Questions about text appearance: styling, placement, fonts, indents, bullets.
1
vote
2answers
42 views
How do you keep up with all the ebook formats?
There are three main ebook formats that I'm aware of, which look like this:
PDF (you have full control over layout)
mobi (Amazon - fluid...not much control)
epub (Nook, iBookstore...not much ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Formatting lists for ebook format?
For lists such as:
Topic 1
xxx
xxxxx xxx
xxx
xxx xxx
xxxx
Topic 2
xxx
xxxxx xxx
xxx
xxx xxx
xxxx
is there some different way to represent them since they won't format well in mobi and epub?
...
6
votes
5answers
4k views
Should I indent the first line of the first paragraph in a chapter?
I was reading a thesis report of a friend and I noticed that he didn't indent the first line of the first paragraph in each chapter. I don't remember noticing it anywhere before until I saw it there ...
3
votes
2answers
176 views
Not happy with format of self-published book. How to proceed?
I currently have my book published on Amazon using createspace and Lulu (google weave of the ride). However, I am not happy with the quality of the product.
I don't want a glossy cover, bleached ...
12
votes
7answers
1k views
How should I break up chapters in a novel?
Is it acceptable to pace my chapters in terms of an event? Can I get away with a 4 page chapter here, and a 30 page chapter there?
Are there any reason why I should or should not be sticking to a ...
2
votes
2answers
140 views
How best to format a novel written in Markdown
I want to use a text editor (Emacs) to write a novel because I don't want to consider page layout and other similar issues. I want to use the Markdown format so that I can convert it to the docx ...
2
votes
3answers
89 views
Do empty pages need a number?
I would like to start each chapter on the right side of the book, as there are few chapters with a different point of view. I know numbering has to continue on the white page which might appear in ...
1
vote
4answers
220 views
Format + Editor for book writing
A friend of mine is going to write a book. Therefore he is looking for an easy WYSIWYG solution. FIrst I recommended latex, but this would be a bit to hard to learn. A big part of the book is finished ...
0
votes
4answers
63 views
How to number the equations in an academic paper?
I know that the figures and tables are numbered consecutively throughout the
while paper. What about the equation numbering? Suppose I have four equations in the paper, but I want to number only two ...
4
votes
1answer
105 views
Background speech with foreground dialogue
A few days ago, I stumbled upon an issue of the type; meaning I had two characters talking between themselves and another character talking in the background; actually delivering a speech.
What the ...
8
votes
2answers
161 views
Overuse of bullet points
I collaborate with someone who insists on making every sentence (or two) in a business document into a bullet point, by prefacing it with a bullet.
This is typically done across a multi-page ...
0
votes
1answer
125 views
How to elegantly convey the finer nuances of language in written form
I am fascinated by the idea of how to convey, in the written form, as much detail of expressive nuance as you originally intended in your head (i.e. what you hear when first coming up with it). I ...
0
votes
2answers
70 views
What are the advantages of different date formats in resumes and CVs?
I've seen a somewhat related question, but it doesn't answer my question quite right. Say you're writing an event that happened on a single day, and you need to put it in your resume or CV. So how ...
4
votes
4answers
103 views
How can I consistently distinguish among tables, fields, and records in a database?
I am describing a database for a scientific publication. The database has many tables, and each table has fields (spreadsheet columns) and records (rows).
I spend a lot of time discussing tables and ...
0
votes
0answers
86 views
For Kindle, are hard paragraph breaks that serious?
I'm starting with an existing .doc MS. Kindle warns to not use hard para breaks, i.e., don't hit return, but I can't get rid of any of them. Driving me nuts.
3
votes
2answers
112 views
How should we go from Stack Exchange Q/A to publishable PDF with the least hassle?
Over on another site we're talking about taking some of our content (on a particular theme) and re-packaging it as a printable PDF. (The primary use case is paper.) This wouldn't be a straight dump ...
2
votes
2answers
264 views
How should I format a non fiction book with Scrivener?
I have written mainly novels in Scrivener, and am now thinking of writing a small non-fiction work (which I will self publish).
When writing a novel, you just keep typing til you reach the end, but ...
5
votes
5answers
11k views
What is the proper way to write time in a manuscript?
I haven't been able to find an answer to this question for a while now. What is the proper way to write time in a manuscript? I'm referring mostly to A.M. and P.M. Should it be written in caps? With ...
8
votes
4answers
4k views
How do you calculate the length of your manuscript?
Say I have a 100 page manuscript in Courier, 11pt, double-spaced. How many paperback pages is this roughly equivalent to? Is there a better font/spacing to use?
0
votes
0answers
51 views
What structure should I use for each article in a technical travel guide?
I am writing a technical guide for travelling and I'd like advice on what kind of structure I should use for each article. I have the articles written, but when I wrote them I didn't use a particular ...
0
votes
1answer
97 views
Should paragraphs split over pages in thesis?
I am writing a technical thesis with quite a few figures, tables and equations. These items break up the "flow" of the document. To mitigate this some journals suggest placing such items at the top or ...
1
vote
2answers
85 views
Chapter names: The various ways of implementing them and why should I care
I see many times, that authors use various name formats for chapters:
"***"
"Twenty Four"
"Chapter 5"
"XIX"
"Last Resort"
"Ad notam" (or something Latin or any foreign, (!not author!) language)
...
7
votes
6answers
366 views
Very simple markup language for writing fiction
I'm using a plain text editor (Vim) to write a fiction piece (chapter book), and I'm wondering what markup languages others use for such a task? I'm looking for something exceedingly simple, it does ...
4
votes
3answers
521 views
Best markup language for a little story?
I'm writing a story in plain text using Vim text editor. It doesn't contain big tables, images. However, there will be short listings of source code in several programming languages and syntax ...
9
votes
5answers
599 views
When should a chapter end?
When writing a novel, when should I end a chapter?
Note that I'm not talking about chapter word-count (that topic was discussed here). I'm interested to know when should I end my chapters ...
34
votes
15answers
4k views
Should you use two spaces after a period, or just a single one?
I had heard some debate on this topic, and I had always learned to use two spaces after a period. But it would seem there is an argument against it.
However, I do not understand what the issue is ...
0
votes
3answers
305 views
What is the “three-asterisk-break” section called?
What is the name for a text subdivision that is shorter than a chapter, but longer than a paragraph? They are always untitled (unlike chapters, which are at the very least called "Chapter 1", "2" ...
8
votes
4answers
976 views
What's the best way to show a foreign language in a manuscript?
What's the best way to show a character speaking a foreign language in fiction manuscript? Should the foreign words be italicized and include a translation? Should it just be included in the sentence ...
3
votes
2answers
879 views
Help Formatting for Kindle Direct Publishing on Mac?
I'm taking up the task of publishing some content to Kindle. I've been reading up on their documentation and been trying to get something to show up in the Kindle Previewer App, using a combination of ...
2
votes
3answers
181 views
Italicizing and adding accents to Spanish words in an English novel.
In my current novel I have a few characters who speak Spanish. The book takes place along the Texico border, so it happens frequently. I know that in more foreign Spanish, or when someone speaks a ...
8
votes
5answers
261 views
How does one present spoken dialogue as a secondary language to signed speech?
I was starting to leave a comment on this excellent question when I realized I had come up with a second question which was equally intriguing.
If you're writing a story where 95% of the ...
6
votes
4answers
2k views
What's the indent rule of poetry?
I've seen people indent their poems like below:
Writing on wall
It was just plane writing on wall
I must have taken it a serious call
She was on and off repeating same thing
There was ...
9
votes
4answers
410 views
Writing a programming book: how to present directory structures
What is good/preferred way of presenting directory trees in programming books?
My main criteria are following:
It should be readable and intuitive
It shouldn't take too much page space
It ...
1
vote
1answer
159 views
Using Glossary Instead of Footnotes (for translation/transliteration)
I am writing a technical report with keywords which are mainly English. I am using a Glossary at the end, which describes translated keywords. Is it a replacement for footnotes or I should just keep ...
1
vote
0answers
5k views
What purpose does it serve to obscure the title of a TV show? [closed]
Okay, I tried finding this on Google to no avail, and lit.se is gone, so this is sort of my last resort, so I'm trying to make it a writing question.
I'm breezing through The Perks of Being a ...
0
votes
1answer
142 views
Incorporating diagrams and equations into text when writing
I am looking to write a book on Physics/Mathematics.
Of course this book will need to include mathematical equations and diagrams.
Are there any writing softwares that have devices such as TeX and ...
1
vote
4answers
687 views
Is it OK to use a single parenthesis after each number in a list?
Several times I've seen lists formatted like this:
My parenthetical pet peeves:
1) Referring to a single parenthesis as "a parenthesee" or something similarly beastly.
2) Smiley faces ...
2
votes
4answers
371 views
Using “Ends.” to indicate the end of a document
I recall seeing the word "Ends." placed at the end of documents to indicate that, obviously, nothing else follows. Is this acceptable standard usage? It feels rather archaic (not that that's ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
APA Formatting - Changing Adjectives in a quote
Should I change "our" to "their" in this quote? If so, how?
As stated in their 2011 Annual Report, Siemens’ identity and corporate culture is defined by their vision to be a pioneer, which is based ...
0
votes
1answer
102 views
Is the order of appendices according to their references fixed?
Is it really necessary to place the appendices in a book in the order in which they are referred to, or is it possible to have a "logical" order, i.e. place them in an order which would be chosen when ...
3
votes
1answer
71 views
File specifications for HTML folder --> Kindle? [closed]
OK, so on the Kindle website there's all about how to go from .doc --> HTML --> kindle. But I write primarily in HTML, which is what Kindle uses in the first place, so it seems silly to convert to ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Numeral Citation Scripts
I am writing a report in Farsi and using ieeetr bibliography style for my references. This style uses numeral references like [1] [2] etc but regarding context (Farsi) I am using Arabic number scripts ...
7
votes
4answers
298 views
Do any ePublishing systems honor fixed poetry formatting?
As per this article in the Huffington Post, the Kindle discards many kinds of poem formatting.
I use a lot of white space, couplets, triplets, and long lines that cannot break. The Kindle wraps text ...
8
votes
2answers
249 views
How does one include sign language in a dialogue?
If one character is using sign language and lip reading while the other is speaking normally, how do you represent the lines of the former? Quotations with "he signed" attribution or italics? E.g.
...
8
votes
3answers
724 views
What's the best practice for displaying a personal website url in a resume?
Like most veteran coders in the IT industry, I have an out-of-date website that I use to link to different activities I'm involved with online, like Twitter and Stack Overflow. Up until now, I haven't ...
4
votes
5answers
321 views
What software can handle both revision control and layout?
I'm desperately looking for a book publishing solution that can handle revision control and layouts. My issues/requirements are as follows:
Typists are extremely non-technical and I would like to ...
1
vote
2answers
44 views
Return to section context after a subsection
There is a coherency problem in the following text (its typesetting). The last paragraph must not be considered as a part of subsect02. For instance it is a kind of conclusion of two approaches ...
1
vote
3answers
2k views
How do I sign a (formal) email?
My email client includes a signature beneath the text of my writing. Currently it is of the form:
------------
John Doe
Acme Widget Company
123 Elm Street
Metropolis, USA
phone:222-555-1212
...
5
votes
2answers
784 views
Should a novella have chapters?
Is it appropriate to use chapter breaks in works shorter than novel-length? I feel as though the text requires breakpoints peridocially, and if it were a novel, I'd place chapter breaks there, but in ...
8
votes
5answers
558 views
How should dialog be formatted?
Is there any "official" rule that I should keep in mind when formatting character dialog?
Line breaks, placement of quotes, mixing dialog with action descriptions etc.
For example, I want to build a ...
