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A tip about paragraph breaks inside of character speech (beehaw.org)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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So, the rule is that if you have a single character speaking across multiple paragraphs, you don't use end quotes on those paragraphs. I get the intent of the rule, but I think it looks awful and is jarring.

What I have been doing for a long time, is to insert a minor action at the end of that paragraph or the start of the next. I don't even notice that I am doing it anymore, it just feels natural to have a character gesture or emote in some way every so often.

The only reason that this came to mind is that one of my new readers pointed out a spot in Chapter 50 where I had used end quotes on a paragraph break of continuous speech. I edited in a minor action instead, the character was recalling a previous thought process, so I had him lean back in his chair and look up, which is the sort of thing people often do during that sort of thought.

One of the advantages of publishing a serial online, you potentially get some good feedback. :)

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

From the same character's speech (as opposed to switching talkers)? Well, supposedly that's against the rules, but it generally feels better to insert a bit of minor movement anyway :)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

I'd say it depends on the length of the dialogue. If we're talking about 2-3 lines, then yeah, it should only be done on switching. If we're talking about a speech that lasts several pages, I would think that it should be clear from context clues who is speaking.

Anyway, don't get hung up on rules! Write how you want! Have a style!