1. HOW TO CREATE AND PUNCTUATE DIALOGUE MAKE YOUR CHARACTERS SPEAK!

2. DIALOGUE: THINGS TO REMEMBER Diction The language should match the character. Tags (said, exclaimed, wondered, etc.) Label the speaker clearly. Quantity Have a reason for using dialogue versus narration.

3. Story writers use lots of paragraph breaks. Indent to start a new paragraph when the following happens: The speaker changes. There is a change in setting. There is a change in action. RULES OF DIALOGUE: PARAGRAPH BREAKS

4. Look at the example from John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars:

5. RULES OF DIALOGUE: PUNCTUATION From Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card Dialogue followed by a tag: “Looks like you’ve got it made here,” whispered the boy.

6. RULES OF DIALOGUE: PUNCTUATION From Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card Dialogue followed by a tag where an end punctuation mark is used: “Looks like you’ve got it made here,” whispered the boy. Ender shook his head. “Oh, won’t even talk to me?” the boy said.

7. RULES OF DIALOGUE: PUNCTUATION From Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card Dialogue where there is no tag: “The kid’s wrong. I am his friend.” “I know.” “He’s clean. Right to the heart, he’s good.” “I’ve read the reports.”

8. RULES OF DIALOGUE: PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION From Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card Dialogue where the tag interrupts the speech: “I hope you’re wrong,” said Graff. “By the way, you aren’t helping yourself at all, talking to me.” “Good-bye,” Ender said.

9. RULES OF DIALOGUE: PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION From Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card Dialogue where the tag interrupts the speech, example two: “I am your only escape,” it said, “and Death is your only escape.” Ender looked around the room for a weapon, when suddenly the screen went dark.

10. RULES OF DIALOGUE: PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION For interior monologue, you have two options: Use italics. Use dialogue tags just for interior monologue. He wondered She thought to herself Whichever one you choose, be consistent throughout your narrative.

11. DIALOGUE: TIME TO APPLY Now, return to your narrative and check the following in relation to dialogue: Formatting Paragraph breaks Double-spacing Punctuation Capitalization