Writing Dialog in Fiction – Part 1 – Grammar and Style
By Bruce L. Cook
Excellent fiction requires superb dialog. Writing a conversation between two persons (dialog) or among several (“session”) is a challenge to any dialectician. In the case of fiction writers, it’s essential to follow some basic guidelines. This series of three articles on dialog considers three essential areas: grammar and style, individualization, and context.
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Excellent fiction requires superb dialog. Writing a conversation between two persons (dialog) or among several (“session”) is a challenge to any dialectician. In the case of fiction writers, it’s essential to follow some basic guidelines. This series of three articles on dialog considers three essential areas: grammar and style, individualization, and context.
Grammar and Style
Too often a publisher encounters basic grammar errors in fiction, such as “Hello he said.” Or, worse still, a series of utterances with no punctuation at all. Here is a small collection of basic rules.
In studying dialog grammar, the first rule is the basic form: Example, “Hello,” he said.
quotation mark, dialog, comma, quotation mark, space. remainder of sentence.
For the next rule, consider the case of an interjection during dialog: Example, “Hello,” he said, “it’s good to see you.”
(And, of course, you can add sentences of dialog before the ending period and question mark.)
Or, in a painstakingly long quotation covering several paragraphs, use this less-known format:
quote mark at start of each sentence plus one at end of the quotation, after the period.
Example:
“Four score and seven years ago …
“Now we are engaged in a great civil war…
“But, in a larger sense, we…
“It is for us, the living, …not perish from the earth.”
(Not that it’s recommended to use long quotations in fiction! Not to mention that punctuation in dialog is the same for period or question/exclamation marks.)
Sadly, a new writer might say “They’ll know what I mean. I am such a genius that readers should just figure it out.” This superior attitude, grounded in self-adulation and inexperience, is the hallmark of some new writers. Instead, we need humility and a willingness to learn.
Further, it’s essential to have correct copy when submitting your work for publication. Grammar errors are death for a submission. Even a nice story can be disqualified on its face.
Next month we look at individualization in dialog, which is another important facet of writing.
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