Ahha! The resolution of my screen makes it so that there wasn't a difference. =B
You can keep it in the same paragraph if you want to. I've read published novels where they have dialogue smack in the middle of description and keep it one long paragraph. I think as long as you create a break when two different people are speaking, you should be fine. Again, it really is a stylistic choice.
I've seen it go both ways (two characters speaking in a same paragraph vs. creating a break), but it has to be done in such a way as to not confuse the reader.
What you really need to do, in choosing to go against "rules", is to keep in mind that not everyone will understand what you're trying to achieve. Hemmingway, for example, breaks TONS of grammatical rules, but he does it for a specific purpose. People like to claim that he doesn't know how to write. In reality, he knows what the rules are, but he chooses to have fragmented or run-on sentences to create a specific feel for a scene. It's really fascinating, but the reader also needs to know the rules in order to understand what's going on.
Anyway, really my best advice is to experiment. "Rules" aren't REALLY rules, in my mind. They're more guidelines. You won't get punished for breaking them. Just realize WHY you're breaking them and be prepared to defend yourself when someone claims that your grammar sucks and you need to go back to school (Or just ignore their comments entirely).
no subject
You can keep it in the same paragraph if you want to. I've read published novels where they have dialogue smack in the middle of description and keep it one long paragraph. I think as long as you create a break when two different people are speaking, you should be fine. Again, it really is a stylistic choice.
I've seen it go both ways (two characters speaking in a same paragraph vs. creating a break), but it has to be done in such a way as to not confuse the reader.
What you really need to do, in choosing to go against "rules", is to keep in mind that not everyone will understand what you're trying to achieve. Hemmingway, for example, breaks TONS of grammatical rules, but he does it for a specific purpose. People like to claim that he doesn't know how to write. In reality, he knows what the rules are, but he chooses to have fragmented or run-on sentences to create a specific feel for a scene. It's really fascinating, but the reader also needs to know the rules in order to understand what's going on.
Anyway, really my best advice is to experiment. "Rules" aren't REALLY rules, in my mind. They're more guidelines. You won't get punished for breaking them. Just realize WHY you're breaking them and be prepared to defend yourself when someone claims that your grammar sucks and you need to go back to school (Or just ignore their comments entirely).
*steps off soap box* XD