This reminds me of the following bit from a marvelous NPR piece a couple weeks ago where they interviewed Elmore Leonard and his sons in front of an audience. (Transcript at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1252532..., but one part was marked "unintelligible" so I've filled it in from memory). C Leonard is one of the sons (Chris) and E is Elmore:
Mr. C. LEONARD: Well, Elmore, you gave me advice. I told you that I was writing a novel and you said, good. Don't use any other words but "said" for dialogue and leave out the parts that people tend to skip. I think those were the two things you said.
(Soundbite of laughter)
Mr. C. LEONARD: And they're both good, I have to tell you.
Mr. C. LEONARD: Well, Elmore, you gave me advice. I told you that I was writing a novel and you said, good. Don't use any other words but "said" for dialogue and leave out the parts that people tend to skip. I think those were the two things you said.
(Soundbite of laughter)
Mr. C. LEONARD: And they're both good, I have to tell you.
Mr. E. LEONARD: They're true today, yes.