what font is mainly used to writing a story/novel? oh and does anyone have any idea of what is a good amount of words per chapter? i mean, i know it depends on the story and the general page, but i was curious to what you all think. thanks :D

Can't answer the chapter question, Kathryn, because I think it depends on genre. Re typeface, people always say novels should be in Times New Roman. Helen from Cornerstones says Ariel is perfectly acceptable too, although people often seem to think not. Ariel is pretty standard in journalism, anyway. But I would stick with TNR to be on the safe side.

There was a ferocious debate on this subject on another writing site a while back. Most argued between Arial and TNR, but some went for Courier. All hell broke loose, half arguing that Courier is hated by agents, therefore instant career suicide, while the other half claimed it was favoured by editors and agents who were ex-editors, or just knew what editors wanted (because it's easier to copy-edit, apparently).

Fuck it, send three scripts to everyone!

Times New Roman is the default font on Word and is fine for Agents.

As for words per chapter it's a 'how long is a length of string?' question, ie, as long as it needs to be.
Usually it's better to think in terms of number of scenes within the chapter. If, say, you've got a 5000 word chapter comprised on just one scene then it could test the patience of a reader and therefore be considered too long.
If, however, those 5000 words are spread over, say, 3 or 4 scenes, then it's probably fine. Or you could have one short chapter comprised of just one scene (eg, in Dan Brown novels).




- NaomiM

The manuscript is meant to read well rather than look nice. Its presentation should be clean and simple, its job is really go get out of the way of the story. TNR does this job well, so it's a good choice.

These days, I don't see why choice of typeface should be a major factor. There's certainly no reason why the wrong choice should have a detrimental effect, other than possibly in postage costs. It would take less than 5 minutes to change the whole mss from Courier to Times New Roman or vice versa, if an editor/agent had a real problem.

I've switched to using Verdana, as it's as clean in appearance as either TNR or Arial (or Courier). The 11 point version also looks as clear as 12-point TNR.

Alex

Not really a font expert, but my understanding was that serif (ie TNR, Palatino etc) fonts work better in print, as the eye/brain is better trained to recognise the word shapes; and sans-serif (Arial, Verdana) are better on screens for purposes of clarity. I think Verdana was specifically designed for use on computer screens, which is why it is used so much on websites.

I have noticed myself that serif fonts do seem to be easier to read on the page, but it may just be me!

Joker

On occasion I've had to read hundreds of scripts in a very short space of time. I find TNR is kindest on the eyes. Courier slows me right down, and it is old fashioned which is at odds sometimes with modern content. I don't know why it's so popular. Ariel or similar sans serif are OK but not as gentle as TNR when you've read 2000 pages.

Yes, that's why serifs were developed - they lead the eye. I absolutely hate it when I get a sanserif MS to do an editorial report on: it's noticeably more tiring to read, and easier to lose your place.

Alex, don't forget that an awful lot of submissions are still on paper. And even if they aren't, the intern is going through several tens of MS this Friday afternoon, and why should they fanny about with yours? Specially since you can never be sure the fonts will render properly. I switched my PhD script from .doc to .docx, all within Word 2007 and even the kerning went peculiar... Not very 'compatibility mode' at all...

The original purpose of the print version of TNR was to get as many words into a line as possible, since it was for narrow newspaper columns. And it still does: you'll use notably more paper and therefore postage if you use anything else. I know, because I tried an MS a few years back, using every font you could reasonable send out in.

Emma

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Courier comes from scriptwriting, where it's fossilised from the old typewriter days. I assume because with a script you're always thinking in terms of minutes of film when you're reading, so it's important that it's much more standardised.

Interesting that a switch from .doc to .docx should cause problems. The latter is saved as a zip file containing XML data, and as far as I know that's the main difference between the formats (that and the fact that it's incompatible with older versions of Word).

I'll begin experimenting with TNR in my manuscripts. The switch to Verdana happened because another writer I was talking to said she used it. When I tried it out, I did find it much clearer and easier on the eye than the Courier font I had been using (which in turn came from the fact that all of the 'how to write for publication' advice I'd read said that Courier was mandatory).

Alex

I've used Verdana a lot in web work, precisely because it looks good and shows clearly on-screen within a normal web page. However, it's really hard work for the eyes if used on paper or on-screen for that matter for a document of many pages.

Times New Roman is great for the eyes and, as Emma has said, is economical for paper and postage. Not making the reader uncomfortable must surely be the primary consideration here. You want them to get to the end!

Chris

Interesting that a switch from .doc to .docx should cause problems.

Yes, I was surprised. I got the original file from Headline, as it was the latest electronic version of ASA, and as I have Word 2007 dealt with it in compatibility mode. Then at some late stage of sorting out the PhD I did 'Save As', and as a .docx for reasons I now forget. And it went all peculiar, which was a surprise.

Emma

I always thought that serifs were developed hundreds of years ago by stone masons, as the only effective way to edge a chiselled line - also why roman numerals are mainly straight lines (even C etc), because it's bloody difficult to chisel a curve.

I used to write in courier, with typewriter sound effects for each time I hit a key. Loads of fun. I found an ancient looking typewriter in a lighthouse yesterday and couldn't resist grabbing a photo - much the annoyance of the kids who were there to see the more interesting stuff.

Colin M

I still own a typewriter, given to me for my 21st birthday by my parents. Shows how old I am

Alex

thanks for all the suggestions/ideas. i laughed a little when i saw a little debate going on. ive been using times new roman and it works pretty well. and the size has been 12. my chapters have been around the 1500 mark but i just wasnt sure if that was too short, for say, if the A4 pages were turned into book form.
thanks again