HOW TO CREATE AND PUNCTUATE DIALOGUE

MAKE YOUR CHARACTERS SPEAK!

DIALOGUE: THINGS TO REMEMBER

• Diction

• The language should match the character.

• Tags (said, exclaimed, wondered, etc.)

• Label the speaker clearly.

• Quantity

• Have a reason for using dialogue versus narration.

• Story writers use lots of paragraph breaks.• Indent to start a new paragraph when the following

happens:• The speaker changes.• There is a change in setting.• There is a change in action.

RULES OF DIALOGUE: PARAGRAPH BREAKS

RULES OF DIALOGUE: PARAGRAPH BREAKS• Look at the example from John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars:

RULES OF DIALOGUE: PUNCTUATIONFrom Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Dialogue followed by a tag:“Looks like you’ve got it made here,”

whispered the boy.

RULES OF DIALOGUE: PUNCTUATIONFrom Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Dialogue followed by a tag where an end punctuation mark is used:

“Looks like you’ve got it made here,” whispered the boy.

Ender shook his head.“Oh, won’t even talk to me?” the boy said.

RULES OF DIALOGUE: PUNCTUATIONFrom Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Dialogue where there is no tag:“The kid’s wrong. I am his friend.”“I know.”“He’s clean. Right to the heart, he’s good.”“I’ve read the reports.”

RULES OF DIALOGUE: PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION

From Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Dialogue where the tag interrupts the speech:“I hope you’re wrong,” said Graff. “By

the way, you aren’t helping yourself at all, talking to me.”

“Good-bye,” Ender said.

RULES OF DIALOGUE: PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION

From Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Dialogue where the tag interrupts the speech, example two:

“I am your only escape,” it said, “and Death is your only escape.”

Ender looked around the room for a weapon, when suddenly the screen went dark.

RULES OF DIALOGUE: PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION

• For interior monologue, you have two options:

• Use italics.

• Use dialogue tags just for interior monologue.

• He wondered

• She thought to herself

Whichever one you choose, be consistent throughout your narrative.

DIALOGUE: TIME TO APPLY

• Now, return to your narrative and check the following in relation to dialogue:

• Formatting

• Paragraph breaks

• Double-spacing

• Punctuation

• Capitalization