Writing believable, effective dialogue in a romance novel can be a challenge for even the most skilled novelists. But when your dialogue works, readers will fall in love with your characters and keep turning those pages. Romance readers are especially demanding about dialogue because they're in it for the emotional connection, the tension, and the rush of falling in love. I learned about writing dialogue the hard way—when my beta readers rebelled and said, "Your characters don't sound real. They would never talk like that." Humbled, I went back to my story and slowly learned how to write dialogue that works.

Good Dialogue Must Multitask.

I call it the three Cs of good dialogue: Character. Conflict and Coming soon (foreshadowing). Something I learned in my days writing screenplays. Dialogue is one of the fastest ways to build/reveal character. And dialogue should also be used to show conflict. When you're at the store or in a restaurant, people around you are talking. You're really not listening, but when they start to argue, your ears perk up. And if they keep it up, you'll eventually take sides. Now you're hooked. So have your characters fight, argue, and disagree. Finally, dialogue can be very effective at foreshadowing. It points readers in the direction you want them to go. And deep-six the info dump dialogue. Don't have characters tell each other things they both already know.

Better than Real People Talking.

If you listen to real people, they say "um," repeat words, trail off, or sometimes take forever to get to the point. You need to distill real speech into something more focused, sexier, and more revealing. Unless your characters are addressing royalty, use contractions. The best sexual tension often happens fully clothed, in conversation.

Master the Art of Subtext.

In romance, what people DON'T say is usually more provocative and interesting than what they do. Their words may appear neutral, polite, banal, or even the opposite of what they really mean. But it's the thoughts, emotions, intentions, motivations, or information that your characters are communicating indirectly (or sometimes deliberately concealing) that can be surprisingly effective. An example from Pride and Prejudice. Darcy: "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me." Subtext: He's desperately trying to convince himself he's not attracted to Elizabeth because she's "beneath" him.

Give Your Characters Distinctly Unique Voices.

Each of your characters should have a distinct speaking rhythm (short clipped sentences vs. long rambling ones). They should have favorite words or verbal tics. Give each different intimacy levels (who says "fu*k," who says "darn," and who switches depending on emotion).

Do the Read Aloud Test.

If it feels awkward when you speak it, it'll feel weird on the page. Romance dialogue needs a certain pacing and rhythm like poetry. Record yourself reading it. Play it back and listen. Picture your character saying it. In terms of pacing and rhythm, don't forget to use silence and interruptions. Lovers tend to interrupt each other constantly. A strategically placed em-dash or ellipsis can heighten sexual tension.

Action Beats & Dialogue Tags.

Don't go crazy trying to come up with clever dialogue tags. Replace half your tags with action beats that show body language. Don't be afraid of the word "said." It tends to disappear if the dialogue is compelling.

Romance readers can be kind and tolerant. But they won't forgive dialogue that doesn't convince them that two people are falling hopelessly, messily, believably in love. Make every word earn its place on the page.