Look, I’m posting this here because this is the blog with followers. This is really for the Stranger Things fandom, but the advice part goes any writers. Consider me your internet Big Sister.
I have been looking at fics the past few days and a lot of the recent ones are good! However, I don’t know if the writers are young, don’t have anyone to edit, or don’t have any writing friends to bounce off of, or maybe even a combination of those things. I am saying this with all the kindness in my heart, because I had to have someone tell me the same thing, because I just didn’t have the knowledge.
For the love of Christ, USE PARAGRAPH BREAKS!!!
This is not a stylistic choice, like using all lowercase (Which I have strong opinions on but, I am choosing not to die on that hill right now) but Correct Formatting, which is more than stylistic, it is just how writing is done. If you were to publish a book, that is how it would be done. You are supposed to use a paragraph break every single time someone new speaks. If you are writing something dialogue heavy, that enter/return button should be your most used key.
For example: Joyce was worried, because she couldn’t find Will, and Johnathan couldn’t either. “Johnathan, have you seen Will,” Joyce asked. Johnathan shook his head. “No, but maybe Mike has,” the younger boy said. “Okay, I will ask him,” Joyce responded.
WRONG! INCORRECT! I could kiss you on your forehead because I am so proud of you for writing something and throwing into the void for others to see! But that is just not right. It’s clunky, visually unappealing, and it gets difficult to keep track of if you have more than two people that are conversing.
It should look something like this.
Joyce saw Mike and Lucas walking down the street. “Mike!” She called. “Have you seen Will?”
“Oh, hey, Ms. Byers,” Mike said. Lucas and I are going to meet him at the library, right Lucas?”
“Yeah! He needed help with an art project,” Lucas confirmed.
“Oh okay,” Joyce said, relaxing. “I am making tuna casserole if you boys want any for dinner,” she said.
THAT is how it should like. If anyone has questions, or needs a cheerleader, or just wants to chat, your local internet big sister is here!
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