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Writing Tips

Punctuating Dialogue

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➸ “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.”

Writing Prompt #2

“I swear to whichever god is listening right now, if I have to bring you back from the brink of death ONE MORE TIME, I’m going to kill you myself.”

I have been tagged. I don’t know why I have some of these.

@chaiandpages @axtnoi-i @joytri @castorbit

Was tagged to post 6 non-selfie pics from my phone! Thanks for the tag from @largesillyfriend

So now let’s tag @comicbookzombie @transwaterbender @genderless-ginger @eckspress @whim-sickle @vvitchy-succubus @zestyzombie @stillsuperchillandmentallyill @spookytransgirl @princessdelilahcane @stephiestarrdust @friendpillow

lovely character. i need him to finally break down sobbing clutching his chest like it'll stop the pain crumpling to the floor begging God to either help him or let him die

…. So I’m kinda really new to this whole Hellenistic polytheism thing in terms of actual worship. I know I can’t do much in terms of the traditional stuff because of where I live and my current situation, but for the last year when I’ve been sad over a breakup, I peeled a pomegranate with my bare hands.

Last time I did my little ritual, I talked to Persephone (idk if she heard me or not but it felt nice and a little less lonely) and told her that she made a lovely choice for fruit.

… that was a few months ago. I feel like she’s a pretty understanding person/goddess in knowing how much I can do right now, but I kinda feel a little bad that I haven’t done it since January (or so). I know it’s not pomegranate seeds, but I want to thank her for being patient with me (and also to like… not have a mental breakdown again).

I dunno what to do right now…

Any suggestions are welcome.

Writing Prompt #7

“Out of all the places I expected us to go, this was the farthest thing that I could have even thought of.”

“write what you know” is boring. i write what haunts me at 3am.

"i don't comment on ao3 because i don't wanna be annoying or weird" skill issue + you greatly underestimate the power dynamic here, writing multi paragraph comments is like feeding a bunch of deeply insane and possibly starved ducks at the park and watch them go completely mad over having received a piece of bread