Using quotations--have you made "eye" contact with your reader?

Quotes are eye contact. No eye contact, no story

• ·      A story without quotes isn’t much of a story, no matter the subject, for it lacks a human angle.

• Nothing involves a reader more with a person than hearing them talk, reading their words.
• ·      Readers’ eyes automatically go to quotation marks.
• ·      Above all you use good quotes, quotes that are not long, but get to the point, that are original, that show passion and character and insight.
• ·      Accuracy is the prime rule. Everyone is afraid of being misquoted. You must assure your subject of your accuracy.
• ·      Paraphrase long quotes, ordinary quotes. “Clark said that quotes are important.”
• ·      Find your best quote—use it high in the story.
• ·      Save you second best quote for a possible conclusion, or near the end of the story.
• ·      Quotes start paragraphs.