Formatting tips and tricks for the newbie #WritingWednesday #AmWriting

It amazes me that people still use typewriting rules.Do they make typewriters anymore? Do they let the old typing teacher teach word processing?

Do they make typewriters anymore? Do they let the old typing teacher teach word processing?I worked with other tech teachers in a project sponsored by Microsoft and Texas A&M in 2000 to teach these rules to high school teachers.

I worked with other tech teachers in a project sponsored by Microsoft and Texas A&M in 2000 to teach these rules to high school teachers.I started using word processing rules in the eighties. They were listed in the first chapter of every Macintosh Word for dummies book in 1984, and the same for MS Word. Only XyWrite and WordPerfect users hadn’t seen the memo. (Which is why those programs died.

I started using word processing rules in the eighties. They were listed in the first chapter of every Macintosh Word for dummies book in 1984, and the same for MS Word. Only XyWrite and WordPerfect users hadn’t seen the memo. (Which is why those programs died.Then I download another Kindle novel by an indie writer and float back to the days when I could still remember the high school typing teacher’s name.

Then I download another Kindle novel by an indie writer and float back to the days when I could still remember the high school typing teacher’s name.D.E. Hageerty runs you through the rules again, and I would check to make sure you know them.

D.E. Hageerty runs you through the rules again, and I would check to make sure you know them.

Hopefully, by the 22nd-century, long after I’m dead, everyone will know them.1

1By the 22nd-century, mindhoppers will probably be neuroposting: “Word processing died with blogs. No one reads text. No one reads but your grandmother.

D.E. Haggerty

If you’ve already written and published a few books, move on. No need for you to be here. When I say newbie, I mean exactly that – someone brand-spanking new to publishing. Over on my Readsalot blog, I promote self-published authors like myself. I actively encourage self-published authors to contact me for reviews and spotlights. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed quite a few formatting issues occurring on a regular basis.

So, let’s dive right in, shall we?

Double space is D-E-A-D. I know you learned this back in school. I did, too! But using two spaces after each sentence is no longer the standard. And it’s really disruptive to readers. Who needs all that space, anyway?

Copyright Phreelance Writers 

Line spacing is dying a slow death. Line spacing is the space between lines within a paragraph. In hardcovers and paperbacks, you won’t see them. In fact, sometimes I think editors…

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