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Using Dialogue in Stories

Using Dialogue in Stories. Rule #1: A new speaker makes a new line. WRONG: “I wish my burrito tasted better,” Sarah pouted. “Mine isn’t very good either,” Mary agreed. RIGHT: “I wish my burrito tasted better,” Sarah pouted. “Mine isn’t very good either,” Mary agreed. .

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Using Dialogue in Stories

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  1. Using Dialogue in Stories

  2. Rule #1: A new speaker makes a new line WRONG: “I wish my burrito tasted better,” Sarah pouted. “Mine isn’t very good either,” Mary agreed. RIGHT: “I wish my burrito tasted better,” Sarah pouted. “Mine isn’t very good either,” Mary agreed.

  3. Rule #2: Quotes within quotes You know this one! Dan looked up from his homework, “Did you hear that yesterday Harvey was running through the halls yelling, ‘I miss Halloween!’ at the top of his lungs?”

  4. Rule #3: Break that dialogue up! WRONG: “My favorite memory was when we went Black Friday shopping and my dad fell asleep on one of the display recliners. We were too embarrassed to wake him up when we saw him there.” RIGHT: “My favorite memory,” she said, “was when we went…”

  5. Rule #4: Avoid flashy tags WRONG: “I love dog treats!” April exclaimed. “You’re disgusting,” John groaned. “I don’t eat them!” April screamed. “How would I know that?” John yelled. RIGHT: “I love dog treats!” April said. “You’re disgusting,” John replied. “I don’t eat them!” “How would I know that?”

  6. Rule #4 cont. Sometimes mixing the two is okay & can lead to an even strong piece of writing. “I love dog treats!” April said. John groaned, “You’re disgusting.” “I don’t eat them!” “How would I know that?”

  7. Rule #5: Use action to show who is speaking. WRONG: April stood up, “I love you, John.” He shrank away slowly. RIGHT: April stood up, “I love you, John.” She reached out and he pulled away.

  8. Rule #6: He said, she said WRONG: Carol and Steve talked for a long time over dinner. She said that “she would be going away.” And Steve said “he would miss his sister.” RIGHT: Carol and Steve talked for a long time over dinner. She said that she would be going away and Steve said he would miss his sister.

  9. Rule #7: Breaking to/from indirect to direct dialogue WRONG: “Did you see that?” Tony jumped. “No, what?” Joe turned from his book.At that moment, Jill walked in covered in dirt, looking scared. She sat down and began telling them about her terrifying walk home. Joe set his book down and looked at Tony, “Should we go see what’s out there?”

  10. Rule # 7 cont. RIGHT: “Did you see that?” Tony jumped. “No, what?” Joe turned from his book. At that moment, Jill walked in covered in dirt, looking scared. She sat down and began telling them about her terrifying walk home. Joe set his book down and looked at Tony, “Should we go see what’s out there?”

  11. FINAL NOTES -When dealing with dialogue, new characters get new paragraphs. -Indirect dialogue is considered narration and does not need to be quoted. -Use dramatic tags sparingly. -When possible, combine the character’s action into the dialogue tag. -Break up long chunks of dialogue so the reader knows who is speaking sooner.

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