Not a huge deal but still would like some advice

Sydney · Dec 1, 2005

Hello, this isn't a crisis by any means but what I would like to know is this. When you use your line breaks, I was told it is best to do them like this.

# # #

After one space on both sides and of course with a space between each of the lines. I am talking about book writing here.

What I want to know is how is it handled when there is a new chapter and the scenes change? Do you leave it out at the end, and just start with the new chapter? ...or do you put it there at the end anyway and also start the new chapter.

To those of you who say who cares. No point in responding. Any of you who have advice to help me I would appreciate your gracious response. Thank you always for your help. Sincerely.

aadams73 · Dec 1, 2005

I just put in a page break and go to the next page, with no ### Chapter title goes half(or a third of the way) down the fresh page.

Sydney · Dec 1, 2005

Not a huge deal.

Hey group that isn't how I typed it. There is supposed to be a space on each side of the pound signs. Apparently when you post thusly it isn't the same as your original post.

Anyway, hopefully you can still figure out what I mean and reply. Thanks

Sydney · Dec 1, 2005

Not a huge deal.

No I am not talking about after every page. I am talking about a scene change only.

Aconite · Dec 1, 2005

Sydney said:
What I want to know is how is it handled when there is a new chapter and the scenes change? Do you leave it out at the end, and just start with the new chapter? ...or do you put it there at the end anyway and also start the new chapter.

If I understand you correctly, you're asking if you need to indicate a scene change with the three pound signs when there's a scene change between the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. No, you don't need to do that. The chapter break functions as a scene break in that case. aadams73 was saying that you just end the first chapter with a plain page break and start the next page with the next chapter.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 1, 2005

Sydney said:
Hello, this isn't a crisis by any means but what I would like to know is this. When you use your line breaks, I was told it is best to do them like this.

# # #

After one space on both sides and of course with a space between each of the lines. I am talking about book writing here.

What I want to know is how is it handled when there is a new chapter and the scenes change? Do you leave it out at the end, and just start with the new chapter? ...or do you put it there at the end anyway and also start the new chapter.

To those of you who say who cares. No point in responding. Any of you who have advice to help me I would appreciate your gracious response. Thank you always for your help. Sincerely.

Just one # centered on the page will do nicely. I think using three comes from some writers who use *** or the like.

A # has a specific meaning. Using three is actually telling the copy editor and typesetter to leave three spaces. They will know what you mean, but using a single # centered on the page is all it takes to indicate a scene break.

maestrowork · Dec 1, 2005

One # is fine.

If you're going to start a new chapter, there's no need to indicate a scene change. The readers know there's a logical break -- either it's pacing (if the scene continues) or plot or a scene change. The readers understand that. The blank line (#) is needed only within the same chapter, to tell for sure that a scene has changed.

SeanDSchaffer · Dec 1, 2005

One # is fine between scene changes. You don't need to do more than that. The ### that was mentioned before is not really necessary.

I believe SFWA has a link to a formatting site. My computer crashed recently so I'll have to look it up manually as my 'Favorites' list had to be reset. If I can find it, however, I'll post it shortly for you. It should help you out quite well, as it's a standardized format that many publishers will accept.

SeanDSchaffer · Dec 1, 2005

I found it.

I have posted the article's link below. I hope you find it useful, Sydney.

http://www.sfwa.org/writing/format_rothman.htm

Sydney · Dec 1, 2005

Not a huge deal.

Excellent! I kind of thought so. It seemed logical that the new chapter would break the scene but wanted to be sure.

Thanks for the manuscript link and I will change the three pound signs to one.

If anyone has any different input saying the advice I have recieved is wrong please let me know. Otherwise my question has been answered.

Thank you.

Not a huge deal but still would like some advice

Sydney

aadams73

A Work in Progress

Sydney

Sydney

Aconite

Jamesaritchie

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

SeanDSchaffer

SeanDSchaffer

Sydney