Writing Dialogue You don't have to answer that question! I'l answer the question. You want answers? | think 'm entitled to them. You want answers? I want the truth! You can't handle the truth! RULE #1: Use quotation marks to indicate words which are spoken by characters. "You don't have to answer that question!" "Il answer the question. You want answers?" “I think I'm entitled to them.” "You want answers?” "I want the truth!" "You can't handle the truth!" RULE #1 Always start a new paragraph when changing speakers. You cannot have two people speaking in the same paragraph. "You don't have to answer that question!" "i answer the question, You want answers?" "I think I'm entitled to them." "You want answers?” “| want the truth!" "You can't handle the truth” RULE #3: Make sure the reader knows who is speaking. AND. RULE #4: Use correct punctuation, capitalization and spacing. A direct quote begins with a capital letter, Ifa quotation is interrupted, the second part begins with a lower-case letter. A direct quote is also set off from the rest of the sentence by commas. “Jessup,” said the Judge, “you don't have to answer that question!" “Til answer the question. You want answers?" said Jessop. “I think I'm entitled to them," said Kaffee. “You want answers?" said Jessop. “Lwant the truth!" said Kaffee. “You can't handle the truth!" said Jessop. Rule #5: Be careful not to use the word “said” too often, Use other livelier verbs, such as “whispered,” “yelled,” “mumbled,” “cried,” and confessed.” ‘To write good dialogue, use narrative sentences to show the character's actions, thoughts and/or perceptions. Don't just show the reader what's being said; write sentences, clauses, and phrases that illustrate what the characters are doing while the conversation is going on. “Jessup,” the Judge turned swiftly toward the witness and declared, "you don't have to answer that question!" “til answer the question,” Jessop said coldly, fixing his eyes on Kaffee. He asked the defense attomey, "You want answers?” “1 think I'm entitled to them," Kaffee replied. Jessop asked again, more forcefully, as if scolding an errant recruit, "You want answers?” “| want the truth!" Kaffee shouted. The court members sat in stunned silence The colonel leaned forward, rising to his feet, and thundered, "You can't handle the truth!"Comic Dialogue Exercise Sally and Ted talk over coffee. “What are you writing?” Ted asked with interest. “A list of things I can do to be more positive,” Sally offered enthusiastically. “T don’t like how I handled your co-worker friendship, so I’m trying to adopt a better outlook.” Ted eyed Sally carefully. “You could just buy me an apology HDTV instead,” he joked. “Ooo, sorry. Should have said that before I started the list,” Sally laughed.Comic Dialogue Exercise Choose one of the following comic strips and write the conversation that is taking place between the characters. Add some narrative to illustrate what the characters are doing, while they are talking. Don’t forget to punctuate, indent, and add tags to the dialogue. “PEARLS BEFORE SWINE) ‘Go00 THING, fens war cane \ susse ]ifestiey srsr. tae | vey _ ffl ueeedr cane ances ue cucxeu oJ ance? larit Fert soup Ws poo ee a Foor ane wee Fs NEIL Inepssis.e! Fea I Gar cibnee WO errs