For scene breaks I've been doing four * centered. Like this:
* * * *
But I was wondering what is standard? Do you all do only three *, or what?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Formatting for scene breaks
- Thread starter Taylor
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To a certain extent it doesn't matter how you designate scene breaks as long as you're consistent.
But the "#" suggestion (if I remember correctly) is because that's an actually typesetting mark that indicates there is supposed to be a blank line. I've seen some folks argue that using that mark (#) instead of asterisks is more production friendly because it doesn't need to be replaced with the proper mark later in the type setting stage. (Assuming, of course, you get that far.) And I've seen some argue that when querying a MS it doesn't matter at all because it's an agent/editor reading the MS, not a typesetter.
But the "#" suggestion (if I remember correctly) is because that's an actually typesetting mark that indicates there is supposed to be a blank line. I've seen some folks argue that using that mark (#) instead of asterisks is more production friendly because it doesn't need to be replaced with the proper mark later in the type setting stage. (Assuming, of course, you get that far.) And I've seen some argue that when querying a MS it doesn't matter at all because it's an agent/editor reading the MS, not a typesetter.
I always do # centered on a blank line.
Apparently that's fine, because that's how I got an agent.
Of course, she didn't turn out to be a very good agent, but I don't think that has anything to do with my scene breaks.
Apparently that's fine, because that's how I got an agent.
Of course, she didn't turn out to be a very good agent, but I don't think that has anything to do with my scene breaks.
As others suggested. Just be sure to put some symbol on the extra line, rather than leave it blank, though. A blank line in a manuscript can easily be missed if it falls at the top or bottom of a page. Also, the symbol gets counted as a word by the word-processor; spaced symbols, like your * * * * would get counted as four words, every time.
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Not always. While Word counted four words, Apple's Pages counted one and Scrivener didn't count them at all.
Editors everywhere use the same proofreaders' marks. A # is a proofreaders' mark, and every editor and typesetter knows exactly what it means.
Each publishing house uses it's own method of separating a scene brak when the book is actually printed, but a # centered on the page tells everyone this is where you should insert your own marks to make the book distinctive.
The published book may use a simple line, or asterisks, or even a line of roses, but the manuscript should use a proofreaders' mark, and the right proofreaders' mark is a single #. if, for instance, you use ###, you're telling the typesetter to skip three lines.
Each publishing house uses it's own method of separating a scene brak when the book is actually printed, but a # centered on the page tells everyone this is where you should insert your own marks to make the book distinctive.
The published book may use a simple line, or asterisks, or even a line of roses, but the manuscript should use a proofreaders' mark, and the right proofreaders' mark is a single #. if, for instance, you use ###, you're telling the typesetter to skip three lines.
The correct answer is a simple blank line.
no one is comfortable with that, because they always worry about a scene change at the top or bottom of a page.
the second best answer is 3 or 4 centered asterisks. # is for short stories.
no one is comfortable with that, because they always worry about a scene change at the top or bottom of a page.
the second best answer is 3 or 4 centered asterisks. # is for short stories.
I don't think you're right, I'm afraid, JChandler.
The # sign is a standard typesetter mark. It tells a typesetter to insert a blank line where it appears.
The marks that are used to separate scenes in published books and shorts can be all sorts of things, but that doesn't mean we should use them in our mss.
Using the wrong mark in your ms isn't going to get your work rejected. So long as you're both reasonable and consistent, you can use pretty much anything to indicate your scene-breaks.
Having been there, done that, as Old Hack says, this doesn't cause rejection.
What it does cause is lots of problems for the typesetter. The typesetter doesn't know what you intend. The typesetter can't read your mind. The typesetter can only go by the standards of the profession. And that's the # symbol.
I didn't know that for EQUINE LIABILITY. Lots and lots of fixing after it went to the typesetter. And there are still some places that aren't right.
A blank line can be there accidentally or on purpose. There's no way for the typesetter to know.
An * can mean anything, so how is the typesetter supposed to figure out what you mean? Typesetters are not renowned for their abilities to read minds.
Best of luck,
Jim Clark-Dawe
What it does cause is lots of problems for the typesetter. The typesetter doesn't know what you intend. The typesetter can't read your mind. The typesetter can only go by the standards of the profession. And that's the # symbol.
I didn't know that for EQUINE LIABILITY. Lots and lots of fixing after it went to the typesetter. And there are still some places that aren't right.
A blank line can be there accidentally or on purpose. There's no way for the typesetter to know.
An * can mean anything, so how is the typesetter supposed to figure out what you mean? Typesetters are not renowned for their abilities to read minds.
Best of luck,
Jim Clark-Dawe
Your editor(s) should have fixed that before your book went to press, Mr CD. While it's unfortunate that you didn't know the correct protocol in that instance, your editor should have known it and let you down. Don't blame yourself.
Yes, your editor should fix and/or warn you of this stuff, but the perfect world doesn't exist.
And I knew of typesetter marks, so I should have checked. Doesn't keep me up at night, but I screwed up.
Best of luck,
Jim Clark-Dawe
here's a post from sfwa that uses the centered # as the proper format:
http://www.sfwa.org/2005/01/manuscript-format/
http://www.sfwa.org/2005/01/manuscript-format/