Dialogue tags. Yeah, we’re supposed to avoid them - start with an action instead. But your character can only scratch her nose or flip her hair so many times.
Said is preferred. It's barely noticeable. But after too many, you'll notice.
Could it be you need something with punch? Well, that's where I come in. As it turns out, I’m a tag collector. And over the years, I’ve made a lengthy list. *And keep in mind, these are just fun, unusual tags.
For example: What did the agitated character do?
she bleated.
she blustered.
she bristled.
she crabbed.
she fussed.
she griped.
she groused.
she gruffed.
she grumbled.
she grumped.
she rumbled.
she spat.
and
she squawked.
Got one of those annoying sarcastic characters?
she chided.
she clucked.
she cracked.
she deadpanned.
she dug.
she egged.
she flouted.
she guffawed.
she heckled.
she mocked.
she mouthed off.
she poohed.
she quipped.
she sassed.
she scoffed.
she smirked.
she snarked.
and
she sniped.
Here are a few of my favorites:
she bubbled.
she coaxed.
she dazzled.
she ho-hummed.
she quavered.
she scrooged.
she sing-songed.
she tacked on.
And my ultimate favorite: *drumroll*
“Yeow!” she onomatopoeiad.
If you'd like a copy of my full alphabetized list (I've never had time to categorize it), contact me at enderle4@earthlink.net
