Dialogue Polisher
The Dialogue Polisher analyzes existing fictional dialogue and provides specific revisions to make conversations sound natural, reveal character, and carry subtext. It addresses the most common dialogue problems: characters who sound alike, exposition dumps disguised as conversation, on-the-nose emotional statements, and unrealistic speech rhythms.
Fiction writers revising drafts, screenwriters polishing scripts, and creative writing students learning dialogue craft use this template. It is especially useful during the revision phase when you have the story structure right but the conversations feel flat, stilted, or interchangeable between characters.
The prompt applies professional dialogue craft principles: the "iceberg theory" (characters say 30% of what they mean, the rest is subtext), differentiated speech patterns (every character should be identifiable without dialogue tags), and the tension requirement (good dialogue is two people wanting different things). It provides before/after revisions so you can see the principle in action, not just in theory.
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The Prompt
Analyze and improve the following dialogue from my story: **Context**: [BRIEF SCENE CONTEXT, e.g., "Sarah confronts her business partner about missing money. They've been friends for 15 years."] **Character A**: [NAME, key personality traits, e.g., "Sarah, direct and controlled, hides emotions behind professionalism"] **Character B**: [NAME, key personality traits, e.g., "Mike, charming and evasive, deflects with humor"] **What This Scene Needs to Accomplish**: [SCENE PURPOSE, e.g., "Sarah needs to get the truth without destroying the friendship. Reader should suspect Mike is lying."] **Current Dialogue**: ``` [PASTE YOUR DIALOGUE HERE] ``` Provide this analysis: ### 1. Diagnostic For the dialogue as a whole, identify: - Do the characters sound distinct from each other? Could you tell who is speaking without dialogue tags? - Is there subtext? (characters meaning more than they say) Or is the dialogue "on the nose"? - Does the dialogue advance the scene's purpose? - Are there any lines that are really exposition for the reader, not natural speech? ### 2. Line-by-Line Notes For the 5 most improvable lines: - Quote the original line - Explain the specific issue (e.g., "too expository", "breaks character voice", "misses an opportunity for subtext") - Provide a revised version - Explain why the revision works better ### 3. Revised Dialogue Rewrite the complete dialogue incorporating all improvements. Preserve the scene's purpose and emotional arc, but: - Give each character a distinct rhythm (sentence length, vocabulary, interruption patterns) - Add subtext: what are they NOT saying? - Include at least one moment of silence, physical action, or beat that communicates more than words - Remove any line that does not earn its place (every line should either reveal character, advance plot, or build tension) ### 4. Dialogue Craft Notes List 2-3 general principles demonstrated in the revision that the writer can apply to other scenes.
Usage Tips
- Describe character personalities, not just names: The revision quality depends entirely on understanding who these people are. "Mike is charming and evasive" produces vastly different dialogue than "Mike is anxious and direct."
- State the scene's purpose explicitly: "Sarah needs information without destroying the friendship" gives the AI a target to optimize for. Without it, the revision may change the scene's function.
- Compare the original and revised versions line by line: The learning happens in understanding WHY each change was made. Read the craft notes carefully.
- Apply the principles to other scenes: The "Dialogue Craft Notes" section is designed to be transferable. If the revision demonstrates "characters reveal stress through what they avoid saying, not what they say", look for opportunities to apply that in your other scenes.
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