Hi all, Thanks for taking the time to read and hopefully help out.
I am writing a chapter for an ongoing story that I am writing and I want to convey a text message conversation as part of the story. The two main protagonists have a text (sms) conversation during the chapter and I want to know what the most acceptable way of showing this is?
Is it to just write like script:
Name 1: Blah Blah Blah
Name 2: Blah Blah Blah
Or, is there a better way of showing this on a page?
Advice and guidance desperately needed!
SDIMDM
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HELP needed! How do I write a text message exchange/conversation?
Alpha Blonde
Yeah, that's how I've done it in the past.
Or if it's a very short text conversation, you can write it long-hand like:
I quickly typed, 'where are we meeting?'
His response chimed in a moment later. 'At the hotel.'
I don't think there's any hard or fast rules with text-talk in stories. Maybe I'm wrong on that one, but if it's a long text-conversation, I would just go with the format you've already mentioned, using the name/script style.
Or if it's a very short text conversation, you can write it long-hand like:
I quickly typed, 'where are we meeting?'
His response chimed in a moment later. 'At the hotel.'
I don't think there's any hard or fast rules with text-talk in stories. Maybe I'm wrong on that one, but if it's a long text-conversation, I would just go with the format you've already mentioned, using the name/script style.
Active Ink Slinger
I used script style when I including a text exchange in Circle of Friends.
Go with what you think fits best and carries the meaning across. Remember it's a text only conversation, so the characters can't add extra emotion or reaction, you only have the words to go on.
Of course if you are punctuating the messages with reaction, or if it's first person, then I would suggest a more narrative-based approach.
Go with what you think fits best and carries the meaning across. Remember it's a text only conversation, so the characters can't add extra emotion or reaction, you only have the words to go on.
Of course if you are punctuating the messages with reaction, or if it's first person, then I would suggest a more narrative-based approach.
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Why not read some stories instead
NEW! Want a quick read for your coffee break? Why not try this... Flash Erotica: Scrubber
Why not read some stories instead
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Mazztastic
I'm not a fan of the text written out like a play. I much prefer DD's way of doing it, although I can see that in a longer exchange it would be harder to do. Personally, I tend to lose interest and just scan what's said...
Just my thought though...
(as a matter of interest, I didn't find it tedious in OMKN's story, but then it was only a small part of it)
Just my thought though...
(as a matter of interest, I didn't find it tedious in OMKN's story, but then it was only a small part of it)
Wild at Heart
Text messaging is almost always present in my stories and I tend to write it out using the name 1 and name 2 method. I have a couple reasons for why I do it this way.
Usually text messaging in a story is important information. So I feel it resonates more if it is done this way. I feel it's easy to read and breaks up the paragraphs nicely and I just like that. Since it is an element in most of my stories I think I would run out of ways to describe texting in an interesting way.
If it's a long exchange I add actions in-between then just go right back to the texting. It just reads better that way to me. It feels like actual texting because when you send text you kinda stop everything to focus on the text before going back to what you're doing.
Usually text messaging in a story is important information. So I feel it resonates more if it is done this way. I feel it's easy to read and breaks up the paragraphs nicely and I just like that. Since it is an element in most of my stories I think I would run out of ways to describe texting in an interesting way.
If it's a long exchange I add actions in-between then just go right back to the texting. It just reads better that way to me. It feels like actual texting because when you send text you kinda stop everything to focus on the text before going back to what you're doing.
