Paragraph Organization in Dialog
Copy and paste the following text into your Google Docs and practice the block format of leaving a space in between paragraphs every time you change the speaker, or the action of another character. Also fix any errors in punctuation that you may see. Also remember that you need two spaces after an end mark and one after a comma!
Why
would you be scared of my age? I don’t know. It’s just that you are in
an in-between stage. A couple of
years ago you were all about your bike, and in a couple more you will be
driving. Do you have any idea how old this makes me feel? I don’t mind
getting older. I get to do more stuff. Yes, some of that I am not too
happy about, but you have proven you can handle it, I guess. It is my job as a
parent to worry about growing up too fast. Mom, do we really need to have
this conversation? I haven’t really screwed up. You’re right, Peter,
but don’t worry about girls. Having a girlfriend isn’t
a sign of maturity as much as acting mature in every setting. There is a
girlfriend out there for you. Mom,
it’s like your duty as a mom to say that. True.
So, let me give you an honest opinion. Are you mature enough for some adult
honesty?” What’s
adult honesty? I asked fearing the worst; maybe a dreaded sexual relationship
lecture. Those were as bad as being cornered by an aging relative with bad
breath at the Thanksgiving dinner table. And when it comes to taking dating
advice from my parents, I just want to get up the courage to say, I’m good . .
. Adult honesty, she was calm (a good sign), is what I would say, in
all honesty, to another adult looking for advice. So, here it is. Peter, if you
don’t do something different, then nothing different will ever happen. You
surround yourself with the same people, and you keep doing the same things. If
no one different enters your life, then you are stuck with only a close circle
of friends. Let me ask you. Are you willing to date one of them? No,
I was flat because that answer was easy. Then,
you need to expand your circle, which as uncomfortable as it sounds, means you
need to change your ways. What’s
wrong with my ways? You
hunt, you fish, and you hide in your room. Not too many girls hang out at the
bait shop, do they? I
wanted to complain that I don’t go to the bait shop very often, but her point
was valid. All I had was, There’s still school. Yes,
but if you start something, you’ll need to clear some time in your schedule
for her. I
shuddered, and she gave me a look. She must have read my body language like
Travis does. Was I that obvious? What?”
she said. Nothing.
It just got weird for a second. Taking dating advice from my mother.
Yes, but is it clear that it is good
advice, even though I am your mother? Yes,
and I also have to admit that I don’t really have any connections with the
girls in my classes. Maybe I need to look again. No,
you need to look somewhere else. School has been going on for
a couple of months. Branch out a little. Look outside your circle of friends and
their little sisters. I’ll
be honest, you are right.