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Q&A Is a new paragraph line needed in dialogue when a character responds with actions?

I see nothing wrong with this, provided the dialogue and the responding action flow together neatly. Your example is a bit stilted, but if you connect them like so: "Move!" he barked, and I imm...

posted 5y ago by F1Krazy‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-12T21:42:33Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/48704
License name: CC BY-SA 4.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T13:10:31Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/48704
License name: CC BY-SA 4.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T13:10:31Z (almost 5 years ago)
I see nothing wrong with this, provided the dialogue and the responding action flow together neatly. Your example is a bit stilted, but if you connect them like so:

> "Move!" he barked, and I immediately stepped aside.

...that flows a lot better, in my opinion.

This also works if Character A says something, Character B reacts, and then Character A says something else in response to the reaction. Something like:

> "Move!" he barked. I immediately stepped aside, and he brushed past me with a slightly more polite, "Thank you."

If, however, Character B is the next character to speak, you should start a new paragraph in order to link their action with their consequent dialogue:

> "Move!"
> 
> I immediately stepped aside, and he brushed past me without saying a word. "You're welcome," I muttered sarcastically.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2019-10-24T12:22:52Z (about 5 years ago)
Original score: -1