Formatting Dialog - Help!

Tia Nevitt · 11-21-2006, 05:11 AM

I have a completed children's picture book that consists entirely of dialog. It is aimed at prekindergartners.

How do I format this thing? With dozens of "he saids/she saids"? Or can I format it as a play (which is what I have done so far) and let the illustrator make it plain who is talking?

I want to get this thing sent off, but I have been dithering because I cannot find the answer to this question anywhere.

Thanks in advance!

Tia

Elektra · 11-21-2006, 05:25 AM

Forgive me, but doesn't all dialogue defeat the purpose of a book?

Silver King · 11-21-2006, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elektra

Forgive me, but doesn't all dialogue defeat the purpose of a book?

How so? As long as it's written and on the page, it's narration, not a tape recording.

Tia Nevitt · 11-21-2006, 02:00 PM

It is all dialog in the manner of He Bear She Bear and The Eye Book. As in He Bear She Bear, I envisioned that an illustrator would make it plain who was doing the talking. However, since I am not attempting to illustrate this thing, I'm not sure how to format the text.

Does anyone have any advice?

Tia

RhinoMom · 11-21-2006, 08:14 PM

Hi Tia:

How many characters are doing the talking?

I just looked through my daughter's (she is almost 3) books and usually there are dialogue tags, such as "I asked," "She said," etc. But in the case of one person talking where the dialogue served as narration, there were no tags.

I think tags help attribute the dialogue and make it less confusing for this age group...

Tia Nevitt · 11-21-2006, 08:36 PM

I should have mentioned that before. There are 3 children and they are running around the neighborhood having an "alphabet scavenger hunt".

11-21-2006, 05:11 AM	#1
Tia Nevitt Anywhere but here, anywhen but now Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: United States Posts: 246	Formatting Dialog - Help! I have a completed children's picture book that consists entirely of dialog. It is aimed at prekindergartners. How do I format this thing? With dozens of "he saids/she saids"? Or can I format it as a play (which is what I have done so far) and let the illustrator make it plain who is talking? I want to get this thing sent off, but I have been dithering because I cannot find the answer to this question anywhere. Thanks in advance! Tia

11-21-2006, 08:14 PM	#5
RhinoMom figuring it all out Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 53	Hi Tia: How many characters are doing the talking? I just looked through my daughter's (she is almost 3) books and usually there are dialogue tags, such as "I asked," "She said," etc. But in the case of one person talking where the dialogue served as narration, there were no tags. I think tags help attribute the dialogue and make it less confusing for this age group... __________________ It's not about the bark. We are telepathic.

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11-21-2006, 05:25 AM	#2
Elektra Don't Call Me Sweetheart Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 916	Forgive me, but doesn't all dialogue defeat the purpose of a book?

11-21-2006, 02:00 PM	#4
Tia Nevitt Anywhere but here, anywhen but now Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: United States Posts: 246	It is all dialog in the manner of He Bear She Bear and The Eye Book. As in He Bear She Bear, I envisioned that an illustrator would make it plain who was doing the talking. However, since I am not attempting to illustrate this thing, I'm not sure how to format the text. Does anyone have any advice? Tia

11-21-2006, 08:36 PM	#6
Tia Nevitt Anywhere but here, anywhen but now Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: United States Posts: 246	I should have mentioned that before. There are 3 children and they are running around the neighborhood having an "alphabet scavenger hunt".