Writing Tips
Punctuating Dialogue
✧
➸ “This is a sentence.”
➸ “This is a sentence with a dialogue tag at the end,” she said.
➸ “This,” he said, “is a sentence split by a dialogue tag.”
➸ “This is a sentence,” she said. “This is a new sentence. New sentences are capitalized.”
➸ “This is a sentence followed by an action.” He stood. “They are separate sentences because he did not speak by standing.”
➸ She said, “Use a comma to introduce dialogue. The quote is capitalized when the dialogue tag is at the beginning.”
➸ “Use a comma when a dialogue tag follows a quote,” he said.
“Unless there is a question mark?” she asked.
“Or an exclamation point!” he answered. “The dialogue tag still remains uncapitalized because it’s not truly the end of the sentence.”
➸ “Periods and commas should be inside closing quotations.”
➸ “Hey!” she shouted, “Sometimes exclamation points are inside quotations.”
However, if it’s not dialogue exclamation points can also be “outside”!
➸ “Does this apply to question marks too?” he asked.
If it’s not dialogue, can question marks be “outside”? (Yes, they can.)
➸ “This applies to dashes too. Inside quotations dashes typically express—“
“Interruption” — but there are situations dashes may be outside.
➸ “You’ll notice that exclamation marks, question marks, and dashes do not have a comma after them. Ellipses don’t have a comma after them either…” she said.
➸ “My teacher said, ‘Use single quotation marks when quoting within dialogue.’”
➸ “Use paragraph breaks to indicate a new speaker,” he said.
“The readers will know it’s someone else speaking.”
➸ “If it’s the same speaker but different paragraph, keep the closing quotation off.
“This shows it’s the same character continuing to speak.”
Needed this
I hope every writer who sees this writes LOADS the next few months. Like freetime opens up, no writers block, the ability to focus, etc etc you're able to write loads & make lots of progress <3
*The team stealthy follow the van from the roof tops.*
TELEPORTER: What about me? How can I help?
THE ACTOR: You’ve helped a lot already, we don’t want to put you in harms way so you should stay here.
TELEPORTER: But what if the bad guys come back for me?
THE ACTOR: They shouldn’t find you here if you stay put.
CREAMPUFF: Here.
*CREAMPUFF tosses a small circular object to TELEPORTER that they catch but almost drop.*
CREAMPUFF: In case anyone does come for you, use that.
TELEPORTER: What is it…?
CREAMPUFF: It will help.
*The team continue to follow the van while TELEPORTER stays behind in the alley way.*
THE ACTOR: So what was that thing that you gave Keegan?
CREAMPUFF: Oh, I don’t know.
It fell out of Obsidian’s pocket when we entered the Tipsy Possum.
THE ACTOR: You just gave him an unidentified item that you don’t even know the use of as a self defense weapon!!
CREAMPUFF: Relax, I’m sure it won’t hurt him. At least he isn’t following us now right, I was just getting rid of a distraction.
THE ACTOR: Elizabeth. I know your new at this whole thing but we do not do that. Our objective is to get citizens out of danger not in harms way, that thing could kill him.
CREAMPUFF: I’m sure he’ll be fine.
THE ACTOR: We will be discussing this later.
Gods I’m starting to sound like Guy.
BLURRY FACE: Stop whispering their going to hear us.
THE ACTOR: Sorry.
*The team see the van park at a location of an abandoned art museum and the HOODED FIGURE drag OBSIDIAN out of the van and into the building.*
THE ACTOR: Guess this is our stop.
SPECTRE: What’s the plan?
IN THE MUSEUM
*The HOODED FIGURE drags OBSIDIAN out of the van and into the building, once inside the HOODED FIGURE forces a collar around OBSIDIAN’s throat.*
OBSIDIAN: The hell is this?
*The HOODED FIGURE answers OBSIDIAN by pressing a button on a remote that sends electric shocks to the collar around OBSIDIAN’s throat.*
OBSIDIAN: GAAAA AAHHHH!!!!
HOODED FIGURE: Stay put.
*The HOODED FIGURE gestures to the two henchwomen to keep an eye on OBSIDIAN as he walks out of the room.*
OBSIDIAN: *Nonchalantly* Hello ladies…
MEANWHILE
*The team make their way through the vents of the museum while SPECTRE stays outside on the roof with their tech.*
CREAMPUFF: *Cramped and sarcastically* Nice plan.
THE ACTOR: Oh don’t start complaining, Creampuff.
You signed up for this.
BLURRY FACE: I don’t see anything wrong with the plan.
I find it…
…Cozy.
SPECTRE: *Over the radio* Hey uh…
Your getting close to a bunch of heat signatures so be careful, okay guys?
THE ACTOR: Will do, thank you Spectre.
OBSIDIAN: *On the other side of the wall* Gotta say…
THE ACTOR: Obsidian!
NOT IN THE VENTS
OBSIDIAN: This is kind of a crappy kidnapping.
I mean, no restrictions, the dude who took me straight up left the room and I’m betting those doors aren’t even locked.
Am I right?
*OBSIDIAN points to the main doors of the museum the slowly stands up and walks toward the doors before one of the henchwomen presses a button on another remote and zaps them.*
OBSIDIAN: GAAA!!
Geez lady you got one of those things too?!
SOFI: The name is Sofi, and yes I do.
OBSIDIAN: Cool Sofi, great.
And who are you?
KAITLYN: Kaitlyn.
OBSIDIAN: Cool, great.
THE ACTOR: *From the vents* Psst-
*OBSIDIAN notices THE ACTOR in the vents and goes over to the vent over hidden from view of SOFI and KAITLYN.*
OBSIDIAN: *Whispering* What are you doing here?
THE ACTOR: *Whispering* What does it look like I’m doing? I’m doing my job and I’m about to save your ass.
OBSIDIAN: *Whispering* What about the Guy mission.
THE ACTOR: *Whispering* Can’t do it without you.
*OBSIDIAN tries to hide a soft smile and blush before being zapped again.*
OBSIDIAN: GAAA!!
*The HOODED FIGURE comes back into the room with another hooded figure wearing a more elegant purple cloak.*
HOODED FIGURE: Their rescuers are here, master.
What is your plan?
THE GREATER BEING: Go, my love.
I will handel this.
*THE ACTOR, CREAMPUFF and BLURRY FACE exit the vents.*
BLURRY FACE: Spectre! Why didn’t you warn us about the other two?!
*The radio of Spectre’s voice is glitched.*
CREAMPUFF: *Sarcastically* Great.
THE GREATER BEING: Sofi! Kaitlyn!
Go and be sure Rydel is safe.
*SOFI and KAITLYN run off.*
THE ACTOR: Guy?
OBSIDIAN: Smart move, now your outnumbered.
THE GREATER BEING: Oh it’s funny you think I’m going to fight you.
*THE GREATER BEING presses a different button on the remote and OBSIDIAN stands straight up with blank eyes, then the collar falls off OBSIDIAN’s neck and THE GREATER BEING heads for the door before saying.*
THE GREATER BEING: Attack to kill.
STRIKE UPDATE:
The outline for the first arc is officially written out and finished, beginning progress on the second arc. Planned seven more to go... An artist was in fact found and STRIKE might find its way to Webtoon!
I love you OCs I love you making OCs with friends I love you oc lore I love you sharing oc lore with friends I love you making oc backstories with friends I love you going wild over OCS with friends I love you friends I love you
Some OC headcannons that are now cannon :)
And so, the lovers story was forever lost to the cruel fate of time...
Unpopular opinion: The crust is the best part of the pizza, like I'll still eat the pizza itself but the crust is like the desert after the meal. Of course it differs on taste depending on were you get the pizza from...
this is your reminder to write whatever the hell you want. if you’ve been debating on wether or not to write that fic don’t think twice. just do it. it’s your blog. your idea. write it. share it. no more excuses!
I'm an inspiring actor who writes comics and shit :p My main story is written in script format, sorry if that bothers anyone... Bisexual and genderfluid?
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