How to Write Realistic Teen Dialogue

Many authors fail to accurately capture teen dialogue. In fact, the dialogue they do write is typically overly informal or too professional. That's why I've developed this guide to help you craft perfect teen dialogue in your story. Here are some key tips to make your dialogue feel natural and authentic.

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Listen to Real Conversations

One of the best ways to write authentic teen dialogue is to observe how teenagers talk in real life. Pay attention to the conversations you witness in your life, whether you’re at a coffee shop, on the bus, or just hanging out in a park. Plus, if you’re writing contemporary fiction, watching modern teen TV shows, movies, or YouTube videos could give you a sense of typical teen speech patterns and slang. At the same time, make sure you don’t copy everything word for word as real-life conversations often include a lot of small talk that won't translate to your story. Instead, take note of how teens interrupt, trail off, or react to each other.

Write Short Sentences

One element of teen speech is typically shorter sentences. Teens don’t usually speak in long, flowery sentences, rather their conversations are fast-paced, full of interruptions, and in general just quick. For instance, instead of writing, "I'm not late. Time is an illusion; we are all simply beings wandering from one point to another," write, "I'm not late. I'm... just slightly delayed." Overall, when writing teenage dialogue, try to avoid over-explaining or making your characters sound overly polished. Rather, short, snappy exchanges will make the conversations feel more realistic and engaging.

Include Some Slang

Slang is present in teen speech, and that's why you should feel free to incorporate it if it fits your characters and story. The issue arises when authors only use slang when writing teen dialogue. It's alright if that's relevant to the character, but most of the time teenagers don’t speak entirely in slang. Overloading dialogue with trendy phrases can make it feel forced and cringeworthy, especially since slang evolves pretty quickly. So, instead of packing your dialogue with slang, just sprinkle in a few key phrases that match your character’s personality.

Use Contractions & Filler Words

All of us use contradictions and filler words, but it's especially common for teens to do so. As a result, if you incorporate some contradictions and filler words into your dialogue, your characters won't just be more believable, but also engaging. That being said, too many fillers can make dialogue annoying and difficult to read. As a result, it's important you find the right balance and use them naturally to add to the authenticity and realism of your novel. Here's an example of how to write more authentic teen dialogue.

Less Realistic Dialogue:

"I am conflicted. I suppose I could attend, but do I genuinely want to?"

"You most certainly do."

"Very well. However, you will be held accountable if this ends up being dull."

Realistic Dialogue:

Incorporate Humor

Lastly, a lot of teen dialogue revolves around joking and humor! From sarcasm and exaggeration to playful teasing, teen conversations aren't serious all the time. So, consider adding some humor to your novel. Humor makes the dialogue more entertaining and realistic. If you do choose to incorporate humor, make sure you think about your teen characters and their personalities. For example, some teens might use deadpan humor, while others rely on self-deprecation or witty comebacks. Overall, the key is to make the humor feel natural and it shouldn't be forced.

Teen dialogue is tricky in that writing realistic teen dialogue requires an understanding of how teenagers talk—without resorting to outdated slang or exaggerated stereotypes. Thankfully, with the tips above, you are on your way to writing authentic, humorous, and engaging teenage dialogue. Good luck writing!