People Saying Things

Way back when I took ENG-425 and 426 (Novel Writing and Advanced Novel Writing), the instructor spent a lot of time on the "heavy mechanics" of writing. We covered character arcs, foreshadowing, conflict, point of view, and a ton of other concepts. She'd give us assignments that focused on individual parts of the writing spectrum and eventually have us incorporate them all together.

One thing that was also covered was speaker tags.

It was mentioned as an afterthought. She said to be sure the reader knows who's saying any particular bit of dialog. She made mention that some writers always tag the characters' words and others aren't so consistent.

At the time, something was mentioned by one student that he got very tired of seeing all those "said"s in a story. Another stated (and the instructor agreed) that most people read over them and they become invisible like the periods at the ends of the sentences.

Back then, I agreed.

Speaker tags, in case you don't know, are just the "said"s adjacent to the dialog being quoted.
See here:

• "I'm ready to go," Jason said.

• Mara called back, "Leave me alone!"

• "Wait," the thug said. "Just where do you think you're going?"

As I got older (and with any luck wiser), I started to disagree. I've done an awful lot of reading about writing. There are at least as many theories on how to write well as there are people who write. I haven't agreed with everything any one person has said, but there have been a few points that changed the way I wrote from the moment I read it.

The idea of getting rid of speaker tags was one that hit me hard immediately.

Maybe they do disappear when you read them. I know I've never been all that aware of them when I've read something. I certainly never got tired of seeing them. They serve the vital purpose of letting the reader know who said what.

We need them, right?

But after a little study and experimentation, I don't think they serve any purpose at all.

The reader already knows something was said because the writer put a few words in quotes. All that's needed is something to say from whose mouth the words came. "Said" does work, but what if you didn't use it?

Ever.

I don't just mean find another word like "asked," "answered," "replied," or "whispered." I mean kill the tag altogether.
See here:

• Jason poked his head in the door. "I'm ready to go."

• "Leave me alone!" Mara stamped her foot.

• "Wait." The thug brushed his forefinger across his mustache. "Just where do you think you're going?"

I've gone back through everything I've ever written and looked for this. My writing is was full of simple speaker tags. Now that I'm aware of it, I see that it was making me lazy. I wasn't showing the non-verbal part of the story as well as I could have during character exchanges.

When there are just two people going back and forth you can do away with any sort of simple tag. If you add action to the scene it becomes much richer. You may find a need for an occasional "said" when there are more than two speakers, but still try to use action rather than tags.

Another thing I used to do, based on advice from my old class, was to try and mix the two. It sounds brilliant, but becomes wordy.

Be honest. Which of these reads better?

• "Whatever you say," Roger said, handing the key to Darryl. "You're in charge now."

• "Whatever you say." Roger handed the key to Darryl. "You're in charge now."

For me, the quotes and the fact that Roger is the subject of the sentence embedded between the words is enough to convey that Roger is speaking.

And don't think you're getting away with anything by saying "he said sadly." Make the words sad. Have him do something heartbreaking right before he says them. Don't cop out just because the mechanics almost work.

Every time a character opens his mouth, make the line the best line you can.

Give it a try and see what you think.