I hardly ever "explain" the dialogue unless needed. I do sometimes add the action while the character is speaking. As in : Amber sat back down before answering, (then the dialogue.)
One thing I have learned about dialogue is that we don't always need to say, He said, She said. There are other ways to know who is speaking: This dialogue is between Amber who is in a hotel and a friend.
Just as Amber stepped out of the shower the phone rang.
"Amber, I'm in town on an errand. How about a late dinner?"
"Emil, I'm really sorry but I'm ready for bed. Anyway, I had dinner on the plane. What are you up to? I've never known you to leave Europe."
"Oh, they let me out of my cage once in awhile. Could I come by later for a drink? In the bar downstairs, I mean."
"Okay, but call my room when you arrive and I'll meet you. I'll need a fifteen-minute notice."
Without mentioning who is speaking, we know who is speaking towards the last of the dialogue because of what is said.
Great advice and nice piece of dialogue Platform.
There is also the need to replace the word 'said' with other verbs ..muttered...uttered...mumbled. Sometimes there is need for their use but not as a replacement. I think.
I agree. Sometimes each line of dialogue doesn't make it clear who is speaking. I like "mumbled." That's a good one under some circumstances. I just thought of adding to the list: muttered ...uttered...stuttered! LOL
I read in a book for writers that we shouldn't write more than a couple of pages of dialogue at a time but then I read a book by a very famous author and she had about 6 pages of dialogue before she had any action or narrating. I guess it's just up to each individual story.
I also read that but they added that two short paragraphs of narrating events/description are about enough on a page.
HOw did you respond to 6 pages of dialogue? Did the dialogue further the story? Did you find it tedious?
I thought it was fine and it added to the story. It almost made me go back and add the dialogue I deleted after reading the advice given that we shouldn't do more than a couple of pages of it before writng descriptions, action, etc.
