Answer: Writing dialogue with narrative

[green_grrl]

Our question today is how to correctly write dialogue with action/narrative. Here's an example of why this is necessary (with the detectives from Hawaii Five-0):

"Are there any malasadas left? I'm starving." Steve smiled

Comments

[jedimara77]

I love Stackpole's blog. I've taken his writing workshops at Dragon Con and he is *adamant* about not using dialogue tags. I used his advice on my latest short story and feel like it was much stronger as a result.

[vaysh]

*seconded*

One of the reasons why the rule of "each speaker gets their own paragraph in dialogue" could assert itself so forcefully in and around the 1980s (dialogues were written much differently in earlier decades, just check out any book from this period), is to avoid dialogue tags.

[green_grrl]

It makes the story so much more immersive and naturalistic.

[green_grrl]

Oh, I will have to look for him at D*C!

[avidrosette]

Great post - very clear and helpful!

[green_grrl]

Thank you!