Paragraphs

[MatterSack]

How do you guys usually format them?

When do you begin one and when do you end it?

Does it matter how long they are, or if there are standalone lines in between?

 

[ratsy]

I just do what feels natural. I've yet to be told it's wrong so I go with it.

 

[Ursa major]

With respect to formatting, paragraphs in manuscripts are usually formatted with a first line indent. That's about it.

 

[MatterSack]

Well here's an example:

"No Ryan, stop,” she mumbled, eyes upon the pavement below.
This time he complied.
They slowed to a standstill, she cradling her swollen belly and he groaning in exasperation, billowing his shirt repeatedly for ventilation. The summer air that enveloped them was sweltering. Both were smothered in a film of sweat, and their damp clothes clung tightly to their skin. Heat-waves distorted everything in sight.

First is a speech line.
Second is a small mini-paragraph.
Third is what I envision to be a full (if short) paragraph?

Would that all be okay?

 

[ratsy]

I tried to copy and past to not indent the last few lines but it didnt work. You would indent the first, second and third lines, leaving the last.

 

[MatterSack]

Like this?

------ "No Ryan, stop,” she mumbled, eyes upon the pavement below.
------ This time he complied.
------ They slowed to a standstill, she cradling her swollen belly and he groaning in exasperation, billowing his shirt repeatedly for ventilation. The summer air that enveloped them was sweltering. Both were smothered in a film of sweat, and their damp clothes clung tightly to their skin. Heat-waves distorted everything in sight.

 

[ratsy]

That's how I do it

 

[Ursa major]

Yes, that's how I do it too.

 

[MatterSack]

Right then. I haven't been indenting anything.

 

[Ursa major]

None of us are born with these "rules" already in our heads.


(And if you post things here for critiquing, for example, we accept non-indented lines, but with a blank line between paragraphs. Putting in the indents is too much hassle, so no-one bothers.)

 

[MatterSack]

But publishers require the indentation of every new paragraph?

PS: Thanks.

 

[Ursa major]

But publishers require the indentation of every new paragraph

Yes, but....


The main thing is that you follow the normal guidelines unless the agent or publisher to whom you're submitting specifically asks authors to do it in a different way. (So, in the highly unlikely event that the publisher asks for single-spaced, hanging-indented paragraphs in a 4 point pink gothic font, you do it.) When they say nothing, you follow the standard format.

PS: Thanks.

You're welcome.

 

[MatterSack]

I will say that it looks somewhat weird (not necessarily the excerpt above, but when applied to the entire page). Oh well.

 

[Mouse]

The main thing is that you follow the normal guidelines unless the agent or publisher to whom you're submitting specifically asks authors to do it in a different way.

THIS.

I always indent new paras, just because it's what I've always done. For most places, it's what they want. However, one of my publishers wants no indents and a single line space between each para. Luckily, it's pretty easy to change it in Word without going through each indent.

 

[MatterSack]

Luckily, it's pretty easy to change it in Word without going through each indent.

How do you do it?

 

[Mouse]

Oh blimey, it was a few months ago now that I did it! I would've Googled how to do it, but I think I sorted the line spacing first (there's an option to change it for paragraphs) and then I removed the indents by shifting the little tab on the ruler at the top right over.

This might help: Adjust indents and spacing - Word

 

[MatterSack]

Haha, thanks.

 

[HareBrain]

In Word, you can also do find/replace to replace tab character with manual line break. (Both are selected from the "special" sub-menu.)

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

One of the great things about being an indie is that you can have total control of everything about your book. And personally I've decided that for me writing looks better with an indent of about 8mm and a free line - the belt and braces approach! I've formatted this post - assuming it works - using this layout.

Maybe that's in part my having come from a science back ground where block formatting is the norm, but it's also simply about style and clarity and not having to stare at a wall of text. I also use a twelve point font so you can say what you want about my choice of format, but it is always easy to read. (Maybe my eyesight is also starting to fail a little which makes this a more attractive option to me.)

Now I'm not saying that this is the best way of doing things - simply that I like it. I am saying that many of the old rules of books and writing no longer apply. Indies are changing grammar all the time - simplifying it for the most part - messing with spellings, word orders and plots. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not. But regardless we live in a brave new world of writing, and there are fewer wrong answers than people think.

If you go the trade route you will loose your creative control over formatting so you'll end up doing whatever your publisher deems best. But if you go indie there is no real wrong answer to this - and many other - questions. It's style. And the main thing is to be consistent and concern yourself with how your text looks on a page. Does it look clean and professional?

My advice - worry about the story, not this.

Cheers, Greg.

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

Bugger - didn't work! Apparently adding five spaces in front of each paragraph does absolutely nothing and I don't see a paragraph format option here. So you'll just have to imagine it for yourselves.

Cheers, Greg.