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Dialogue

7 years ago

Exactly how does dialogue work again? Different conversations are different paragraphs right? Also, do I have to start a new paragraph if I want to start a dialogue (even if the current paragraph doesn't have any)?

Dialogue

7 years ago

Example:

"Hey, John," Don called to his friend.

"Don!" John yelled back, leaping off of his bicycle and heading over. "How have you been?"

"Pretty good. You?"

"Fantastic."

Dialogue

7 years ago

http://theeditorsblog.net/2010/12/08/punctuation-in-dialogue/

Dialogue

7 years ago

 Thanks!

Dialogue

7 years ago
Lol. This is the kid who claimed to be 20 last week.

Dialogue

7 years ago

"This kid", isn't perfect. Wanna know my age? Twenty as of April 16, 2016. Actually, you know what? Don't stop. As long as it keeps you laughing, that is.

Dialogue

7 years ago

If you're actually 20, that's both hilarious and really depressing for the future of this planet.

Dialogue

7 years ago

Someone obviously didn't pay attention in English class.

Dialogue

7 years ago

You try being the one idiot who listens without taking notes. Plus, the one idiot who rarely asks questions.

Dialogue

7 years ago

Lol. I've been there.

Dialogue

7 years ago
A simple rule to remember is that every time someone new speaks, a new paragraph is started. It's not a hard rule, and there are plenty of cases where it's not necessary; but 99% of the time you'll do right by starting a new paragraph when someone speaks.

You do not have to start a new paragraph to insert a line of dialogue.

Like you could be like: Jimmy did this like so. Then he did that and cut himself. "Dammit," Jimmy swore.

When a character is giving a long bit of monologue, treat paragraphs as you would normally. But only use closing punctuation after the very last sentence in the speech. (the missing closing quote mark on rest of the paragraphs are a clue for readers that the speech continues.)

"Blah blah blah," Fred said. "Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah.Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah.

"Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah.Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah.

"Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah.Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah."

Jimmy shook his head. "That was uncalled for, Fred."