WHEN YOU'RE WRITING dialogue, try not to use the word said too much! you can use it sometimes, obviously, but when all your dialogue is followed with a 'said', it becomes dull.

it makes it a) more interesting to read and b) sets the tone of the characters and their emotions better!

ex.

" doesn't smell like caca to me, señor." richie said, holding the stick.

"i can smell that from here." eddie said.

"it's probably just your breath wafting back into your face," said richie.

vs

"doesn't smell like caca to me, señor!" richie joked, gripping the dirty stick.

"i can smell that from here," eddie
complained, exasperated.

"it's probably just your breath wafting back into your face," richie commented snarkily as he gestured toward his face.

SOME ALTERNATIVES TO 'SAID'

-exclaimed
-cried
-yelped
-commented
-whispered
-announced
-informed
-yelled
-called
-droned
-blabbed
-mumbled
-hissed
-murmured
-muttered
-breathed
-screamed
-proclaimed
-explained
-joked
-complain
-laughed
-sung
-snapped
-begged
-continued
-chided
-chimed
-shouted
-demanded
-fumed
-giggled
-bragged
-teased
-groaned
-replied
-responded
-answered
-questioned
-wondered
-sighed
-commanded
-insisted
-stammered
-remarked
-stated

HOPE THIS HELPED!

( written by anne! )