These Q/As were taken from the chapter titled "TIP #6: Constructing Dialogue."
Q: My elementary and junior high teachers told me that "Said is dead." Note: This question was revised for clarity.
A: No, "said" is very much alive and well and gets straight to the point of things. Changing up your dialog tags is fine, but "said" certainly is not dead!
Q: Dialog [is] my weakest point.
A: Remember, it should come natural, so it helps sometimes to sit back and observe conversations between people. Also, be sure to use your dialog and action tags to keep the exchange flowing.