I’m not that kind of girl! Writing Dialogue Don’t you kiss me! I’m not that kind of girl!

Overall: Punctuate correctly!!! Start new paragraph when changing speakers. Two people cannot be speaking in the same paragraph!

Punctuating Dialogue Rules: New speaker = new paragraph! Enclose each speaker’s words in “ .” Interrupting expressions like I said or She replied- separate dialogue from the expression with a comma. PRACTICE (add punctuation): I replied Okay, but I doubt you will win. Remember the last time we played Well, you never know, she said with a grin

Punctuating Dialogue Practice I replied, “Okay, but I doubt you will win. Remember the last time we played?” “Well, you never know,” she said with a grin. Now jazz up the writing with adjectives and adverbs.

Rule # 1 Cut words and phrases that don’t serve the conversation’s purpose.

Rule # 2 Dialogue should move the story forward.

Rule #3 One thought at a time, and keep the lines short. I love your brother. I love you.

Rule #4 Don’t try to provide too much info at once.

Give no character more than three uninterrupted sentences. “My name’s Janie. I used to roam the tundra of Africa but now I hang out and check out all the fine-tusked babes.

Ask yourself if you would say the conversation. Would you like. . How about a.. . Wanna breath mint? Ask yourself if you would say the conversation.

Rule #5 Characters, like people should each have their own voice. You should be able to tell who is speaking without tag lines. (Hmm.. Who is speaking?)

Example: (narrator, man, woman) “You make me sick. You smell like her cigarettes.” She grabbed his shirt collar and took a long sniff. “You are completely insane! Do you want to smell me now? Here!” He ripped through the buttons and struggled to pull the linen over his head, thrusting it at her. “Smell it.”