Can a novel be written without using the word "said"?

Action Beats: Instead of using "said," you can incorporate physical actions or gestures that indicate who is speaking. For example:

"I can't believe it!" She slammed her fist on the table.

Descriptive Dialogue: Use descriptive language to convey how the dialogue is being spoken, eliminating the need for "said." For instance:

"I'm so excited!" he exclaimed.

Emotionally Charged Words: Select words that depict the character's emotions, replacing "said" with a more precise verb:

"I hate you!" she spat.

Character Voice: Develop unique voices for your characters so that their mannerisms and speech patterns can distinguish them without needing dialogue tags:

"No way, dude!" Mark's eyes widened. "That's incredible!"

Internal Thoughts: Incorporate a character's internal thoughts to convey their response, avoiding the need for dialogue tags:

She pondered for a moment. Should I tell him?