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4 Reasons To Use Action Beats When Writing

Aside

111-4-reasons-to-use-action-beats-when-writingWRITING TIPS: Want to break up boring dialogue, show and not tell, stop info-dumping your setting, and sneak in character description? Check out K.M. Allen’s blog post! ~Bette A. Stevens 4writersandreaders

K.M. Allan

If you’re wondering what an action beat is, you’re not alone. Not too long ago, I didn’t know what it was either.

I’ve since learned it’s an action your character is doing while they’re talking.

Yeah, it’s not exactly an earth-shattering revelation and is something you’ve probably been writing naturally anyway, it’s just now you know there’s an actual name for it.

Not only does this writing trick have a name, it also has four good reasons why you should be working actions beats into your dialogue.

4 Reasons To Use Action Beats When Writing

1. Action Beats Break Up The Boring

When an action beat pairs with your dialogue, it breaks up the usual he said/she said monotony of dialogue tags.

Dialogue tag:
“Hi,” Jenny said.

Action beat:
“Hi.” Jenny lifted her hand, waving her fingers in Carla’s face.

Action beats will also break up long passages of dialogue, puts…

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Written

on 05/18/2019

Comments on: "4 Reasons To Use Action Beats When Writing" (40)

  1. 4 Reasons To Use Action Beats When Writing — Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author – Rexton digital said:
    06/16/2019 at 2:28 am

    […] via 4 Reasons To Use Action Beats When Writing — Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author […]

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Jina Bazzar said:
    06/04/2019 at 8:29 am

    I’ve never heard about the term before. But yeah, I do the ‘he said / she said thing a lot. Then, while I’m doing the torturous revisions and edits, I start either plucking them off or adding those ‘action beats’ whenever possible.
    Great share!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Seven Links Traci Kenworth – Where Genres Collide said:
    05/25/2019 at 7:06 am

    […] https://4writersandreaders.com/2019/05/18/4-reasons-to-use-action-beats-when-writing/ “If you’re wondering what an action beat is, you’re not alone. Not too long ago, I didn’t […]

    Like

  4. Kymber said:
    05/23/2019 at 5:52 pm

    This is such wonderful information! Thank you for sharing this.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. roughwighting said:
    05/23/2019 at 5:34 am

    Great post to share. No, I hadn’t hear this called this ‘action beats’ before but it makes sense. Will share with my writing classes!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      05/23/2019 at 1:17 pm

      First I’ve heard the term too, Pam. Love the term and the wonderful post and am delighted that you’ll be sharing too… ❤ Have an amazing week and holiday weekend! xo

      Like

  6. macjam47 said:
    05/22/2019 at 8:25 pm

    A wonderful post, Bette. Thanks for sharing it. 💕🤗💕

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Vashti Q said:
    05/20/2019 at 5:37 pm

    Great article, Betty. Thanks for sharing. 😀 xo

    Liked by 2 people

  8. D. Wallace Peach said:
    05/19/2019 at 4:11 pm

    Great share, Bette. I prefer action beats to dialog tags. They’re versatile and can do double duty in serving a story. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Rosaliene Bacchus said:
    05/19/2019 at 3:23 pm

    Great writing tip, Bette. I didn’t know the technique had a name.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. balroop2013 said:
    05/19/2019 at 2:23 pm

    Thanks for this share Bette. Well written.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. rijanjks said:
    05/19/2019 at 1:37 pm

    Excellent! Thanks, Bette!

    Liked by 2 people

  12. -Eugenia said:
    05/19/2019 at 10:19 am

    Wonderful share, Bette! Thank you.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. DutchIl said:
    05/19/2019 at 10:07 am

    Interesting, thanks for sharing , he finally posts after dealing with several typo’s .. 🙂

    “If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.” Isaac Asimov

    Liked by 3 people

  14. Norah said:
    05/19/2019 at 12:52 am

    Thanks for sharing, Bette. I hadn’t heard the term action beats before. It’s interesting though and something most writers do.

    Liked by 3 people

  15. Tea With Jennifer said:
    05/18/2019 at 11:07 pm

    Thank you for sharing this post & info. How interesting 😀
    Bless you,
    Jennifer

    Liked by 2 people

  16. mattiesmysteries said:
    05/18/2019 at 10:16 pm

    What a great way to introduce the article and increase our knowledge on “action beats.” Nice piece by K.M. Allan. Thank you, Bette, for sharing with us.

    Liked by 3 people

  17. Marilyn Armstrong said:
    05/18/2019 at 8:13 pm

    That’s what always ruined by books — the total lack action. My characters talked, thought, but they never DID anything. If I were writing something, I’d give this a try.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      05/18/2019 at 8:56 pm

      I’m with you, Marilyn–Kudos to K.M. Allan an outstanding article on writing. 🙂 Had to share and so glad you found it valuable too. ❤ Happy Writing, Reading & Blogging! xo

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Jill Weatherholt said:
    05/18/2019 at 5:35 pm

    Wonderful examples! Thanks for sharing, Bette. xo

    Liked by 3 people

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