Putting Dialogue in a story.

Spock96 · 12-10-2011, 10:18 AM

Hey Guys,
I was looking over my story and a friend told me that I need to start a new "paragraph" every time someone new speaks. Does anyone know what that means/or how it should look?(sorry for being vague.)
Thanks,
Spock96

altworld · 12-10-2011, 10:45 AM

This comes down to style, someone speaking should begin on a new line, or at least when they are done, break to a new line or narrative.

Description of action or character attitude followed be dialog.
Reaction broken down on a new line.

Suzanna · 12-10-2011, 11:49 AM

Yes, you definitely need a new paragraph every time there's a change in speaker. That signals to the reader that a new person is talking and can help the reader keep track of who is speaking. It can be confusing if you have more than one person speaking within the same paragraph.

Grab a novel off your bookshelf ... any novel ... and you'll see exactly what this should look like.

Spock96 · 12-10-2011, 12:29 PM

Thank you I'll try.

crich70 · 12-10-2011, 06:11 PM

I believe you're supposed to have 2 lines in between scenes too for the same reason. Otherwise one minute the reader is on board your spaceship for example and the next thing they're learning that they are on a planet without any warning.

Spock96 · 12-10-2011, 08:52 PM

I'm stuck with that. And the story in general.

altworld · 12-11-2011, 02:27 AM

On the subject of scenes, always try to keep the chapter you are writing concentrated on one characters perspective or one scene if it involved multiple characters. A two line break or the old favorite **** which indicates a different point of view coming.

HarryT · 12-11-2011, 03:46 AM

Two-line breaks don't work well in ebooks; if it occurs at the bottom or the top of a page, the reader isn't going to see it.

mr ploppy · 12-11-2011, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

I believe you're supposed to have 2 lines in between scenes too for the same reason. Otherwise one minute the reader is on board your spaceship for example and the next thing they're learning that they are on a planet without any warning.

If it's for an ebook you should really put some stars or blobs in there instead. Some ebook readers strip out extra blank lines, and you also have no way of knowing where the page breaks will be.

Spock96 · 12-11-2011, 04:26 PM

Not for an ebook. I'm just writing it well...to write it. No real "format" in mind at this point.

teh603 · 12-11-2011, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

I believe you're supposed to have 2 lines in between scenes too for the same reason. Otherwise one minute the reader is on board your spaceship for example and the next thing they're learning that they are on a planet without any warning.

I dunno, I'd rather include some kind of transitional exposition, like "And then they beamed down to the planet..," or just break the chapter right there. Space breaks can be a bit of a headache in works longer than a short story.

It also depends on the POV of choice; in 3rd Limited Shifting you're expected to have a chapter break whenever you change who the narrator's following.

12-10-2011, 10:18 AM	#1
Spock96 Book Geek. Posts: 78 Karma: 639132 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G	Putting Dialogue in a story. Hey Guys, I was looking over my story and a friend told me that I need to start a new "paragraph" every time someone new speaks. Does anyone know what that means/or how it should look?(sorry for being vague.) Thanks, Spock96

12-10-2011, 10:45 AM	#2
altworld Evangelist Posts: 495 Karma: 746472 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Deep in Maryland Device: Android G1	This comes down to style, someone speaking should begin on a new line, or at least when they are done, break to a new line or narrative. Description of action or character attitude followed be dialog. Reaction broken down on a new line. Last edited by altworld; 12-10-2011 at 11:26 AM. Reason: Having a dumb moment

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12-10-2011, 11:49 AM	#3
Suzanna Living in the past Posts: 432 Karma: 6011289 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kobo Arc	Yes, you definitely need a new paragraph every time there's a change in speaker. That signals to the reader that a new person is talking and can help the reader keep track of who is speaking. It can be confusing if you have more than one person speaking within the same paragraph. Grab a novel off your bookshelf ... any novel ... and you'll see exactly what this should look like.

12-10-2011, 12:29 PM	#4
Spock96 Book Geek. Posts: 78 Karma: 639132 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G	Thank you I'll try.

12-10-2011, 06:11 PM	#5
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I believe you're supposed to have 2 lines in between scenes too for the same reason. Otherwise one minute the reader is on board your spaceship for example and the next thing they're learning that they are on a planet without any warning.

12-10-2011, 08:52 PM	#6
Spock96 Book Geek. Posts: 78 Karma: 639132 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G	I'm stuck with that. And the story in general.

12-11-2011, 02:27 AM	#7
altworld Evangelist Posts: 495 Karma: 746472 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Deep in Maryland Device: Android G1	On the subject of scenes, always try to keep the chapter you are writing concentrated on one characters perspective or one scene if it involved multiple characters. A two line break or the old favorite **** which indicates a different point of view coming.

12-11-2011, 03:46 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Two-line breaks don't work well in ebooks; if it occurs at the bottom or the top of a page, the reader isn't going to see it.

12-11-2011, 04:26 PM	#10
Spock96 Book Geek. Posts: 78 Karma: 639132 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G	Not for an ebook. I'm just writing it well...to write it. No real "format" in mind at this point.

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