Dialogue should be enclosed within quotation marks. Each new line of dialogue is indented, and a new paragraph should be started every time a new person is speaking. It should be concise.
Manuscript format is to indent the first line of each new paragraph (and to double space). Don't skip lines when doing this, unless you're indicating a larger break in the story. This is the industry standard, so editors and agents are expecting it.
Each paragraph is indented.
The only exception for this is if it's the start of a chapter or after a scene break, where the first line is never indented, including with dialogue.
Any time you change speakers, you should begin a new paragraph with an indent. If the speaker performs an action after speaking, you should keep that speaker's action in the same paragraph. Then, move onto a new line in the next paragraph when someone else begins speaking.
When writing dialogue, it is essential that you see the words the characters speak (“Hi,” “Hello,” etc.) as separate from those of the narrator (said John as he stretched out his hand). In its most simple form, this is done by using quotation marks to indicate that words are being spoken.
When you're writing dialogue, follow these formatting guidelines: In US English, dialogue goes inside double quotation marks (“dialogue”). In UK English, dialogue goes inside single quotation marks ('dialogue'). All punctuation in a piece of dialogue goes inside the quotation marks.
Conventional English grammar rules tell us that you should always start a new paragraph when someone speaks in your writing.
Basic Dialogue Rules
This is true, even if your character is alone and talking out loud, or even if all they say is one word. Indent each paragraph: as with any paragraph, you should indent it. There are small exceptions, such as at the beginning of a chapter or scene break.
Again, it's conventional to indent text that follows this content, regardless of whether it's narrative or dialogue. That's because of the connective function; the text is part of the same scene. Here are some examples from commercial fiction pulled from my bookshelves.
APA style identifies two types of indentation: First line and hanging. First line indentation begins to the right of where the next line begins. APA requires most paragraphs to adhere to first line indentation. Hanging indentation places the first line of a paragraph to the left of where the next line starts.
Indenting text
In many types of documents, you may want to indent only the first line of each paragraph. This helps to visually separate paragraphs from one another. It's also possible to indent every line except for the first line, which is known as a hanging indent.
Some stories rely heavily on dialogue. Others have very little. Most strike a balance somewhere in between. To determine what's right for your own story, consider the effect so much dialogue has on the reader's experience.
In general, dialogue is presented as separate paragraphs for each person speaking.
As remarked above, the first paragraph after a title or section heading is not indented. Every succeeding paragraph should be indented; the tab key on any keyboard will do this for you. For certain kinds of writing, such as technical reports and business letters, there is another format which is sometimes preferred.
With fiction book formatting, you want to have just a small indent at the start of each paragraph. If your book is non-fiction, generally speaking, you want to use block paragraphs rather than indents, unless your book is a memoir or historical fiction.
Indent the extract half an inch from the left margin, as you would any block quotation. If a character's speech runs onto a new line, as it does below, indent each line of dialogue an additional half an inch. Use double quotation marks around the spoken words: Early in F.
A block quote is always used when quoting dialogue between characters, as in a play. The block format is a freestanding quote that does not include quotation marks. Introduce the block quote with a colon (unless the context of your quote requires different punctuation) and start it on a new line.
Even with dialogue that is clearly attributed, start a new paragraph with each new speaker. The reader shouldn't have to wait until after the dialogue is spoken to understand who is saying it.
1) Hyperactive Inner Voice: People with ADHD frequently report an excessively active internal dialogue. Their thoughts may race, jump between topics, or become easily distracted. This hyperactivity can make it difficult to maintain focus, leading to challenges in concentration and completing tasks.
Indirect internal dialogue
It is not set off with either italics or quotation marks. It is not essential to start a new paragraph for indirect internal dialogue though you may sometimes find this appropriate, for clarity. Example: Ruby didn't mean it, but didn't know how she could explain that to Marta.
Example: “I lied,” Charles thought, “but maybe she will forgive me.” Notice that quotation marks and other punctuation are used as if the character had spoken aloud. You may also use italics without quotation marks for direct internal dialogue. Example: I lied, Charles thought, but maybe she will forgive me.
1. Use quotation marks around the words which the character says: “It's sure cold out here, “ Mark said. 2. Begin a new paragraph each time a different person speaks – this can help to cut down on the number of dialogue tags required.