Conversations between characters is dialogue. (There’s also inner dialogue, like a character’s thoughts, but that’s confusing because the di- prefix implies two… but we won’t get into that here.)
Dialogue tags identify who spoke: he yelled, she explained, they said at the same time, etc.
Body language describes what the character is doing while they are speaking.
Example from one draft of Bennytown by Matt Carter:
“F*&% yeah,” Olivia says. (<—dialogue tag)
I wince at her choice of words. (<—body language) “Do you really have to, you know, say that here?”
Olivia looks at me like she thinks I’m joking. When she can tell I’m not, she says, “Really?”
I know I’ve said something wrong. “Can we pretend that I maybe didn’t say that?”
“You can pretend whatever you want, but it doesn’t change anything,” Olivia says, more amused than anything else. She cranes her neck to see if any ducks have made their way around the bend.
“Anything yet?” I ask.
“Nothing yet, but soon, I think,” she says, getting back to looking for the ducks.
Curious, I sneak a look at the business card Kathleen slipped me. She put a message right above her number.
THESE PEOPLE ARE DANGEROUS
WHEN YOU NEED HELP, CALL ME
(Want to read that story now, right? Highly recommend if you like horror.)
My tip for you as you self-edit your story is as follows: You almost never need dialogue tags if character voices are distinct and if you use body language appropriately. Often writers get into the habit of either using a ton of body language and no dialogue tags or no body language and only dialogue tags. There’s a balance, and while it’s hard to find it perfectly as you are self editing, I would start by first identifying the dialogue tags and seeing which can be cut without confusing the reader.
Then identify the body language that occurs during a conversation and see if a clear picture of the tones and feelings of the characters is being painted. If it just feels like two people are saying words but it isn’t clear how they feel about any of it—add in some body language!
Body language tips: It helps if the body language fits the characters and the scene. Avoid generic body language like grinning, smiling, chuckling, folding arms, etc. (though of course those have their place). Maybe a character has long hair, and she plays with it when she’s feeling comfortable. Maybe a character clasps and unclasps his watch when he’s nervous or distraught. Maybe characters are having a picnic and one needs to shade her eyes from the sunlight breaking through the leaves when the breeze blows. Think outside the box with body language.
Here is the edited version of the passage above. Can you notice what I changed?
“F*^% yeah,” Olivia says.
I wince. “Do you really have to, you know, say that here?”
Olivia looks at me like she thinks I’m joking. When she can tell I’m not, she says, “Really?”
I know I’ve said something wrong. “Can we pretend that I maybe didn’t say that?”
“You can pretend whatever you want, but it doesn’t change anything.” Olivia sounds more amused than anything else. Phew. She cranes her neck to see if any ducks have made their way around the bend.
“Anything yet?” I ask.
“Nothing yet, but soon, I think.”
Curious, I sneak a look at the business card Kathleen slipped me. She put a message right above her number.
THESE PEOPLE ARE DANGEROUS
WHEN YOU NEED HELP, CALL ME