Writing Natural Dialogue- Process (Patreon)

One of my most frequently asked questions is how to make dialogue seem natural. I'm very much still learning myself, but over the course of working with comics and storyboards I've developed a way of thinking when approaching dialogue! which is the most I'll be able to impart!

as I mentioned in another post- I dont work chronologically, most of the time it's "barcoding". I have a general sense of a timeline and where key moments happen, and that usually revolves around key dialogue. Dialogue I’ll be basing the entire scene on or leading up to (or between). when starting to build off of it, the main thing to keep in mind for me is: what does the characters want to desperately say, or to hide?

Because I dont work straight (happy pride), im working like I'm adding puzzle pieces into the scene and conversation. I'll be constantly going back over and rereading the coversation outloud. to see if it flows, as I try to lead into -and away from- the main point. because:

It makes clunkiness apparent, if it sounds awkward aloud it needs to be reworked. or the lead up to it requires better setup.

its the easiest way to feel the rhythm of the conversation, and subsequently if its off. that could mean- there may need to be pauses added imbetween, it'll be easier to catch if its going too slow, or someone may be monologuing too much.

it can also help you detect where there may be a beat where the opposing character can respond, react, or even interject.

the fun thing about conversation is no one will talk like text-to-speech. There will be pauses, laughing, groans, trail offs, distractions, etc- all laced throughout chatter. sprinkingly that in makes it feel so much more alive. here is where you can really make individual personalities and voices shine. a way to express a character tendencies, quirks, or even be subtle in revealing that they're acting slightly off.

something to keep in mind is, people have a tendency to not outwardly say what they really want, especially if they’re still figuring what that is themselves. they'll beat around that bush until its pulverized. on the flip side, there are always topics that people will deliberately avoid.

one way to simplify, is I try thinking about the conversation as a dance. where one person makes a move and the other has to quickly respond, and so on. whos leading this dance? is one more prepared, while the other is caught off guard? is one dragging the other along unwillingly, and the other is struggling to keep up? what is the rhythm they're setting? is it falling into a comfortable lull or is it too fast for the both of them? if its too fast will one of them slip up?

a push and pull between two people, trying to reveal and find meaning from their partner, as they themself have to react to their partners move. both characters have their own goals- and if it’s fun, it’ll be conflicting.

wrapping up: all dialogue can be important. even small talk pleasantries should be a window into what the character is focusing on/thinking about. An insight to what makes the character tick. I find the words deliberately left unsaid are sometimes the loudest and most impactful, if you're able to set it up well enough!

keep in mind, especially in a visual medium- dialogue isn’t the only component in making a conversation flow, you can imply so much through how the characters interact with props, environment, and actions- without using actual words! It will feel more grounded as well.

from the visual lens, pairing up dialogue with appropriate images is very important! giving your character something to do as they speak- and how they change their actions as they go through an emotional journey makes the words feel so much more natural. and on the flip side if the visuals don’t match the conversation, it will feel off. (Which could be intentional itself)

if you feel a panel doesnt encapsulate the feeling, rethink the acting! maybe you need to extend to another panel, by adding extra reaction shot. does the body language match with the words or underlying feeling? is the expression delivering the message?

I hope you enjoyed the silly sketches, and the little look into how I think about dialogue! I hope it was as insightful for you as it was for me! :P