Effective Dialogue Use in Fiction

Effective dialogue use in fiction inspires laughter, shock, sadness and hope. It tips in to uncover surprises while nudging curiosity. Dialogue is a writer's tool to get familiar and comfortable with. There's no limit to where you can take the tool.

1. Effective dialogue rises out of practice.

2. Listen to people's speech patterns.

3. Dialogue well written can push you to the next level.

Conversations in fiction mimic actual speech. Otherwise, it'd be boring and too long. Most people have functions and activities in their lives. They'll cut-back on what's not necessary. Fiction mirrors human behavior. The following is an observed conversation at Walmart. 

"Mack, is that you?" A young man in a business suit stared at an acquaintance. "I didn't know you shopped."

"Yeah, just picking up what my wife forgot."

I'm here to get food, fridge's empty."

The two laughed as Mack paid for his groceries. 

Dialogue is a spin-off of conversation. Speech patterns tend to differ when you go to a specific city, town or country. Select a character's pattern of speech as it pertains to your fiction. Look at the above Walmart conversation in my fiction.

"Bill?" Tony furrowed his eye-brows. "You shop?"

"Not if I don't have to, wife forgot some stuff." He shifted his weight. "She had to work, so." Bill pointed at his jars of olives, instant coffee and grape jelly.

"My fridge's empty." Tony looked at his cart of frozen pizza, chips and dips.

"Got a question for you, wait outside." Bill grabbed his bag and headed to the door.

"Know nothin' 'bout who ya're wife...

Each writer stirs words together as he/she feels is suitable for the story-line. The key is to zero in on speech patterns that tug at your creative flow. Study them. Practice writing effective dialogue use in fiction. Show-case your twist on people, places and the sky. Ask questions. Don't stop asking questions until the character(s) you're creating resembles "that person" or a person. Questions to begin asking follows.

1. How will your character wear an accent?

2. What words are his/her "own?"

3. Who will say, ya instead of you?

Schedule time to observe people. Think about effective dialogue use in fiction when at the mall, making a call or enjoying Fall. Try looking at everyday activities from a new perspective. Don't forget to turn writing ideas upside down.

1. Jot down over-heard conversations at the mall. 

2. A writing idea can dawn during a call.

3. Grab Fall inspirations for later.

One more idea on dialogue is about family time. They're treasure chests of possibilities. People from various generations have unique accents and speech patterns. Mix-and-match accents are ideas to consider.

1. Write down observations.

2. Be careful not to hurt anyone on purpose.

3. Don't be afraid to experiment.