Rendezvous With Writing
DIALOGUE TAGS VS.
ACTION BEATS: A dialogue tag is something like “Don said” or “Don asked.” A dialogue tag tells the reader who is speaking. An action beat is something a speaking character does between the words he says. For example, a man named Don says a few words, and then we read, “Don pressed his lips together in a firm, flat line." Action beats are more effective at characterizing the speaker. We know Don is mad. But writing “Don said” doesn’t tell us anything about Don. So use more action beats and less dialogue tags.
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