How to Use Dialogue to Bring Your Characters to Life

When it comes to writing memorable characters, dialogue is one of your most powerful tools. What a character says, how they say it, and what they *don't* say can reveal so much about who they are. Well-written dialogue helps to define personalities, deepen relationships, and drive your plot forward. In this post, we'll explore how to use dialogue to enhance characterisation and give your readers characters they can connect with (or love to hate).

1. Show, Don't Tell Through Dialogue
We've all heard the writing rule: show, don't tell. Dialogue is a great way to follow that advice. Instead of telling your reader that a character is shy or aggressive, let their words and tone show it. How your characters speak can paint a vivid picture of who they are.

Example 1: Showing Confidence vs. Shyness

- Confident Character:
*"I'll handle it. Just sit back and watch me work."*
In this example, the character doesn't need to say, "I'm confident." Their tone and assertiveness speak for themselves.

- Shy Character:
*"Um, I-I guess I could try, if you want me to…"*
Here, the stuttering and hesitancy show that this character is shy without you having to spell it out.

By focusing on how a character speaks, you can reveal aspects of their personality without being overly direct.

2. Give Characters Unique Voices
No two people speak exactly alike, and neither should your characters. Use dialogue to give each character a unique voice that reflects their background, personality, and life experiences. Is your character witty? Formal? Blunt? Their speech patterns should match who they are.

Example 2: Contrasting Speech Styles

- Witty Character:
*"I didn't break the rules. I just bent them until they cried for mercy."*
This character is playful, clever, and mischievous.

- Formal Character:
*"It is imperative that we proceed with caution. I will not tolerate any further recklessness."*
The formal and severe tone here suggests a more reserved, by-the-book character.

Creating distinct voices enhances characterisation and makes your dialogue more engaging.

3. Reveal Relationships Through Dialogue
How characters speak to each other can reveal a lot about their relationships. Do they argue frequently? Are they sarcastic or kind? Dialogue can show the dynamics between characters, whether they're friends, enemies, or something in between.

Example 3: Showing Relationships Through Dialogue

- Friends:
*"You're late again. That's the third time this week."
"Yeah, yeah. Get off my back. You know traffic's a nightmare."*
The teasing tone and relaxed exchange suggest a close friendship where both characters feel comfortable calling each other out.

- Strangers:
*"Excuse me, sir, but I believe you're in my seat."
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Let me move my things."*
The politeness shows a lack of familiarity, which is typical of strangers interacting.

Use these differences in tone and formality to reveal the nature of relationships between your characters.

4. Use Subtext to Show What's Not Being Said
Great dialogue isn't just about what's being said—it's also about what's left unsaid. Sometimes, characters aren't honest, or they might hide their true feelings. Subtext—the underlying meaning behind the words—can add depth to your characters.

Example 4: Subtext in Dialogue

- Without Subtext:
*"I'm really happy for you," she said, smiling.*
In this case, the character is directly expressing her happiness.

- With Subtext:
*"Wow, that's great news," she said, forcing a smile as her gaze dropped to the floor.*
The forced smile and body language suggest that the character might not be happy, even though her words suggest otherwise.

You can reveal hidden motivations, emotions, and conflicts by layering dialogue with subtext.

5. Don't Overload Dialogue With Information
While dialogue is a great tool for revealing character, avoid using it to dump too much information at once. Readers can tell when a character's speech feels unnatural because it's being used to force-feed facts. Instead, weave essential information into dialogue naturally.

Example 5: Avoiding Info Dumps

- Info Dump:
*"As you know, Mark, we've been best friends for 10 years, and I was with you when you got that job at the tech company right after college."*

- Natural Dialogue:
*"We've known each other since forever, and I'm telling you, taking that job was the best thing you ever did."*

In the second example, the information feels more like part of the conversation, making the dialogue flow more smoothly.

Personal Anecdote: Learning the Power of Dialogue
When I started writing, I used to think dialogue was just about filling space between action scenes. But then, after a critique group tore apart one of my drafts (in a kind way, of course!), I realised that I needed to be using dialogue to its full potential. It was flat, and my characters all sounded the same. Once I started focusing on making each character's voice unique and using dialogue to reveal their relationships and personalities, my writing became much more substantial. Now, dialogue is one of my favourite tools for building characters!

Conclusion: Make Dialogue Work For Your Characters
At the end of the day, dialogue is one of the most effective ways to reveal your characters' personalities, relationships, and motivations. By giving your characters unique voices, focusing on how they speak to each other, and using subtext to show what's unsaid, you can create characters that leap off the page and stick with your readers long after they've finished the book.

Do you have any favourite tips or tricks for writing dialogue? Share them in the comments!