WRITING DIALOGUE

I think you are in the wrong forum. You should be able to find one on grammar rules. Also, the novel forum may find takers to your questions. Sounds like you may be just starting out? Welcome to AW. New paragraphs are the common rule for changing speaker. Somebody will probably come along soon and let you know the best place to find your answers?

Try this: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=111

It's a link to the GRAMMAR FOR GRASSHOPPERS forum. You may find threads on your question topics. Also...try not to use all caps in thread naming...Caps is yelling.

Hope you enjoy your stay in the cooler.

I'll move it over to Grammar.

Oooh! I don't have an answer, but I am excited to see the question.

I almost always start a new line to indicate a change in speaker when I'm writing fiction -- but I've noticed that in a lot of nonfiction (essays, memoir, op-ed even) the writers don't. I'm wondering if there is some logic behind this that I don't know about?

Thanks for the question!

NHO said:

Hi Everyone

I'm looking for an Editor's advice on writing dialogue for a novel. I'm sure there are many acceptable ways to write dialogue but are there any real tips or no-no's.

For example: Do you always need to indicate a new speaker with a new line? Is it OK to leave out the 'he said, she replied' parts and just use alternating dialogue, if it's obvious who's speaking? What are the rules on punctuation/capitals.

Thanks for reading

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I'm not an Editor (nor even an editor), but I'll give it a shot.

NHO said:

Do you always need to indicate a new speaker with a new line?

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Convention has it that yes, for clarity's sake, a new speaker rates a new line.

NHO said:

Is it OK to leave out the 'he said, she replied' parts and just use alternating dialogue, if it's obvious who's speaking?

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Yes. The key thought here you've already touched upon -- if it's obvious who's speaking. For an example of this concept, done extremely well, see this link.

NHO said:

What are the rules on punctuation/capitals.

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Try this link, from Eden Praire Schools, ISD #272 in Minnesota or this one.

You'll see established writers putting dialogue from Character A and Character B in the same paragraph at times, but us underdogs are advised to keep Character A's words and Character B's words separate. I also separate A's actions. Example.

"What's shakin', pretty mama?" Character A said.

Character B scowled.

"Well, excu-u-use me, your highness! Didn't know you were so fancy." Character A spat near B's feet.

Character B spat between Character A's arches and smiled. "I'm fancy. Now you know."

Notice that when A speaks and acts, the two can stay together, but when B acts, it isn't in the same paragraph as A's dialogue.

You will also notice that I didn't use "said" every time somebody opened their mouth. If you follow the separate paragraph practice, an action by the character who said something takes the place of a dialogue tag/attribute.

You can go back and forth without attributes so long as it's absolutely clear who's speaking.

Welcome to AW, BTW. You'll be hooked in no time.

Maryn, vacuuming the red carpet