Okay. Just a quick note today touching on dialogue tags ... or, for my American friends, dialog tags ... because I believe it is the #1 thing on my most-fixed list.

Question: 
Can you "blush" something? Can you "sigh" something? Can you "laugh" something?
Answer:
NO!
Solution: 
Don't do this: "What a funny thing to write about," blushed the writer.
... Do this: "What a funny thing to write about," the writer thought, feeling a blush creep up her neck.
Don't do this: "He's so cute," she sighed.
... Do this: "He's so cute," she whispered, giggling behind her hand.
Don't do this: "Why, yes I am," laughed the boy.
... Do this: Do like this: "Why, yes I am," the boy declared, puffing out his chest.

On to punctuation. I'm only going to address ONE simple point. If you want to know more, just ask.
Don't do this: "Hello there." she said.
... Do this: "Hello there," she said.
or Do this: "Hello there." She smiled and waved.


Don't be afraid of the word "said"; 
... Do try other good words you can use, in addition to "said" ... have you tried "replied", "asked", "shouted", "whispered", "muttered", etc