How to Avoid Common Mistakes When Starting Dialogue in a Novel: Writing Natural but Engaging Conversations

Writing dialogue in a novel is one of the trickiest skills to master. Sure, it might seem simple—just write how people talk, right? Wrong! In reality, dialogue in fiction needs to be more polished than real-life conversations. While real speech is full of filler words, pauses, and “umms,” your novel’s dialogue should be purposeful and engaging. Let’s dive into how not to start dialogue in a novel and how you can make your characters sound natural without being dull.

Why We Can’t Write Dialogue Exactly the Way People Speak?
If you were to write dialogue exactly as people speak, it would be, well, boring. Conversations in real life are full of unnecessary details, tangents, and lots of “uhs” and “you knows.” In a novel, you don’t have that luxury—your dialogue needs to keep the plot moving, reveal character, and be interesting all at the same time.

For example:
-Real Life:  
  “Hey, uh, I was wondering if maybe you, you know, wanted to, uh, grab a coffee or something, like, later?”
  
Fiction Dialogue:  
  “Hey, want to grab a coffee later?”

See the difference? You still get the point, but without all the fluff.

How Not to Start Dialogue in a Novel

1. Avoid Excessive Small Talk
We all know that people use small talk to break the ice, but in fiction, small talk can slow the pace of your novel to a crawl. If your characters spend two pages chatting about the weather, your readers will likely skim or, worse, put the book down. Skip the “Hi, how are you?” pleasantries and jump right into the meat of the conversation.

Example of How Not to Start Dialogue:  
- “Hi, how’s it going?”
- “Not bad. How about you?”
- “Good, good. So, what’s up?”

Instead, try this:  
- “Did you hear what happened last night?”

You’ve cut the small talk and piqued your reader's curiosity instantly!

2. Don’t Dump Information
Dialogue shouldn’t be used to dump a ton of information onto the reader. If your character is telling another character things they should already know just to get the information across to the reader, it’s going to feel unnatural and forced. Remember, your characters shouldn’t be lecturing each other.

Example of Info Dump Dialogue:  
- “As you know, Lisa, we’ve been friends since third grade, and we’ve always shared everything. Remember when we went to the lake that summer after your parents got divorced?”

In reality, Lisa already knows all this. So, it’s clearly for the reader's benefit—and it feels clunky.

A Better Approach:  
- “You were there for me when everything fell apart. I need you now.”

This line communicates the same history without spelling everything out.

3. Avoid Overly Formal Speech
Unless your character is supposed to be incredibly stiff and formal, avoid making dialogue too rigid. Nobody in casual conversation says, “I do believe we should venture to the market this evening.” If your characters are speaking like they're in a Victorian drama but it’s set in modern times, it’ll pull readers out of the story.

Example of Too-Formal Dialogue:  
- “I am under the impression that we must now proceed to the exit, as it is getting quite late.”

A More Natural Approach:  
- “We should head out—it’s getting late.”

Your dialogue should reflect the time, place, and personality of your characters.

4. Don’t Introduce Every Character With Dialogue
Starting a character’s introduction with dialogue can work, but doing it too often becomes predictable. If every time we meet a new character, they burst onto the page talking, it can get repetitive. Instead, mix things up with internal thoughts or brief descriptions to balance the flow.

Example of Overuse:  
Every new character starts with:  
- “Hi, I’m John.”
- “Hi, I’m Sarah.”

A More Varied Approach:  
- “Sarah wasn’t the type to wait for introductions. She walked right up and shook his hand.”

This gives readers a sense of Sarah’s character without making her entrance feel repetitive.

5. Avoid Dialogue That Doesn’t Drive the Plot
Every line of dialogue should have a purpose. Whether it’s revealing character, pushing the plot forward, or deepening relationships, make sure your dialogue is doing work. Idle chit-chat is for real life, not fiction.

Example of Useless Dialogue:  
- “I was thinking about getting a dog. What do you think?”
- “Yeah, dogs are nice. I like dogs.”

Unless this conversation about dogs has a deeper meaning or ties into the plot later, it’s just wasting space. 

A Better Option:  
- “I was thinking of getting a dog.”  
- “You sure? That’s a big responsibility.”  
This can hint at underlying issues, like the character’s fear of commitment.

Personal Anecdote: Learning the Hard Way
I’ll never forget when a beta reader handed me back a manuscript covered in red ink. Their biggest feedback? “Your characters are talking, but they’re not saying anything.” I realised I’d filled my dialogue with fluff and filler. Once I cut the unnecessary lines, my scenes came to life. Now, I always ask, “Is this conversation doing something for the story?” before I hit save.

Wrap Up: Keep It Tight, Keep It Real
Writing dialogue isn’t just about mimicking real speech—it’s about crafting conversations that feel real while serving the story. Skip the small talk, avoid info dumps, and make sure every line has a purpose. With these tips, your dialogue will be snappier, more engaging, and—most importantly—keep your readers hooked!

Got any favorite examples of great dialogue? Drop them in the comments below!