✍️ Part 5: Crafting Compelling Characters and Realistic Dialogue
(For IGCSE, AS Level, and IB English Exams)
A good story doesn’t just tell us what’s happening — it lets us experience it. And characters and dialogue are what make that possible.
👤 Why Characters Matter
Even in a short narrative, readers must feel something for the people in the story — whether it’s fear, admiration, sympathy, or even anger. That emotional connection is what elevates your writing from technical to memorable.
🎯 Quick Checklist for Strong Characters
| Element | Example or Tip |
| Desire | What does your character want? |
| Conflict | What’s standing in their way? |
| Emotion | How do they react and feel internally? |
| Change or Realisation | How are they different by the end? |
🧠 Good characters = motivation + emotion + action.
🧱 Characterisation Techniques
Use indirect characterisation to reveal who they are, not just tell us.
1. Speech
“I’m fine,” she muttered, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.
2. Thoughts
Maybe he wouldn’t notice the bruise. Maybe no one ever noticed anything.
3. Appearance
His tie was crooked, shirt half-untucked, like he’d been in a hurry for years.
4. Actions
He paused before answering, thumb circling the chipped mug handle.
5. Reactions from Others
Even the dog hesitated before going near him.
🎯 Show > Tell: Instead of saying “He was angry,” show clenched fists, terse words, or slamming doors.
💬 Writing Realistic Dialogue
Dialogue can:
- Reveal character
- Show conflict or emotion
- Move the plot forward
✨ Key Rules for Dialogue Writing:
- Keep it natural — Avoid full formal sentences. People speak in fragments.
“You coming?” not “Are you coming with me to the station?” - Use contractions and interruptions
“I didn’t mean—”
“You never mean it. That’s the problem.” - Don’t overuse names
Not: “Sophie, I told you, Sophie, don’t do that, Sophie.” - Use action beats
Instead of “he said angrily”:
He kicked the stool aside. “Just leave it.” - Subtext is gold — What’s not said often matters more.
“You were with her again, weren’t you?”
“I was… working.”
✍️ Sample Paragraph (Character + Dialogue)
Jaya’s hands trembled as she opened the envelope. The handwriting was unmistakable — curled, tidy, too neat to be kind. “It’s nothing,” she said, slipping it into her coat. Her brother watched, brow furrowed. “You’re lying again.”
✅ What makes this effective?
- Subtle clues (handwriting, physical reactions)
- Emotion through actions and subtext
- Dialogue reflects personality and mood
⚠️ Dialogue Punctuation: A Quick Refresher
| Situation | Example |
| Speech + dialogue tag | “I’m tired,” she said. |
| Tag before speech | She said, “I’m tired.” |
| Speech split by tag | “I’m tired,” she said, “but I’ll go.” |
🚫 Never write: “I’m tired.” She said.
✅ Correct: “I’m tired,” she said.
🔁 Practice Task
Prompt:
Write a short scene (150–200 words) where two characters argue, but one is hiding a secret. Use indirect characterisation and realistic dialogue to hint at the truth without stating it outright.
📌 Examiner Insight
- IGCSE: Examiners reward believable characters and natural dialogue
- AS/IB: They look for depth, subtext, and voice consistency
- Avoid overwriting or melodrama — emotional authenticity > intensity