Putting Words in Their Mouths | How to Write Good Dialogue in Fiction
Hello Sam, glad you found it helpful.
In regard to your question, there's no right or wrong method, and you can, usually, tell if it's going to seem clunky by reading it aloud. However, I would recommend using a nice broad variety of verbs: 'wailed', 'mumbled', 'stuttered', 'snapped'. And, I'd also advise making sure that it's necessary to signpost who is speaking. If it's obvious who's doing the talking, don't bother with anything at all. For example, you're writing a scene with two characters: Bill and Ben, it could go a little something like this:
"I don't know why I have to wear the feather boa," Ben grumbled, folding his arms across his chest.
"Because I wore it last time."
It can only be (or is very likely to be) Bill who responds, so there's no need to add, 'Bill replied'. That can help to break up the repetitiveness of 'he said', 'she asked', etc, etc.
Hope that helps! And thanks again.
WiseFool, Aug 11, 2012
