When I’m writing a story, whether it’s my novel, a short story, or even a fanfiction, sometimes there are moments where I struggle with writing the correct dialogue for characters. Sometimes it feels like I’m stuck trying to put the correct sentiment into words that the character would actually say.

This can be a major stumbling block for all writers, especially if you’re writing a longer work in which you feel like you’ve used up all your “characteristic lines” already. But when I get stuck like this, the following list of brain tricks has helped me get on with writing great dialogue:

#1: Read the Dialogue Out Loud

You wouldn’t believe how well this simple little trick works for most dialogue problems. Just say the lines out loud–even mimic how this character’s voice sounds if possible. When you hear it out loud, does it sound like something he or she would say? Is there a word or two that sticks out as “wrong” in tone or word choice? Say it several times if you need to, revising in between each time as necessary, until you feel it’s “right.”

#2: Compare These Words with Other Sentiments This Character Has Expressed

When you’re dealing with a very problematic piece of dialogue, sometimes it helps to compare other bits of the character’s speech from other parts of your written work. How does this line compare with some of the other dialogue you’ve written? Is it too similar, or too different? (Both can be problematic: you don’t want to directly copy what you wrote before, but you don’t want it to be too out of character, either.) Sometimes all it takes is the simple change or deletion of one word or one phrase to make the line fit better with the character, without parroting what was said in earlier chapters. Again, multiple subtle revisions help.

#3: Imagine The Other Character’s Reactions

If the line seems mostly right, but it’s still bothering you, try this: imagine how the other characters in the scene would react. Would they recoil in shock? Would they nod and keep going along as if everything’s normal? (Of course, you also have to decide whether you want the other characters to be shocked or not shocked by what this character’s saying.) This can help you determine whether the dialogue is “correct” for this character or not–you’re basically envisioning the scene in which this dialogue takes place, so it helps you figure out whether it belongs in the context of the situation or not.