Having Fun With Dialogue
I love dialogue. As a reader, I love to see the interaction between characters - especially enjoy a good witty exchange. As a writer, I think it’s one of my favorite portions of a book to write. I honestly think I enjoy writing it so much not because I’m that funny (cause I don’t think I am), but because I can come up with the clever responses that I wish I could think of that fast in real life.
But dialogue isn’t just about being witty, it can be used for so much more than that. Here’s what I like to use dialogue for with some examples from Andromeda’s Fall (my latest release):
Reveal Information
I find it’s more organic and more interesting to reveal information through dialogue. How do we find out new information about other people or situations? Most often it’s through communication of some sort. In the below example, we find out that the heroine is asking for alsylum, that A.J. assumes she’s a nobody, that she’s pretty beat up, and that she’s possibly been ejected from her community. That’s a lot of information in one little exchange. “And why would we consider giving asylum to a little nobody like you?” A.J. asked. “One who – judging by those cuts, bruises, and I suspect a broken left arm - has been shunned by her own dare?”
Establish a Setting
Long descriptions of settings – while they can be poetically beautiful – can also lose the reader. And you don’t want to describe every room they walk into. Sometimes it’s better to establish the setting with a casual comment.
“Nice room. I like the view of the mountains,” Andie said, as she moved to look through the wide picture window.
Establish a Character/Relationship
This is a big one. Personality often comes out through dialogue. Details about their lives, backstory, looks, etc. also often come out in dialogue. The display and development of relationship can also happen. For example, in the exchange below, we assume the speakers of just met, we find out that Andie (our heroine) is good at breaking and entering, is on the sarcastic side, maybe a bit reckless, is confident, and possibly has something to hide.
“I’m not going to ask how you got in here. Clearly, our security needs reviewing.”
Andie didn’t betray her satisfaction at his comment. “I’m sure it’s fine. Very few measures would work to keep me out. Or in.”
“I found you.”
Andie merely shrugged. “Off night.” In more ways than one.
“What do you want here?” he asked.
“I want to speak with Jaxon Keller.”
His eyebrows shot up, and he crossed his arms over an impressive chest. “About what?”
“None of your damn business.” Andie’s chin tipped up slightly in defiance, but inwardly she cringed. Stop talking, dummy.
Deepen the Conflict/Heighten the Tension
You can use dialogue to introduce new situations, new dilemmas, and make the reader feel the nerves. You can also use it to make a conflict worse. Words can insight others to fight, or maybe your character says something they regret in the heat of the moment.
“Did the storm get worse?”
“No.”
Andie’s eyes shifted from the window to A.J. “Talk to me. I’m a Commander, not some breakable doll.”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “The storm has passed, and it’s calm out there. It’s possible the weight of the snow took out our power.”
“Or I didn’t put enough gas in the generator when I started it up today.”
“Maybe.”
“But you don’t think so?”
There are many other uses for dialogue in writing. These are just some of my favorites. When I read, especially if I’m reading fast, I often skip to the dialogue parts because I’ve frequently felt them to be the most interesting and often the most important. What’s your favorite part about dialogue?
The Book
Genre: urban fantasy
About Andromeda's Fall:
Andie Reynolds is being hunted. After witnessing her mother's violent death at the hands of a pack of wolf shifters, Andie has devoted her life to protecting her community of cougar shifters from a similar fate. But now, a greater threat lies within her own dare, and she must run. If she stays, Kyle Carstairs will try to force their Mating, seeking the added power their union would provide.Source: Info in the About Andromeda's Fall was from the press kit from the publicity team.
Andie would rather chew off her own foot than end up with Kyle. Though, knowing him, she won't live long either way. Andie's only hope of survival is to Mate the Alpha of the Keller Dare with which she is seeking asylum. But before she can get to him, Andie must first go through A.J., one of the Alpha's Protectors. The incredibly frustrating shifter insists on challenging her story, her skills, her trust… and her heart.
Andie is running out of options and out of time. But risking the life of someone she loves - just to save herself - goes against every instinct she has.
Buy Link(s):
Excerpt:
Andie crouched low in the underbrush, obscured from view, and watched the compound with a quiet patience born of experience. If her calculations were correct, the next patrol of guards would pass by within the minute. Her posture and expression didn’t shift an inch when, seconds later, she was proven correct.
As soon as the sentry passed from sight, Andie moved like a shadow through the stillness of the night. Ignoring the pain in her body, she sprinted across the lawn and was up and over the wall. She dropped to the ground on the other side with a barely audible thud.
Andie found herself on the backside of a manicured garden. She stayed completely still, hunkered down, and took her time observing her location. About a hundred yards ahead, she saw light from the main building in the complex. The glow spilled out from a pair of glass doors and across the trees and plants, creating patches of darkness and light.
Andie moved again, using the pools of shadow and groupings of plants for cover. She didn’t go for the doors. They were too obvious. Besides, they were likely wired for the alarm system and required some kind of code to get through. But on the second floor one of the windows was wide open, allowing in the cool night breeze. With agile grace, Andie swung herself up into the branches of a large tree just outside that window.
She took care to only use her right arm, which slowed her down a bit. But the injuries she’d sustained made her left arm almost unusable. As quickly and as soundlessly as she could, she made her way up to the branch closest to her chosen point of access. She stopped again and observed.
Andie didn’t move for close to thirty minutes. She just watched. When she was satisfied, she leapt with all the power of her feline form. She didn’t shift exactly - she was trying to avoid that right now since it would be seen as a direct threat if anyone caught her - but she used the might of the beast inside her to clear the distance to the window. She sailed through the opening and immediately tucked and rolled as she hit the ground.
She found her feet and returned to her crouch. Using her cat’s hearing, she waited yet again. Someone might’ve heard the sound of her landing. Her injured left arm was messing with her usual finesse. As she listened she turned in a slow circle, making sure the room, which appeared to be a hotel-like bedroom, was as empty as she’d expected it to be. Many minutes later, satisfied that she was alone and that no one was coming for her… yet… Andie moved towards the door.
Cracking it open a hair, she looked down and saw a long stretch of closed doorways in both directions. Based on the layout of the building and where the window had been located, she determined she needed to go to her right.
Andie tensed to open the door all the way and then froze in place when a deep, male voice sounded from directly behind her. “Stop where you are.”
Dammit, Andie thought. How the hell did he find me?
As soon as the sentry passed from sight, Andie moved like a shadow through the stillness of the night. Ignoring the pain in her body, she sprinted across the lawn and was up and over the wall. She dropped to the ground on the other side with a barely audible thud.
Andie found herself on the backside of a manicured garden. She stayed completely still, hunkered down, and took her time observing her location. About a hundred yards ahead, she saw light from the main building in the complex. The glow spilled out from a pair of glass doors and across the trees and plants, creating patches of darkness and light.
Andie moved again, using the pools of shadow and groupings of plants for cover. She didn’t go for the doors. They were too obvious. Besides, they were likely wired for the alarm system and required some kind of code to get through. But on the second floor one of the windows was wide open, allowing in the cool night breeze. With agile grace, Andie swung herself up into the branches of a large tree just outside that window.
She took care to only use her right arm, which slowed her down a bit. But the injuries she’d sustained made her left arm almost unusable. As quickly and as soundlessly as she could, she made her way up to the branch closest to her chosen point of access. She stopped again and observed.
Andie didn’t move for close to thirty minutes. She just watched. When she was satisfied, she leapt with all the power of her feline form. She didn’t shift exactly - she was trying to avoid that right now since it would be seen as a direct threat if anyone caught her - but she used the might of the beast inside her to clear the distance to the window. She sailed through the opening and immediately tucked and rolled as she hit the ground.
She found her feet and returned to her crouch. Using her cat’s hearing, she waited yet again. Someone might’ve heard the sound of her landing. Her injured left arm was messing with her usual finesse. As she listened she turned in a slow circle, making sure the room, which appeared to be a hotel-like bedroom, was as empty as she’d expected it to be. Many minutes later, satisfied that she was alone and that no one was coming for her… yet… Andie moved towards the door.
Cracking it open a hair, she looked down and saw a long stretch of closed doorways in both directions. Based on the layout of the building and where the window had been located, she determined she needed to go to her right.
Andie tensed to open the door all the way and then froze in place when a deep, male voice sounded from directly behind her. “Stop where you are.”
Dammit, Andie thought. How the hell did he find me?
Meet The Author
Award-winning author, Abigail Owen was born in Greeley, Colorado and raised in Austin, Texas. She now resides in Northern California with her husband and two adorable children who are the center of her universe.
Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. A fourth generation graduate of Texas A&M University, she attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by obtaining a degree in English Rhetoric/Technical Writing. However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.
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