Formatting Query.

[Ambergold]

Hey all.

My query is this; when you have dialogue that is set in the past do you contain it in the body of the paragraph, or do you start a new paragraph as you would if you were writting dialogue in the present? This is what I have done so far.

Today should have been like every other Friday, light, carefree, a time of rare normality. But the moment her father walked through the door Faye could see that something was different; it was there in his ash coloured gaze. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, why he wasn’t sparking the atmosphere with his presence, but before she opened her mouth he squeezed her hand and whispered. “You’re going to have to be a big girl, miss sugar dumpling.”
“Why Daddy?” She’d asked, as she watched him look over his shoulder to check Moeder wasn’t in earshot.
“Because you’re strong, you’ve proved it before and you’ll prove it again.”



The only reason I ask is I have read some books where the dialogue is contained in the paragrah when it has been said in the past.

Many Thanks

[CaroGirl]

The way you've done it here would be fine, if you punctuate it properly. I believe it should be like the in-quote edits below:
Today should have been like every other Friday, light, carefree, a time of rare normality. But the moment her father walked through the door Faye could see that something was different; it was there in his ash coloured gaze. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, why he wasn’t sparking the atmosphere with his presence, but before she opened her mouth he squeezed her hand and whispered., “You’re going to have to be a big girl, miss sugar dumpling [this strikes me as needing initial caps].”
“Why Daddy?” She’d she'd asked, as she watched him look over his shoulder to check Moeder wasn’t in earshot.
“Because you’re strong,; [comma splice: either semi-colon or period] you’ve proved it before and you’ll prove it again.”


Hope this helps.

[Ambergold]

Many thanks CaroGirl, you've been a great help. :)

[Maryn]

Just a quickie--I agree that CaroGirl's reply was first-rate and agree with every aspect.

Maryn, who rarely agrees that strongly with anyone about anything