Dos:

• Use quotation marks around spoken words to indicate dialogue.
• Use proper punctuation and capitalization to indicate changes in the speaker and convey the rhythm and tone of the conversation.
• Use action or description (also known as “beats”) to give context to the dialogue and create a vivid image of the scene in the reader’s mind.
• Make sure the dialogue is consistent with the character’s personality, background, and circumstances.
• Vary sentence structure and length to create a sense of realism and avoid monotony.

Don’ts:

• Use too many dialogue tags, as they can interrupt the flow of the conversation.
• Use adverbs in dialogue tags, such as “he said dangerously” or “she said happily”. Instead, show the emotion through the dialogue itself or through the character’s actions.
• Use unnatural or overly formal language in dialogue.
• Use too much dialogue without any action or description, as this can make the scene feel static and uninteresting.
• Forget to proofread your dialogue, as errors can detract from the reader’s immersion in the story.

It’s worth noting that these are general guidelines and that different writing styles may break some of these “rules” to achieve a specific effect.