Writing Dialogue Tags

[Deleted member 84247]

After watching a few videos about dialogue tags, I found that the consensus of the authors was that you shouldn't try to be fancy with them when they are needed. Basically, you should mostly use he/she said/asked instead of exclaimed, proclaimed, inquired, etc. I am curious to know how you use dialogue tags in your story. How often are you using them? Do you place them before, after, or in the middle of dialogue (perhaps all three)? And what are the actual tags you are using?

 

[Assurbanipal_II]

Use none. They are overrated. Action tags are more useful. If you use dialogue tags, then to emphasise, and if you emphasise, then don't use "say", "ask", etc.

 

[Seaspecter]

I use them after every piece of dialogue and it's usually just said, asked, or replied. They help me keep track of who's talking when I'm writing and I find stories with them easier to read myself.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Use none. They are overrated. Action tags are more useful. If you use dialogue tags, then to emphasise, and if you emphasise, then don't use "say", "ask", etc.

I am trying to use them only when they are necessary to know who is speaking. Usually, I try to use action tags/description tags.

I use them after every piece of dialogue and it's usually just said, asked, or replied. They help me keep track of who's talking when I'm writing and I find stories with them easier to read myself.

Do you ever use action tags?

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Basically, you should mostly use he/she said/asked instead of exclaimed, proclaimed, inquired, etc.

 

[Seaspecter]

Do you ever use action tags?

Nope, I honestly just looked up what they were.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Answering your questions. I overuse both action and dialogues tags. I place them wherever I think it fits, so all three. What do you mean by "actual tags you are using"?

 

[Corty]

After watching a few videos about dialogue tags, I found that the consensus of the authors was that you shouldn't try to be fancy with them when they are needed. Basically, you should mostly use he/she said/asked instead of exclaimed, proclaimed, inquired, etc.

Really? That is the consensus? Well, I think that is dumb.

I always switch my text up as much as possible, looking for synonyms, expressions and whatever else. Reading "XYZ said/asked" is hella boring and repetitive. I try and make sure I am not repeating myself every second sentence and flavor the text well.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Answering your questions. I overuse both action and dialogues tags. I place them wherever I think it fits, so all three. What do you mean by "actual tags you are using"?

I meant whatever word is following he/she.
Example: "What are the actual tags?" Envy asked.
"I use fancy tags!" He exclaimed.
"I use normal tags," She said.
The authors in the videos said that using said/asked is better, but I want to know other's opinions.

Really? That is the consensus? Well, I think that is dumb.

I always switch my text up as much as possible, looking for synonyms, expressions and whatever else. Reading "XYZ said/asked" is hella boring and repetitive. I try and make sure I am not repeating myself every second sentence and flavor the text well.

I am the same way. I don't necessarily agree with the authors. I just found it interesting.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I meant whatever word is following he/she.
Example: "What are the actual tags?" Envy asked.
"I use fancy tags!" He exclaimed.
"I use normal tags," She said.
The authors in the videos said that using said/asked is better, but I want to know other's opinions.

I can't answer that question because I use whatever I can come up with. A lot of times I use thesaurus or google for synonyms as I tend to forget words. I can say my preference regarding he\she said. I try not to use it more than twice in a single chapter. Same for ask, answer, reply.

 

[Assurbanipal_II]

I meant whatever word is following he/she.
Example: "What are the actual tags?" Envy asked.
"I use fancy tags!" He exclaimed.
"I use normal tags," She said.
The authors in the videos said that using said/asked is better, but I want to know other's opinions.

I am the same way. I don't necessarily agree with the authors. I just found it interesting.

"I use fancy tags!" he exclaimed.
"I use normal tags," she said.

 

[Tyranomaster]

As an author, it always feels awkward when the word "said" is said multiple times in short succession. As a reader, I never notice it, and I'm actually jarred by random other words. I think as a native English speaker, you basically just skim the word used, and said is the easiest to ignore.

 

[Corty]

I am the same way. I don't necessarily agree with the authors. I just found it interesting.

Yeah, using the "consensus" would be repetitive, I think.

"Good enough of an answer?" She asked, measuring her breasts with two hands, but they were too big to fit into them properly. "I hate this form! It is so cumbersome..." She groaned, shaking her body, and with another pop, she transformed back into a cat. "Much better!"

"..."

"You honestly didn't think we could transform? We are not animals, mind you! What did you think? How the beast folk came about? Some of us were attracted to humans!"

"..."

“Hahhh… humans…” She scoffed, stretching once more, watching Lia with clear annoyance.

"Do your husband…? Can he change too?"

"Of course! You already met him!" She answered impatiently.

"I did? Wait! Albert?!" Lia shrieked.

"Yes. I have been living here since the very beginning. I am a loyal wife!" She exclaimed proudly, sitting straight and her face held high.

 

[Prince_Azmiran_Myrian]

Using some sort of tag is always important for clarity purposes.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

As an author, it always feels awkward when the word "said" is said multiple times in short succession. As a reader, I never notice it, and I'm actually jarred by random other words. I think as a native English speaker, you basically just skim the word used, and said is the easiest to ignore.

That is basically what they were pointing out. Readers just skim through the dialogue tags, so they want you to avoid using fancy words for dialogue tags.

Yeah, using the "consensus" would be repetitive, I think.

That is why they also said to only use them when it is absolutely necessary to know who is speaking.

 

[Corty]

That is why they also said to only use them when it is absolutely necessary to know who is speaking.

Which is almost always. The moment I wanted to write a snappy back and forth between TWO, and I repeat, TWO characters in a scene... when nobody else was even close by... people started complaining they couldn't tell who was who if I stopped writing, "he said/she said" for just four sentences...

So I gave up on that very quickly.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

What corty said.

 

[Seaspecter]

Which is almost always. The moment I wanted to write a snappy back and forth between TWO, and I repeat, TWO characters in a scene... when nobody else was even close by... people started complaining they couldn't tell who was who if I stopped writing, "he said/she said" for just four sentences...

So I gave up on that very quickly.

Having the attention span of a coked out squirrel myself I can't follow anything so repetitive or not I really appreciate the things.

 

[melchi]

After watching a few videos about dialogue tags, I found that the consensus of the authors was that you shouldn't try to be fancy with them when they are needed. Basically, you should mostly use he/she said/asked instead of exclaimed, proclaimed, inquired, etc. I am curious to know how you use dialogue tags in your story. How often are you using them? Do you place them before, after, or in the middle of dialogue (perhaps all three)? And what are the actual tags you are using?

They don't even have to be related to talking. The main point is to identify actors and prevent talking head syndrome.

"Hi there" Envy pats the cute cat.

"Nyah," The cat meowed.

Envy's bounced at that cat's cuteness, "Aren't you a cute kitty!"

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Which is almost always. The moment I wanted to write a snappy back and forth between TWO, and I repeat, TWO characters in a scene... when nobody else was even close by... people started complaining they couldn't tell who was who if I stopped writing, "he said/she said" for just four sentences...

So I gave up on that very quickly.

Here is an example one of the videos gave:
“For my next trick,” the magician said,”I’m going to make the emergency exits disappear.”
The audience glanced at the doors to the left and right of the stage.
“Once the exits are gone, I’m going to set the building on fire.”
Nervous laughter sounded throughout the venue.
“Before I begin, I would like a volunteer. Preferably someone with a cigarette lighter.”

They don't even have to be related to talking. The main point is to identify actors and prevent talking head syndrome.

"Hi there" Envy pats the cute cat.

"Nyah," The cat meowed.

Envy's bounced at that cat's cuteness, "Aren't you a cute kitty!"

Those are action tags.