Please someone help me! For the entirety of my writing I have never been able to figure out how to format my dialogue. A lot of my stories revolve around families and they are usually pretty close and therefore quite chatty but I have a really hard time knowing how to set up the conversation. I know that dialogue does not just sit within a paragraph like description but does that mean my stories are inevitably going to be a billion pages to include all the conversations?
I usually do put them on separate lines if that's what you're asking. i guess if you really wanted to you could keep a couple lumped together, but I don't see any other way around it.
When trying to figure out when to start new paragraphs, remember TIPTOP! You start a new paragraph when the following changes:
TI - time
P - person speaking
To - topic
P - place
Putting dialogue in the middle of a paragraph is a big no-no. Everytime a new person speaks, start a new paragraph. Por ejemplo:
"Ugh," Jade groaned, flopping down onto the couch and rubbing her eyes. "I'm exhausted from work."
"What happened?" Michael asked, concern in his voice. Normally Jade was energetic and chipper. This was a new development.
Jade let out a sigh and dropped her hands. "I don't want to talk about it. Is there any food?"
Hope this helps!