"Where are you going?" Kurt said.
"I have to go to work today," Angela answered.
"I thought you were taking the day off to spend with me," he said with a disappointed look.
"Somebody's gotta pay the rent around here," she spat as she pulled on a pencil skirt.
"It's not like I'm not looking for work," he whined.
"I don't have time for this," she said dismissively.
Dialogue tags are useful to help your reader understand who is saying what, however it is not mandatory that you use them after every single line. In short, it takes away from the writing and makes you look like an amateur.
Your readers are intelligent enough to keep up with written conversation without being guided every step of the way. Enhance your writing by giving other details of the scene instead of pouring on the He Said/She Saids. A light sprinkling will do - if you have to use them at all.
Look how many times dialogue tags are used below.
"Where are you going?" Kurt leaned against the dresser watching Angela pull on a pencil skirt.
"I have to go to work." With quick fingers she fastened the buttons of her blouse, smoothed its hem line over the skirt then checked her appearance in the mirror.
"I thought you were taking the day off to spend with me." No sooner than he'd spoken, he wished he could snatch the words out of the air, not because he didn't want her to stay, but because he sounded desperate and weak, even to his own ears.
She shot him a quick glance and rolled her eyes. "Somebody's gotta pay the rent around here." Her words stabbed at his pride, attacking his manhood. She slid her feet into a pair of black pumps and headed for the door.
Kurt followed closely behind trying to find words that would offer some level of defense, but he knew Angela's patience had run out. "It's not like I'm not looking for work Angela." He reached for her hand but she jerked away, avoiding his grasp.
"I don't have time for this." Unable to bear the sight of him for another second, she swung the door open, stepped through and slammed it behind her with such force, their wedding picture fell from the wall and collided with the floor, shattering the glass frame.
See the difference? Same dialogue but no he said/she said, he answered, she spat. Instead, more details to engage the reader.
Strengthen your writing skill by moving away from the He Said/She Saids. I promise you, your readers will not get lost.
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