The Five D’s of Dialogue

Next to imagery, dialogue is paramount to propelling your story. The setting and plot are advanced through your characters’ actions and thoughts, but especially their words. What your characters say establish truths and questions for the reader that keeps them interested in development as well as how the characters navigate the problem at hand. While what your characters say will vary, the use of dialogue breaks down into specific categories:

Deceptive: Words that are meant to confuse your character, or even your reader, by leading them down the wrong path.

Direct: Statements that inform the character and reader of important information related to the setting, plot or other characters.

Descriptive: Explanations of people, places or things that create context for the reader to dive into the story.

Drama: These statements lead into the thick of your content, or create conflict.

Depth: To escalate the conversation, your character must ask the tough questions, or be prompted to think deeper.

Everything a character says will fall into these categories, and by knowing where they stack-up, you can use the five D’s of dialogue to your advantage. Your character’s idle chatter will subtly (or not so subtly) encourage the reader to receive the story’s message as you intended. Of course, just like speaking to a real person, the tone and context of your dialogue may be interpreted in a dozen different ways. That’s fine, and don’t worry about it. What you should focus on is constructing a discussion that helps develop your character and the story. And remember that sometimes, words speak louder than actions.