Overheard dialogue.

Daggilarr

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I have a scene where someone is eavesdropping. They know who the speakers are. I am sure it would be correct just to use normal dialogue tagging. But what I would like to try is placing the names in front. A bit like a play.

Tom said, "Xxx."

Dick, "Xxx."

Tom, "Xxx."

Dick, "Xxx."

Harry hurried away from the door...

Any thoughts on that?
 

Calder

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Try giving the voices in the overheard dialogue a distinct character of themselves, or a diametrically opposed opinion. That way, you can probably dispense with dialogue tags altogether.
 

mrsmig

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I have a scene where someone is eavesdropping. They know who the speakers are. I am sure it would be correct just to use normal dialogue tagging. But what I would like to try is placing the names in front. A bit like a play.

Tom said, "Xxx."

Dick, "Xxx."

Tom, "Xxx."

Dick, "Xxx."

Harry hurried away from the door...

Any thoughts on that?

I don't care for it, but I would find it less objectionable if you replaced the commas with colons.
 

cornflake

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I have a scene where someone is eavesdropping. They know who the speakers are. I am sure it would be correct just to use normal dialogue tagging. But what I would like to try is placing the names in front. A bit like a play.

Tom said, "Xxx."

Dick, "Xxx."

Tom, "Xxx."

Dick, "Xxx."

Harry hurried away from the door...

Any thoughts on that?

I'd just summarize most of it. Seems odd to have a whole spate of dialogue -- surely there's one piece of info that's important?
 

Bufty

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Why use funny tags?

There are many ways to eavesdrop. Agree with Cornflake that it seems odd to quote a whole conversation if the eavesdropper is only interested in a particular detail. If it is necessary to report the whole conversation it could be in a separate scene.

Evan risked moving closer to the open window.

#

Conversation as overheard and/or seen.

#

Evan backed away quietly. So that's what they'd been up to. ....
 
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