Story book writing - I am writing my first and am on chapter 11

I am writing my first book and am on chapter 11.
I am a bit stuck with speech or two people speaking.
An example below.
Janet said, hello what’s your name.
Oh its John, he said.
Hi John how are you.
John said, I am fine, what are you doing.
Janet said I am talking to the tape recorder.
John said why are you doing that.
Janet said go jump in a lake.
That is the example.
Janet said, John said.
Is there a better way they can talk to each other with out keep saying there names?

1 Like

Use thesaurus for alternatives such as remarked, replied, added, retorted etc.

You could also do it with description ,
"With a nod of her head ,or
she shrugged her shoulder in. Reply ,
or the answer was a definite No,
she replied hesitantly

Here is a different suggestion. If there are a lot of replies one after the other you could use the medium of stage directions until the conversation is over. For instance:

Janet: Hello, What’s your name?
John: It’s John.
Janet: Hi, John etc. etc.