Do you ever find yourself struggling to come up with new story ideas? Are you looking for a way to jumpstart your writing process? If so, then creative dialogue prompts may be just what you need! Dialogue prompts are a great way to get your imagination flowing and develop interesting characters and storylines. This blog post will provide you with a list of creative dialogue prompts that will help you get started on your next writing project.
11 Dialogue Prompts to Jumpstart Your Writing
Use these prompts as a starting point, and see where your imagination takes you!
- “I’m sorry, I just don’t think this will work out.”
- “I never thought I’d see you again.”
- “We need to talk.”
- “I don’t know how to tell you this, but…”
- “Congratulations!”
- “I don’t believe it.”
- “Thank you.”
- “I’m not sure if I can do this.”
- “I’m so sorry.”
- “Please forgive me.”
- “I love you.”
11 Romantic Dialogue Prompts to Help You Write Better Love Scenes
Despite what many people think, writing romantic dialogue is not as easy as it seems. This list of 11 romantic dialogue prompts may help you write better love scenes.
- “I’m so glad I found you.”
- “I’ve never felt this way before.”
- “You’re different from anyone else I’ve ever met.”
- “I can’t imagine my life without you.”
- “I’m not perfect, but I promise I’ll always love you.”
- “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
- “I will always be here for you.”
- “You’re my best friend as well as my lover.”
- “Thank you for being patient with me.”
- “Thank you for understanding me.”
- “Thank you for never giving up on me.”
11 Clever Creative Writing Dialogue Prompts
- “I’m sorry, I just don’t think this is working out.”
- “I can’t believe you would say that to me.”
- “We need to talk.”
- “I’m not sure what I’m doing with my life.”
- “I’m so sick of pretending like everything is okay.”
- “Why can’t things just be simple?”
- “Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough?”
- “I’m done with this.”
- “This isn’t how I pictured my life would be.”
- “Sometimes I just wish I could disappear.”
- “What are we even doing?”
How to Write Good Dialogue
Good dialogue strengthens a story by moving the plot forward, revealing character traits, and providing comic relief. It can be tricky to get right, but with a few tips up your sleeve, you can make sure your dialogue sounds natural, believable, and compelling. Here’s how to write good dialogue.
1. Start With Action
A piece of dialogue should never just appear out of nowhere-it should always follow some kind of action. That action could be verbal (like one character interrupting another), physical (like a character getting up from their chair), or emotional (like a character being taken aback by something they’ve just heard). Starting with action helps to keep your dialogue grounded in reality and makes it more interesting to read.
2. Make It Sound Natural
One of the biggest mistakes writers make is making their characters sound like they’re reading from a script. In real life, people don’t talk in complete sentences-they use filler words, they interrupt each other, and they start and stop mid-sentence. To make your dialogue sound more natural, try mimicking how people speak using contractions, incomplete sentences, and casual language by tilting at these small authentic cues in dialogue. Always remember that dialogue serves the plot, not the other way around! You can also use dialects and accents to make your characters sound more authentic. Just be careful not to overdo it – too much dialect can be difficult for readers to follow.
3. Use Body Language Cues
In addition to spoken dialogue, there are also unspoken dialogue-or body language cues. These are things like eye contact, facial expressions, hand gestures, etc., that help convey what a character is thinking or feeling without them having to say anything out loud. Using body language cues in your dialogue can help add another layer of richness and complexity to your characters and make them feel more real.
4. Be Aware of Pacing
Pacing is the rhythm of your story-the way the events unfold over time. When you’re writing dialogue, it’s essential to be aware of the pacing of your story and make sure the dialogue fits with the overall tempo. If your story is fast-paced, your dialogue should be too; if it’s slow-paced, your dialogue should reflect that as well. Keeping an eye on pacing will help you avoid choppy scenes or dragging conversations that bore readers and throw off the flow of your story.
The Elements of a Good Conversation
A good conversation is the cornerstone of any strong relationship, whether it’s between friends, family members, or business associates.
A Good Conversation is Focused on the Other Person
One of the most important things to remember when you’re writing a good conversation is that it’s not about only one character; it’s about the other person too. When you’re focused on both characters, you’re more likely to pay attention to what they’re saying and to write follow-up questions. You can also use what the other person is saying as a jumping-off point for the other’s stories and experiences, which will help keep the conversation flowing.
A Good Conversation Flows Naturally
A good conversation should flow naturally without feeling forced or contrived. This means that both parties should feel like they’re engaged in an equal give-and-take; no one should feel like they’re doing all the talking or like they’re being interrogated. Natural conversation should also be marked by plenty of pauses, which give both parties a chance to think about what they want to say next.
A Good Conversation Leaves Room for Surprises
Finally, a good conversation should be flexible enough to accommodate surprises. No matter how well your character knows someone, there’s always the potential for something unexpected; be prepared to go off-script if necessary and roll with the punches. The best conversations often take unexpected turns; embrace the serendipity and enjoy the ride!
How to Build Emotion into Dialogue
1. Show, Don’t Tell
When writing emotionally charged dialogue, it’s essential to show, not tell. Telling the reader how a character feels takes away from the scene’s impact. Instead of having a character say, “I’m so angry right now,” try showing the anger through their actions and words. Maybe they’re shouting, throwing things, refusing to listen to reason- whatever communicates anger without actually saying, “I am angry.”
2. Use Strong Verbs
Strong verbs are your friend when you’re trying to write emotional dialogue. Verbs like “scream,” “yell,” “whisper,” “sob,” etc., can help convey emotion without resorting to telling the reader how the character is feeling. For example, instead of writing “She was so sad after her mother died,” you could write “She sobbed uncontrollably after her mother died.” The second sentence is much more effective in conveying emotion.
3. Use Specific Details
When you’re writing emotional dialogue, specific details are critical. The more specific you can be about what the characters feel, the more natural and relatable those emotions will be for the reader or viewer. For example, instead of writing, “He was disappointed when she said she didn’t want to go out with him,” try something like “His heart sank when she said she didn’t want to go out with him.” The second sentence is more concrete and provides specific details about his feelings, making it more relatable and compelling.