How to Write Group Dialogue (Conversations with 3+ Characters)

Learn how to nail group conversations in your writing. Examples from Guardians of the Galaxy and Harry Potter.

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0:00 Intro
0:34 1
1:11 2
2:17 Example 1
4:23 3
4:57 4
5:33 5
6:27 Example 2
10:12 Outro

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[omeysalvi]

Not a book example but the scene on the helicarrier where the avengers are almost ready to fight each other is my favorite example of this

[Becca_Blankenship]

Lol
“Idk if you’ve heard of this one” it’s a little obscure novel about a boy who finds out he’s a wizard 😂😂😂

[Sean-YEG]

I love the book version of the council of Elrond; methodically considering every possible course of action until they are only left with the one they had to take .

[AlexDrums]

One of my favorite examples is the intervention scene in the first season of Breaking Bad, where Skylar is trying to get the family to pressure Walt into cancer treatment he doesn't want.

It's a compelling scene that draws you in and moves the story forward. And it provides a ton of insight into the main characters, who we're still getting to know, without ever feeling like that's all the scene was designed to do.

[Kittymoonplayzzz]

One of my favorite things to do in group conversations (especially with a group of guy characters) is to make them all working on something. Generally, guys aren’t sitting across from each other talking (unless they’re tied up or something). They’re almost always working with their hands, driving, or at least walking.

[Blockinstaller]

03:34
I've misheard that as "...is a great example of Groot dialogue" and it still worked.

[TimRG]

Location is what the characters are doing to make the conversation interesting. Brandon Sanderson does a fantastic job of this in Mistborn Era 2. Shadow of Self, where in a scene the main characters Wax, Wayne, & Marasi have a conversation. While talking out a problem Wax and Wayne build towers with beer coasters. It is a great scene and an exciting way to have characters do something other than just talk.

[blinkbright]

For me, the hardest problem when it comes to writing dialogue is changing how "I" comprehend how each individual character comprehends something that was just discussed. Because to make a believable character speak, sometimes they'll miss interpret what someone else said. And, sometimes they haven't got a good education. I enjoy writing characters with "knowledgeable" backgrounds, but I can never get their dialogues right, since I've never had a proper education, myself.

[AnotherDuck]

I often leave dialogue tags out, but instead I include some action in the paragraph to show who owns it, which also shows who’s talking. I started doing that to get away from white room dialogue, where conversations happen in a featureless room where nothing but talking happens.

[JoleCannon]

I needed this. I have a few gatherings with 3+ people and need to make sure everyone is active in the conversation.

[leaanngallardo]

I love the scene in GOT where several of the main players, Tirion, Jamie, Sir Davos, Brienne, etc, are sitting round the fireplace at Winterfell, drinking and discussing the battle they are about to fight against the Dead. It is both heartwarming and terrifyingly tense at the same time. Poderick sings a beautifully mournful song, and Jaime knights Brienne. They are an unlikely group of friends together, all knowing they are about to die for the greater good.

[darkyboode]

In Season 3 of Stranger Things, there’s a scene when Eleven’s group meets up with Dustin’s group at Starcourt Mall. Almost every person contributes and says something except for El, but she’s seen walking away towards the end contributing with action. With power dynamics the leader of the conversation would be Dustin and also Steve as they tell everyone else all about the Russians, though it doesn’t really change. Not much to say with character locations, but in regards to character voices, Dustin sounds more energetic towards everyone else with full knowledge of the Russian base, while almost everyone else responds in bewilderment as they were unaware of it.

[MIDNITERDTY]

"Harry potter-I'm not sure if you have heard of this one before" LMAF!!

[jeidafei]

My favorite group convo?!
Fiona: Shrek!
Shrek: Fiona!
King Harold: Fiona!
Fiona: Mom!
Queen Lillian: Harold!
Donkey: Donkey!

[Lady_de_Lis]

I don't know if it counts or not, since it's a sort of "court room" scene. It's from Harry Potter, too. Book 5 Chapter 8 - The Hearing. It may be weird to have a favorite book chapter, but this one is mine. I have on occasion gone back to read it all by itself lol. The "conversation" if we can call it that pretty much takes up the entire chapter, and I love it to death.

[Voodoomaria]

Watch "The Thing" - 1951
THAT is how you write group dialogue.
It's one of the VERY few movies out there where everyone in a group speaking does NOT wait their turn.
It's extremely natural AND believable, and it's one of THE FIRST movies i ever saw where people talked over each other.

[ChrisKringle]

It’s like you were reading my mind Brandon. Was looking for quick information just like this. Love your channel, CCK

[ludovico]

My favourite group conversation is probably the one in The Godfather movie when Michael Corleone decides to kill Sollozo. There's also in Amadeus when Mozart meets the emperor for the first time.

[skycreeper]

A friend of mine recommended me this video. I really enjoyed watching this video! It’s really going to help write dialogue for conversations involving multiple characters in my FNaF AU!

[lunarshadow]

Very helpful information. I'm not great with conversations but I have enough characters that it becomes unavoidable. But knowing that there should only be 1 main with everyone else adding to the flow depending on their stance of the topic helps.