"Dialogue," she said, "is key."

If you write fiction, then you know that dialogue is an important aspect of your story. Well-written dialogue is arguably the most engaging part of a story for the reader, and it is often the best tool for characterization. 

But did you know that the way you introduce dialogue can either enhance or detract from what the character is actually saying?

What is a dialogue tag?
A dialogue tag, or attribution, is what ties a piece of dialogue to a character. It can come before, during, or after a quotation and tells us who is speaking and how they're speaking. The most common dialogue tags are she said and he asked.

There are many writers who advocate for using said and asked almost exclusively rather than using other verbs like noted, whispered, shouted, posited, cried, muttered, etc. This is because said is virtually invisible to readers. 

There are some good arguments both for and against this preference. On the one hand, limiting the variety of verbs used in dialogue tags keeps the focus on the dialogue itself. It forces the writer to compose better dialogue to convey emotion instead of relying on the tag to do that for them.

On the other hand, using only said does not tell us how the dialogue is being delivered and may lead the writer to rely on adverbs to give us this information. Many writers frown on using too many adverbs, as these can lead to more bland verbs and a penchant for telling rather than showing.

Personally, I think a balance between the two views on dialogue tags is the best approach. Much of the time, you want the tag to remain invisible so your dialogue stands out. But sometimes, you want to convey something about the character with the tag. Does your character just say things, or do they snarl them? And there are certainly times when bellowing or whispering is called for.

​
​How do different dialogue tags affect a sentence?
Consider the following sentences:
"I'm not going in there," Will said.
"I'm not going in there," Will said anxiously.
"I'm not going in there," Will whimpered.

Each of these sentences gives us a different impression of how Will delivers his line and what he is feeling about his current situation. The first example is pretty ambiguous; Will is refusing to go somewhere, but we have no other information (at least, not out of context like this). The second example lets us know how he feels about the situation, but it uses two words where one would suffice. The third example gives us the same information as the second, but it eliminates the need for an adverb by using a more succinct verb.

None of these examples are bad or wrong, but some convey emotion more powerfully than others. Let's look at a couple more examples:
"I'm not going in there," Will said, crossing his arms.
"I'm not going in there," Will said with a frown.
"I'm not going in there!" Will roared.

Sometimes actions speak louder than words. The first example here combines a simple tag with an action that gives us a little more insight. Will crossing his arms tells us that he is stubborn or adamant. The second sentence uses a simple tag and a descriptor to convey his displeasure. In the final example, the physical act of shouting tells us that Will is very angry (without using Will said angrily as our dialogue tag).

There are a lot of variables that go into choosing what dialogue tags to use: character, situation, focus, mood, voice, writer's preference, etc. Ultimately, how to tag your dialogue is up to you. There are no wrong answers, but in each situation some answers are better than others. The most important thing to remember is to choose your dialogue tags intentionally and not by default.

Are dialogue tags more important than actual dialogue?
Clearly, dialogue tags are important. But sometimes the most important role they play is, indeed, to be invisible. Let's take a look at how dialogue and actions can be even more important than the tag. Consider the differences between these two examples:

"I'm not going in there," Will said. "You can't make me!" His eyes were wide as he clung to the rocky cave wall. 

"There's no way I'm going in there," Will said. "If you want someone to save your precious friend from that monster, do it yourself." He turned, spit on the ground, and walked away. 

Both of these examples have the same basic point: Will refuses to go into this place. Both use a simple said to tag Will's dialogue. But the dialogue itself, paired with Will's actions, is wildly different in each case. In the first example, Will is clearly fearful and thinking of self-preservation. In the second example, Will seems indifferent and even cruel. Even without his actions, Will's dialogue speaks to his character. The first Will is frightened and pitiable. The second Will is selfish and heartless.

What your characters say and do over the course of a story define and shape who they are and who they turn out to be. When that's your focus, the best dialogue tags don't draw too much attention to themselves.

The dialogue and attributions you use are important, but so is how you integrate dialogue tags into your sentences. Next time, we'll talk about how to properly capitalize and punctuate dialogue tags.