When a character reads

doomhammr · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:08 am Post subject: When a character reads

I've got a section where a character is hacking a computer terminal and I wanted to read out to the reader what was on it. What's the proper formatting for this?

_________________
Wanna go the distance, with a hunger that never ends
When you want to prove, you're the best that's ever been
They can knock you down, you're on your feet again
'Cause you know what it takes, what it takes to win
-Journey "What it Takes to Win"

Mokele · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject:

My preference would be to type it out in a different font, preferably one that's "mechanical looking".

_________________
"With malleus aforethought, mammals got an earful of their ancestor's jaw" - J Burns, Biograffiti

FIFTHWIND · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject:

Yup... I agree with the lizard man.

_________________
<b>---Ken Kiser </b>

doomhammr · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject:

Really? That would be acceptable on a MS? I always thought it was to indent the whole area but I wanted to double check.

_________________
Wanna go the distance, with a hunger that never ends
When you want to prove, you're the best that's ever been
They can knock you down, you're on your feet again
'Cause you know what it takes, what it takes to win
-Journey "What it Takes to Win"

FIFTHWIND · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject:

Yes, Block Quoting (as you said) is the formatting you would use.
A separate mono-spaced font is acceptable to indicate newspaper print, computer readouts, telegrams ect.

_________________
<b>---Ken Kiser </b>

Neurolanis · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:38 pm Post subject:

These guys probably know their stuff.

If it were me, though, I'd just type that paragraph in all-capitols (although for a submission that may not be acceptable.)

doomhammr · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:41 am Post subject:

This is getting submitted, so I guess that's out, lol.

_________________
Wanna go the distance, with a hunger that never ends
When you want to prove, you're the best that's ever been
They can knock you down, you're on your feet again
'Cause you know what it takes, what it takes to win
-Journey "What it Takes to Win"

Neurolanis · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject:

All-capitols is often how that sort of material appears in popular books by the likes of Stephen King, I've noticed. But I just mean that I am not certain on the regulations on submissions (the regulations/expectations of editors and agents for manuscript formatting is often strangely old-fashioned.)

doomhammr · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:51 am Post subject:

You're absolutely right. It is old fashioned, but they own the agency so there's nothing that can be done. If they find one thing wrong with your submission before they're hooked, it goes in the trash. That's life in this industry.

_________________
Wanna go the distance, with a hunger that never ends
When you want to prove, you're the best that's ever been
They can knock you down, you're on your feet again
'Cause you know what it takes, what it takes to win
-Journey "What it Takes to Win"

Neurolanis · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject:

Yeah that's why I said be careful to get it right.