1. TScream

    TScream Member

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    Dialog help

    Discussion in 'Dialogue Development' started by TScream, Oct 19, 2020.

    Hi, everyone. I'm struggling with finding the answer to my dialog question. Which is the correct paragraph structure for action before dialog:

    1.
    “What about James?” Esteban asked.

    Mateo smoothed his hand over his chin. “What about him?”

    or

    2.
    “What about James?” Esteban asked. Mateo smoothed his hand over his chin.

    “What about him?”

    Thank you!
     
  2. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    The first, because it’s a separate action for a different speaker to the first.
     
    deadrats, TScream and SethLoki like this.
  3. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

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    The first. The smoothing is a beat that leads into dialogue, which is the same as a tag.

    Also, does not smooth your hand over your chin. That implies it is the hand that is being smoothed. It's not, it's the chin. If you say "smoothed his chin", you can omit the hand, that is implied - what else would he be smoothing it with?
     
  4. TScream

    TScream Member

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    Good point! Thank you!
     

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