"Rules suck. While I'll listen I'm still trusting my gut and going own way," he said. 963Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5PcNA5CDO
From here on out I'm being sarcastic, so don't take what is said literally.
What you want to do is direct reader's attention away from the dialogue. You don't want them to care exactly who is saying what thing they aren't paying attention to.
End of sarcasm.
Seriously now. I'm not saying never to use other tags as that too is wrong. Just stop trying to fatten up every tag when it's the dialogue, characters, inner thoughts and more that are so much more important.
Dive deep and pull hard instead of saying He shouted, "show" the characters shouting in their dialogue, actions and how the other characters react. One word is not going to do this. Think 3D not 2D.
"Rules suck. While I'll listen I'm still trusting my gut and going own way." he grumbled. - Does this add much? Not really. Let's try again.
"Rules suck. While I'll use them I'm still trusting my gut and going own way." Jake shook his fists glaring at her.
That's a little better right? Well I hope so! I can take any advice and go to the extreme with it too. I tend to forget that it's okay to use other tags. Sometimes an emotional dialogue tag can improve clarity.
Remember these? 963Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDx1He0peR
she announced
she stated
he commanded
he explained
she muttered
he contradicted
he assured
she expressed
he said cheerfully
he said heavily
she echoed
he said laughingly
And, others like them? Well, times—and accepted styles—have changed. All those tag styles are from the 1980's or older. What's popular now has changed. Mind you don't have to this, but by killing these kind of takes your killing the unnecessary telling. By not using them you'll be forced to show how your characters feel. That is always a good thing.
Tip: Describe what the emotion looks like. I don't want to get off the toppic so I'll show what I mean in another issue.
Readers see “said” or “asked” Like any other word; at first. As they continue reading these tags become invisible much like correctly done punctuation.
Things can go to the extreme if you're not careful though. If all dialog is said, replyed over and over again it's just as bad as not using it.
The way to fix this is to mix things up, use the said/replied tags when more than two characters are talking. After four or more dialogues use the characters name. Mix both of these up with no tags at all and body beats!
A body beat is an action a character is doing while talking. This also has the added benefits of grounding the reader deeping characterization, while showing.
"Hey, yo! I'm the killer B. Ya fool, ya fool! Killer B pumped his hands up and down.
It's important to identify the speaker early, this doesn't mean to put all action before the dialogue and mash it all together in on paragraph! That's one of the mistakes often seen by a beginning writer. Dialog needs to have its own line; new speaker new line.
Back to the tags.
The dialogue tag’s primary function is to show who is speaking. Let them do their job and be invisible.
Dialogue tags are not the way to show emotion, doing that with telling emotion words is, well telling. Telling is when a writer uses an emotion word instead of describing what the emotional looks like. See? Less words isn't always better.
Avoid using extra dialogue tags when the same speaker is still speaking, it can become annoying to the reader.
“You can kiss my fine a—,” said Holly. “Bend over and pucker up!” she continued, patting her tight butt, while giving him the finger, “Jerk!” she said.
One is all that's needed near the beginning of the speach. Think of it this way, would you use two commas,, two periods.. three question marks??? I hope not punctuation lovers will die a little inside if you do! 😉😣
If the characters have a distinct way of talking that is different from the others you can leave off the tags all together. At least for a short conversation.
Interaction with their environment and other characters can give the reader strong cues about their emotional state, what is important to them, and even what they might be trying to avoid. 963Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sNxHslxlv
Long blocks of dialogue without description is referred to "The white room," so don't forget to add in things like tables, the grass, the soft fur of a kitten stuff like that. (leaned against the table) and keep the description from being flat by adding in the characters opinions. Breathe life into every word!
