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authorMAF

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Is there a rule about having a space between all the dialogue in a novel? I've only ever seen that done in one series (a French one), but all the others, like for example, Harry Potter, Outlander, Mortal Instruments, etc. don't have those spaces...

Is it just a matter of preference?

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Example (mind you, in my word document, the lines are double-spaced):

Doing this:

“What… What do you mean his wallet?” Malika asked. Maybe if she said it too fast, he’d make a mistake again and repeat the same thing. The detective looked at her with a sympathetic expression.
“We found your brother’s -”
“There must be a mistake!” she said. Why wouldn’t he just understand that it couldn’t be possible? Her brother, Patrick, had disappeared ten years ago, but had been presumed dead. Malika had always believed he was still alive, somewhere, but now that there was news after all this time, she felt angry. She didn’t want to hope all over again.

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Versus this:

“What… What do you mean his wallet?” Malika asked. Maybe if she said it too fast, he’d make a mistake again and repeat the same thing. The detective looked at her with a sympathetic expression.

“We found your brother’s -”

“There must be a mistake!” she said. Why wouldn’t he just understand that it couldn’t be possible? Her brother, Patrick, had disappeared ten years ago, but had been presumed dead. Malika had always believed he was still alive, somewhere, but now that there was news after all this time, she felt angry. She didn’t want to hope all over again.
 
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asroc

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What do you mean by "space?" One space, as in " "? An empty line in between different characters' dialog?
 

BenPanced

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"Are you talking about this space?"

"Yes. That one between us."

"Or are you talking about this lack of space?"
"Yes. This could be it."
 

Orianna2000

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You don't add additional line breaks between dialogue. Each line of dialogue should be given its own paragraph. You don't want to have two different characters talking in the same paragraph. But there's no "extra" lines. When one character stops talking, hit return and start a new indented line for the next line of dialogue.

"Hey, Mark!" Adam shouted. "Where's my car?"
"In the garage, just where you left it," Mark replied.
 

Dysnomia

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I don't think there is. The reason why it's done on this forum though, is just so it's easier to be read. Word has the double-spacing to help make it easier on the eyes, this forum doesn't. Hence the extra line breaks.
 
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LJD

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There are two ways of indicating a new paragraph:
1) Indenting the first line of the new paragraph
2) Leaving a blank line between paragraphs

On forums, it is easier to do the second, but in books (and in manuscripts), you would typically do the first.
 

Bufty

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In a manuscript the first line of every paragraph is indented - be it narrative or dialogue - , except for chapter and scene beginnings, but there's no provision for indentation here and it's easier to read with the extra line-spaces.

Manuscripts are usually created with double line spacing for ease of reading and notation during the creation and publication process, but that is obviously dropped on publication because it wastes space.

And yes, for ease of comprehension it's normal for a new character to require a new paragraph, be it for action or dialogue

Is that what you are asking?
 
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blacbird

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The blank line between paragraphs is an electronic text convention, not usually applied in print publications.

Which any minor perusal of actual physical books will clearly demonstrate.

caw
 
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