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This is a place for readers to ask writers questions. It is also a place for writers to ask each other questions.

One space or two?

I recently read an article that stated that using double spaces after periods ending sentences was an archaic practice left over from type writer days.

Really?

Splitter

I don't know the original reason for it, although that could well be it. I do know it's now going over to 1 space so as to save space when printing books. It makes a huge difference, as I found when I changed my MS from two spaces to one after a full stop (period). I'm now a firm convert to the "one space after a full stop" rule.

We are in the millennia of the one space. lol. :)

I have reluctantly made the switch for my final book files. I'm currently inconsistent about what I do in drafts, emails, posts like this one. . . .

I noticed the transformation process to ebook flexibility does this, too. The two spacing is definitiely going away.

Splitter, you are correct. If you are submitting anything for electronic publishing, be it ebooks, blog posts or websites, use only one space after a period.

Believe me, as a writer/editor, you will make the person to whom you have submitted your work much happier.

I have a question for authors:
As an author myself, I love to read but rarely get as much time as I would like. How often do you read in a week?

I read at least half an hour or so every night before I go to sleep (with a glass of sherry or port). I read with meals, if I'm by myself. Sometimes I'll take a reading break at other times, but not all that often lately....

Elle wrote: "I have a question for authors:
As an author myself, I love to read but rarely get as much time as I would like. How often do you read in a week?"

I really have to have a purpose directed toward a specific book to read when I am in full writing mode. Writing is a powerful force, a wonderful mistress that demands full energy.

I read now specifically to handle the phase of marketing my book. Not much joy in that.

Books used to find me, enthrall and capture me until I finished them. It began with the romance inside bookstores. That dance of book and reader is nearly gone.

Though, I have done that dance with a few books of late I found on the web. I read The Foreigner by Francie Lin for pleasure. It was superb. I also read The Girl Who Played GO by Shan Sa, and it was very good.

Elle wrote: "I have a question for authors:
As an author myself, I love to read but rarely get as much time as I would like. How often do you read in a week?"

I read ebooks most often while I eat (three times a day) and sometimes before I go to sleep. If I have a paper book I'll sit and read for hours. I'm still an avid reader. I find it recharges my batteries. When I went for ages without reading I found writing becoming less fun. Didn't connect the dots until I picked up a new book and read the whole thing in 24 hours. Hadn't realised what I was missing :) Now I keep reading... :D

C.S. Splitter wrote: "One space or two?

I recently read an article that stated that using double spaces after periods ending sentences was an archaic practice left over from type writer days.

Really?

Splitter"

I just found this out when my book went to e-formatting. I don't think I can stop doing it when I write b/c that was how I was taught and being a lawyer by day, and having it drilled into me during time editing for law journal, I don't think I can change it. So I'll just do a find and replace after I'm done to make formatters happy!

Sometimes I wonder if all our conventions/rules are out the window these days. So many people write *sigh* like this now, BTW I often don't know WTH they're talking about with all the symbols and abbreviations. LOL

Elle wrote: "I have a question for authors:
As an author myself, I love to read but rarely get as much time as I would like. How often do you read in a week?"

I read daily for about an hour, generally right before bed. If I'm really hooked on a book, I may read some during lunch too. I try to finish 4-5 books/month. I think reading is essential to writing. As they say, 'good words in, good words out.'

Elle wrote: "I have a question for authors:
As an author myself, I love to read but rarely get as much time as I would like. How often do you read in a week?"

When I'm in a good writing mode, I don't usually read anything. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't like to have other ideas muddling the ideas I'm developing. I want them to be mine.

On the flip side, if I'm reading a really good book, I won't pick up the pen (so to speak) until the book is done. I find myself squeezing a lot of extra time in for reading when the book is good.

C.S. Splitter wrote: "One space or two?

I recently read an article that stated that using double spaces after periods ending sentences was an archaic practice left over from type writer days.

Really?

Splitter"

My wife teaches 8th grade English. They have been teaching single space after a sentence for many years now.

Elle wrote: "I have a question for authors:
As an author myself, I love to read but rarely get as much time as I would like. How often do you read in a week?"

I read a little everyday - well night - the last thing I do before I go to bed. I think it's important to "make time for it."

Re: one space or two.

It is now one space. Previously, it was two spaces because when typed out it was easier to read. When typeset into a book, words are kerned to make them fit on a line more esthetically, so one space or two is irrelevant.

With digital word processing (and desktop publishing), most text is justified and is auto-kerned by the program. Word processors treat all space as characters; thus, if you input text with a double space after the end of a sentence this can create odd kerning of lines, often resulting in huge spaces between sentences.

Elle wrote: "I have a question for authors:
As an author myself, I love to read but rarely get as much time as I would like. How often do you read in a week?"

Elle, I find that when I am in the writing zone I don't read at all. But, otherwise, I read about 2 hours a day. Mostly at night when my husband is watching sports :)

I've been wondering about the single space thing. It's hard to change if you were taught typing in the 70's, but I suppose one must move with the times.
I try and read everyday. I think to be a good writer you have to be a good reader. It's how you learn what works and what doesn't. Reading a good book also helps me to relax.

Reading frequently...

I find myself using the Kindle samples of many books. Some have as much as 20% of the book sampled, others use 10%. I can study various writers techniques for opening their stories, how they chapter and what other devices are effective. My own book, Blue Water_Red Shadows has six chapters sampled on Amazon and iBookstore.

Reading has become an exploration of technique unless I want a complete break from my daily writing and editing. The iPad and Kindle on my MacBook allow me to enter a variety of 'reads', some classics, all sorts of genres, some pure entertainments. It is as if I were in a writing seminar and listening to short stories from a table full of other writers.

Getting samples is a terrific feature of the digital publishing world.
And when the price is right, I add the book for later completion of the read.

When I give talks at schools and such about writing, I always begin with the 6 rules of writing: Read, Read, Read, Write, Write, Write. How can we be any good at writing if we don't read? So, yes, I read a lot. Depending on the writing work load, I'll read anywhere from 10 to 50+ pages a day. I wish I could do more, but I'm not a fast reader. That's in print, btw. On my Kindle, I can read a bit faster.

I HAVE A QUESTION:
My husband wants me to do audio versions of my books and sell them on itunes. Has anyone else thought about doing this? or has anyone done it?

That's an excellent question Elle.

I have recorded my novel Roses of Winter as an ebook. For anyone who wants to record and publish an audiobook there is a lot of useful information on podiobooks.com. They provide a site where you can place your audiobook for free when it is complete.

My book is also available on ITunes and some other podcast sites. I have to say that recording an audiobook, especially a long one, is quite an undertaking. You need to learn how to record and how to edit sound files. I would be very happy to share any experience I have with you.

Murdo wrote: "I have recorded my novel Roses of Winter as an ebook. For anyone who wants to record and publish an audiobook there is a lot of useful information on podiobooks.com. They provide a site where you c..."

Thank you so much for the info. Did you narrate it yourself? Do you think it was worth the process?

I did narrate the audiobook myself. I had some experience with radio broadcasting, which helped quite a bit. I also received useful advice from a musician friend who is quite knowledgeable about microphones and recording. Also, check out your local schools, particularly those that offer evening classes in voice etc. Some stores such as Guitar Center also offer free classes. They are introductory but help you with the basics.

Overall, I am happy I recorded the book. I learned a lot in the process. Also, it reaches an audience who might not have bought the print or ebook version.

I'm hoping to podcast my book, a few thousand words at a time, when it's done. Figured it will reach a wider audience that way. Podiobooks.com seems to be a great resource.

Thanks for the help! Good luck Mhairi

Does anyone out there know of an agent or agency that specializes in or is looking for young adult latin fiction?

I'm working on revising my first novel. It follows a young woman as she returns to Argentina after years of living in the U.S. where she and her family sought refuge from the Dirty War. It's all about her discovering what really happened to her mother, who mysteriously disappeared during the height of the war. It is really different and I'm having trouble figuring out where exactly my book will fit in.

You might have some luck with Euan Thorneycroft at . He represents Ben Richards who wrote The Mermaid and the Drunks. It's set in Chile and deals with, among other things, the leftovers of the Pinochet regime. Just a suggestion. Good luck with it.

Natalie wrote: "C.S. Splitter wrote: "One space or two?

I recently read an article that stated that using double spaces after periods ending sentences was an archaic practice left over from type writer days.

Rea..."

I agree with you Natalie. I was taught in my high school typing class to double space after a period in a sentence. It was drilled into our absorbent little minds. See? Even now I'm doing it. I can't stop. My thumb goes space space.

I double space in my own books because it looks funny to me otherwise. I believe it will take me some time to unlearn this habit.

Chicago Manual of Style from the seventies said one space after the period. (I was an editor in the early 80s) That was the hardest habit for me to break -- that double-space thing. Concerning the reading and writing balance, everyone is right when they say you have to read or your writing will kind of dry up. I read for a half hour or more at bedtime most days. Audiobooks is something we want to do badly. We used to make soundtracks for our teaching and commercial videos, so we have the skills and equipment to record and edit, but recording an entire novel must be a big undertaking. Whew!

The Find and Replace function will only do the job up to a point. When doing a final proofing of an old Word mss., I found several double spaces remaining. This might also be the result of having more than a couple versions of Word in the mix. Heads up!

Mary wrote: "Chicago Manual of Style from the seventies said one space after the period. (I was an editor in the early 80s) That was the hardest habit for me to break -- that double-space thing. Concerning the ..."

Recording a novel is a huge undertaking. I have only attempted it once thus far. Good thing I didn't fully comprehend what was involved when I started. If you do decide to do it I would recommend getting help.

Hi all. Spaces and reading? I write by touch typing and am conditioned to use two spaces so I now use the find and replace function on Word to correct to single space when I edit. Saves worry when in a creative flow.
I am conscious that I have read less fiction since I began to write full-time. I guess my head is too full of my own process. I try and I have taken on a few reviews but it's hard work. Once it was a daily refreshment. I've heard this from a lot of writers.
davidrory

David, it's sad when we find reading a chore, but I know what you mean. There's so much to be done! Stuff we need to write, promoting we need to do, interacting with others to be a good human being and hopefully to become known, liked, and read. You are right about the spacing. That's how I did it when I first became aware of the change and had to correct my "old" stuff. Find and replace is such a helpful tool for so many of these things. How did those people with clay tablets or quill pens or even manual typewriters get so much written? I am ashamed. :-)

Murdo wrote: "Mary wrote: "Chicago Manual of Style from the seventies said one space after the period. (I was an editor in the early 80s) That was the hardest habit for me to break -- that double-space thing. Co..."

Murdo, we have done a lot of recording, but you are right, it scares me just thinking about making audiobooks of our works, and most of them would be considered shorter than average. Sigh.

May I suggest that "Ask a Writer" become its own category, and that the post heading be the questions. Otherwise it's nigh impossible to know if the post is something you need to know about, and then the conversation changes halfway through to another question, which should be a new post...you see the problem?

And, yes, I will ask this as a new post too so as not to be contradictory. :-)

M.A., I try to follow so many conversations that change subjects in midstream I doubt you can control it. But it would be nice if it were possible! :-)

I am starting a new book and having a really hard time with my first 3-4 chapters. I think they are the most important because they set the tone for the characters' behavior, feelings, morality, etc. I know that all changes but I still can't help getting started this time. This is my third book and the hardest one to start yet. Does anyone else have the same problem? Joyce Shaughnessy

I forgot to ask. Isn't it correct to use italic if it's the character thinking to himself? I was taught that it was and have heard lately that it's old school thought. what is the correct way to do this?

In my book that I wrote I had the most fun with my fourth or fifth chapter since I was building so many characters during those parts. Don't be afraid to give your characters life. One of my biggest pet peeves in books are characters who lack personality. I found it hard getting everything fired up, but it's fun when you get going. I think it's almost as hard as writing that first chapter since it's still getting things started. I feel your stess Joyce.

Joyce, I start a book and it comes in a rush. Then I realize I've left stuff out that the reader needs to know and have to go back and make those first few chapters after being well into the story. Happens almost every time. And they are difficult. I still use italics for thoughts. How else will the reader know it's thinking and not just speech unless you add an extra explanation? I still see it in published books, too. Lots of things are being called old school that still communicate.

Elle wrote: "I HAVE A QUESTION:
My husband wants me to do audio versions of my books and sell them on itunes. Has anyone else thought about doing this? or has anyone done it?"


I think that be an interesting idea...especially for short stories.

I have. My book Roses of Winter is available as a podcast on ITunes. A useful place to visit is Podiobooks.com. It is a helpful online community with many experienced and helpful people. I would also be willing to answer any questions you have.

Murdo Morrison

Mary wrote: "Joyce, I start a book and it comes in a rush. Then I realize I've left stuff out that the reader needs to know and have to go back and make those first few chapters after being well into the story...."

I often have to go back, too, but I find it useful because it keeps me from going too far off-track.

As for the italics, I'm old school, too -- and too old to change.

Glad to hear that others use italics for direct thoughts. I think italics are effective in making sure the reader understands that the words were in the character's head.

Sandra wrote: "Glad to hear that others use italics for direct thoughts. I think italics are effective in making sure the reader understands that the words were in the character's head."

I, too, find the practice to be effective. I've read novels that do not use italics in such a manner, and at times, the passages are confusing. I wonder if others feel the same way....

Elle wrote: "I have a question for authors:
As an author myself, I love to read but rarely get as much time as I would like. How often do you read in a week?"

I rarely get to read much any more. I'm not only busy writing and all that goes with it, but I attend events and those require a great deal of planning. Come mid- April to July, I'll be in 4 different states at 7 events. After up to 13 hours on my feet, all I want to do is sleep.

As a self-published author, I attend only virtual events, unlike Shawn -- so I don't have trip planning or travel time to deal with. I read less than I used to, but I always read for a half hour or so (sometimes longer) before bed, and I usually snatch a few minutes here and there to read during the day.

Shawn wrote: "Elle wrote: "I have a question for authors:
As an author myself, I love to read but rarely get as much time as I would like. How often do you read in a week?"

I rarely get to read much any more. I..."