3 ways to break up dialogue
Readers can get tired of too many lines of straight dialogue, so what should we do to break up our dialogue? Dialogue in a novel has many functions. It serves to advance the plot, help the reader understand character and character dynamics, or heighten conflict. One of the toughest things about getting dialogue right is figuring out what should surround it. Here are three ways to break up your dialogue and expertly draw readers into your scenes.
1) Emotional beats
When we watch TV and movies, we can see character emotion on the actor’s face and hear it in their tone of voice. But as novelists, we don’t have that option. That means we need to write conversations that include the character’s thoughts and emotions. To show character emotions during dialogue scenes, you can include descriptions of tone of voice, such as speaking flatly or high-pitched. You can also use unique dialogue tags, such as she snapped or he huffed. Another way is to describe a character’s expression or body language (he raised an eyebrow, she frowned etc). Lastly, you can use interiority, which means writing out a character’s inner thoughts or dialogue (an option novelists have that screenwriters don’t — unless they use voiceover).
2) Character actions
Another way to break up dialogue is to periodically go back to what your characters are doing. Adding character action or movement makes the scene more interesting, especially if they are doing something that seems at odds with the conversation! For example, if two characters are having a sword fight and exchanging witty banter. Showing a character’s actions is also a good way to show their emotions. If a character is fidgeting or tapping a pen on their desk it might show the conversation is making them nervous. Rarely do we remain still when we’re having a conversation with somebody. Picture your characters exchanging words and try to imagine what they might be doing. Then, you’ll have no problem reminding your reader what they’re up to during their conversation.
3) Description
Description is another key way to break up dialogue. If it’s the first time the characters have met, then the POV character might provide a physical description of the other character. If the characters are in an exciting or active setting, such as a concert or protest, you can take time to pause the conversation and remind the reader what is going on around them. If you’re using description to break up dialogue, one or two sentences are usually enough, otherwise you risk pulling the reader too far out of the main conversation.
When you learn how to break up your dialogue with emotional beats, character actions and description, you’ll provide a better reading experience for your readers. Every writer uses these elements with different amounts and techniques. Genres like literary fiction will have more description between lines of dialogue, while fast-paced genres like mystery may have less. Take a look at authors in your genre to see how they break up dialogue, then begin to form your own style.
