RE: That's What She Said: The Use of Dialogue Tags
Dialogue tags and I have a difficult relationship. Avoiding them in the manner you describe can break pacing. Yet, that endless stream of boring tags otherwise distracts. Avoiding tags and descriptions altogether in two-person dialogue assumes the reader doesn't get lost. I know I do.
It's all frustrating.
I avoid dialogue except when needed. I prefer to attempt to describe the essence of a dialogue, rather than to state it. Then again, there's the "show don't tell" rule, which this tactic threatens to violate. This usually means I mix the two. There's some talking, then a description of why characaters take the positions they do, and then do some dialogue of the resolution.
With dialogue, often less is more.
Thanks for this post. I am clearly not alone in my suffering.
Exactly. Although I'd like to add, that less is more most often, not only with dialogue.
Could write several more paragraphs to show how much I agree... but, well. Less is more.
Well... Less is more is pretty much my motto. But we have to be careful to not allow dialogues to take place in a dark void. When we talk, there is so much more communicated than just words... Non-verbal communication is a big part of every exchange. That might be lost if we stick too closely to the less is more rule.
Beats and action can bog down a piece of dialogue, that's true. But they don't have to. It's all about getting the dosage just right.
It's a matter of practice. But I see you've found us at The Writers' Block. You'll find plenty of help there. ;-) Welcome to the family.