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Found this interesting

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Purpura Lipstick:
He talked of cutting out parts that readers tend to skip, he should've cut out most of his article *hums* I skipped MOST of it. Bleh, Elmore Leonard, while published is not my literary icon. 

I really disagree with the only use "said" thing too... BORING!  and the adverb thing, kept to a minimum has got to be okay really...  I'll never read his books if he only uses said.

MellzBellz:
I disagee w/ the said thing too. I've read that a writer should steer clear from too many dialogue tags (which I am VERY guilty of and working on, but its a hard habit to break.) I just feel the word "said" is so vague. I remember I think in like 5th grade my class made a book for the 100th day of school "100 words to use instead of said." And now I think said is like a sin to use.

I agree that dialogue tags can interrupt the flow of dialogue, but sometimes I do like a lttle descrption thrown in too. It helps me keep track of who is talking and helps me visaualize the scene a little better. So yea... I kind of disagree.

starbeamz:

--- Quote from: MellzBellz on April 05, 2007, 09:28:59 PM ---I disagee w/ the said thing too. I've read that a writer should steer clear from too many dialogue tags (which I am VERY guilty of and working on, but its a hard habit to break.) I just feel the word "said" is so vague. I remember I think in like 5th grade my class made a book for the 100th day of school "100 words to use instead of said." And now I think said is like a sin to use.

I agree that dialogue tags can interrupt the flow of dialogue, but sometimes I do like a lttle descrption thrown in too. It helps me keep track of who is talking and helps me visaualize the scene a little better. So yea... I kind of disagree.

--- End quote ---

I've heard the dialogue tags thing, too, so I'm trying to follow that. I've realized that it's really hard to come up with all sorts of different verbs without the writing sounding strange, so I've been following some of my favorite published novelists and leaving a lot of the "said"'s and "explained"s out. I've found it easier to describe what the person is doing (i.e. taking off a hat, walking towards the door) and then have dialogue wound around that. It sounds more natural than having she said and he said with every line of dialogue.

nicksgal:
I thought I'd toss this out there.

Said isn't really a good thing to use, adverbs and said are a step above that, and words instead of said are above that.

What you are supposed to do, as I've been told in my class, is to use action to describe emotion.

For instance... *Scenario*: A girl just bought tickets to the next Backstreet Boys concert for her and her best friend. But, the best friend reveals that she can't go because of some unknown reason....

Dialogue tagged version:

"Sorry," Megan mummbled, "I can't go."

"What do you mean you can't go?!" Angela shouted.

Actions:

"Sorry..." Megan dug her toe into the ground and lowered her head, "I can't go."

"What do you mean you can't go?!" Angela threw the tickets to the ground and stomped one foot.

Yay! I hope that makes sense. :)

Not that anyone was really looking for a tutorial... I just felt like jotting it down.... :-[ *backs out of thread*

RokofAges75:
^ I agree; that's the best way to do it.

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