by Kimberly A. Smith

Created on: February 08, 2009   Last Updated: February 20, 2010

One of the most challenging aspects of fiction writing for many authors is creating convincing dialogue. Each character needs to speak in a unique, distinct voice. If your characters are not individuals, they will most likely not be memorable either. There are many techniques available to help you develop and ear for dialogue.

Stop and Listen

Take the afternoon to go to a public place and simply listen to the people around you. Sit with a notebook and cup of coffee. Pay attention to the unique speaking patterns of the people walking by. Just a sentence or two can help you create an interesting character. Jot down any observations you make about things you hear that may help you improve your writing. Think about cadence, grammar, accents, and confidence when you are listening in on people.

Read Dialogue Out Loud

Translating the spoken word to the page is difficult because dialogue should not be written the way people actually speak. However, reading it out loud can help you develop distinct voices for each of your characters. With many novice writers, every character ends up speaking in a similar way to the author. By reading passages out loud, you can try to discover if your characters are all starting to sound like you.

Watch Television

The dialogue in film or television is much closer to that of a novel than the way people actually talk. If you feel shy about spending the day people watching, similar results can be achieved without leaving the house. Turn on the television and watch the way people interact. How does each character's speech pattern show who they are and how they are interacting with the rest of the cast? What makes each character sound different?

Study Other Novels

Do you have a favorite fictional character? Pull out the novel and try to decipher how the author presents the character. What techniques do they use to make each character sound different and distinct? Focus your attention entirely on the dialogue passages instead of getting lost in the narrative. If a book is powerful for you, there is a good chance that the characters each have their own distinct personality.

Keep Dialect to a Minimum

Many wonderful writers have used dialects effectively in their characters' speech. However, it is important to keep this to a minimum. You do not need every word to reflect the local accent or dialect to get the message across to the reader. Make sure that it is easy to glance at the page and understand what your characters are saying.

Creating distinct and unique voices for each of your characters can be a challenge, but it is one of the best ways to improve your writing. Each character's voice should reflect who they are and where they come from. If your characters sound generic, your story will too. Like with all writing, practice makes perfect. Keep working and you will soon be able to flesh out realistic characters.

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