Do you have a word processor and the ability to FTP? If so, you may
find these instructions (written for a different audience!) to be
helpful:
(Best in Microsoft Word, but should also work in Wordperfect and Write
and other similar programs...)
You need to do this to ensure that the greatest number of people will be
able to read what you've written:
1) Set the preferences to 10-point courier.
Why? Because Courier is a monospaced font, so it's easy to figure
out how many characters go on each line. Each character is one unit.
2) Set the margins to 1.25 each side, so it's a 6" width.
(if you can't do it, set the window so that it is only 75 characters
wide)
Why? Because with the above, you'll have a story width that is about
70 characters wide, guaranteed; it won't wrap an inch around the side
like some badly-formatted messages do.
3) Make sure you use regular (NOT "smart" or "curly") quotes-- this
looked okay, though-- and NO tabs, spaces only.
Why? Because curly quotes can come across as "normal" or 2numbers3
or #symbols% or other odd characters. Not good. TABs don't always
translate the same on all machines-- with some it will indent only
two spaces, while on others it's up to TEN characters! That causes
BAD linewraps if you aren't careful.
4) Once you're *finished* writing and formatting the whole thing, then
a) Save ONCE as a "text with line breaks" so it inserts the P marks
automatically, and then
b) Save it AGAIN as "text only" so it won't read the line-breaks as
binary instead of ascii text.
Why? Because it's easier to edit without having the Paragraph breaks
in there, but once you're DONE with the major stuff, the paragraph
breaks will ensure that your lines won't wrap making the entire short
paragraph ONE long sentence. Saving it again as plain text makes sure
that the computer doesn't read the line breaks as special binary stuff,
making it easier to FTP it to your account.
(if you don't have this option, here's where you slowly, carefully
and manually hit return at the end of each line...)
5) Check once again for spelling/quotes/linebreaks/etc
Why? Because. :) It looks more professional if your words are spelled
correctly and you don't have 's on every plural word.
5) FTP it to your directory, or cut-and-paste, or do whatever you do
when you get your file on your account and send it.
Why? Because otherwise we'll never get to see it! -grin- Whether
you FTP it or cut-and-paste depends on what mail program you have,
if you're using a shell account or a Graphical User Interface with
stuff like Eudora or Netscape or whatnot, and whether you need to
FTP or just import a file into a GUI program or mailer.
Hope this helps! It keeps the margins at about what my email margins
here are set at, so *anyone* can read it nicely. :)
kate.
-- | Kate the Short -(katew@cicero.spc.uchicago.edu)- at the U of Chicago | | Visit my web page! (http://student-www.uchicago.edu/users/keweizel/) | | Keeper of: RAC.MX Read Before Posting and Where Can I Find It? FAQs | | Patron Saint of rec.arts.comics.marvel.xbooks, & Really Short Person |
-- | Kate the Short -(katew@cicero.spc.uchicago.edu)- at the U of Chicago | | Visit my web page! (http://student-www.uchicago.edu/users/keweizel/) | | Keeper of: RAC.MX Read Before Posting and Where Can I Find It? FAQs | | Patron Saint of rec.arts.comics.marvel.xbooks, & Really Short Person |
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