to fall for you,” he said, voice soft.
She blinked away the tears. “You should’ve listened.”
Why it works: The repeated phrase Don’t fall for me shifts from lighthearted banter to poignant regret. This full circle moment—or echo—underscores emotional evolution and loss, making readers feel the ache of what’s changed.
These moments connect the emotional dots for readers and remind them that words have consequences. Just like in real life.
Great dialogue is about more than what’s spoken. It’s about what’s meant, what’s withheld, and what’s at stake. Every word, pause, and glance adds texture to your characters and heartbeat to your story.
When you write or revise your dialogue, read it aloud. Does it sound like something a real person would say—or like something a writer would write? The difference is everything.
Next time, I’ll talk about using dialogue to heighten suspense and reveal secrets, because sometimes what’s unsaid is more dangerous than what’s spoken.
Your Turn
What’s one line of dialogue you’ve written that perfectly captures your character’s personality? Share it in the comments below; I’d love to see what you’re working on.
