How To Give Your Character Unique Dialogue: A Guide For Writers

How to Give Your Character Unique Dialogue: A Guide for Writers

Hey there, fellow writers!

Crafting memorable characters isn’t just about their backstory or physical traits—it’s also about how they speak. Unique dialogue can make your characters stand out and feel more real. Here’s a quick guide on how to give your characters a voice that’s all their own:

1. Know Your Character Inside Out

• Background: Where did they grow up? What’s their education level?

• Personality: Are they sarcastic, formal, shy, or bubbly?

• Motivations: What drives them? How does this affect their speech?

2. Use Distinctive Speech Patterns

• Catchphrases & Slang: Does your character have a favorite saying or unique slang?

• Rhythm & Pace: Do they speak quickly when excited or slowly when thinking?

• Filler Words: Um, like, you know—these can reveal a lot about a character’s confidence and background.

3. Reflect Their Environment

• Regional Dialects: Incorporate local idioms or accents.

• Professional Jargon: Use specific terms related to their job or hobbies.

4. Show Their Emotions

• Tension & Relaxation: How does their speech change under stress or when they’re relaxed?

• Subtext: What are they not saying? Use pauses and interruptions to show this.

5. Keep it Consistent

• Consistency is Key: Ensure their dialogue remains true to their character throughout your story.

6. Read Aloud

• Test it Out: Read your dialogue out loud. Does it sound natural? Does it fit the character?

7. Edit Ruthlessly

• Trim the Fat: Remove unnecessary words. Make every line count.

• Avoid Info-Dumping: Let dialogue reveal character and plot naturally, not as an exposition dump.

Example Time!

Here’s a snippet showing how distinct dialogue can differentiate characters:

Aloof Scientist:

“The quantum flux anomaly is, frankly, quite perplexing. However, if we calibrate the resonator to precisely 9.42 terahertz, we might just mitigate the interference.”

Street-Smart Rebel:

“Look, I don’t know shit about your fancy science talk, but if it’s gonna help us bust outta here, I’m all in. Just tell me where to hit.”

Happy writing, and may your characters’ voices ring true!

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More Posts from Freakinfiction and Others

4 years ago

Subbed cdramas on youtube

So, I know with the demise of Dramafever, people have been looking for where to watch subbed cdramas. There is always viki, of course, and they have a good selection, but surprisingly, youtube also has a bunch.

Here is what I found:

Huace Media Channel has a number of subbed cdramas, including An Oriental Odyssey, Meteor Butterfly Sword, The Taoism Grandmaster, the Great Protector and others. 

https://www.youtube.com/user/huacemedia/playlists

YoYo Television Series Exclusive channel has a number of subbed dramas, including Eternal Love 1 and 2, When Paris Downcast, Legend of Yun xi, Lost in 1949 (Chen Kun!):

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheTvseriesofficial/playlists

Channel for KUKAN drama that has a few subbed cdramas like The Dark Lord:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVm75cj78njo38Izz_suQQA/playlists

The entirety of Colourful Bone (yup, that drama I have been pushing) is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwMPGEs-m10&list=PLcHRE_huWMAzKEbtEnhPr945cP7TJMdZ_

Ashes of Love:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COAGJgaRAVs&list=PLJ8tSVdIuzBajHmCuVhaizzozMICen2up

Bloody Romance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4MKRRJM3-w&list=PLJ8tSVdIuzBYv0FRhhQRP3v8V0nsRB6P7

Oh My General:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlmsVQcsOS4&list=PLQ2Fa1qFwrH1BNnWuGOfjGvZIjDF5b-TJ

Cinderella Chef (both seasons):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQSsrSqnm6E&list=PLQ2Fa1qFwrH1ZX7ttRukgVrabJ_hUWHPj

The Screen Foxes (Fox in the Screen):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xt6rTark6I&list=PLQ2Fa1qFwrH1a6mR92AXUlJIKTj2K-t5L

Age of Legends can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohHmPLHNue4&list=PLpOa-OrneXm0RL_zDYbeRwqGt4VUfAwCk

The Journey of Flower:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X_sq4LQQPA&index=1&list=PLLRYHxCh-wkpM3gFkBw0PYWk5CHVOOwhn

Chinese Paladin 5:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQcKd2Oo9S0&list=PL9ueEqDL4IUVULQyZ1u34VqcRozmC45nQ

Princess Agents:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4pMBHmBFFc&list=PLLRYHxCh-wkqb8PYzl2R1AjXJROtTHAV1

Lost Love in Times:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1lZRWxsQMU&list=PL9BcegyIUROk6JzEKDkpKWwFdmdHZLhSi

The King’s Woman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBplbEAaiMA&list=PL9BcegyIUROk2yDaj3zz_AEmvTg6SuHFz

Nirvana in Fire 2 (which I think is one of YoYo channel dramas but here it is separately):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0YwGNAnCns&list=PLkLimRXN6NKy7jfS0Jf-hwfYR_ozsDET6

The Advisors’ Alliance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQeNjOVSa1Y&list=PLYRGCE_sj_lHsQ7uWj5T1DSJsIj5iv16H

Tribes and Empires:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHslS0XEDsk&list=PLvpAVnYN4lb1VtTi_Axy0sO-oOo9qdqsV

The Legend of Chusen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejzgVhpaXJc&list=PLQqbdnAgoRmbq73Lix-YR6nbyb74EQYMx

Fight Through the Heavens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klnXkWrVhJg&list=PLkvG4EWPDB0mWdqbgUySTv2nBQUgSlJZ8

Legend of Dragon Pearl:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEBUbgdIpaE&list=PLkvG4EWPDB0lBE9tY5cJMsdXYh9uuu2cM

The Flame’s Daughter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap-KPNtjCs4&list=PLkvG4EWPDB0m3-8tfhK-vdIUSkxW6TnQc

Martial Universe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi3izji6fmU&list=PLkvG4EWPDB0lVdi85NAMOpvAXJRaHDSPm

Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD-xpO3uBA8&list=PLkvG4EWPDB0lcSDJv9x9o-d_zFjcWOjkm

Story of Yanxi Palace:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr_R9s7gMgk&list=PLkvG4EWPDB0kxJFJxhgjxLmZ-JqSM-9Gm

I am sure there is more but these are the ones I know about.

1 year ago

One trope Im a big fan of in media is when the loyalty outweighs a conflict of interest. I don’t agree with what you’re doing, but I will follow where you go no matter what. I will do anything for you even if it opposes my own morals

2 months ago

If you're fifteen or older an still sleep with a stuffed animal please reblog this.

10 months ago
˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ CEZHOU MARRIED ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ CEZHOU MARRIED ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

QJJ audio drama

7 months ago

Writing Reference: Parts of a Castle

View of the Godesburg and the Seven Mountains (detail)
Karl Bodmer
c. 1836

Arrow slits - Defenders could fire arrows out, but attackers could not shoot in through these narrow holes.

Banners - Showed the symbol of the lord and his king.

Battlements - Defenders standing here could bombard attackers while staying sheltered.

Blacksmith - Skilled metalworkers provided armor, weapons, and other equipment.

Curtain wall - Thick stone walls kept the castle’s inhabitants safe from attack.

Drawbridge - This wooden bridge could be raised to cut off access to the gate.

Dungeon - Prisoners could be locked away underground, with no hope of escape.

Entranceway - A single narrow entrance meant attackers could only approach one at a time.

Gardens - Grew vegetables to eat in case of siege.

Gatehouse - The castle entrance was heavily defended. It was often built as a narrow tunnel with wood or iron gates at either end. Holes in the ceiling (murder holes) could be used to pour boiling oil or water on attackers in the tunnel.

Gatehouse towers - Towers on either side of the gatehouse allowed defenders to rain arrows, stones, or boiling water on anyone attacking.

Great hall - The feasting room, where the lord would hold banquets for his knights and guests.

Lord’s chambers - The lord and his family had private rooms in the strongest part of the castle, known as the solar.

Moat - Cut into the rock and often filled by diverting a nearby stream, the moat kept attackers away from the walls.

Postern gate - A side door acted as an emergency exit in case the castle was ever conquered.

Towers - Circular towers allowed defenders to fire arrows in any direction.

During peacetime, a castle was home to the lord, his family and servants, and guards known as men-at-arms. Many castles were like little villages inside, with kitchens, blacksmiths, gardens, stables, and a chapel. If they were attacked, the people inside had everything they needed to survive until help came.

Source More References: Medieval Period ⚜ Worldbuilding ⚜ Plot ⚜ Character

2 months ago
So, Let Me Guess– You Just Started A New Book, Right? And You’re Stumped. You Have No Idea How Much
So, Let Me Guess– You Just Started A New Book, Right? And You’re Stumped. You Have No Idea How Much
So, Let Me Guess– You Just Started A New Book, Right? And You’re Stumped. You Have No Idea How Much

So, let me guess– you just started a new book, right? And you’re stumped. You have no idea how much an AK47 goes for nowadays. I get ya, cousin. Tough world we live in. A writer’s gotta know, but them NSA hounds are after ya 24/7. I know, cousin, I know. If there was only a way to find out all of this rather edgy information without getting yourself in trouble…

You’re in luck, cousin. I have just the thing for ya.

It’s called Havocscope. It’s got information and prices for all sorts of edgy information. Ever wondered how much cocaine costs by the gram, or how much a kidney sells for, or (worst of all) how much it costs to hire an assassin?

I got your back, cousin. Just head over to Havocscope.

((PS: In case you’re wondering, Havocscope is a database full of information regarding the criminal underworld. The information you will find there has been taken from newspapers and police reports. It’s perfectly legal, no need to worry about the NSA hounds, cousin ;p))

Want more writerly content? Follow maxkirin.tumblr.com!

5 years ago

'I'll be gone in a month', you thought.

And it made you really terrified. You're still young and there's so much more you wanted to do. So you tried to avoid it- anything that you thought dangerous, you completely stopped doing it.

You stopped climbing up stools to take plates from higher cabinets because you afraid you'll fall. You started to be really anxious to cross the road because you're afraid to be hit by a car. You're extremely careful when walking down the streets so nothing like a flower pot would hit your head. You asked your friends to taste you food first before you eat to make sure it was not poisoned. You took every precaution you could.

You don't want to die yet. You can't die yet.

But every single day when you look through the mirror, it's empty. No matter how safe you were, it remained empty.

Until one day, you're all curled up in your blankets, fidgetting and bitting you finger nails as you're anxious because a month had passed, someone entered your apartment.

Quickly you stood up and reached for the nearest vase you saw just in case.

"Woah there, there's no need to be so violent", the uninvited guest smirked. "I mean no harm."

He handed you a glowing pendant. Warily, you took the pendant and asked,

"Who are you? What's this?"

Instead of answering, he showed a mirror in front of your face.

There it is, your reflection. You can finally see your reflection back. You smiled and screamed in joy.

"H...how? Why?", you managed to stammer although you're already speechless.

"Because you're a witch", he replied.

Then you knew that you're not a simple human but a species of immortal witch. Before being immortal, your reflection will disappear for some time- as for your case, a month.

Your reflection became normal- the mirror no longer showed your reflection a month after. And you're also able to see the future through the mirror.

-this just came to my mind and pardon me for my bad English.

From a young age, you realized the mirrors never showed your reflection; they showed you how you’ll look in a month. One day, your reflection is gone.


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9 months ago
Mont Saint-Michel, France By Allyson Beaucourt 

Mont Saint-Michel, France by Allyson Beaucourt 

10 months ago

worst part about getting angry is how much it makes you want to be mean

10 months ago
Art Archive 💙❤️

art archive 💙❤️

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