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Authentic Dialogue
Reveal motive, emotion, or tension in every line.
Dialogue should reveal something important. What a character wants, how they feel, or where the tension lives.
Trim filler, expose character motives, and show conflict.
The most forgettable lines just fill space. “Hi.” “Hey.” “How are you?” “Fine. You?” “Fine.”
Compare: “You’re late.” “Didn’t think you’d notice.” “I always notice.”
There’s motive here: one character might be deflecting. There’s emotion: guilt, maybe pride. There’s tension: a past disagreement, something unspoken.
Motive: What does this character want right now?
Emotion: What are they feeling, and how do they hide or show it?
Tension: What’s pulling this exchange tight? What hangs in the air between them?
“I brought you coffee.” “Thanks.” “You didn’t sleep, did you?” “I said thanks.”
One cares. The other is trying to shut the door. Motive (trying to connect), emotion (worry and avoidance), and tension (it’s not just about coffee).
Flat conversations happen because writers explain too much. The best dialogue doesn’t waste words.
