Alright, I wouldn’t really call them rules, but maybe think of them as signposts or goals or just things to consider. I’d also argue that these signposts work almost as equally for both screenplays (TV, Film, webseries, theatre) and prose (novels, short stories). You could argue that most of these tips apply to graphic novels and comic books as well:
Dialogue is a critical part of any screenplay, so let’s start with some of the more basic concepts and rules when it comes to writing effective dialogue. These basics apply to all mediums:
- Demonstrate Character and Conflict: Dialogue should reveal character and advance the story through internal or external conflict. Avoid meaningless chitchat.
- Compress and Economize: Use as few words as possible to convey maximum meaning. Cut unnecessary dialog. Screen dialogue requires compression and economy.
- Keep it Concise and Active: Dialogue needs energy and momentum. Keep exchanges short, snappy, and free of passive or stale phrasing.
- Build Interactively: Characters should respond directly to each other. Avoid one-sided monologues.
- Create Dynamics: Dialogue has rhythm, building like music to a payoff or climax.
Now let’s talk about SUBTEXT. About what’s not being said. This is the mojo behind any great scene. When characters tell us what they mean, it’s okay. It’s a serviceable part of getting information out there, but! If the entire script is two talking heads dumping information in scene after scene after scene… I can think of easier ways to fall asleep, thanks.
Subtext is what makes dialogue engaging for the audience. They listen, anticipating what will and won’t be said, and how the consequences of a conversation will affect what comes next. The word play and innuendo can add layers of fun and/or intrigue to a scene and situation, heightening the meaning or just elevating the context, the emotions at play, or helping to land a great joke.
Subtext adds intrigue by revealing the disconnect between what characters say and what they actually mean or want to conceal. Their inner desires and motivations come through via subtle cues that give dialogue unspoken layers of meaning. Use subtext to build suspense and make the audience feel privileged to perceive things the characters do not say out loud.
A great recent example is Greta Gerwig’s and Noah Baumbach’s script for the 2023 Barbie movie. One (of many examples from a script packed with innuendo and subtext) ocurs during Barbie’s initial meeting with Weird Barbie (played by Kate McKinnon who clearly is having fun):
STEREOTYPICAL BARBIE
What do I have to do?WEIRD BARBIE
You have to go to the Real World.STEREOTYPICAL BARBIE
Okay.WEIRD BARBIE
And you have to find the girl who’s playing with you.STEREOTYPICAL BARBIE
Playing with me?WEIRD BARBIE
We’re all being played with, babe.
Your audience can be trusted to read between the lines. Have characters hold back information to create mystery and dramatic irony. Clever dialogue tells us what the characters really mean through implication and subtext.
Here’s some more food for thought on crafting useful dialogue:
- When writing for the visual/aural medium, the most important information in a sentence should be at the end of that sentence. In prose (when reading), the most important information should be at the beginning of the sentence.
- Make it Meaningful: Any dialog that doesn’t advance plot or reveal character must be cut ruthlessly.
- Consider Character Backgrounds: Age, education, etc affect how characters talk. Dialogue should reflect this.
- Show Emotional Range: Different characters express emotions differently. Anger can provoke silence or shouting depending on the character.
- Cut Small Talk: Avoid boring chatter and meaningless pleasantries.
- Show, Don’t Tell: Characters should act out feelings, not describe them directly.
- Provide Specific Details: Be precise, not vague.
- Avoid Long Speeches: Outside of critical confrontations, long monologues are not realistic.
- Don’t Use Soliloquies: Put characters with others to move story along rather than talking to themselves.
- Differentiate Voices: Give each character distinctive speech patterns.
- Use Images For Plot, Dialogue For Motivation: Show events visually, use dialogue to reveal psychology.
- Mind Your Formatting: Use ellipses (…) and em-dashes (–) for dramatic pauses and interruptions.
Hopefully, some of these tips will help make your dialogue crisp, efficient, and revealing. Remember that great dialogue artfully blends showing and telling through impactful subtext. Every line should advance the story while exposing character motivations and hidden meanings.
And if you find yourself running out of things for your characters to say, do what Stereotypical Barbie would do: Throw a giant blowout party with all the Barbies and planned choreography and a bespoke song. If that doesn’t scream inspiration, I don’t know what will.