Keep dialogue tags simple from "summary" of Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition by Renni Browne,Dave King
The simpler your dialogue tags, the better. "Said" and "asked" are usually the only ones you need. If your dialogue is written well, your reader should be able to tell how it's being said without you telling them. If you really need to add more information, keep it as unobtrusive as possible. The dialogue itself should be doing most of the work. You don't want your reader to be distracted by your tags. The more you draw attention to them, the less natural your dialogue will sound. Avoid tags with adverbs. If you find yourself writing something like "he said, angrily," it's a sign that your dialogue itself isn't strong enough. The tag is doing too much of the work. You're better off revising the dialogue so that it conveys the anger without any help. Adverbs in dialogue tags are a form of telling rather than showing. They distance the reader from the action rather than drawing them in. Trust your dialogue to do its job. Don't get cute with your dialogue tags. Using words like "exclaimed" or "interjected" can come off as trying too hard. They draw attention to themselves rather than serving the story. Stick with "said" and "asked" for the most part. They're unobtrusive and let the dialogue speak for itself. Remember, the goal is to make your dialogue flow naturally and keep your reader engaged. Don't let your tags get in the way. In general, the simpler your writing is, the better. Complicated dialogue tags can make your writing sound forced and artificial. Dialogue should sound like real people talking. Keep your tags simple and let the dialogue shine. Your readers will thank you for it.
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