tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164137142811869136.post7832254285936275410..comments2024-03-15T00:15:04.424-07:00Comments on Marilyn's Musings: He Said, She Said--Some Dialogue TipsMarilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164137142811869136.post-52588252304039948922013-05-02T09:52:07.878-07:002013-05-02T09:52:07.878-07:00Great advice, Marilyn! I, too, like to use both th...Great advice, Marilyn! I, too, like to use both the Said tag and action as a tag. This post served as a good reminder.<br />Marja McGrawMarjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09528164359512905392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164137142811869136.post-34754013620720533692013-05-02T07:33:48.054-07:002013-05-02T07:33:48.054-07:00Excellent tips, Marilyn. I agree that using action...Excellent tips, Marilyn. I agree that using action and description to indicate who is talking is so much better than using an attributive. The flow is so much better, and does make it easier to narrate the audio versions of a book.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164137142811869136.post-59604889673160060962013-05-01T15:16:22.728-07:002013-05-01T15:16:22.728-07:00I don't use many tags. When I do use one it...I don't use many tags. When I do use one it's usually "said." I try to be very careful that the reader knows who is speaking by leading in with something concerning the character, which Marilyn talked about.Alan Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14803718553871828759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164137142811869136.post-11910928398526141252013-05-01T14:46:15.937-07:002013-05-01T14:46:15.937-07:00By all means, anyone can share and add their own s...By all means, anyone can share and add their own suggestions. Thank you everyone who commented.Marilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164137142811869136.post-48084139036821753072013-05-01T14:38:19.716-07:002013-05-01T14:38:19.716-07:00Great suggestions. Hope you don't mind if I sh...Great suggestions. Hope you don't mind if I share it with my critique group. Kathleen Kaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16500241341014235792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164137142811869136.post-9150540719481693702013-05-01T09:00:42.401-07:002013-05-01T09:00:42.401-07:00Marilyn, I'll use action to set up how the dia...Marilyn, I'll use action to set up how the dialogue should be read, but I'll also use "yelled," "shrieked," or even "whispered," to make the point if I don't want to slow the action that is already taking place. <br /><br />But if the dialogue is long, I will drop in the name of the speaker just to make sure the reader doesn't lose track. I usually add those tags during a re-write because even I, the writer, want to make sure everybody knows who's talking. GBPoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190573764848658894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164137142811869136.post-23273915334851932202013-05-01T08:52:57.952-07:002013-05-01T08:52:57.952-07:00I like the action tags you suggest i hate a book w...I like the action tags you suggest i hate a book with dialogue and no tags at all you cant figure out who is speaking and have to study it too much taking away from the reading I also don't like he said she said all the time once in a while is fine. thanks for this. Great stuffCathy Brockmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09271018758502189179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164137142811869136.post-51582336281023833752013-05-01T08:14:55.026-07:002013-05-01T08:14:55.026-07:00AMEN! If there are only two people in the conversa...AMEN! If there are only two people in the conversation and each has a distinctive voice, you don't need to add tags. But periodically, you need to indicate who is talking. Lorna Collins -https://www.blogger.com/profile/01800799069326690421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164137142811869136.post-76386110133065052832013-05-01T08:05:52.197-07:002013-05-01T08:05:52.197-07:00Marilyn,
Great tips! In my first two mystery novel...Marilyn,<br />Great tips! In my first two mystery novels, I relied on "said" most of the time and I really don't have a problem with using it. <br />However, in my third book, which I'm currently writing, I'm taking your advice (you had mentioned it several months ago in a different post) and I'm making better use of my characters' actions as dialogue tags. A mixture of the two seems to be working for me. Thanks!Patricia Gligor's Writers Forumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16801554698484928100noreply@blogger.com