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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/handler.php/item_id/1943752-Dialog-Action-Tags-To-Replace-Said
Rated: ASR · In & Out · Writing · #1943752
Useful reference for fiction writers of dialogue

One way to add variety to dialog is to avoid using a tag like "he said" and instead use a bit of action. EXAMPLE...


With tag: He said, "This looks interesting."

With action: He rubbed his chin. "This looks interesting."


Any bits of action you can think of, or find in your fiction reading, will be much appreciated.
1. He smiled. He frowned. He scowled. He grinned. He grimaced.
2. He loosened his collar.
3. He rubbed a hand across his forehead.
4. She toyed with a lock of her hair.
5. From John Le Carre: Peters nodded as if he were confirming a melancholy truth.
6. He nodded. He shrugged. He winked.
7. From John Le Carre: With infinite weariness, she nodded in a pathetic gesture of capitulation.
8. He scratched his head. ...chin ...nose ...ear ...arm ...neck ...wrist ...palm
9. She scratched her head and wondered. Would she be the first? Would she give herself away?
10. She cocked her head to one side with a puzzled puppy expression on her face.
11. He shifted uneasily in his chair.
12. His jaw dropped open.
13. He looked upwards and sighed.
14. He shook his head sadly.
15. He tugged at his ear. He massaged his ear lobe.
16. She smoothed out her dress.
17. She put her elbows on the table, leaned forward, and cupped her chin in her hands.
18. He quickly scanned the letter.
19. She daintily wiped the crumbs from her lips with a paper napkin.
20. He slammed the book closed.
21. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
22. He cocked the shotgun and stuck his chin out.
23. He smacked his palm with his fist and scowled.
24. She looked down her nose at him.
25. He mumbled, while fumbling for something inside the top drawer of the office desk.
26. She watched him fumble around in his desk, her face a mask of indifference except for a slight twitch in one eye.
27. She chewed her lower lip and looked askance at him.
28. He casually peeled a banana, then looked her straight in the eye.
29. She pushed back a stray lock of hair while gazing at him with lowered eyelids.
30. He wiped clean his mouth with the back of his hand.
31. He glanced at her doubtfully from the corner of his left eye.
32. He glared at her averted face.
33. His mouth was set in a taut, straight line, and his eyes were as piercing as an eagle's.
34. He looked at her fingers and a small sneer of disgust crept onto his face.
35. Watching her toy with her hair, his eyebrows lifted ever so slightly.
36. He blinked. It seemed she had been about to speak.

Total Displayed: 36

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