As you set out on the path of becoming a writer, with the excitement of writing a captivating story, the initial steps can always feel overwhelming. And you may often encounter struggles when it comes to formatting dialogues. Worry not, because we’re here to guide you in transforming you book to a bestseller. By adhering strictly to a set of rules, you can make your novel stand out.
Before we jump into the rules. It’s crucial to have a basic understanding of dialogue formatting. Formatting involves the use of quotation marks around each dialogue, commas to separate speakers from the dialogue, appropriate application of punctuation (use of quotes, commas, and even em dashes), and the use of paragraph breaks to indicate when one speaker is switching to another.
Why Is Formatting Important?
Improperly formatted dialogues have the potential to disrupt the reading flow, diverting readers’ full attention from your books. This oversight may also discourage readers from giving the book another chance. Contrarily, well-formatted dialogues can effortlessly maintain a smooth flow of narrative, captivating readers and encouraging them to stay hooked in the book.
Occasionally, readers may often find it difficult to figure out which dialogue belongs to which speaker. Properly formatting your dialogue helps establish a clear distinction between each speaker, enhances the clarity of your narrative, which eventually contributes to a better overall reading experience
Moreover, proper formatting not only affects the flow of the narrative but also shapes readers’ perceptions of the author. It reflects the author’s writing proficiency. Leaving a lasting imprint on the reader. Conversely, a poorly formatted book can damage the reputation of author, giving off a sense of carelessness and lack of dedication in their narratives
Formatting Dialogues in Your Story
Let’s outline some rules with examples to guide you in formatting your dialogue effectively.
Putting quote marks around the dialogue:
It separates what dialogue is said by the speaker.
Mary said, “I’ll meet you at the cafe around noon.”
Note: Here, the speaker’s dialogue is indicated by the quotation marks.
Dialogue tags placement outside quote marks:
It not only indicates who spoke the dialogue, but also shows how they expressed it.
“I would love to there,” he smiled.
She whispered, “I’ll meet you there.”
Note: When the dialogue tag appears after the quote marks, don’t be puzzled. In this scenario, using a lowercase letter after quotes and a comma will appropriately separate the dialogue from the speaker’s tag.
Correct Punctuations placement:
Punctuation includes commas, question marks, exclamation points, em dashes, and periods. Let explore how to use them in your dialogue to enhance clarity of your narrative.
- Comma with dialogue
Place commas inside the quotation marks when they directly follow the spoken words. If the dialogue is followed by a dialogue tag, use a comma before the closing quotation mark.
Example: “I’ll be there,” she said.
Example: She promised, “I’ll be there.”
- Periods and Commas:
Put a period or comma before ending the dialogue, inside the last quotation marks.
Example: “I can’t believe it.” She smiled.
Example: “I love this place,” he exclaimed, “it’s so peaceful.”
Note: To separate consecutive quoted sentences, use a comma between the quotations and dialogue tags.
- Question Marks and Exclamation Points:
Example: “do you want some water?” she asked.
Note: Place question marks and exclamation points inside the closing quotation marks when they apply to the quoted material
- Em dashes:
Em dashes (—) are versatile punctuation marks that can be used for various purposes in writing:
Example: “Wait,” he said, “I thought you said—”
I know what I said,” she interrupted, “but circumstances have changed—”
These examples show how one speaker can cause disruptions or changes in focus.
Separating Action Before/After The Dialogue:
When incorporating actions with spoken dialogues, make sure to separate them with comma.
“He laughed, ‘That joke was hilarious.'”
Note: In this case, “He laughed” is the action, and it’s separated from the dialogue by a comma.
Quoted Dialogue Within The Main Dialogue:
When a character recounts what someone else has said, and you need to include that dialogue within the main dialogue, you use single quotes.
Example: John cried, “When Sarah said, ‘I am dating Sam and, sorry, I never wanted to do this to you,’ it really broke my trust for Sam, my own best friend!”
Note: dialogue said by Sarah is quote with single quote mark, while the main dialogue spoken by john is double quoted
Body Language That Cuts Off the Conversation:
Writing a dialogue that may have an action interrupting between the dialogue, using lowercase letters and commas for separation would be ideal.
Example: mark sighed, ‘I can’t believe I forgot the keys again,’ he retraced his steps, searching desperately for them, “mom’s going to kill me.”
Note: He retraced his steps, searching desperately for them” is the action that broke the sentence.
Change of Paragraph for Another Speaker:
When a different character speaks, their dialogue should be placed in a new paragraph. This practice clarifies the speaker, preventing confusion among readers about who said which dialogue.
”I finished the project,” Emily announced proudly. “Now it’s your turn to take the lead.”
“Really?” James raised an eyebrow with excitement. ”That’s fantastic news!”
Note: You can clearly see a deliberate shift to a new paragraph, particularly when another speaker begins talking.
When A Speaker Extends Their Dialogue:
If you observe a dialogue from a specific speaker that long enough, consider shifting to a new paragraph. Place the closing quote when the dialogue come to an end, not after any paragraph.
He paced around the room, frustration evident. “I just can’t believe it has come to this,” he muttered to himself.
The weight of the situation sank in as he continued, “We’ve invested so much time and effort into this project, and now it feels like everything is falling apart. I thought we had a solid plan, but maybe I was too optimistic. Maybe I overlooked crucial details. It’s just hard to accept that things might not turn out the way we envisioned. But we can’t give up.
We’ve faced challenges before, and we’ve overcome them. We need to reassess our strategy, consider alternative approaches. There’s always a solution; we just need to find it.'”
Note: The closing quote is placed at the last word of the last paragraph, indicating a longer conversation from the same speaker.
Finally, you have to give it some thought. Clear formatting guarantees readability, improves narrative flow, and makes for a more enjoyable reading experience overall. Readers’ perceptions are shaped by the way you deliver dialogue, which demonstrates your writing skill. Develop your ability to attract readers into your carefully constructed environment and make your writing stand out.
