Dialogue can be great fun to write but it can also present a few problems for authors. It needs to be laid out correctly, according to conventions,
and it needs to be clearly attributed to the correct character.
There are a few ways to do that:
- Using dialogue tags
- Using dialogue beats (aka action beats)
- Using nothing but
the dialogue
Attributing Dialogue Using Dialogue Tags
Here's the simplest way to attribute
dialogue:
"Nice weather today," John said.
The "John said" is a dialogue tag: it "tags" the dialogue as John's. Of
course, you can vary the dialogue tag. This could even give the dialogue a different meaning:
"Nice weather today," John said, cheerfully.
"Nice weather today," John muttered, sarcastically.
You can also put the tag before the dialogue – which can change up the rhythm of your sentences:
John said, "Nice weather today."
In some cases, a dialogue tag makes the most sense: it's clear and straightforward. It can become a little repetitive, though, to tag every single line of dialogue ... and there are other ways to do it.
Attributing Dialogue Using Dialogue Beats
In many cases, dialogue beats (brief actions) are a great way to attribute
dialogue:
John opened the curtain. "Nice weather today."
"Nice weather today." John gave a rueful grin as he
opened his umbrella.
Instead of being a dialogue tag, this is a dialogue beat or action beat. John's action is on the same line as the dialogue. By common layout conventions, this means that the dialogue is John's. (This is why layout and punctuation matter so much!)
Attributing Dialogue Using Nothing but the Dialogue
If you have an ongoing conversation, you can sometimes get away with nothing but the
dialogue. I once wrote a short story with only dialogue; it's tricky but possible!
Here's another example:
John
opened the curtain. "Nice weather today."
"It's supposed to rain later," Adam said.
"Let's get a move on, then."
If John and Adam are the only people in the room, we can assume that the third line is John's. (Even if they're not the only people, we'd probably still assume that, as John was the person in conversation with Adam.)
There's nothing wrong with dialogue tags, but having
a few different tools to hand can help you break up any monotonous sections of your story, and can also give you greater control over the rhythm and flow of your piece.
If you want (lots!) more on dialogue tags and dialogue beats, check out my post: Are You Using "Said" Too Frequently? Dialogue Tags and Dialogue Beats Explained.
And if you're looking for advice on dialogue in general, check out my
collection of posts on writing great dialogue.
