| By John Finnegan
Students frequently ask me, "How do you write good dialogue?" My response is typically, "What does good dialogue sound like?" and "How do you know when you've written it?" More often than not, these questions leave them uncertain.
To me, good dialogue is functional dialogue. You can refine your vocabulary and hone your poetic prose all you like, but if the dialogue does not serve a clear purpose within the scene or align with the character’s voice, it is ultimately ineffective. Far too much emphasis is placed on dialogue as a screenwriting technique. Countless blogs and websites offer advice that is often either overly vague or tailored to specific types of characters and situations.
The truth is that asking how to write good dialogue is akin to asking how a person speaks—it depends entirely on the individual and the context.
A productive way to approach dialogue is to think of it as an action. Spoken words are the result of a choice to act, triggered by events occurring in a specific time and place within the story. This perspective emphasizes that dialogue, like any action, arises from the needs of the moment.
It is worth noting that silence is equally an action. Choosing not to speak can be just as significant, if not more so, than choosing to speak. Ironically, we often recognize silence as a deliberate act, but we fail to see dialogue in the same light—even though speaking is a more complex decision.
When you conceptualize dialogue as an action rather than as a standalone element, it becomes easier to evaluate its effectiveness. This shift allows you to focus on its functionality, practicality, and its role in revealing character, rather than fixating on whether it is “good” or “bad.”
Additionally, it is perfectly acceptable to include mundane dialogue in your story. Just as a character might answer a ringing phone or open a cabinet to look for food, they might also comment on something as ordinary as the weather. Sometimes, simple dialogue is necessary to convey essential information. Saying, "It’s raining outside," is not bad dialogue if it serves the narrative.
The popularity of filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Aaron Sorkin has influenced many aspiring writers to mimic their distinctive styles. However, Tarantino’s dialogue works because it complements the tone and direction of his films, and Sorkin’s rhythmic exchanges suit the environments of The West Wing or The Social Network. These styles are specific to their creators and are unlikely to translate seamlessly into other stories.
While you can emulate story structures or themes with success, dialogue must emerge organically from the characters and the scene. It is unique to your story.
When writing action, we consider what is required in the moment, how a character might act to achieve their objective, and how to refine that action to make it as compelling as possible. The process for writing dialogue is no different.
Exercise: Evaluating Dialogue
Use these four questions to analyze your dialogue:
Does the character need to speak in this scene?
If so, what are they trying to communicate (e.g., frustration, anger, love)?
What is the most effective way for them to achieve this goal?
Is this approach unexpected or surprising from the audience’s perspective?
Example:
Imagine an office where employees have just learned they are being made redundant, while their manager has received a substantial severance bonus. The manager is planning a celebratory trip to Italy, and the protagonist wants to address the injustice.
Does the protagonist need to speak? Yes.
What do they need to communicate? Frustration over the unfairness of the situation.
What is the most effective way to express this? In this instance, restraint might emphasize the injustice while maintaining the protagonist’s moral high ground.
What is the most unexpected way to achieve this? The protagonist could speak in Italian, knowing the manager doesn’t understand the language, to voice their frustrations freely. This unexpected approach would surprise the audience and add intrigue to the scene.
This exercise can be invaluable—not for every scene, but for those where dialogue is central and demands an innovative or unpredictable touch.
Platform Considerations
The medium you are writing for also affects your dialogue. For example, broadcast television often relies on dialogue-heavy scripts to compensate for potential distractions in the viewer’s environment. In contrast, cinema—viewed in a controlled, silent setting—can often convey more through visuals and subtext.
Final Thoughts on How to Write Dialogue
By reframing dialogue as an integral part of the screenwriting process rather than a separate entity, writers can approach it with greater clarity. Focus less on crafting perfect lines and more on the intended meaning behind them. Above all, ensure that your dialogue feels authentic to the character and serves the scene.
(Image copyright: Sony Pictures)
If you’re ready to experience audio drama in a whole new way, OutWrd offers a range of unique stories designed to captivate and transport you. From dark fairy tale retellings to historical dramas, OutWrd’s cinematic approach to audio fiction is setting a new standard for what audio drama can be.
Try OutWrd for free with no sign up here.
Commenti