In classes that I teach, the one thing writers have the most trouble
with is dialogue. We know that dialogue is seldom skipped when reading but long
pages of text with no dialogue is skimmed over and skipped entirely.
When do we use quotation marks? Where do we put the
quotation marks?
Do we use quotation marks when the character is thinking, not
speaking out loud? Thinking is internal dialogue. It is best to show what the character
is thinking rather than explain his thoughts.
Example: When the doorbell rang, Jack wondered where he
should hide the money.
Better: The doorbell rang. Jack dashed around the room
seeking a hiding place for the money.
If we use a question mark, do we also need a comma?
“Will you come to my house today,?” NO NO NO. No comma is needed when using a question mark.
Today I was happy to see one of my students write a half
page of dialogue using only two tags. The conversation was between a caller on
the phone and the writer. It was easy to follow with only two tags—one at the
beginning and one at the end.
Too often we see the “he saids” and the “she saids” over and
over.
More often we see the outmoded tags with the adverbs to show
attitude.
“I’m worried,” Jack
said nervously.
I ask my students to go through their stories and circle all
the “ly” words. We want to use very few adverbs in our writing. Descriptive and
active verbs will eliminate the need for adverbs.
Better: “I’m worried,” Jack said, running his hands through
his hair, pacing up and down the room.
Good dialogue includes actions and body language, combining
activities and showing emotions along with words spoken.
Example:
Stella slammed the book on the table. “I can’t do any more
homework now.” She walked to the door, looked back and scowled at her mother. “I’m
out of here.”
I recommend this book for learning to write dialogue and use
correct punctuation. Purge Your Prose of Problems, a Book Doctor’s Desk Reference by Bobbie Christmas . I receive no remuneration for recommending this book. I do it because it has been an excellent guide for me as a writer and as a teacher.
Glenda Council Beall, Program Director of NCWN-West and owner of Writers Circle around the Table,
www.glendacouncilbeall.com
www.glendacouncilbeall.com
