I’m confused about how to write dialogue in children’s chapter books.
A retired English teacher who I know, asked me if she could read my manuscript. When I showed it to her she told me that there shouldn’t be a lot of dialect in children’s chapter books. She also told me that when you write dialect, that you should use a new line.
I was under the impression that you only had to use a fresh line if it was someone else speaking. Am I wrong? Or is she wrong? I would have thought that being an English teacher of children, that she must be correct. So when I arrived home I looked in all the chapter books that I own. They all have as much dialect as I use and don’t start a new line for dialect. I want to be sure that I’ve got the correct information. I know I’ll get it right here.
Here is a sample of what she said was wrong:
Thank you to anyone who can answer my question.
Trish.
A retired English teacher who I know, asked me if she could read my manuscript. When I showed it to her she told me that there shouldn’t be a lot of dialect in children’s chapter books. She also told me that when you write dialect, that you should use a new line.
I was under the impression that you only had to use a fresh line if it was someone else speaking. Am I wrong? Or is she wrong? I would have thought that being an English teacher of children, that she must be correct. So when I arrived home I looked in all the chapter books that I own. They all have as much dialect as I use and don’t start a new line for dialect. I want to be sure that I’ve got the correct information. I know I’ll get it right here.
Here is a sample of what she said was wrong:
Pleased with herself, Molly sat Jenny against the wall and grabbed her favourite book. She lay down onto her tummy and opened a page. She pointed to a picture of a rabbit. “Look, Jenny, a bunny. I wish I had one. But Mummy and Daddy won’t let me have a pet.” Molly rested her head on her hands and sighed. “Maybe Mummy will buy me one for my birthday.”
Thank you to anyone who can answer my question.
Trish.