
Hi SErs! Harmony here 🙂
Today, I’d like to take another look at dialogue. Because this is such a large topic, I have spread the topic over a few posts. As the post title suggests, we’ll look at ‘tags and beats’ around dialogue today.
‘ “So, what’s the deal on dialogue attributions?” the young writer asked. “I’ll tell you,” said the wise old writer. “It’s not complicated, but it’s important.” “I’m ready to listen!” the young writer asseverated. The wise old writer slapped him. “Don’t ever asseverate anything again. Just listen.” ‘
The above amusing quote comes from How to Write Amazing Dialogue by James Scott Bell.
Top Tip: Basically, an attribution is what most of us call a dialogue tag. We use dialogue tags to identify the speaker to the reader, and a tag is an excellent way to avoid too much name dropping within dialogue (see my last post HERE).
While repetition within narrative is frowned upon and best avoided, in dialogue tags repetition is actively encouraged. A simple said is ample and more than enough. Too many writers make the mistake of thinking that the more descriptive a dialogue tag, the better.
Not so.
As well as dialogue tags, the writer has another tool to use to break up too many ‘he said/she said’ lines. The same tool also helps to ramp up the tension within a scene of dialogue …
What’s the tool? Dialogue Beats … basically, this is where we assign an action to a piece of dialogue. This acts both as a ‘speaker identifier’ and a way to show the tension between the characters.
Take Care: Make sure you show rather than tell whenever you use a dialogue beat. And, definitely, don’t show or tell what you’ve just shown within the dialogue (more of that in the post on punctuation within dialogue). If you do your dialogue well enough, you won’t then need to say it in narrative because the speaker will have done that for you.
An example of a beat is shown in the quote at the top of this post: ‘The wise old writer slapped him.’ This both identifies the speaker and shows his annoyance at the young writer, which ramps up the tension nicely.
The use of tags and beats is the way to go, rather than constant name dropping.
An Example of Some Dialogue Tags to Avoid: (Except on VERY special occasions) …

Aim to show emotion and tension within your dialogue and avoid telling it by using descriptive tags such as ‘he said, angrily’ or ‘she snarled’ etc. And if you’ve used punctuation to show a trailing off or a sudden cut off, do NOT EVER then tell it (see my next post on April 21st). While we can bend or break many writing rules, the telling what you’ve just shown is the exception. Treat your readers with respect; they’re more than intelligent enough to get it.
Top TIP: Where possible, it’s best to put the beat before the dialogue rather than after. The quote at the top of this post shows the same sequence. By putting the beat before, you set up the identity of the speaker first, as well as shape the tone of the coming dialogue, and this helps you avoid the temptation to tell what you’ve shown (or, indeed, from repeating the showing).
The take-away from all of this is to use simple tags (said/asked) to avoid name dropping and talking heads (more on that in future posts), and also to use beats to avoid too much he said/she said and to ramp up the tension. As I said in my previous dialogue post: Before we break the rules, we need to know the rules, and we only break them if we have a valid reason to do so to enhance our artistic expression in writing.
That’s it from me for today. I hope you find this post useful. And I’ll see you again on April 21 st 🙂
Post One: Name Dropping can be found HERE.
©2021 Harmony Kent
Pingback: Don’t Talk Like That: Quotes and Paragraphs | Story Empire
I’m writing a story about WW2 fighter pilots. I’m trying to use dialog and deep POV to recreate the confusion and isolation of not knowing where your other pilots are and what is their condition. Since conversation is among two or three people, I need the readers to feel the staccato nature of communicating only by radio. Is there a way to write this without attribution tags? I understand how to do this with two people, but not with three. I originally thought of using first-person in some scenes, but I feel I’m too inexperienced to pull that off. Perhaps if I establish each character’s distinct voice, the reader will know. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Mark. Thanks for this great comment. My first thought is to write it a little like a radio transcript … an example (kept simple to illustrate):
RED 1: Bogey on your rear, Red 2.
RED 2: Roger that. Three? Can you take him?
RED 3: Copy. On his ass now.
And that sort of thing. This identifies each speaker over the radio without the need for tags or beats or constant name dropping. I hope this helps, and all the best with your writing! 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Don’t Talk Like That: Talking Heads | Story Empire
Pingback: Don’t Talk Like That: How to Write Good Dialogue–Punctuation | Story Empire
Interesting. But isn’t the most basic rule for writing don’t follow rules? Of course, one can only break rules if one knows them.
Thanks for sharing 🙏🙏
All the best. Happy Easter 🐣🐣
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would be weary of throwaway statements such as don’t follow any rules as they can too easily be taken out of context. At the bottom of each of these dialogue posts I make the comment: ‘Before we break the rules, we need to know the rules, and we only break them if we have a valid reason to do so to enhance our artistic expression in writing.’ I believe that the essence of don’t follow rules is to remind us not to allow them to lock us in.
Thanks for joining the discussion. Happy Easter! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
We absolutely agree.
All the best
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I find that often, when writers break the rules even for what they consider ‘artistic ‘ reasons, it grates. Sometimes I think it’s done simply forbthr sake of it.; like writing a book with no punctuation!
Or for bloody-mindedness. I agreed to review a book of short stories where the author put the comma after the closing quotes and before the dialogue tag throughout. I contacted him and politely told him about it. His reply? ” That’s the way I do it. I’m not changing.”
He didn’t seem to realise it made him look like an amateur. I found it annoying. Needless to say, I’ve not read anything by him since. Pity, because the stories were good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point, VM. And it is SO these seemingly small things that make a real mess of what, sadly, could be a real jewel 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Weekend Wrap-up: April 3 – Lines by Leon
One of the best ways to get better at dialogue is to listen to conversations. People often speak in fragments rather than complete sentences.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Listening and watching are both excellent tools for writers, although we need to take care how we translate those to the page. Thanks, Pete 🙂
LikeLike
Great reminder of someplace we all have to pay attention.
LikeLiked by 1 person
For sure. Thanks, Craig 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
An excellent post, Harmony, and very well presented. I’ve been doing some critique work with a writer who is just starting their journey and dialogue tags/dialogue beats is one of our major points of discussion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure you have lots of discussion around this area. So thrilled you enjoyed the post. Thanks, Mae 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
All good points. We tend to forget that most of the time our characters really are doing either: saying, asking, or answering. Using beats or alternating dialogue is a good way to eliminate a few “saids” here or there. As a reader, I tend to ignore overused tags.
(After writing this, I’m almost certain that I replied on a similar topic. Here? Maybe.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I recall your lovely contribution to the comments on my last dialogue post. With a lot of these points, the reasons will overlap, I’m sure. I agree that most readers don’t notice the repeated saids after a while, which is why it works so well if done well.
Thanks, Leon 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing, Chris 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome, Harmony 🤗❤️🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for some very good advice, Harmony. This is helpful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I pleased to know that. Thanks, Dan 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: #ReblogAlert – Good Stuff From #StoryEmpire | The Write Stuff
Clear, sound and really useful advice, Harmony. x
LikeLiked by 1 person
So thrilled you think so! Thanks, Trish 🙂
LikeLike
An excellent post on dialogue, Harmony. Too many beats or interruptions take me out of the story. On the other hand, I hate it when I cannot figure out who is saying what in a story. As a writer, I like using beats to show more about the character, or establish mannerisms. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yep, nothing annoys me nearly as much as having to go back to the last place I can identify the speaker and then go line by line trying to keep track, lols. Thanks, Jan 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love using beats for dialogue, but I have to watch myself that I don’t repeat the same ones too many times–which is an easy habit for me to fall into. I end up with way too many “He raised an eyebrow” and “he shrugged” tags:) Great post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good points. Even if we repeat such actions in life, it does get tiresome reading them over and over, lols. Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks, Judi 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Dialog is hard to write, but it is good to know how to do it. Great post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re so welcome. I hope this series of posts is helpful 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post, Harmony! This was a lesson I learned after writing several books. I ended up going back and revising those books to make my writing stronger. This tidbit helped a lot in that process. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
If only we could bottle hindsight and use it as foresight, lols. Thanks, Yvi 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a topic that many, many new writers (and a few not-so-new ones) need to ponder. And be reminded of. Often. 😀 Thanks for spelling it out so clearly, Harmony. And also for reminding me to add How to Writing Dazzling Dialogue” to my library. Gonna do that today. (Also going to finish Polish Your Prose very soon, too. (Seems like there’s always something interrupting my reading these days. I think they call it “Life.”) Great post, and so, so true. Sharing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh but for more time, lols. So pleased you enjoyed the post. Thanks, Marcia 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent post, Harmony. How To Write Dazzling Dialogue should be in every writer’s toolbox, IMHO. ‘Course, I might be slightly bias. I love all JSB’s craft books. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lols. Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks, Sue 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post, Harmony. As I mentioned before, I still study dialogue in an attempt to get better. Beats do help, too—your suggestion of placing them before the dialogue is excellent. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks, John 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for sharing, Charles 🙂
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out this very helpful post from Harmony Kent via the Story Empire blog with the topic: Don’t Talk Like That: How to Write Good Dialogue–Tags & Beats
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for sharing, Don 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Happy Easter to you and I’ll be in touch soon 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re so welcome, Joanna. Happy Easter too! 🙂
LikeLike
I find tags and beats are among the issues I address most often in my clients’ edits. To my mind, we can never talk about them enough. Thanks, Harmony.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Staci! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
An excellent post, Harmony. Too many new authors overuse “he said, she said” or they fall into the habit of using the other words you listed, thinking that improves their writing. I love using dialogue beats.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So glad you enjoyed the post, Joan. Yep, beats are such a help 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic post, Harmony. The examples are so helpful. You’re an excellent teacher. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Jill. I might have found a new talent 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you have! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely post, Harmony. I have read elsewhere that a writer should stick to using said and not attach other dialogue tags. The show and not tell definitely supports this usage as the reader should be able to grasp the tone from the writing and not the dialogue tag.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well said, Robbie! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post.Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Don’t Talk Like That: How to Write Good Dialogue–Tags & Beats | Welcome to Harmony Kent Online
Excellent, Harmony. Your examples and explanations are very helpful. Writing may be an advocation for many of us, but it’s also an education. I’m always in the learner’s seat. Thank you! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too, Gwen! I learn every day. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the post 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good dialogue can really lift a story, and I know I don’t use enough dialogue beats, so thanks for the heads up, Harmony!
LikeLiked by 3 people
You’re so welcome! I’m getting better at using beats 🙂
LikeLike
I must follow your lead, Harmony…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another great post on dialogs, Harmony. A good list of words to avoid, keeping it simple. You clarifed a lot of issues most authors go through and had good examples.
LikeLiked by 6 people
That’s good to know. Thanks, Denise 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting article. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 5 people
You’re welcome, Aman 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person