Different Ways to Describe Dialogue — Pt. 1
The simplicity of said does exactly what it needs to: it identifies the speaker. Don’t abandon the word said completely, but here are some other ways to describe your dialogue!
1) Use a physical gesture. This allows for the character to interact with their environment for more detailed imagery.
“Please, don’t leave me!” She grabbed at the hem of his golden cloak as he turned away from her, the finely crafted material slipping from her wet fingers.
2) Use different synonyms of said to add atmosphere. This can help create tone and volume in your scene, but should be used sparingly. They add a nice flavor and clarity to an important scene— however, some authors think “said” should still be your default.
“Please, don’t leave me!” She bellowed.
3) Replace dialogue tags with action in a way that moves the plot along. This kills two birds with one stone. It shows who is speaking, while also pressing the story forward.
“Please, don’t leave me!” She grabbed at the hem of his golden cloak and a crumbled note fell from his pocket.
4) Use no description at all! If you’ve already clarified who will be speaking from the context above and want the dialogue to stand alone, you could try using no tags.
She sat in a puddle of her own tears, grabbing at the hem of his golden cloak. He turned away from her, the finely crafted material slipping from her wet fingers. She pressed her hands to her chest, the tightness threatening to subdue her. “Please, don’t leave me!”
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