Paragraphs??

[Atari]

Originally Posted by Cogito

I know you don't consider the Chicago Manual of Style's guidelines entirely applicable to fiction, but section 11.43 of the 15th edition explicitly states, "Paragraphing does not have to depend on a change of speaker," and provides an example in which more than one speaker's dialogue was contained in a single paragraph.

However, I do agree wholeheartedly that it is far better to strictly separate speakers into separate paragraphs. I only include the exception for the sake of completeness. Personally, I would avoid it like ebola.

Why would you so adamantly avoid it? If it is done without causing confusion, then I see no reason for your great aversion to it.

"Are you going?" Mia asked, and I had to shrug, "I dunno."

If I immediately continue this with not dialog, but narration, then it has served its purpose adequately.
Is this one of those extremely rare moments when you would allow it, or not even then?

[Cogito]

Do you mean aside from the fact that publoishers tend to frown on combining multiple speakers' quotes in the same paragraph?

Because it is clearer if you separate the paragraphs.

"Are you going?" Mia asked.

I had to shrug. "I dunno."

Also note that I had to shrug is a beat, not a tag (unless shrugging is much more vocal than I have ever observed), so a period is called for, not a comma, before the quote.

[mammamaia]

yup!