tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post767804774301590490..comments2024-03-28T08:48:51.749-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: Seven Dialogue Basics That Can Help Tighten Our StoriesJody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-37126094090528010672015-09-28T00:56:39.179-04:002015-09-28T00:56:39.179-04:00One rule I have - only one person speaks per parag...One rule I have - only one person speaks per paragraph. So this would be wrong -<br /><br /> "I think it might rain," said Mary looking out the window, wondering if the race would be called off. Ann said, "That's what I heard."Michelle Gwynn Joneshttp://michellegwynnjones.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-39879395578341524752015-09-24T05:42:06.260-04:002015-09-24T05:42:06.260-04:00Hi Jody. This was very timely. I'm doing final...Hi Jody. This was very timely. I'm doing final edits on a classic vampire tale and have taken out all the contractions in the interests of historical accuracy, but now I'll go and put them back in. <br />Long stretches of dialogue annoy me when I have to count back to see who's talking. Not using dialogue tags at all isn't really clever. :-)Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-37060562794379537992015-09-22T15:13:24.084-04:002015-09-22T15:13:24.084-04:00I agree with using "said" if a dialogue ...I agree with using "said" if a dialogue tag is necessary because it's invisible, but my publisher does not. I have to use whisper, yelled, etc. I've had a hard time adjusting to that.Terrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05061067970781919577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-48789322673649779542015-09-22T14:23:11.655-04:002015-09-22T14:23:11.655-04:00I am doing the final revision of my latest book an...I am doing the final revision of my latest book and this is very helpful, especially the "character said" part. I need to go through it again as I think I have it the other way around.Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04252671846285594734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-69187456020691641832015-09-22T10:25:30.748-04:002015-09-22T10:25:30.748-04:00yes, you covered the basics in a succinct way - go...yes, you covered the basics in a succinct way - good reminders. My downfall is always forgetting the action beats and setting descriptions. I get so caught up in the conversation my characters are having that I forget my reader isn't seeing the whole scene the way I am and needs some clues!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00121618052406839023noreply@blogger.com