What are dialogue dos and don'ts when writing a book?

Here are ten easy rules to remember when writing great dialogue. By following these simple tips, you can make sure your dialogue is natural, believable and effective.

Do:

1. Write what people actually say - don't worry about perfect grammar or eloquence, just write down what the character would realistically say in the situation. This will make your dialogue sound more natural and believable.
2. Use body language and actions to show character emotion - sometimes a character's actions can speak louder than their words. Use body language and actions to help convey how your characters are feeling.
3. Make sure each character has a distinct voice - each character should sound unique so that readers can easily tell them apart. This means giving them different speech patterns, vocabulary and idioms.
4. Use dialogue to further the plot - every line of dialogue should move the story forward in some way, whether it's revealing information, advancing the plot or developing the characters.
5. Avoid info dumps - instead of having characters explain things to each other (or to the reader), try showing us through their actions and dialogue. This will be much more engaging for readers and will help to keep the story moving at a good pace.
6. Be concise - avoid long-winded speeches or monologues which can drag on and bore readers. Keep your dialogue short and sweet for maximum impact.
7. 1. Use dialect sparingly - if used correctly, dialect can add an extra layer of realism to your story. However, it can also be very off-putting for readers if used excessively or incorrectly, so use it sparingly and with caution.
   2. When using dialect, be consistent - once you've decided to use dialect for a certain character, stick with it throughout the story. Inconsistent use of dialect can be confusing for readers and make your dialogue sound forced or unnatural.
8. Read your dialogue aloud - reading aloud is a great way to check whether your dialogue sounds natural and flows well. If it doesn't sound right when you read it aloud, chances are it won't sound right to your reader either.
9. Be careful with humor - humor is often difficult to get right in written form, so tread carefully when trying to be funny in your dialogue. It's often best to leave jokes to the professionals!
10. Edit, edit, edit! - once you've written your first draft, go back through and revise your dialogue carefully. Pay attention to flow, pacing, grammar, spelling and overall clarity. The more time you spend editing, the better your final product will be.

Don't:

1. Get caught up in writing "perfect" dialogue. It's more important to capture the essence of what your characters are saying, rather than worry about whether or not it's grammatically correct.
2. Write long-winded speeches. Characters should speak in short, concise bursts that move the story forward.
3. Use too much description when writing dialogue. Let the reader use their imagination to fill in the visual gaps.
4. Have your characters say things they wouldn't normally say. Unless it's for comedic effect, keep your character's dialogue in line with their personality and motivation.
5. Forget about body language and nonverbal cues. These are just as important as the words your characters are saying and can help convey their feelings and intentions.
6. Use dialogue as a way to info-dump. Try to work important information into the story organically so that it doesn't feel like a lecture.
7. Write stilted, formal dialogue. Unless your story is set in a different time period or your characters are particularly formal, keep the language conversational.
8. Ignore dialects and accents. If your character has a specific way of speaking, make sure to capture that in their dialogue.
9. Have every character sound the same. Give each of your characters their own unique voice so that they stand out from one another.
10. Forget about subtext. What your characters are saying should be influenced by what they're thinking and feeling. Make sure there's some tension and conflict beneath the surface of their conversation.