Someone told me once how important subtext is in dialogue. It adds a certain quality to your work, a dimension of sophistication so that readers read between the lines and understand your character doesn't always say what they're feeling.

Romantic Comedies are full of dialogue with subtext and it's often played out in the hate-to-love dynamic. It works well, there, giving readers more to chew on as they read through that slow burn.

But the dialogue in the Dark Romance, Billionaire, and Teen Fiction genres should be as straightforward as possible.

Prove he's a bad boy with all his cursing.

Prove she's a virgin with all her stuttering.

There's no time for subtext; there's sex to be had.

Curses

Now, in teen fiction and certain dark romance like mafia stories, it behooves you to use as many actual curse words as possible. Don't be a wimp about it. Your chapter should be drenched in them.

Next Up: Cliché Settings