Does one need to format the chapters so the dialogue is indented?
At the moment I'm simply starting dialogue on a new line (ever since snowbooks Emma warned about using tabs), but I'm starting to wonder if that's good enough for submission.
How much like a page in a book (albeit double spaced) does it need to look?


- NaomiM

I think it's absolutely essential to indent for all new paragraphs (except the first of the chapter or after a double-line space etc) including dialogue - it's completely impossible to read efficiently otherwise. Plus most people who don't indent it are the sort who don't have a clue about other things either so they approach it in the wrong spirit. The alternative is to do it modern-style, with a double-line between each paragraph and no indent, but that doesn't half get through the paper, and also tends to make MS look as if they don't read anything which isn't online, where it's standard style (presumably because indents don't reproduce reliably in different browsers etc.)

I know Snowbooks Emma doesn't like tabs, but that's because she works electronically (and I'm slowly getting the hang of using Styles, and I can see why it does make it easier for her). That's further down the line, though. Indeed, both my novels were typeset by hand from hard copy, so it still goes on...

Emma

<Added>

Oh dear, oh dear...

"Plus most people who don't indent it are the sort who don't have a clue about other things either so the agent approaches it in the wrong spirit.

tends to make MS look as if the writer doesn't read anything which isn't online, where it's standard style (presumably because indents don't reproduce reliably in different browsers etc.)

That raises an interesting question - I'd always use standard MS formatting for subs that I'm posting - 'modern' is for stories designed to be read on the web when many editors request it - but I'd assume that if I was sending the standard 3 chapters by email as a file attachment/in the email to an agent I'd still use standard MS formatting? Double spacing - indents etc?

I tend to write in 'modern' these days simply bacause I'm used to it and it helps me avoid page long paras which I am prone to unless I have a visible reminder that I'm going on - and on. So 80,000 words to edit and reformat - can't wait

Sarah

<Added>

indents go all over - but also online short paras are good - easier on the eye to read So you'd have a para break at least every ten lines...

I'd assume that if I was sending the standard 3 chapters by email as a file attachment/in the email to an agent I'd still use standard MS formatting? Double spacing - indents etc?

Yes, because they'll open it in a word processing program, which can cope with the formatting. I think the standard online format (I agree with you about the short paragraphs, too) only really works when it's going to be read online, rather than on a manuscript page which just happens to be on a screen, if you see what I mean. Besides, they may well print it off, so they can read it on the tube (though Nathan Bransford says lots of US agents now read submissions on their e-readers!)

I quite often get MSS for editorial report which are in online form (and of course 'blocked style' has been standard for business letters and so on for 20-30 years), and though it's clear enough, because it takes up so much more space, I think I have slightly less of a feel for the pace and architecture of the story: I read it less fluently, and there's less on each page. And they're deprived of the double-space as a bigger break than a paragraph, which is a shame as it's a useful thing.

Emma

Thanks, lots of indenting to get on with.

I double space for paras no indenting - Emma 's quite correct -it chews up the paper - but then I submit by email. My first MSS was the same - but I hadn't a clue what I was doing and it may have been absiolutely the wrong thing.
HB x

<Added>

And I don't indent for speech - just new line.

Thanks Emma - agree about missing the double space - it's very useful.

Sarah

it's completely impossible to read efficiently otherwise. Plus most people who don't indent it are the sort who don't have a clue about other things either

I've not got into the habit because WW strips out all the formatting, so I'm used to reading extracts with no indenting - and find it far easier to read it like that in my my own wips. At least, that's my excuse, laziness and ignorance are also in there somewhere.


- NaomiM

<Added>

lots of indenting to get on with.

No need to trawl through the whole thing, Naomi, you can do it all automatically in Format/Paragraph.

Dee

Thanks, Dee.

<Added>

Cool.

Dee - I can't find that 'format' on my word toolbar - help!

Are you on XP or Vista?

<Added>

Dur! Didn't mean that... should have said, are you on Windows 2003 or something more up to date?

OK, got it...

Windows 2003:
It's Format/Paragraph, then click on Special/First line. I always go for the default indent of 1.27cm so that everything is standard, but you can change it if you want.

Windows 2007:
It's Page Layout/Indent, then set your choice of indent.

The result is that every time you hit Return, the next line will automatically indent.

Dee

Thanks, Dee - I am 2007. Thought I was blind or something (something = v thick)!

That's really useful.

Sarah

I've just discovered that thing of changing the default paragraph format so that each new para starts off with an indent - but can anybody tell me how to stop it indenting the first para of a new section?