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8. Forgetting Body Language

Nonverbal cues are a huge part of communication. Beginners might focus solely on the words spoken, neglecting how body language, tone, and facial expressions can add layers to a conversation.

9. Not Using Contractions or Natural Speech Patterns

This is so obvious but so often overlooked. To make dialogue sound more realistic, it’s important to use contractions and mirror natural speech patterns. Overly formal dialogue sounds unnatural and will distance the reader—unless English is a second language for your character, in which case, you can turn it into a specific character trait.

10. Ignoring the Setting

The environment can impact how characters interact. We don’t share everything in front of everyone. We don’t launch into long, complicated revelations when we’ve got five minutes before our coffee order is ready. We don’t share confidential information where we can be overheard. (Well, hopefully, we don’t!) Your setting will determine how much, and in what manner, your characters will exchange information. Use setting effectively to influence the dialogue’s tone, pace, or intensity.

11. Forcing Humor or Witty Banter

Banter or repartee refers to the witty and playful exchange of remarks, often animated and humorous, between characters. It’s a rapid back-and-forth conversation—often between romantic or potentially romantic partners—where each participant tries to outdo the other with clever comments or retorts. This type of dialogue is not just about being funny; it serves several important purposes in storytelling, especially in genres that thrive on dynamic character interactions, such as mystery, romance, and comedy.

Readers love funny cozy mysteries. While well-executed humor or banter can enrich dialogue, force-feeding it into the conversation will feel strained and unfunny. If you’re naturally witty, that’s terrific. But you don’t have to be a standup comic to infuse lightness and humor into your story. You can mine situations and character quirks for amusement value. And remember, no matter how naturally funny you are, jokes at the wrong time can defuse tension you’re trying to build or wreck a romantic scene (much like in real life, if you know what I mean).

How to Craft Effective Banter:

Know Your Characters:Characters engaging in banter should have well-defined voices and personalities. Their exchanges should reflect their backgrounds, attitudes, and the dynamics of their relationship.

Keep It Quick:Banter is all about timing. The exchanges should be quick and to the point, mimicking the natural flow of a playful argument or a teasing conversation.

Balance Between Characters:Effective banter requires a balance, with each character getting their moments to shine. It shouldn’t be one-sided; rather, it should feel like a game of tennis, with the dialogue bouncing back and forth equally.

Use Subtext:Good banter often has layers of meaning beneath the surface. Characters might be flirting, jockeying for position, or testing each other’s boundaries. The subtext adds depth to what might otherwise be a purely comedic exchange.

Be Witty, Not Mean:There’s a fine line between witty banter and characters just being mean to each other. The exchange should feel fun and engaging, not hurtful. Even when characters are rivals, their banter should hint at a mutual respect or an underlying affection.

Practice and Edit:Writing banter can be challenging because it requires a good ear for dialogue and a deep understanding of your characters. Don’t be afraid to write a lot of dialogue and then edit down to the best bits. Sometimes, the process of discovery through writing can lead you to the most authentic and engaging exchanges.

Read It Aloud:This helps you catch the rhythm of the exchange and ensure it sounds natural and lively. Banter should have a musical quality, with a rhythm and flow that make it enjoyable to read.

To write banter effectively, it’s important to keep it natural, ensure it serves the story, and remember that the best exchanges reveal as much (about the characters and their relationships) as they entertain. Balancing wit with depth and ensuring it flows organically from your characters’ personalities and the situation at hand will make your dialogue sparkle with authenticity and engagement.

12. Close Your Eyes and Think of Huck

Dialect and accents are meant to add authenticity and depth, giving characters a distinct voice and cultural background. But when overused or inaccurately depicted, dialect and accents are just plain painful, turning characters into caricatures, potentially offending or alienating readers, and making the dialogue difficult to read. Your goal is to sprinkle your dialogue with a little cultural flavor—not to emulate Huck Finn and Jim sailing on a raft down the Mississippi.

How to Use Dialect and Accents Effectively:

Be Sparing:Use dialect and accents sparingly, choosing a few key phrases or word choices to suggest the accent rather than attempting to phonetically replicate it throughout.

Do your Research:Ensure accuracy and sensitivity by researching dialects and accents thoroughly, understanding the nuances and avoiding stereotypes.

Keep it Readable:Remember, the primary goal is clarity and immersion for the reader. If an accent or dialect pulls them out of the story because it’s too hard to decipher, it’s counterproductive.

Don’t Stereotype:There’s a fine line between representing a dialect or accent authentically and veering into caricature. Italian characters need not sound like The Super Mario Brothers’ Luigi to get your point across. It’s important to respect and understand the speech patterns you’re trying to depict, ensuring they add to character development without reducing characters to stereotypes.

13. Too Realistic Dialogue

Realistic dialogue aims to mirror real-life conversations to add believability to your characters and their interactions. However, cozy mysteries are not reality. In addition to profanity and a clutter ofumsanders, real-life conversation is full of filler content. Readers don’t need to hear about the weather, Mrs. McGillicuddy’s lumbago, or Mr. Greene’s grandkids. Stay on point. Meandering, dull, pointless exchanges bog down narrative pace and bore readers.

Internal Dialogue Or (More Accurately) Internal Monologue

Internal dialogue refers to the thoughts of a character that are not spoken out loud but are shared with the reader. It’s a direct window into the character’s inner world, revealing their feelings, reactions, secrets, and intentions that might not be apparent through action or spoken dialogue alone.

Internal dialogue reveals the complexities of your characters, showing their vulnerabilities, fears, desires, and motivations. This is especially useful in mystery fiction, where characters’ hidden motives can add twists and depth to the plot.