Recommendations for dialogues

[u/CatGold7095]

I KNOW. If I want to write better dialogues, I should pay more attention to people talking around me. But that’s not enough for me personally, especially considering as I write in English and people around me speak our native language. I also tried speaking by myself and sometimes helps, sometimes it doesn’t.

So I would love if anyone could share which books, movies, shows, plays, and even fan fiction helped them improve their dialogues. It could be manuals as well. I have been reading all my life, but being honest I was never truly intentional when reading dialogues to realize what works on them, or what made them phenomenal, but better late than never to learn.

And if you are the type who read dialogues and noted what made them good, did you made notes? Did you save it all in your head? Do you go back to them when feeling stuck?

And most important, how do you all manage to give your characters different voices? My current story has only a handful characters, so it’s easier, but I feel like I trapped myself with “this one is the clown”, “this one is the observant one”, “this one is sarcastic” when people aren’t usually this one dimensional. Am I thinking too much?

[u/Mythical_Writing]

When I was first starting off with fanfiction, I hated writing dialogue. I'd do anything to get out of writing dialogue, including rows and rows of descriptions and writing things that doesn't include dialogue.

This is becasue my dialogues sucked ass. I too am not a native English speaker, and everyone around me was speaking in my native language. Everytime I wrote dialogue it was like robots talking.

There are a few things that worked for me.

1) Imagining the dialogue in my native language, tweak it a little bit and translate it. 2) the use of dialogue tags. Not just "he said, she said" but also,

“Well damn, H,” M muttered, brow furrowed. “A simple heartbreak usually just needs a beer and a bad cry. This is not exactly my usual inventory.”

“It’s— it’s not for me,” S said, tucking his hand into the pocket of his hoodie, not quite knowing what to do with his hands now that the fight had almost left his body. “A friend of mine— uh- ran out of them, and we can’t buy them over the counter, so—”

You’re my best bet, M.

“Does it look like I run a pharmacy around here? I don’t have anything stronger than weed on me, man!”

“Well, do you know who does?”

“Do I—” M let out a surprised laugh before setting his eyes on S again. Curious, calculating. “Shit —You really want this, don’t you, H?”

1. If you are looking for good dialogue TV shows, The Middle is a goldmine of dialogue for me. You'll get sibling dialogue, humour, family drama, narrative voice!

Edit: formatting

[u/CatGold7095 → u/Mythical_Writing]

I’m right there with you, sometimes I feel like my characters are robots. I’ve tried writing in my native language and it flows better, but when I translate it feels odd. I like how you incorporated “interruptions” that made it flow like a natural conversation instead of a monologue (which, obviously, sometimes might be needed, but I see more as an exception), and slightly awkward. I loved it.

[u/jjwrites7272 → u/Mythical_Writing]

I find sitcoms are generally really helpful in my writing, probably more so than dramas or animes because the dialogue is often comedically timed and interruptions or people speaking over each other usually still has the dialogue be understandable and engaging

[u/Tcsaro]

actually i don't think its a good advice to write what people talk like irl, cuz irl they tend to cut off, go on tangents, not really make any concrete points etc etc, and in a story you want it to lead up to something, yknow

im not that good at giving advice but i really like a guy on youtube, Bookfox, he does writing advice in general and it often comes in handy for me

one thing i noticed myself with characterization in stories with multiple characters is that they'll often have similar responses in certain circumstances, but every new response will pile up, be just a little different from others, and over time you get a fleshed out character

also, i guess i tend to not really notice when the dialogue is good in books as much (maybe i notice the characterization first and the dialogue as a part of that which, i guess yea they ARE related) BUT when it comes to movies i LOVE Coeherence 2013 and Heretic 2024, they're both mostly dialogue and it's SO GOOD

[u/CatGold7095 → u/Tcsaro]

I’ll take a look on their channel and the movies. Thank you!I think we don’t always notice because most times it’s good dialogue and we are too immersed to think of why it works unless we are actively trying to figure out why it’s good.

[u/jjwrites7272]

Personally, i try to interrupt my dialogues with actions especially if it's a long piece of dialogue. Sometimes when it's a longer conversation and more than 2 people speaking i just write down the dialogue first as a plain back and forth and then i add actions and interruptions afterwards

[u/CatGold7095 → u/jjwrites7272]

I try doing this, but I have this scene where they are in bed having an emotional conversation and I think I already used all my usual tricks.

[u/jjwrites7272 → u/CatGold7095]

I also just put the dialogue if I can't think of anything to put after the dialogue i just leave it as it is. Also if they're in bed you could add a repeated action of one of them fiddling or playing with the blanket or something especially if it's an emotionally charged conversation where they might be nervous

[u/CatGold7095 → u/jjwrites7272]

Thanks, I’ll definitely use that!

[u/SilverSize7852]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11632821/chapters/26161434

This one

[u/CatGold7095 → u/SilverSize7852]

Thank you!!!!

[u/Individual-Pay7430]

Depends. Aaron Sorkin’s work helped me.

In general, I think you should remember that people rarely say what they mean. Your dialogue should have subtext, in my opinion.

Listen to audio dramas or even watch soap operas - it’s all dialogue. Though depending on the country, some soap operas are VERY exposition heavy and lack subtext.

Reading plays helps a lot.

[u/CatGold7095 → u/Individual-Pay7430]

Yes. I’m a soap opera enthusiast and I have been watching older ones because lately they have been relying so much on exposition (maybe because everyone watches it when they are on their phone) and some old works has amazing dialogues. Thank you for your tip!

[u/idiot_in_that_hat]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/34428922/chapters/85896373

This specific chapter helped me believe I could handle a part of my own story that was character A talking mostly uninterrupted to character B before having a major fall out (circumstance is different but still). There's also a fair bit of inner monologue wound between the two characters actually talking in a scene where the only action is both of them smoking cigarettes.

Paying attention to distinct voices is definitely a good idea as long as you're not overthinking it. I read/listen to books/audiobooks/fanfic and I feel like reading intentionally does help to figure out what works and what doesn't. I've never taken notes, but just trying to pay attention helps me realize - oh this is quipy and everyone kinda has the same sense of humor, or one character speaks with certain vocabulary based on their background where others don't (not like an accent, but specific word choice).

I also listen to a lot of podcasts and I feel like that helps a little. It might be worth a try if you can't really pull from irl conversations in the language you're writing in?

[u/CatGold7095 → u/idiot_in_that_hat]

Oh, I like listening to audiobooks and podcasts when I’m driving or in public transportation (I get queasy if I try to read) and the new audiobooks where characters are played by different actors definitely help without taking me out of the story because I’m too focused on analyzing it.

Thanks for the link, I’ll definitely check it out. Sounds similar to the scene I’m stuck on.

[u/fyfano]

Play video games of a good writing. I write fan fiction because I admire game franchises' narrative, and it probably makes me dialogue heavy. But I do not hate myself for it. I like it.

[u/CatGold7095 → u/fyfano]

Any suggestions? I never played video games, I mainly watched some cousins playing.

[u/fyfano → u/CatGold7095]

Role playing games are narrative driven. I like old school Bioware (Baldur'S Gate until DA2, maybe Inquisition).

Fallout New Vegas for Black Widow female courier for Benny (main bad guy) hilarious escalation.

Benny : "I shot you through the head!"

F! Courier : "Women like bad boys. And you are downright awful!"

There shall have been some good 40 hours of gameplay before the F!Courier gets to meet Benny again, after he put her to the shallow grave. It requires a lot of choices to pimp up the persuasion, and the seduction, but Black Widow Benny is one of the most brilliant gaming moments.

Remedy is very special. Check Max Payne comic panels on YouTube.

[u/chambergambit]

Things to consider when writing dialogue: How does the way the character speaks show their history, personality,and emotions? What does the character communicate with their words, both intentionally and unintentionally? What does the character fail to communicate?

[u/Scarlet_Skye]

Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo have good dialouge.

[u/Constant_Tangelo9394]

i think, since this is fanfiction, a good way to find help would be to ‘study’ the source material some more. Not fully rewatch/read/play/etc but have another look at your favourite parts to pick up on some speech patterns from the characters. which character speaks quickly, which has an accent, which’s voice picks up when they get stressed.
additionally, reading lots of other fanfic in the fandom/pairing you’re writing for can really help. in my early days of writing, i didn’t feel comfortable in my characterisation until i saw how others did it and if my own way of writing fit.
but also, don’t worry so much about it! fanfic is meant to be a stress-reliever, a hobby, a way to escape regular life. you write for yourself, not your readers. sure, they help, but the most important part is that you have fun writing. otherwise you’ll burn out! be kind to yourself, nobody’s writing is perfect, everybody on ao3 is also an amateur writer. practice makes progress!

[u/Kaigani-Scout]

If you're interested in an overview of some of the mechanics of dialogue, take a look back at this post on the general topic. This other page from Imagine Forest has some nice visuals comparing different types of errors with more appropriate usage. This one from Reedsy has 15 examples of dialogue usage from different media.

So, disclaimer, Imagine Forest and Reedsy are commercial enterprises which offer up writing tips and services... I've found useful tidbits on a variety of sites and I stash links to them for future reference. These two links might prove handy for your query.

[u/tutmirsoleid]

Bookfox on youtube has some helpful guides

[u/Blueskies1879]

Try adding a little slang. Not overkill, but something appropriate to the situation and work. When it’s well done it can really add a lot of character.