: Re: Dialogue interruptions — using em dashes This is my first time in writers, so I apologise if I make a mistake. I've searched for this, but I can't find a concrete and complete answer. Please

@Debbie451

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(This construction is a pain in the ass to punctuate, so this is a good question to ask.)
When your narration is a full sentence, it must be punctuated like a full sentence. With M-dashes:

“She’s a lovely girl, but — ” He lowered his voice. “ — she cannot dance for the life of her.”
“She’s a lovely girl, but — ” He took a puff of his cigarette. “ — she cannot dance for the life of her.”

If you want to use a full sentence of narration and not use M-dashes, then treat them as three separate items. Sentence fragments are okay in this structure.

“She’s a lovely girl.” He took a puff of his cigarette. “But she cannot dance for the life of her.”
“She’s a lovely girl.” He looked around and lowered his voice. “But she cannot dance for the life of her.”
“She’s a lovely girl.” He paused and took a puff of his cigarette. “But she cannot dance for the life of her.”

If your narration is a continuation of the opening dialogue, treat it as such:

“She’s a lovely girl,” he said, taking a puff of his cigarette, “but she cannot dance for the life of her.”
“She’s a lovely girl,” he said, and then continued in a lower voice, “but she cannot dance for the life of her.”

or if your narration ends before the second piece of dialogue:

“She’s a lovely girl,” he said, and took a puff of his cigarette. “But she cannot dance for the life of her.”
“She’s a lovely girl,” he said. He looked around and continued in a lower voice. “But she cannot dance for the life of her.”

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