Definition
Dialogue is the spoken exchange between characters, rendered on the page to reveal conflict, relationship, and subtext. Strong dialogue sounds like a particular person under pressure, not like the author explaining the plot.
Example
"You kept the receipt," she said. "So you planned to come back." Two lines can expose trust and accusation without narration.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Using dialogue to dump information no one would naturally say aloud.
- Making every character speak with the same vocabulary and rhythm.