![]() Notice the difference between the placement of quotation marks and commas when the dialogue tag comes before or after the dialogue. This is so that readers can follow the conversation because the new paragraph helps distinguish a new speaker.ĭialogue tags: Dialogue tags are punctuated with commas and double quotation marks. Paragraphs: Each speaker gets their own paragraph for their dialogue, whether it’s one line or a speech. Double quotation marks are used to denote speech. Below are the punctuation conventions that all fiction writers need to know when writing in US English. The punctuation of dialogue is standardized (except in rare cases). Many editors will say that you can’t breathe or gasp dialogue, but they’re commonly used as dialogue tags in published fiction. The words in the first part of this list (denoted by asterisks) are actions that are done with the mouth, so some writers use them as dialogue tags. People have different opinions on what can be used as a dialogue tag and what should only ever be an action beat. In a strict sense, these acts cannot be done to the speech itself. These can be gestures, movements, or facial expressions. Action beatsĪction beats show what a character is doing before, during, or after their dialogue. Where said refers to what’s communicated, spoke refers to the act of communicating itself (“She spoke in German” or “They spoke loudly”). Again, less can be more, or a stronger dialogue tag can be used instead.Ī note about spoke: The word spoke (the past tense of speak) is generally not considered a dialogue tag. Some writers feel the need to add an adverb to describe how the saying is being done (like excitedly or quickly). Therefore, said can be a great neutral choice. The purpose of a dialogue tag is to tell the reader who’s speaking, but the focus should be on what’s being said, not on the tag itself. Too many variations in dialogue tags can be distracting, though. Many people have been taught to avoid using said too often, instead encouraged to get creative with dialogue tags. Some might see its frequent use as repetitive, but most readers treat it almost as if it’s invisible. Said is by far the most common dialogue tag. Some of the most common dialogue tags are as follows: These tags should be actions that a character can perform with the speech they’re producing. Dialogue tagsĭialogue tags (or speech tags) indicate who is speaking and how the dialogue is being said. Dialogue tags and action beats both cue the reader about who is saying a line of dialogue, but they serve different functions and are punctuated differently. Today, I’m expanding on one aspect of that post by focusing on dialogue tags and action beats. “Ha ha, very funny.” Mark grabbed the mop.In one of my first posts, I shared some tips for writing effective dialogue. ![]() “If I ask you to clean that up, will you get to it before next week?” ![]() He pulled the bag out of the plastic bin and heard it tear. Mark grabbed the bag, careful to avoid the rotting food spilling over the top. ![]() “You can empty the trashcan and put a new bag in.” “It was starting to smell.” Susan stuck her head back into the fridge to grab more items. Only use the untraditional tags asked, whispered, and yelled. ![]() Then use no tags when it’s obvious who’s speaking. And that is why it’s best to use all of them throughout the conversation, primarily action and traditional tags. In a dramatic moment, the reader just wants to know that will be said next, adding a lot of extra text will only drag the conversation down.Įach type of tag has its benefits and detriments. However, they also can slow the scene down. “You know I’ve been busy.”Īction tags are great for making the conversation more visual and dynamic. “That’s not fair.” He sighed and leaned against the fridge. “I was going to get to it.” He shifted uncomfortably. She grabbed a half-eaten moldy sandwich and threw it into the trash. “Cleaning out the fridge.” Susan grunted. It’s also a great place to insert body language to give the reader more insight into the subtext of the character.Īn action tag can look three different ways: With a non-dialogue sentence at the beginning, middle, or end of the paragraph. This keeps the sentence structure and conversation interesting and avoids repetition while still telling the reader who said what. So, if you can’t use traditional dialogue tags every time and shouldn’t use untraditional ones, what can you use? That’s where action tags come in.Īn action tag combines dialogue and action. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |