When it comes to writing realistic and impactful dialogue, writers know all about old tips like said is dead for dialogue tags, but do you know how important action beats are to enriching dialogue and keeping scenes moving? Are you incorporating them enough in your manuscript?
What They Are
Dialogue tags are words like said, asked, yelled, whispered—basically any word that could take the place of said.
(This is the obligatory reminder that said really is not dead. While it’s great to sprinkle in other dialogue tags, there is no need to avoid said. Said fades into the background for readers, but use of too many different dialogue tags sticks out like a sore thumb to readers and feels very awkward.)
Action beats are sentences that come before, during, or after the dialogue that identify the speaker without using tags and describe the character’s actions.
“I’m starving,” Kit said. “Can we just hurry up so I can eat?” (Dialogue tag)
“I’m starving.” Kit rolled her eyes. “Can we just hurry up so I can eat?” (Action beat)
Action beats can be as simple as two word phrases describing an action.
She gasped. “Have you known this whole time?”
“I’ve been studying all day.” Liam sighed. “I need a break.”
The same words/phrases can operate as dialogue tags or action beats depending on how you use them.
“I’m starving,” Kit groaned. (Dialogue tag)
Kit groaned. “I’m starving.” (Action beat)
Action beats, like dialogue tags, can come before or after dialogue and can interrupt the dialogue.
Riley shifted in her seat. “I don’t know. I’m not sure I want to do that.”
“I don’t know.” Riley shifted in her seat. “I’m not sure I want to do that.”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure I wanted to do that.” Riley shifted in her seat.
Action beats and dialogue tags can be combined.
“I don’t know,” Riley said, shifting in her seat. “I’m not sure I want to do that.”
“I can’t do this,” he said while shaking his head. “This is too dangerous.”
“I missed you, Mom,” I whispered, squeezing her hand. “I wish we didn’t waste so much time.”
How They Impact Writing
Incorporating action beats is crucial to writing impactful scenes with believable dialogue that doesn’t hold the story still while characters talk. Though it might seem like a way to simply add some variety within the structure of dialogue, action beats actually do a lot of heavy lifting within a scene.
Mood and Tone Indicators
We can’t rely on dialogue alone to convey the emotions we want our characters to portray. Real people don’t always say exactly what they mean or how they’re feeling. And even when they do, the words alone don’t tell us everything we need to know; it’s their tone, expression, and actions that give us a complete understanding. In order for dialogue to be realistic, it needs to do the same thing.
“Sorry, but there’s nothing we can do for your dog,” he said.
“Sorry, but there’s nothing we can do for your dog.” He shrugged.
“Sorry, but there’s nothing we can do for your dog.” He hung his head.
The first example is neutral; we really don’t have a sense of the emotion behind it. The second example conveys a sense of uncaring indifference. The third one conveys a sense of sadness or regret. See how impactful action beats can be in defining a moment’s emotional tone?
What’s Left Unsaid
Action beats can be used to say what characters aren’t saying.
“I’m happy to be here.” She glanced at her wristwatch and suppressed a sigh.
Her words may sound kind and mean one thing, but the character’s real unspoken impatience is made clear through the action beat. Readers now understand that she doesn’t want to be there or has somewhere else she needs to be but feels like she can’t say that.
These action beats can also reveal what a character cannot say, something that reveals important information to the reader.
“You’re perfectly safe.” I kept my eyes on his, careful to not let them flick to where Ryan crept up behind him, knife in hand. “I wouldn’t hurt you.”
No Talking Heads
Have you ever heard the phrase talking heads syndrome?
It refers to when a dialogue-heavy scene fails to keep a reader grounded within the scene and ends up reading like talking heads in white space (or anywhere, really). There’s no sense of a physical world, the environment around the speakers or even the speakers’ bodies themselves.
Action beats allow readers to feel like they’re grounded within a scene along with the characters.
He said, “I’m tired of having this conversation with you.”
He swiped a hand across his brow, staring out the window to their backyard at the swing set the kids hadn’t touched in years. “I’m tired of having this conversation with you.”
“Do you want to watch a movie?” she asked. “There’s that new romcom you wanted to see.”
“Do you want to watch a movie?” She flopped onto the pillow-covered couch and smiled. “There’s that new romcom you wanted to see.”
“I don’t really know what to say,” Mark said.
“I don’t really know what to say.” Mark glanced away, watching the water rush over his toes as another wave met the beach.
The action beats place the characters and readers firmly within the environment and give movement to the scene while also conveying emotional cues. It creates a fuller picture for readers and allows them to be fully immersed.
Back to the Basics
Some of the other jobs of action beats may seem simple enough to almost go unnoticed, but they are just as important as the heavy-lifting jobs of conveying emotion, providing environmental details, and saying what’s left unsaid.
Action beats also add movement to dialogue and break up long portions of dialogue that may be unpleasant to read. They keep readers engaged and help pace conversations, providing the pauses and space that comes naturally within real-life conversations. They add depth to conversations and make characters and scenes more realistic and pleasant to read.
The key is to keep a good balance between dialogue tags and action beats. Don’t rely too much on either. Find space for simple dialogue tags and action beats that bring the scene to life with those small details that keep readers immersed and engaged.
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