Proper Writing 101

Class 2 : Dialogue

Welcome back, class! It's time for more writing tips! Are you ready?

Whether you want to or not, let's get class in session! (Even though it technically already is..)

Rule 1 : Use quotations marks.

Trust me, they'll help your readers (and yourself) understand your writing better.

Here's an example for you.

Dialogue (no quotations marks):

Susan, did you finish the math homework? the male asked his friend.

Yeah, I did! she chirps, then adds, do you need to borrow it, Ethan?

Yes, please, he responds, thankful.

Revised Dialogue:

"Susan, did you finish the math homework?" the male asked his friend.

"Yeah, I did!" she chirps, then adds, "Do you need to borrow it, Ethan?"

"Yes, please," he responds, thankful.

It helps clean up your work, and makes it easier to comprehend.

Rule 2 : Don't clump up dialogue into one paragraph. (Especially if you don't have quotation marks, which I will be showing in an example.)

Clumped Dialogue (no quotations):

Susan, did you finish the math homework? the male asked his friend. Yeah, I did! she chirps, then adds, do you need to borrow it, Ethan? Yes, please, he responds, thankful.

Revised Dialogue:

"Susan, did you finish the math homework?" the male asked his friend.

"Yeah, I did!" she chirps, then adds, "Do you need to borrow it, Ethan?"

"Yes, please," he responds, thankful.

What I showed you was a minor fix, but from stories I've read, people tend to like to make long paragraphs like that. Mine was only a few sentences with little dialogue.

Rule 3 : Be sure to use commas and periods! (If a question, then use a question mark!)

They're really a life saver, honestly.

Here's an example!

[Clumped Up] Dialogue (no commas, periods, or quotation marks, etc):

Hey Katie what's up the young girl asked her best friend who gave a shy smile hello Sophia nothing much you Katie responds kindly and Sophia grins broadly same but did you hear about the new movie coming out in December no what's it called

Revised Dialogue:

"Hey, Katie! What's up?" the young girl asked her best friend, who gave a shy smile.

"Hello, Sophia. Nothing much, you?" Katie responds kindly, and Sophia grins broadly.

"Same, but did you hear about the new movie coming out in December?"

"No, what's it called?"

There's a noticeable difference to your readers when you do this in your writing.

That's all I have for Dialogue so far. There may be another class on this, so stay alert!

REVIEW:
Rule 1 : Use quotations marks.
Rule 2 : Don't clump up dialogue into one paragraph. (Especially if you don't have quotation marks, which I will be showing in an example.)
Rule 3 : Be sure to use commas and periods! (If a question, then use a question mark!)

Thanks for attending my class!

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-CastrarWolf