Dialogwriting

Dialogwriting is the craft of composing spoken exchanges between characters for literature, drama, film, television, radio, and interactive media. It conveys character, advances plot, reveals information, and creates rhythm and tension without relying solely on narration. Effective dialogwriting balances what is said with what is left unsaid, using subtext, pacing, and interruptions to make conversations feel natural and purposeful.

Conventions vary by medium. In novels, dialog is embedded in prose and often combined with internal thought and descriptive beats. In plays and screenplays, dialog is more compact and must carry action and intention, relying on actors and direction to supply nuance. In games and immersive media, branching dialog trees and player agency introduce structural complexity and the need for reconcilable choices.

Common techniques include distinct character voices, specificity of detail, concise exchanges, use of conflict and contradiction, and purposeful silence. Writers use tags, beats, and physical actions to clarify speakers and emotion. Pitfalls include on-the-nose exposition, homogenous speech across characters, excessive dialect, and unrealistic pacing.

Dialogwriting draws on linguistics, psychology, and observation of real conversation. It is practiced by novelists, playwrights, screenwriters, and interactive designers, and taught through examples, exercises, and revision emphasizing listening, trimming, and testing lines aloud. Successful dialog feels inevitable for the characters while remaining engaging for the audience.