I love this breakdown. Well thought out.I was not able to answer this one properly in my first drive by, so...back I am.
I think there is a type hierarchy to dialog tags, and as we grow as writers we move along the tree, improving out tool bag, and finding new ways to make the writing engaging. I was going to try and write all this in a portfolio entry, but I've been sidetracked by many things.
Anyway....in brief:
Worst is using anything but said.
"Hey?" Bob shouted.
"Go away," Catchy growled.
"But, I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the movies," Bob pleaded.
"Not if you were the last man on earth," Cathy snapped.
Too much of that, and readers will think you are a beginner. Once in a while, okay, but every dialog tag and it just wears thin and trite.
Better--using said:
"Hey," Bob said.
"Go away," said Cathy.
"But, I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the movies," said Bob.
"Not if you were the last man on earth," said Cathy.
Better than that--Using action beats.
"Hey," Bob said, running over to catch Cathy before she closed her locker.
"Go away," said Cathy, turning away from him and slamming her locker closed with a huff.
"But, I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the movies," Bob said, his hands open, and eyebrows scrunching up to question.
"Not if you were the last man on earth," said Cathy, turning away and stamping her foot.
A neat trick--Not using said at all.
"Hey." Bob ran over to catch Cathy before she closed her locker.
"Go away." Cathy turned away from him and slamming her locker closed with a huff.
"But, I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the movies."
"Not if you were the last man on earth." Cathy turned away and stamped her foot.
Putting it all together -- using variety
"Hey," Bob said as he ran over to catch Cathy before she closed her locker.
"Go away." Cathy growled, turning away from him and slamming her locker closed.
"But, I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the movies."
"Not if you were the last man on earth." said Cathy.
The art -- knowing when
This is all on you. Yes, you have to break up long sections of he said, she said, he said, she said. But if you over use one, its will start to glare. Many authors write to avoid using dialog tags at all (such as AELowans example above), and the industry seems to like that, but really...sometimes its needed to add clarity. I like using said, cause I like its resonance at time. Some sentences need the extra beat, others don't. Adding action beats is more engaging and more immersive, you should look to break things up by adding them. I think a combo of Lowan and Prince of Spires is about right
