How often do you skip lines with dialogue?

stargurl128 · 11-01-2009, 08:12 PM

When you're writing the story how often do you have to skip a line? How do you know when the speech is supposed to be part of a paragraph? I'm having trouble but I can't find anything that will help me.

James D. Macdonald · 11-01-2009, 08:19 PM

A new speaker gets a new paragraph.

Skip lines?

Shadow_Ferret · 11-01-2009, 08:25 PM

Not sure what your question is.

For short dialog, each speaker's part of the convo is a paragraph. If one speaker gives an extended speech that is very long, then it follows the same rules any other paragraph does... in other words, you decide how long you want the paragraph and where it gets broken up into several paragraphs. Each paragraph begins with a quote ("), but only the last paragraph of the speech ends with a close quote.

Bufty · 11-01-2009, 08:31 PM

How is this treated in dialogue in the books you've read?

blacbird · 11-01-2009, 09:56 PM

Ditto what Bufty said. Dialogue format is handled in a standard manner in most novels. Go look at some.

caw

dpaterso · 11-01-2009, 10:35 PM

When you say "skip a line" you mean begin a new paragraph, yes?

The same character's actions and dialogue can share a paragraph, e.g. Bill picked up the newspaper and read the front page. "I see your harlot sister has made the headlines again." He sipped his coffee, aware of his wife's frosty glare.

If another character speaks, or an unrelated action takes place, you'd start a new paragraph.

-Derek

RJK · 11-04-2009, 07:48 PM

I think the OP meant she's having trouble with the actual dialog. The second character's responses, etc. The only answer to that is to listen to people talk. Pick up how they respond to each other. Also, READ. learn how other authors do it.

Bufty · 11-04-2009, 08:46 PM

Don't know where you got that from, RJ -

I hope the OP returns to clarify what her real problem is -if it hasn't already been answered.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJK

I think the OP meant she's having trouble with the actual dialog. The second character's responses, etc. The only answer to that is to listen to people talk. Pick up how they respond to each other. Also, READ. learn how other authors do it.

profen4 · 11-04-2009, 08:05 PM

I believe, and please correct me if I am wrong, that the actions of one person and the dialogue of another, can not be in the same paragraph. though this might not be the case for novels written with 1st person narration (or is it?)
ao nguc paltal ao lot nam dep chau tam cho be thoi trang cong so vay lien cong so cho thue trang phuc chup anh
As an example:
John grabbed his bag and ran for the door. "Where do you think you're going?" his mother asked.

should be:
John grabbed his bag and ran for the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" his mother asked.

bonitakale · 11-05-2009, 02:59 AM

Yes, that's not a grammatical necessity, but it makes for much easier reading.

stargurl128, you don't skip any lines. You set your word processor for 'double space' and it automatically puts all the lines one line apart. To end a paragraph, you hit Hard Return, and indent the first line of the next paragraph. No extra lines skipped between.

Quote:

Originally Posted by swhibs123

I believe, and please correct me if I am wrong, that the actions of one person and the dialogue of another, can not be in the same paragraph. though this might not be the case for novels written with 1st person narration (or is it?)

As an example:
John grabbed his bag and ran for the door. "Where do you think you're going?" his mother asked.

should be:
John grabbed his bag and ran for the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" his mother asked.

Patrick L · 11-04-2009, 08:51 PM

I've not had occasion to do it, but yes, often in books where the character has a long dialog sequence, a new paragraph will be started. I believe they treat the end of the former paragraph without end quotes, but will show quotes at the beginning of the following paragraph. Clancy does this often.

I would help the reader, but that's just me.

Chasing the Horizon · 11-04-2009, 10:13 PM

Dialogue can be combined in the same paragraph with thoughts and/or actions as long as those thoughts and actions are from the same character as the dialogue and relate to it in some way. There should always be a paragraph break between one character's thoughts/actions/dialogue and another character's thoughts/action/dialogue.

You don't actually skip an entire line (by hitting 'return' 'return') unless you're writing something to post on the internet. Normal manuscript format uses 'return' 'tab' to make a new paragraph.

stargurl128 · 11-05-2009, 02:31 AM

Okay dpaterso seems to have answered my question. Swhibs123 also asked my question better than I did. If you have dialogue like that how often would you skip a line?

11-01-2009, 08:12 PM	#1
stargurl128 Stargirl128 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: my mind Posts: 119	How often do you skip lines with dialogue? When you're writing the story how often do you have to skip a line? How do you know when the speech is supposed to be part of a paragraph? I'm having trouble but I can't find anything that will help me. __________________ SPIRIT Rejected 7 times but if I gave up now my protagonist would be very angry with me. p.s. working on book 1 for the 12th time, working on book number two that has nothing to do with book number 1

11-01-2009, 08:19 PM	#2
James D. Macdonald Your Genial Uncle Absolute Sage Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 21,587	A new speaker gets a new paragraph. Skip lines? __________________ Viable Paradise: The Workshop You've Been Looking For

11-01-2009, 08:25 PM	#3
Shadow_Ferret Bowties are cool Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: In a world of my own making Posts: 21,927	Not sure what your question is. For short dialog, each speaker's part of the convo is a paragraph. If one speaker gives an extended speech that is very long, then it follows the same rules any other paragraph does... in other words, you decide how long you want the paragraph and where it gets broken up into several paragraphs. Each paragraph begins with a quote ("), but only the last paragraph of the speech ends with a close quote. __________________ Twitter \| G+ \| WordPress \| Tumblr “I love words but I don’t like strange ones. You don’t understand them and they don’t understand you. Old words is like old friends, you know ‘em the minute you see ‘em.” -- Will Rogers Sadly true: "Creating drama, arguments and conflict can wake up the ADHD brain, making us alert and alive… and eventually alone." -- TotallyADD via Twitter

11-01-2009, 08:31 PM	#4
Bufty Let's see what's on special today.. Join Date: May 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 10,801	How is this treated in dialogue in the books you've read? __________________ Everything yields to treatment.

11-01-2009, 10:35 PM	#6
dpaterso Darth Vader is my co-pilot SuperModerator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: The land of cow pies Posts: 15,991	When you say "skip a line" you mean begin a new paragraph, yes? The same character's actions and dialogue can share a paragraph, e.g. Bill picked up the newspaper and read the front page. "I see your harlot sister has made the headlines again." He sipped his coffee, aware of his wife's frosty glare. If another character speaks, or an unrelated action takes place, you'd start a new paragraph. -Derek __________________ Absolute Visions Anthology of Speculative Fiction 19 tales of magic, wonder and science.

11-01-2009, 09:56 PM	#5
blacbird That hairy-handed gent Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Who ran amok in Kent Posts: 26,229	Ditto what Bufty said. Dialogue format is handled in a standard manner in most novels. Go look at some. caw

11-04-2009, 07:48 PM	#7
RJK Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says: Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lewiston, NY Posts: 3,393	I think the OP meant she's having trouble with the actual dialog. The second character's responses, etc. The only answer to that is to listen to people talk. Pick up how they respond to each other. Also, READ. learn how other authors do it.

11-04-2009, 08:05 PM	#9
profen4 Monkeys are evil Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The Great White North Posts: 1,358	I believe, and please correct me if I am wrong, that the actions of one person and the dialogue of another, can not be in the same paragraph. though this might not be the case for novels written with 1st person narration (or is it?) ao nguc paltal ao lot nam dep chau tam cho be thoi trang cong so vay lien cong so cho thue trang phuc chup anh As an example: John grabbed his bag and ran for the door. "Where do you think you're going?" his mother asked. should be: John grabbed his bag and ran for the door. "Where do you think you're going?" his mother asked. __________________ Steven Whibley \| author website Last edited by profen4; 05-14-2013 at 06:41 PM.

11-04-2009, 08:51 PM	#11
Patrick L looking for a home Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: under shelter, preferably Posts: 190	I've not had occasion to do it, but yes, often in books where the character has a long dialog sequence, a new paragraph will be started. I believe they treat the end of the former paragraph without end quotes, but will show quotes at the beginning of the following paragraph. Clancy does this often. I would help the reader, but that's just me.

11-04-2009, 10:13 PM	#12
Chasing the Horizon Weaver of Dark Delusions Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Where madness sleeps, and dreams Posts: 3,509	Dialogue can be combined in the same paragraph with thoughts and/or actions as long as those thoughts and actions are from the same character as the dialogue and relate to it in some way. There should always be a paragraph break between one character's thoughts/actions/dialogue and another character's thoughts/action/dialogue. You don't actually skip an entire line (by hitting 'return' 'return') unless you're writing something to post on the internet. Normal manuscript format uses 'return' 'tab' to make a new paragraph. __________________

11-05-2009, 02:31 AM	#13
stargurl128 Stargirl128 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: my mind Posts: 119	Okay dpaterso seems to have answered my question. Swhibs123 also asked my question better than I did. If you have dialogue like that how often would you skip a line? __________________ SPIRIT Rejected 7 times but if I gave up now my protagonist would be very angry with me. p.s. working on book 1 for the 12th time, working on book number two that has nothing to do with book number 1

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