Grammar Tips and Tricks

BASICS

Okay, so let's get with the basics of writing.
Books are made of paragraphs and dialogue. However simple these things are, there are rules that go along with them.

PARAGRAPHS
-I see issues with this constantly. Honestly, when I see one big long paragraph, I have a really hard time following the story, and I can't be the only one.

RULES
- Any time there is a change in Time, Place, Subject, Point of View, or a change in dialogue, there should be a new paragraph.

EX:
Shelby shuddered under her blankets, and watched as her alarm turned to 7:00am and began to ring. She rose from her bed and quickly jumped into the shower to warm herself. After she was all set and ready for the day, she ran down the stairs and into her kitchen. On the table she saw eggs, pancakes, and sausage. With a smile on her face, she sat into a chair and dug into her breakfast.

(Please keep in mind that I suck at example writing and that paragraphs will normally be longer than just this.)

So, this example here needs separation because there is a change in time and in setting. It should really be:

Shelby shuddered under her blankets, and watched as her alarm turned to 7:00am and began to ring. She rose from her bed and quickly jumped into the shower to warm herself.
(CHANGE IN TIME -aka time has passed since she got into the shower- AND CHANGE IN SETTING -aka she's no longer in her room/bathroom- SO MAKE A NEW PARAGRAPH)
After she was all set and ready for the day, she ran down the stairs and into her kitchen. On the table she saw eggs, pancakes, and sausage. With a smile on her face, she sat into a chat and dug into her breakfast.

So that's my piece on that subject. Next up is dialogue. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. It drives me INSANE. I can't man. I just can't.

DIALOGUE RULES (Basics)

DEAR LORD PEOPLE. Whenever someone new starts speaking, MAKE A NEW PARAGRAPH. You can cut down on "so-and-so SAYS" or "so-and-so YELLS" and so on. I don't think I can even write a bad example for this because it hurts my soul so much.

GOOD EX:
They all sat around the table, tension filling the air.
"Who took it?" Marlene whispers. The two others stayed silent. "Who took it?"
Coby stayed quiet, observing the sudden change in mood as gentle Marlene suddenly became angry.
"I took it. I was hungry, so I ate it." Confessed Lola, remorse found nowhere in her voice.
"How could you? I was saving that! I don't get a chance to eat any."
"It's not like your name was on it."
"My name was on it!"
Coby finally decided to speak up. "Well it's a good thing you didn't eat the cookie Marlene." He began, "Because I put laxatives in the batter."
Marlene and Lola looked at Coby, and then to each other. Soon enough, they were all laughing.

Okay. So. Any time a new person speaks, there should be a new paragraph. It is so so hard to follow when it's just a bunch of dialogue squished into a huge paragraph.
And one more thing about dialogue. PLEASE. Sentences start with a capital letter. It's elementary. The basic of the basics.

So recap for this chapter: PARAGRAPHS ARE IMPORTANT. SENTENCES START WITH A CAPITAL LETTER.
Tada. These things just come naturally to me as I write, but I know that maybe it isn't the same for everyone else, so I figured I would get it out of the way.

Thanks for reading!
-DM