When characters in books text, how do you prefer to see that represented as a reader? I'm in a convo with some writer friends about this. So far, I use standard dialogue with an in-text mention so you know it's a text. But I haven't quoted entire text conversations in my work so far. #CoSoReaders
@Apocryphiliac Yes, I have seen texts presented almost like comic book bubbles in some children's and young adult books, but not any for adults. (I didn't think I had done much with texting either, but when I searched in my own books, I had indeed done so).
If not already, I'm sure a standard will come about. I would have thought that a block of text or increased margins, no?
I would have thought
that a block of text
or increased margins,
no?
Would that work? Or perhaps brackets? CMS style should address the issue. At least it would likely be more on point for a book than APA or MLS.
@Mark_NJ Interesting. I guess the trick is always whether that formatting will carry properly into different presentation of the work: in print, as an ebook, etc.
Tricky. Anyway, CMS Style should cover the subject. That's exactly what it's there for.
Here's an excerpt from CMS
c/o
https://cmosshoptalk.com/2020/03/10/formatting-text-messages-in-fiction/
I don't know what happened to my post. This app is killing me. I'm glad it's here but it's really a pain to use.
Let's try again.
Thank God! 🙄😕
@Mark_NJ I think the sudden influx of new users has caused a bit of glitchiness. I've been here a few months now and it's not usually as problematic as it has been in the past few days.
@Samanthabwriter
No, this is the standard way this app functions. It's always been like this.
@Samanthabwriter It occurs to me I’ve never depicted texting in a story or book, but I would be unlikely to do anything but add an in-text tag/mention like you specified. I have seen instances of changing font or even boxing the text in, and it takes me out of the story. Unless the work was something *extremely* playfully postmodern, like “Breakfast of Champions”-level, I think I’d always hate it. Younger readers/writers (I’m in my 40’s) might feel differently, ofc.