3 Surprising Tips for Writing Screenplay Dialogue That Captivates
Writing memorable dialogue is one of the most challenging—and rewarding—aspects of screenwriting. Great dialogue not only sounds natural, it also reveals character, advances the story, and sometimes even leaves a lasting impact. If your characters’ conversations aren’t landing the way you want or they just sound a bit trite, try these three surprising tips to take your screenplay dialogue to the next level.
1. Listen to Real Conversations—But Don’t Copy Them
Eavesdropping on real conversations can give you insight into natural rhythms, pacing, and quirks. But remember, real-life conversations are contain filler words that don’t belong in a screenplay. Instead, capture the unique, revealing moments—how people hesitate when they’re unsure, rush when they’re excited, or choose their words carefully when nervous. Your dialogue should feel real, but it should also serve a purpose, whether it’s revealing character traits or moving the story forward.
Example:
Imagine two friends discussing a recent breakup. Instead of a long, drawn-out dialogue, you might capture the moment like this:
“So… he just left?”
“Yeah. Took his stuff. Didn’t even look back.”
This snippet keeps it simple, capturing the tension without extra filler. You’ve conveyed hurt and disbelief without needing a lengthy exchange.
When crafting dialogue, think about what’s happening in the scene that doesn’t need to be spoken. Real conversations have pauses, awkward silences, and unfinished thoughts. Use these in your writing to build authenticity, but avoid the mundane.
Every line should contribute something to the story or the character’s emotional arc.
2. Use Subtext to Make Every Line Count
The most powerful dialogue isn’t always about what’s said—it’s about what’s left unsaid. Subtext, or the underlying meaning behind a character’s words, creates layers that make the audience lean in and think. For instance, a character might say, “I’ll be fine on my own,” but the way they say it, or the context, could hint at loneliness or a desire for someone to stay. Writing with subtext helps keep your dialogue dynamic and engaging, allowing each line to carry more weight.
Example:
A character who feels rejected might say, “Sure, go ahead. I’ll be here.” The words seem supportive, but the reader or viewer can sense the disappointment or loneliness hidden beneath.
To create subtext, focus on the emotional stakes of the scene. Think about what your character really wants but isn’t saying. Are they masking their feelings? Trying to impress? The way they express themselves will convey more if it isn’t on the nose.
Subtext invites your audience to interpret, making the dialogue more immersive and thought-provoking.
3. Make It Sound Like Your Character
Your characters aren’t you—they each have their own voice, background, and personality. Avoid making all of them sound the same by reflecting deeply about who they are and how they’d naturally speak.
A college professor might use longer words and more formal sentences, while a teenager might be quick, sarcastic, or use slang. Keep your characters distinct, and their voices will naturally shine through, making the dialogue more engaging and the characters more memorable.
Example:
Imagine a young character who’s overconfident. Instead of saying, “I think I can do it,” they might say, “Easy. Done it a hundred times.” A line like this gives insight into their personality, revealing something beyond the words themselves.
Another technique is to limit or alter specific vocabulary for each character. Perhaps one character has a catchphrase or uses formal language, while another keeps their sentences short. This not only distinguishes their voices but also adds a layer of realism. When each character speaks in a unique way, the audience connects with them more deeply.
Ready to Take Your Screenplay to the Next Level?
Dialogue is just one piece of a captivating screenplay but if you do it very well in an already good story, it can take your screenplay to a whole new level and potentially be much more interesting to a high-profile talent.
If your screenplay is at that level that you want to connect to the right producers and get your script noticed, I can help. With my Script Marketing Campaign, you’ll make the kind of first impression that opens doors. Let’s bring your story to the right audience! You can learn more about it here, or feel free to call the Smart Girls office at 818/907-6511.
Remember, dialogue can make or break a screenplay. It’s a tool for expressing the hidden parts of your characters, adding intrigue, and driving the story forward. Use these tips to make your dialogue unforgettable, and soon, you’ll find yourself creating lines that stay with the audience long after the screen fades to black.
P.S. Here are three fun exercises to challenge your dialogue writing skills and open up your imagination.
I rewrote this article recently to focus more on the basics of dialogue, but here are the crazy things I originally mentioned. They are exercises you can do to freshen up your dialogue! Give it a shot.
The challenge with dialogue is how to say just enough to express what you need to in a way that sounds “real and believable” but also defines your character and makes them unique! Not an easy task.There is no simple secret to it other than practice and tweak, practice, tweak, study, and rewrite. As a screenwriter, you should always work at improving your dialogue writing skills. But try this:
1. Cut out every second or third line or word.
It’s easy to make dialogue too long and this exercise helps to remove extraneous words or lines. Go through your dialogue and cut out every other line, or take one line and cut out every third word. This sounds crazy because what you cut is based not on logic but on a random pattern. Once you do that for half a page, then rewrite it to make sense.
2. Random Word Relationship.
Get a novel off your shelf. Open it, close your eyes, flip through the pages, then put two fingers down on a page. Take those first two meaningful words (obviously not a, and, the) and try to use them in your character’s dialogue. Do this once on every page — but of course, you have to make sure you use them in a way your character would, and if you can’t, then still have them propel you to make some interstinch change.
This exercise will force you to break your dialogue routines (ways you use words without thinking about it), which can make it repetitive and boring.
This exercise can also help make editing be less of a slog and more fun, like a game.
3. Mix it up with different genres
One dialogue pitfall is having all the characters sound the same, thus making the script flat. To break out of that habit, pick a character in a movie of a different genre than your script genre. It should be a character you really like and know fairly well.
Then pick one of your characters and write his or her dialogue in that style. Not everyone needs to be serious in a drama and not everyone needs quips in a comedy.
By mixing up the kind of dialogue your characters use, you put a spin on your screenplay that will be unique. Of course when you do this, the idea is to MIX IT UP to get new ideas, but then, of course, you still have to edit it to make it flow! If you try these, you’ll be shocked at how much more interesting your dialogue will be and how it will open the flood doors of your own creativity.
Let me know what happens when you try it or if you have any other crazy dialogue improvement tips. If you want further help in making your script better or simply want to know how you stack up against other writers, you can also get a professional script analysis with Smart Girls.
