Is it necessary to begin a new paragraph after a person speaks?

Question

When I was in school, I was taught to always begin a new paragraph after a quotation or after a speaker concludes a segment of dialogue. However, in recent years, I have seen authors abandon this rule, continuing a scene's description after a quotation. To clarify, I'm not asking whether I should create a new paragraph when changing speakers. Rather, I'm asking if a paragraph such as: >Joe said, "This is a placeholder sentence." He wrote the same statement on the chalkboard. is correct as is, or if the second sentence should begin a second paragraph.

Answer 1

You question is well put. If you are a college student the style of writing, that answers this topic should be covered in English 101. My opinion is that you need not create a new paragraph unless the topic being addressed has changed.

Glenn C.

Answer 2

You do not have to start another paragraph. Your example is correct as is.

Answer 3

Correct as is! You don't need a new paragraph after a bit of quoted dialogue like that unless you also do something like shift to a new speaker, or a new scene, point-of-view, or topic after the quote. That said, when it comes to creative writing—like a piece of short fiction, for example—lots of these kinds of "rules" become a lot less rigid.

Good luck with your writing!

Shane