Subject: Re: [FFML] how dto write a dialoug
From: "Keener Barnes (the fanfic writer formerly known as Robert Pattillo)" <rpattill@ix.netcom.com>
Date: 2/21/1997, 10:27 PM
To: Cynewulf
CC: fanfic@fanfic.com
Reply-to:
rpattill@ix.netcom.com

        Anything extra?  Actually, I've always been a bit confused by
fanfic formating... I write as I see it written in books: an indent at
the beginning of each paragraph, and only a blank line between paragraphs
that aren't connected (like in a change of POV).  However, lots of
fanfics I see skip the indent, and skip a line between each and every
paragraph.  Just curious as to why.

        -Mike
	I can answer that one, skipping lines between paragraphs make a fanfic
A LOT easier to read.  Without CONSTANT breaks in the text block of the
story, the small printing on a computer gets harder and harder to read. 
Add this to often confused nature of most of the prose (I admit to being
one of the guilty and remember, most stories posted here ARE rough
drafts) and the eyestrain and basic brain weariness caused is
considerable.  If there's a constant break in the text, the reader can
easily reread ares of the story that seem troublesome.
	
	Remeber that the author's of this FFML are asking a lot of reading on
the part of everyone else.  Anything that makes it easier for them to
understand more and get tired less, is a good thing.
	
	As for the lack of indenting, I think this is mostly due to the
formating problems assosiated with multiple tyoes of computers both
giving and recieving information.  I personally indent all my paragraphs
and on my computer it reads like all my first senteces are misaligned. 
Its a problem I don't know how to fix.