Things Real People Do in Dialogue (For Your Next Story)
Okay, letās be realādialogue can make or break a scene. You want your characters to sound natural, like actual humans talking, not robots reading a script. So, how do you write dialogue that feels real without it turning into a mess of awkward pauses and āumsā? Hereās a little cheat sheet of what real people actually do when they talk (and you can totally steal these for your next story):
1. People Interrupt Each Other All the Time
In real conversations, nobody waits for the perfect moment to speak. We interrupt, cut each other off, and finish each other's sentences. Throw in some overlaps or interruptions in your dialogue to make it feel more dynamic and less like a rehearsed play.
2. They Donāt Always Say What They Mean
Real people are masters of dodging. Theyāll say one thing but mean something totally different (hello, passive-aggressive banter). Or theyāll just avoid the question entirely. Let your characters be vague, sarcastic, or just plain evasive sometimesāit makes their conversations feel more layered.
3. People Trail Off...
We donāt always finish our sentences. Sometimes we just... stop talking because we assume the other person gets what weāre trying to say. Use that in your dialogue! Let a sentence trail off into nothing. It adds realism and shows the comfort (or awkwardness) between characters.
4. Repeating Words Is Normal
In real life, people repeat words when theyāre excited, nervous, or trying to make a point. Itās not a sign of bad writingāitās how we talk. Let your characters get a little repetitive now and then. It adds a rhythm to their speech that feels more genuine.
5. Fillers Are Your Friends
People say "um," "uh," "like," "you know," all the time. Not every character needs to sound polished or poetic. Sprinkle in some filler words where it makes sense, especially if the character is nervous or thinking on their feet.
6. Not Everyone Speaks in Complete Sentences
Sometimes, people just throw out fragments instead of complete sentences, especially when emotions are high. Short, choppy dialogue can convey tension or excitement. Instead of saying āI really think we need to talk about this,ā try āWe need to talk. Now.ā
7. Body Language Is Part of the Conversation
Real people donāt just communicate with words; they use facial expressions, gestures, and body language. When your characters are talking, think about what theyāre doingāare they fidgeting? Smiling? Crossing their arms? Those little actions can add a lot of subtext to the dialogue without needing extra words.
8. Awkward Silences Are Golden
People donāt talk non-stop. Sometimes, they stop mid-conversation to think, or because things just got weird. Donāt be afraid to add a beat of awkward silence, a long pause, or a meaningful look between characters. It can say more than words.
9. People Talk Over Themselves When They're Nervous
When weāre anxious, we tend to talk too fast, go back to rephrase what we just said, or add unnecessary details. If your characterās nervous, let them ramble a bit or correct themselves. Itās a great way to show their internal state through dialogue.
10. Inside Jokes and Shared History
Real people have history. Sometimes they reference something that happened off-page, or they share an inside joke only they get. This makes your dialogue feel lived-in and shows that your characters have a life beyond the scene. Throw in a callback to something earlier, or a joke only two characters understand.
11. No One Explains Everything
People leave stuff out. We assume the person weāre talking to knows what weāre talking about, so we skip over background details. Instead of having your character explain everything for the readerās benefit, let some things go unsaid. Itāll feel more naturalāand trust your reader to keep up!
12. Characters Have Different Voices
Real people donāt all talk the same way. Your characters shouldnāt either! Pay attention to their unique quirksādoes one character use slang? Does another speak more formally? Maybe someoneās always cutting people off while another is super polite. Give them different voices and patterns of speech so their dialogue feels authentic to them.
13. People Change the Subject
In real life, conversations donāt always stay on track. People get sidetracked, jump to random topics, or avoid certain subjects altogether. If your characters are uncomfortable or trying to dodge a question, let them awkwardly change the subject or ramble to fill the space.
14. Reactions Arenāt Always Immediate
People donāt always respond right away. They pause, they think, they hesitate. Sometimes they donāt know what to say, and that delay can speak volumes. Give your characters a moment to process before they respondāitāll make the conversation feel more natural.
Important note: Please donāt use all of these tips in one dialogue at once.
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