I'm an older guy. When I was a kid, I knew how to format a manuscript the way it was expected at the time. (Double spaced, Courier font, etc.) But those days are gone.
It seems now that the default is: single spaced, no indent, skip a space between paragraphs.
Is that right?
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Formatting fiction for online publish / reading
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"the Great God (snicker)" - James 'Bear' Llewellyn
Quote by borntowatch
I'm an older guy. When I was a kid, I knew how to format a manuscript the way it was expected at the time. (Double spaced, Courier font, etc.) But those days are gone.
It seems now that the default is: single spaced, no indent, skip a space between paragraphs.
Is that right?
LOL
Another older one here too...
I was just going through someone else's work and noticed they had the double space between sentences and thought about how I first learnt formatting with Wordstar (a word processing package for all you whipper snappers), not just things like the indent for paras and double space between sentences.
No such thing as a tool bar or mouse, it was more like html formatting <b> </b>
I still use keyboard shortcuts for a lot of my stuff rather than pointing and clicking (and I remember printed newspapers and....old fart alert)
It does seem at least no indent and double line space between paragraphs is the norm now.
My latest offering -
Once more in Love Poems - My Forever Beauty
My 2 previous submissions:
Both Love Poems
Please read and enjoy. If you really enjoyed a story someone has written; how about clicking on 'Like' and/or 'Favorite'.
Why not leave a comment too?
Quote by kiteares
I first learnt formatting with Wordstar (a word processing package for all you whipper snappers), not just things like the indent for paras and double space between sentences.
Puh. Babies. I learnt formatting on a manual typewriter. I didn't have a computer until I was a high school senior.YUaJFT0Yy06gwJIw
Quote by seeker4
Puh. Babies. I learnt formatting on a manual typewriter. I didn't have a computer until I was a high school senior.8VX48QHoGLlejvMv
Hah! I didn't have a computer until I was 40! I did take typing in high school and am glad I did. We had IBM Selectrics, which were nice. My typewriter at home was a portable. Really had to press down the keys back then! (Might have been good finger exercise---I'm a guitar player.)
But then I wasn't sending out stories, so I didn't think about formatting. I mostly typed up song lyrics and short stories with no idea there was such a thing as a format.
I had some software years ago that was useful in that it allowed you to keep notes and access them easily. Also, one could have an outline and work on, say, chapter three without having to worrty that chapter two wasn't done yet. I miss that---it was handy.
"the Great God (snicker)" - James 'Bear' Llewellyn
Quote by seeker4
Puh. Babies. I learnt formatting on a manual typewriter. I didn't have a computer until I was a high school senior.uey2nxY99u8E6SAk
Computer in school? What was that?
When I was a college, they had terminals in one class and you had to go to an entirely different building to collect your printouts from the room next to the clean room.
I was in my mid-20s when I was learning Wordstar. They also had a little program called 123 (no, NOT Lotus), the 1st spreadsheet program I used.
My latest offering -
Once more in Love Poems - My Forever Beauty
My 2 previous submissions:
Both Love Poems
Please read and enjoy. If you really enjoyed a story someone has written; how about clicking on 'Like' and/or 'Favorite'.
Why not leave a comment too?
Rookie Scribe
Kiteares wrote: Another older one here too...
I was just going through someone else's work and noticed they had the double space between sentences and thought about how I first learnt formatting with Wordstar (a word processing package for all you whipper snappers), not just things like the indent for paras and double space between sentences.
I also learned on a manual typewriter where the convention was double space after a sentence, but at the same time I was working on the high school newspaper where I learned typographic conventions of only one space after a sentence.
The double space applies to monospaced fonts only. Proportionally spaced fonts do not require a second space to make a break between sentences.
I was just going through someone else's work and noticed they had the double space between sentences and thought about how I first learnt formatting with Wordstar (a word processing package for all you whipper snappers), not just things like the indent for paras and double space between sentences.
I also learned on a manual typewriter where the convention was double space after a sentence, but at the same time I was working on the high school newspaper where I learned typographic conventions of only one space after a sentence.
The double space applies to monospaced fonts only. Proportionally spaced fonts do not require a second space to make a break between sentences.
Primus Omnium
It was just a few short years ago, right here on Lush, that I learned that I no longer needed to double space after a sentence. For some oldsters, it might have been a hard transition. For me it was easy. I simply started single spacing and have done so ever since.
When I learned to type in high school all of our typewriters were manual. I was one of the few young men in the class. It was mostly girls at the time. But it was a blessing to learn how to type. It got me jobs later in life that I would not have been able to apply for.
Times change and we change with them. Or get left behind.
When I learned to type in high school all of our typewriters were manual. I was one of the few young men in the class. It was mostly girls at the time. But it was a blessing to learn how to type. It got me jobs later in life that I would not have been able to apply for.
Times change and we change with them. Or get left behind.
Gravelly-Voiced Fucker
I can't break myself from the two spaces after a sentence thing. I'm mentally locked into it. I go back when I'm done and do a search and replace to change them back to one space.
As for paragraphs, most publications out there (but not Lush) still want a .5 inch indent at the beginning of a paragraph, and no extra space between the paragraphs.
As for paragraphs, most publications out there (but not Lush) still want a .5 inch indent at the beginning of a paragraph, and no extra space between the paragraphs.
Force of Nature
As an editor I can tell you that double spacing was for editing only. We needed the space to write in. Since changes are now made inline the space is redundant.
Most composers now use html or markup or similar for formatting. Single space between sentences, blank line on return, no indent. These are defaults.
Most composers now use html or markup or similar for formatting. Single space between sentences, blank line on return, no indent. These are defaults.
Looks like we're in for a nasty spell of wether.
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The Night They Tried to Close RUMPLATIONS Bar (with JamesLlewellyn)