Dialogue is an important part of our stories. It can reveal story details, clues to a mystery, information about our characters and their personalities – all kinds of stuff. But do you talk the talk while you are writing?
We are taught to use proper language with no contractions when we are in school but normally people don’t speak like that. For example, your character is a sort of laid-back type of guy and you have him saying “I will not be doing that because it can not be done.” Then the tone of the dialogue does not match the person it is attributed to. A laid-back person would be more likely to say something like “Nope not doing it. Can’t be done.”
This is why when I write the dialogue for my books, as I type the words in, I am acting as that character. I speak like them and record their dialogue as appropriate for their personality.
This is important. Otherwise, there is a disconnect between what the reader perceives is the character and how the character talks.
For example, in the Bailey Summers books, Bailey would never say “Derek, I would like it if you made me a coffee.” She’d be more likely to say, “I need coffee now Derek.” And he would tease her and then get coffee for both of them
So, try it out as you write. Pretend you are recording the dialogue. I think you’ll find it will be easier and feel more authentic. You won’t be putting words in their mouths that they wouldn’t use. Plus, as you get into the swing of it, the dialogue will really take on the attributes of the speaker and it is a lot of fun to hear what your brain tells you is coming out of their mouths.
Bailey would never say “Goodness me.” She favours “damn.” Hilly in the Lamb’s Bay Mysteries would say “OMG.”
Next time you sit down to work on a story or book, try saying the dialogue out loud as you write it. I hope this helps. I only know it works for me.
