Does the writer know any words other than ‘said’? It is repetitive and pervasive and once heard can’t be unheard. Dear Ken, what follows is list of words you might try just to make the dialogue blocks less painfully repetitive. Replied Responded Agreed/disagreed Cried Shouted Fretted Worried Suggested Advised Wondered Demanded Supplied Ordered Whispered Complained Whined I’m about halfway through the second book and I keep hoping the dialogue writing mechanics will improve.