Let's talk Dialogue

How to Write Great Dialogue for Your Screenplay or Pilot

There’s a lot that goes into writing a memorable, undeniable script. But what ends up in memes, on T-shirts, coffee mugs, and being quoted by people who probably never saw the movie decades after the movie or TV show first came out? The dialogue.

Without a doubt, dialogue is one of the most important elements of a screenplay. It's how characters communicate with each other, reveal their motivations, and move the story forward. If your dialogue is weak, it can sink your entire script.
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But writing good dialogue can be tricky. It takes practice, skill, and a deep understanding of your characters. Here are some tips to help you write great dialogue for your screenplay or TV Pilot:

Let the dialogue advance the plot

Dialogue should never be just for the sake of talking. It should always have a purpose. It should move the story forward, reveal character motivations, or add conflict.

Use dialogue to assist with character development.

A character who went to college will make different word choices than one raised by wolves. They’ll use different words and structure their sentences differently. Straight-arrow Captain America never swears, but Iron Man has a potty mouth. So when Cap does swear, the audience knows it BAD. Use their tone of voice to reveal more about their character rather than tell us. Ted Lasso uses upbeat, folksy sayings, while Roy Kent growls and swears. All of these things can help you create well-rounded, believable characters.

Dialogue can also make your script unique. In the “Deadpool” franchise, the dialogue and quippy one-liners make those movies entertaining and sets them apart from the other superhero movies.

Avoid exposition in dialogue

Exposition is when you explain the backstory, setting, or plot of your story through dialogue. Usually, it happens when the writer is afraid the audience won’t understand something they need to know. It’s better to show this information through action or visuals.

Be concise

Avoid long, rambling speeches. Any dialogue block longer than five lines is worth looking at for editing. Yes, once in a while you need a St. Crispin’s Day speech from “Henry V” or a call to rally the troops like in “Independence Day,” but what makes those speeches stand out is that there is only one long speech per movie.

Make dialogue sound like real people talking

This means using natural word choices and avoiding clichés. Don’t make your dialogue boring or predictable, but believable and natural. If your story is set in a particular world (the military, a hospital, etc.), use enough jargon to sound authentic but not so much that the audience gets lost.

Makes sure the pacing matches the character. Donkey in “Shrek” talks a mile a minute, while Shrek chooses his words more carefully.

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Here are some additional tips for writing great dialogue:

• Read other screenplays and pay attention to the dialogue. What do you like about the dialogue in those scripts? What could be improved?
• Listen to people talk in real life. Pay attention to the way they use language, their tone of voice, and their body language.
• Read plays and novels. Plays and novels are full of great dialogue. Read them and pay attention to the way the characters talk.
• Experiment with different dialogue styles. There's no one right way to write dialogue. Try different styles and see what works best for you.
• Ask friends, family, or other writers to read your dialogue out loud so you can hear what it will sound like on screen.

Here are some additional resources to improve your dialogue:

• The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier
• Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder
  
• The Dialogue Writer's Companion by Linda Seger
  
• Screenplay Dialogue: The Art of Conversation by William Goldman
  
• The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler

Writing great dialogue takes time and practice. But by following these tips and practicing, you can learn how to write dialogue that is both engaging and believable.

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Want help with your dialogue? Use the email button at the top of the page and reach out to me for a dialogue review. You'll receive a full checklist of what works, what doesn't, and suggestions on how to improve it.