tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post7414891840167091616..comments2024-03-20T08:27:29.290+11:00Comments on .W.I.P. It: How to Use Dialogue TagsLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-83575665458913493322011-07-20T06:53:52.294+10:002011-07-20T06:53:52.294+10:00Lynda I have just stumbled upon your blog this mor...Lynda I have just stumbled upon your blog this morning. What a gem! I look forward to a morning coffee, a good read and great advice.Kayleen West - Children Author/Illustratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18102357041523253163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-36773444495812322692011-07-16T23:09:16.777+10:002011-07-16T23:09:16.777+10:00Lee, hehe love your example. Thanks too for the bi...Lee, hehe love your example. Thanks too for the birthday wishes :)<br /><br />M Pax, thanks, hope you are feeling better.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-51074723571310305952011-07-14T03:56:07.938+10:002011-07-14T03:56:07.938+10:00Happy Birthday!
Sorry I missed it. I illed over t...Happy Birthday!<br /><br />Sorry I missed it. I illed over the weekend. Fun, fun ... not so much.<br /><br />I use 'said' most times, but only when I need to keep it clear who is speaking. I try to keep them to a minimum, using some sort of action or what have you most times instead. It also helps to keep the speakers to a minimum.<br /><br />I think it's better to err on clarity though. In my older stuff, I'm more elaborate.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-81736318641204313432011-07-13T11:08:20.105+10:002011-07-13T11:08:20.105+10:00J L Campbell, yep, I think that kind of experiment...J L Campbell, yep, I think that kind of experimental use of dialogue is fine IF it's still clear who is speaking.<br /><br />Theresa, yes, it's all about balance.<br /><br />Mary, thanks for the birthday wishes :)<br /><br />Jamie, ah, but it's a road worth taking. And yes, I had a wonderful weekend, thanks.<br /><br />Elana, Totally agree<br /><br />Toyin, thanks<br /><br />Ann, gotta love crit groups.<br /><br />Stephen, yep, I do think not using tags when it's obvious who is speaking is effective.<br /><br />Maeve, thanks :)<br /><br />Nas, thanks<br /><br />Misha, haha. Definitely, they are unavoidable when multiple people are speaking in a scene.<br /><br />Bish, my inner editor screams at me when I overuse the ly words.<br /><br />Damyanti, hehe progress :)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-85619567202636806142011-07-13T11:00:14.913+10:002011-07-13T11:00:14.913+10:00Ellie, Your test is a great tip!
Marieke, yep, it...Ellie, Your test is a great tip!<br /><br />Marieke, yep, it's about balance as well as not drawing attention to itself.<br /><br />Amie, the cake was GOOD. <br /><br />Jessie, great point that 'said' is invisible. So true.<br /><br />Callie, yes, and the last thing we want to do is distract our readers.<br /><br />Rachna, try Ellie's test-- cut out the tags altogether and see if it still works.<br /><br />Mark, I think it's good to branch out on occasion and test the waters for the sake of creativity. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. But you won't know unless you try.<br /><br />Stacy, overall 'said' is the best choice, but it's good to know other options.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-60545802143416920782011-07-13T09:20:22.688+10:002011-07-13T09:20:22.688+10:00"Belated Happy Birthday," I tapped onto ..."Belated Happy Birthday," I tapped onto my keyboard to be sent in an electronic way that I did not understand.<br /><br />I do like dialog tagged with other action unrelated to what is directly being said, but perhaps that could be interpreted as a reaction to the conversation at hand. For example: "Sure, I'd love for your mother to join us on our vacation." He sawed at his steak with intense vigor.<br /><br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a>Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-6642444953799272722011-07-12T20:44:05.611+10:002011-07-12T20:44:05.611+10:00Happy Belated Birthday...I used to write flowery d...Happy Belated Birthday...I used to write flowery dialogue tags before, but now, thankfully, no more :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283371140346602856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-37228350751740122842011-07-12T01:34:42.478+10:002011-07-12T01:34:42.478+10:00I have to watch those old world "ly" wor...I have to watch those old world "ly" words in my tags. But I'm getting better about that.<br /><br />Happy Birthday!Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-79655160651150231742011-07-11T23:23:47.010+10:002011-07-11T23:23:47.010+10:00Lol I tried tag avoidance once. ONly to have four ...Lol I tried tag avoidance once. ONly to have four out of six crit partners tell me to put them in. <br /><br />I've found that tags become necessary as more people interact in a scene.<br /><br />:-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-52299992713814975982011-07-11T06:23:21.887+10:002011-07-11T06:23:21.887+10:00Happy belated bithday, Linda!
Thanks for the remi...Happy belated bithday, Linda!<br /><br />Thanks for the reminder on dialoque tags.Nashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14984530648140460594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-49479754012265830642011-07-11T01:43:57.180+10:002011-07-11T01:43:57.180+10:00Happy Belated Birthday - Thanks for the post about...Happy Belated Birthday - Thanks for the post about Dialogue Tags. It is something I struggle with. I do try to show rather than tell.Maeve Frazierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00788413883600771145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-27091086469443526732011-07-11T01:33:13.767+10:002011-07-11T01:33:13.767+10:00I mis it up. If there are only two people talking ...I mis it up. If there are only two people talking then I try not to use tags as its obvious who's saying what. If I do use tags I mostly use he said she said, but mix things up with occasional he interjected, or she interrupted, or he said with a straight face, trying not to laugh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-12055221922142559812011-07-10T23:22:54.557+10:002011-07-10T23:22:54.557+10:00I try to vary tags and fortunately my critique gro...I try to vary tags and fortunately my critique group lets me know if they are over or underdone. Great post.<br />AnnAnn Summervillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13300190648788509096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-8818010681657404622011-07-10T02:10:51.452+10:002011-07-10T02:10:51.452+10:00Hope you have a wonderful birthday at your romanti...Hope you have a wonderful birthday at your romantic getaway:) Thanks for the tag info, very useful tips as usual:)Toyin O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08429675861306256504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-50286787069552994372011-07-10T01:37:47.709+10:002011-07-10T01:37:47.709+10:00I'll admit that I use a few other tags besides...I'll admit that I use a few other tags besides "said." That said (ha!), I think "said" is the best one to use because it's invisible. As a reader, I don't want to get tripped up on the "pontificated" and "remarked" tags. I want to be able to enjoy the story.Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-29288404888023235502011-07-09T23:53:17.306+10:002011-07-09T23:53:17.306+10:00Happy birthday Lynda! Hope you have an awesome wee...Happy birthday Lynda! Hope you have an awesome weekend!<br /><br />I'm guilty of, on occasion, overusing the superfluous word or two when using dialogue tags e.g. 'he yelled', 'she cried'. I've started to wean myself off these and show rather than tell, but it's a long road to travel.Jamie Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168603412367448706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-57822743089393784362011-07-09T05:59:25.078+10:002011-07-09T05:59:25.078+10:00I try to avoid tags because I don't like to re...I try to avoid tags because I don't like to read them.<br /><br />A very happy birthday, Lynda, and many, many more.Mary@GigglesandGunshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07350818228268801008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-66450447109633802842011-07-09T05:02:27.099+10:002011-07-09T05:02:27.099+10:00Happy birthday, again!
I try use tags as little a...Happy birthday, again!<br /><br />I try use tags as little as possible - just enough that the reader can keep track of the speaker. And I know we've been told to use "said" for the most part, but I have to admit, when I read a book with "said" all the time, it becomes as distracting as trying some variation of it every line. I do mix it up a little. Hopefully, I've struck a good balance.Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-1153720309874231382011-07-09T04:12:25.875+10:002011-07-09T04:12:25.875+10:00I try to avoid 'he said' 'she said'...I try to avoid 'he said' 'she said' if it's not necessary. Otherwise, I'll try to set up the scene so that's it's obvious who's talking when. <br /><br />I noticed in one of the books I read recently, The Book of Night Women, they used Em dashes instead of quotations and no attribution most of the time, but it was obvious who was doing the talking.J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-12171623681617113962011-07-09T02:49:17.132+10:002011-07-09T02:49:17.132+10:00Happy Birthday.
In a recent critique group, we ta...Happy Birthday. <br />In a recent critique group, we talked about using "said" instead of a lot of other ones. I like your example of how not to use one. There are plenty of ways to work around the boring "said," but it's pretty useful too.Stacy S. Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09646270238659432058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-60242690590405579512011-07-09T02:30:17.901+10:002011-07-09T02:30:17.901+10:00Hey, hey, nice post! You read my mind:) I often de...Hey, hey, nice post! You read my mind:) I often debate with myself how to best display dialog and have tried quite a few different ways. Artistically I like stripped down dialog, even bordering on experimental, i.e. no quotes, just letting the voice of the character come through. But practically most readers I've gotten feedback from seem to prefer the mundane, and for simplicity sake I can't blame them. Nonetheless, it's always groovy to try new things. Thanks for all the info:)Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-88282584446091167132011-07-09T01:57:00.347+10:002011-07-09T01:57:00.347+10:00Happy Birthday, Lynda.
I am a big one on Froufrou ...Happy Birthday, Lynda.<br />I am a big one on Froufrou tags. I like to use all kinds of dialogue tags: from he said, to he screamed, and he sighed, and he cried, she hissed, she whispered..... I don't know if its a good or a bad habit.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-1694516291568519952011-07-09T01:03:24.560+10:002011-07-09T01:03:24.560+10:00I forgot about the option to use action sentences ...I forgot about the option to use action sentences instead of tags. That's a great idea. I subconsciously use pretty much any tag except for "said" now, and critique partners report that a big variety is extremely distracting. So it's nice to see there's another option, too! :)Callie Leuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535505792102190920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-61506993884898521192011-07-09T00:51:50.554+10:002011-07-09T00:51:50.554+10:00Happy Birthday Lynda. May all your wildest dreams ...Happy Birthday Lynda. May all your wildest dreams come true when you blow out the candles. <br />I try to have the minimum of tags. If its obvious who is speaking, nix it. And I've read that "said" is invisible to the reader, they dont see it and therefore dont tire of it. It is just a quick tool of clarity.Jessie Humphrieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11096043821002254348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-17716461662501544482011-07-08T21:09:39.158+10:002011-07-08T21:09:39.158+10:00CAKE! I mean, uh, happy birthday!
My challenge is...CAKE! I mean, uh, happy birthday!<br /><br />My challenge is to make sure I don't use dialogue tags all the time--cutting them out's usually a feature in my revision.Amie Kaufmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15116472165351759477noreply@blogger.com