Write well. Write often. Edit wisely.
More on the purposes of dialogue tags—use them to keep a story flowing.
We’ve all laughed at humorous dialogue tags, at the Tom Swifties and wacky phrases produced by creative tags. Learn more about dialogue tags and why simple is best.
Explore novel ways to look at the use of dialogue tags, especially at “said” and other verbs, such as laugh and smile, used as dialogue tags.
Continue reading Smiling or Laughing Dialogue—A Reader’s Question
Tips for writing character thought and inner dialogue. There are options for punctuation and method.
We’ve all seen bad, laugh-worthy dialogue. Examples of bad dialogue and ways to avoid writing it.
We add dialogue to our fiction so our characters can communicate. But we also use their dialogue to mis-communicate, to increase tension, to get our characters into trouble. Learn what dialogue can and should do.
Punctuating dialogue correctly can help readers follow your story with fewer distractions. Check out the rules of dialogue punctuation.
Punctuating interrupted dialogue is a confusing topic for both writers and editors, but there is a definitive answer to the question, “how do you punctuate interrupted dialogue?” Use dashes.
Explore situations when telling rather than showing might be beneficial. Explore too the different types of showing in fiction.
Even the best writing advice might not work for every circumstance. Remind yourself that some advice won’t fit your story or a particular circumstance.
The reader will focus on what stands out. Turn the reader's attention where you want it to go.
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freelance editors, and everyone who loves words
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Write well. Write often. Edit wisely.
