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Q&A Should I start a new paragraph after a dialogue if the action is being taken by a new person?

Yes. Not only should you start a new paragraph for every character, but you need to be clear about who is saying or doing what. You mention the excerpt involves 3 characters. We know the first p...

posted 6y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-20T00:40:35Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/41266
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T10:34:47Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/41266
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T10:34:47Z (almost 5 years ago)
Yes. Not only should you start a new paragraph for every character, but you need to be clear about who is saying or doing what.

You mention the excerpt involves 3 characters. We know the first person part is Nat, the narrator. And of course the parts you label as being from Arden are from that character. But where is Oddie? Is he the speaker in the middle? If so, try this:

> “We can just call her Rose,” Arden suggests, leaning back on his hands, any leftover semblances of sleep wiped clear from his face.
> 
> Oddie looks up. “I thought you said that name was already taken?”
> 
> Arden shrugs, toeing the remnants of his cloak over his lap.
> 
> I throw my arms in the air, exasperated.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2019-01-13T21:19:05Z (almost 6 years ago)
Original score: 11