Tag Position

http://www.longridgewritersgroup.com/rx/wc11/action_tags.shtml

Writing Craft - Craft

Mary Rosenblum has published eight novels in mystery and science fiction as well as more than sixty short stories in major publications, in all genres.  She also writes nonfiction and is a Long Ridge instructor as well as Web Editor. 

Tag Position

            An added benefit to action tags is flexibility of tag position.  When a ‘said tag’ comes in front of the spoken line, it creates a ‘narrative effect’. That is, it is clearly the author telling us that the character is about to speak: 

            Jim said, “I think I’ll take a nap now.” 

            That ‘Jim said’ is very noticeable and reminds the readers that the author is telling us this.  We are not sharing the scene with Jim. 

            When the ‘said tag’ comes after the dialogue, it is less noticeable:

            “I think I’ll take a nap now,” Jim said.

           

            Action tags – with no ‘saidism’ included – work fine either way:

            Jim yawned.  “I think I’ll take a nap now.”

            “I think I’ll take a nap now.”  Jim yawned.