A Guide to Writing Dialogue, With Examples

By WR!TERS@WORK

“How is your PSLE composition revision coming along, Ted?” asked Teacher Jemmies.

“It’s coming along just fine, but -” Ted trailed off, hanging his head.

“It’s okay, Ted. You can speak your mind.”

“I think that I need some help writing dialogue. I’m not very good at that,” lamented Ted mournfully.

“That’s okay! WRITERS AT WORK will help. You’ll get better in no time!”

We talk to one another every day – dialogue is a natural part of our lives. Similarly, when we write a composition, our characters will communicate with one another to move the plot along. It is important to write good dialogue which moves the plot forward yet creates sufficient suspense and tension to build towards a satisfying conclusion. WRITERS AT WORK students learn from our English enrichment classes what writing realistic dialogue sounds like – that it should not sound hackneyed or cliched. Here is a quick guide on writing good dialogue – with examples – so students know how to write good compositions.

Everything You Need to Know About Dialogue

1. Types of Dialogue: Inner and Outer Dialogue

There are 2 types of dialogue: inner dialogue (think of a voice the character has which is speaking inside their head, like a monologue) and outer dialogue (these are the things the characters actually say to one another in real life, which requires quotation marks). Students need to think about when each type of dialogue is used – for example, if the character is thinking about something and cannot say it out loud, they will be using inner dialogue. However, if the character in the story is communicating with someone else, this will be outer dialogue.

2. Where Do the Punctuation Marks Go?

All punctuation marks will be within the quotation marks. When using American English, all dialogue will be in “double quotation marks.” However, when using British English, all dialogue will be in ‘single quotation marks.’ Students should try to be consistent with the number of quotation marks used – they should not mix double and single quotation marks.

3. Pay Attention to the Paragraphs When Writing Dialogue!

Every time a new character speaks, the student should start a new paragraph. It does not matter that the new character says only one word – every time someone else speaks, a new paragraph is needed. If a character is being interrupted, use an em dash to show the dialogue trailing off.

“I didn’t know that I needed to use an-”

“Well, why would you? You never attended lessons at WRITERS AT WORK!” she snarked back.

Things to Avoid When Writing Dialogue

1. Using a Tag for Every Single Dialogue

Dialogue tags are words such as “said”, “asked”, “retorted”, “yelled”, “whispered”, etc. They are used to convey emotions about how a particular piece of dialogue was said. However, you do not need to tag every single piece of dialogue. It sounds odd when you add a tag for every single piece of dialogue, as doing so is redundant and boring for the reader. As long as the readers are clear about which character is speaking, a line of dialogue can stand by itself.

2. Unrealistic Things that Characters Would Not Say

Dialogue should be realistic to the character. For example, if the character is a child, you would not expect him to have the eloquence of a lawyer. The child will likely speak in simple, sometimes incomprehensible babbles, depending on how old they are. On the other hand, when you are writing dialogue for a teacher, they would likely not use any slang or speak like a child would. They would speak authoritatively and give you direct instructions. Students should make sure that whatever dialogue they write fits the situation and the character’s descriptions.

3. Being Too Verbose

When you talk, you are limited by the amount of air you can breathe in a single sentence. You will not go on and on for ages until you are out of breath. Similarly, when writing dialogue for a character, you must make sure that the character does not have a dense, cluttered speech with far too many words. This makes a character unrealistic. Unless done for dramatic effect, people normally speak in short bursts, and a conversation involves an exchange between two people, not just one person rambling on.

How Should You Write Good Dialogue?

Now that you know what not to do, here is a list of good tips to follow when writing dialogue:

1. Be realistic – write how people actually speak

2. Less is more

3. Use different tags to reflect the character’s mood

“Can I See an Example of Good Dialogue?” Ted Asked.

“I felt as though I was on top of the world.” Write about a time when you felt like this.

(O Level Composition Question, 2021)

“You have shown immense talent and skill in defeating the opposing team in that debate,” Mr Chan beamed, shaking my hand firmly.

I blushed.

“Thank you, sir. I really appreciate your kind words.”

“It’s not just kind – it’s the truth! You will go far in life, young lady.”

I turned to my parents.

“Thank you, Mom, and Dad, for supporting me all this time. I’m glad I made you proud.”

“Of course, honey. We love you and always want to see you succeed.”

“We can’t wait to see what you do next!”

Slapping me heartily on the back, Dad winked at me, and I grinned. I felt like I was on top of the world.

Writing good dialogue takes practice. Like every other skill, knowing where and when to use dialogue in your compositions requires a lot of thinking and planning. Characters should say what they would say if they existed in real life, and dialogue must be logical and move the plot forward. Students need to read many good examples of dialogue and practise writing dialogue in different contexts to master this skill. Our dedicated team of teachers at WRITERS AT WORK are more than happy to help students master the art of writing realistic dialogue in their essays!

Master the English Language with WRITERS AT WORK!

English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.

At WRITERS@WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their English exams. With our carefully curated methods of teaching your child how to write well, your child will learn how to present their thoughts and arguments in a coherent and concise manner. W@W reinforces your child’s language skills and provides a strong foundation for their academic success, keeping up with all aspects of their progress both inside and outside of the classroom to nurture them holistically. For more information about how W@W makes a difference, feel free to explore our website and watch our YouTube videos!

If you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore, WRITERS@WORK has expanded to 9 convenient locations. To find the nearest location that suits your needs, please explore our options. If you have any inquiries regarding our range of programs or class schedules, please feel free to contact WRITERS@WORK!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. Is Creative Writing Good for Kids?

Creative writing is good for children as it teaches them how to use their imagination. Children have a vivid imagination and will enjoy coming up with different storylines and characters. Through the use of creative writing, children can express themselves using the English language, which is also good for their emotional development and maturity.

2. What are Good Creative Writing Topics?

A good start is to write about what you know. Students can start by writing about things that are familiar to them, such as school or family. Then, students can move on to more complex topics, requiring them to use their imagination about events which would be unlikely to happen in real life, such as a fairytale or an adventure story. Older students can write descriptive essays about being in a situation or about more abstract concepts, such as regret.

3. How to Begin a Story?

A good story should have just the right amount of exposition to illuminate the setting and the characters for the reader without giving away the entire plot. The story should begin where it is relevant, and the general gist of the situation should be outlined. The writer should know how to move the plot along from where they start easily, and the story should flow logically.

4. What are the Basic Steps in Creative Writing?

A good first step would be to plan out the story – it is important that the story follows a Plot Curve which has a logical sequence of events and a clear conclusion. The main and supporting characters should be clear – there should not be a whole village of characters – just enough to further the plot. Moreover, the central conflict of the story should be clear.