Paragraphs - Writers Forum

SOAD · 05-15-2006, 08:24 PM

How are paragraphs usually seperated in professional novels?

Here's an excerpt from what I'm currently working on. How would I go about seperating something like this?

--
“Wake up Alex,” said a familiar voice. He rustled around in bed until the voice started again “I don’t have all day”. Alex sat up and slowly opened his eyes. In front of him stood his brother, the only person in the world that was ever there for him. His parents were killed when Alex was just at the age of five, his brother had taken care of him ever since – it’s been fifteen years. His brother was a tall figure, wearing a modest brown shirt made of cotton with blue jeans.

bob rulz · 05-15-2006, 08:43 PM

I personally wouldn't break up that paragraph; it seems okay to me. Perhaps you could cut down on the description a little so it doesn't seem so long-winded, it's a bit of an infodump, then you wouldn't even have an issue with breaking up that specific paragraph. And just follow your instincts with paragraphs. Get a good mix of long and short ones, focus on just one subject for a paragraph, and create a new paragraph anytime somebody else says something. That's about all I can say.

P.S. Awesome name!

SOAD · 05-15-2006, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob rulz

I personally wouldn't break up that paragraph; it seems okay to me. Perhaps you could cut down on the description a little so it doesn't seem so long-winded, it's a bit of an infodump, then you wouldn't even have an issue with breaking up that specific paragraph. And just follow your instincts with paragraphs. Get a good mix of long and short ones, focus on just one subject for a paragraph, and create a new paragraph anytime somebody else says something. That's about all I can say.

P.S. Awesome name!

So in my example paragraph if the next sentence was a reply I'd make a new paragraph for it?

P.S. Thank you!

pgoroncy · 05-15-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOAD

So in my example paragraph if the next sentence was a reply I'd make a new paragraph for it?

Correct, anytime a different character speaks you start a new paragraph.

SOAD · 05-15-2006, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgoroncy

Correct, anytime a different character speaks you start a new paragraph.

So this example would go from

"Hi Jake" said Steve. "Whats up Steve?" asked Jake. "Not much," responded Steve.

To:

"Hi Jake" said Steve.

"Whats up Steve" asked Jake.

"Not much," responded Steve.

pgoroncy · 05-15-2006, 10:55 PM

You've got it.

SOAD · 05-15-2006, 11:09 PM

Gotcha, thanks. Do you need to tab that like you would a regular paragraph?

And when a character speaks in the middle of the paragraph (no others speak) do you need to start another paragraph in that situation too?

pgoroncy · 05-15-2006, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOAD

Do you need to tab that like you would a regular paragraph?

Yes, you do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOAD

And when a character speaks in the middle of the paragraph (no others speak) do you need to start another paragraph in that situation too?

I don't believe so, but I'm not 100% sure on that one.

Quillqueen · 05-16-2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOAD

Gotcha, thanks. Do you need to tab that like you would a regular paragraph?

Yes.

And when a character speaks in the middle of the paragraph (no others speak) do you need to start another paragraph in that situation too?

Yes. I think so. Unless it's Sarah doing something, and then Sarah speaks. Otherwise you have to start a new paragraph. Say, if Sarah was doing something, and someone who was not Sarah spoke in that paragraph, how confusing would that be? Even if Sarah didn't reply.
Go find a novel and read a chapter or two to see how they're doing it. That's how I learned all of my grammar.

Q

mammamaia · 05-16-2006, 06:46 PM

here's how it must be typed, for a ms [but you need to indent wherever i've put a line break, because indents don't work in posts... and it should be double-spaced]:

Quote:

“Wake up Alex,” said a familiar voice.

He rustled around in bed until the voice started again.

“I don’t have all day.”

Alex sat up and slowly opened his eyes. In front of him stood his brother, the only person in the world that was ever there for him. His parents were killed when Alex was just at the age of five, his brother had taken care of him ever since – it’s been fifteen years. His brother was a tall figure, wearing a modest brown shirt made of cotton with blue jeans.

you don't need to consider the finished book, but only proper ms format...if you email me, i'll be glad to send you format guides...

love and hugs, maia
maia3maia@hotmail.com

SOAD · 05-17-2006, 12:21 AM

Thanks again for the help Quillqueen and PG.

I sent you an e-mail, mammamaia. Thank you.

tbs21 · 05-18-2006, 05:53 PM

indent the first line of a paragraph. if you're changing scenes, seperate the text into breaks like this:

Johnny grasped the beer with his left hand and chugged it. The ensuing night that followed would be the worst of his life...

*** (These stars should be centered, but the forum will not allow!)

Johnny woke up the next morning with a huge headache...

But again, this is JUST AN EXAMPLE.

mammamaia · 05-18-2006, 07:10 PM

a line break should leave no lines blank, as you've done in your example, tbs... and, btw, a single centered # is also standard line break format... it's what i prefer, over the triple asterisks...