One of the most important methods in writing narrative is providing descriptive scenes. By finding a balance between showing and telling, we give the reader a living story with examples and events which back up our thoughts, feelings, and reactions. We support our Narrative Thesis with proof. This is what happened, and this is why it matters!
Any good scene has characters. Characters can be shown by their physical description, their gestures, their habits, their actions and reactions, and of course, their relationships. Characters were made to talk to each other. So below, learn how to format your dialogue so the reader knows who is speaking and when they’re speaking.
Paragraphing
Each time a new character speaks, you should start a new paragraph. By starting a new paragraph, the reader can clearly see who is speaking and when. Each of your dialogue paragraphs should indent on the first line, just like any paragraph would.
My mother walked into the kitchen where I was sitting and said, “Hello, honey. How are you with all that’s going on in the world?”
“I’m fine,” I replied.
Sentence Structure
Sentence structure and punctuation rules apply to dialogue as they do in any sentence. Begin the dialogue with a capital letter, as if it is its own sentence. When we use a signal verb or phrase before or after a direct quote of dialogue (such as “called” or “whispered darkly”) we should offset it with a comma:
It was a sunny day, and Dave called from the yard, “Come here, Sally! There’s a rainbow!” “Just a minute,” I muttered, folding his undershirt.
Variety
Sometimes we won’t want to use a signal verb to create a back-and-forth conversation. This is sometimes a great tool to establish how characters communicate. The first rule above applies, to keep the speaker clear. Start new paragraphs, every time! Use a variety of structures, and apply the characters actions once in a while, to keep readers grounded in the scene.
When I got home from school that day, my brother sat in front of the TV. “How was work?” I asked. “Good.”
“Well, anything interesting happen?”
He rolled his eyes and groaned, “Same old.”
By respecting the standard rules of dialogue, a writer has the opportunity to tell a clear story, with vivid characters. Give these tactics a try next time you tell a story with dialogue, or add better dialogue to an existing draft.
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