tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341936379982803463.post6639181954828251289..comments2024-02-16T02:33:26.141-08:00Comments on Rebecca Knight: Writer In Progress: Writing Tip: Dialogue TagsRebecca Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214077952378770753noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341936379982803463.post-31236748156677144792009-06-16T14:56:30.798-07:002009-06-16T14:56:30.798-07:00Great list! I used to be very bad with the pronoun...Great list! I used to be very bad with the pronouns. It's still something I need to check every so often, but you're right. We often use pronouns rather than proper nouns.Danyelle L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10366276085080565870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341936379982803463.post-69551413480989359112009-06-16T12:03:46.535-07:002009-06-16T12:03:46.535-07:00Great post, Becca! I'm ruthless with my dialog...Great post, Becca! I'm ruthless with my dialogue tags, hacking away at them. I think less is definitely better. And I like to do the action thing too. It's gotten to the point where I have to intentionally insert he said/she said, because nothing else will work.Abby Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543937393055900844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341936379982803463.post-49847046140634527462009-06-16T09:31:25.783-07:002009-06-16T09:31:25.783-07:00I like adding in the action instead of the tag, so...I like adding in the action instead of the tag, so you still know who's talking! :D<br /><br />Last night, I went through my manuscript with a machete, hacking away all of the "he thought/she thought" tags, since my inner monologue stuff is in italics. Unnecessary much?<br /><br />I love hearing what you guys do!Rebecca Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15214077952378770753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341936379982803463.post-84170862780681918512009-06-15T18:29:06.377-07:002009-06-15T18:29:06.377-07:00Great discussion!
I try to limit my tags as much ...Great discussion!<br /><br />I try to limit my tags as much as possible, and I mix them all up too. It gets extremely annoying to read when there are too many and the form and placing is not changed. I add in some action and some internal dialogue during conversations between characters,<br /><br />I have been told my dialog flows very naturally. Nothing I hate more than fake sounding conversations in a story!Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17401931638397651614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341936379982803463.post-18218997855263844562009-06-15T17:52:41.286-07:002009-06-15T17:52:41.286-07:00Trust Scott to bring the margaritas! ;-)
Great l...Trust Scott to bring the margaritas! ;-) <br /><br />Great list Rebecca! I try to do the action thing too. I also think there's power in just letting people talk WITHOUT attaching an action every single time. So when I do the action thing, I do it to make sure the setting is established. Like if the characters are climbing or eating breakfast and I want to remind the reader that they're not just talking heads.Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341936379982803463.post-91917588289643322622009-06-15T13:41:03.913-07:002009-06-15T13:41:03.913-07:00I read somewhere that actions versus actually tags...I read somewhere that actions versus actually tags is a good alternative. <br /><br />For example:<br /><br />"I can't believe it!" Scott said.<br />"Me either." Jon said.<br /><br />Now . . .<br /><br />"I can't believe it!" Scott reached for the pitcher of margaritas.<br />Me either." Jon pushed his glass forward.<br /><br />In the above example, the character aren't just having a conversation, but interacting with each other as well.<br /><br />At least in my writing, I don't use the dialog tags at all. I have my characters interact and throw in what they are doing. I mean, some people talk with their hands, some gnaw on their bottom lip after saying something, some twirl a strand of hair around their fingers, and . . . well, the point is, especially with multiple characters in a scene, the action works better for me.<br /><br />SScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06905515473737579937noreply@blogger.com