How to avoid the wall of text

Critical-Limit

Critical-Limit

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Rule#1: Story has dialogue? Anytime the speaker changes it's a new paragraph.

Example:

"Leon... long time no see.." Ada let out as she slowly removed her sunglasses to reveal her face. looking sternly into his eyes.

"Ada..." with a bit of dissappointment in his tone. "So it is true..." he continued.

"True? about what?" She asked playfully.

^^^Leon speaks twice back to back and thus is still in the same block of text.

Rule#2
Double Space:

Always double space, it makes it look clear and easy to read when you double space inbetween paragraphs/dialogue.


Rule#3
A new paragraph starts also when there is a change of Topic or scene. Generally once you see a singular ideal or moment end, you should start a new paragraph.


Final Note:

Online purposes, It's even more nice and clear if at all possible if a new paragraph can start before exceeding 5 back to back lines, as it starts to get hard to read after that. We don't got bookmarks that we're gonna hold on to the screen and I'm not fixing to have to highlight each line so I can make sure I'm not accidently rereading a sentence. I like to be able to just read and scroll with the mouse w/o having to put in work.
 
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The biggest problem I always see is, without a doubt, the epic wall of text. I don't know if people just like one huge, continuous way of storytelling or if they really don't know where to break things off and start a new scenario. Sometimes, yeah, you can get into typing a part of the story and it goes on for a while, but breaking up the story into 'chunks' is important, as it keeps it neat and easy to read.

The biggest turn off from a story is a wall of text. As soon as people see that, they wont want to take the time to read it, which means a lot of really great stories will be ignored just because they are too difficult to read all bunched together.

Details will also help in storytelling. You don't have to go into every little detail about what is going on and what the surroundings are, just give people a bit of a visual to work with so they can feel like they are right in the story.

'Chris walked out into the dark forest. The trees were as tall as the sky with tiny twinkling stars just peeking through the leaves and a faint cloud of fog hung over the small pond ahead'

is better than


'Chris went outside and walked into a forest'.

Sure, you can picture a guy walking into a forest, but example #1 makes you feel like you are Chris and you can see exactly what the area looks like in your mind by the way the teller describes it. I picture example #2 as like a blank canvas. I don't get the feeling I am really there and experiencing the scenery the teller wants you to experience the way they picture it in their own mind.
 
Critical-Limit said:
dude I've already seen like 3 instances back to back in the last 4-5 weeks of people just wall texting it up.

may be obvious to you but it's apparently not obvious for other people.
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That's a common problem with everyone except me. Check my story and you'll see that it is well seperated and quite easier to read.
 
NS922 said:
That's a common problem with everyone except me. Check my story and you'll see that it is well seperated and quite easier to read.
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I know. I've used you as a positive example before.

You don't see me using you as a bad example do you?

And no you're not the only good writer here who seperates their crap. I can name quite a few off hand. But I'm not going to name the people who wall-text it like crazy. I don't call people out like that.
 
NS922 said:
That's a common problem with everyone except me. Check my story and you'll see that it is well seperated and quite easier to read.
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This thread isn't about you so stop causing a problem. There is nothing wrong with him posting some tips on how to write/type up a story in a good format. There are actually a few people here who could benefit from these tips.
 
lol Not gonna lie, I'm definitely one of those people that Run away from wall of text.

I only read wall-of-texts if they are directed at me. But I cry inside when I have to read it.
 
I don't like starting a new paragraph every time someone new speaks.
First thing one does when determining tl:dr, is see how long it takes to scroll down. Thats what makes a wall.
 
back said:
I don't like starting a new paragraph every time someone new speaks.
First thing one does when determining tl:dr, is see how long it takes to scroll down. Thats what makes a wall.
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It's just a guideline for easy reading man. I'm not saying do this way or the high way.

I like reading when a new paragraph is started when someone new speaks. Because that's the way I'm use to seeing it in books. Why is that standard? No idea.

But I know for a fact it gives people a reason to spread out the text more. And it's the easiest one to identify. Rule#3 is what most people have problems with.
 
back said:
I don't like starting a new paragraph every time someone new speaks.
First thing one does when determining tl:dr, is see how long it takes to scroll down. Thats what makes a wall.
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I used to do that, like with my RE script I posted that I wrote a long time ago, but I tend to like keeping text in the same scene together, instead of spreading it out. Back then, I wasn't all that new to writing things, but I didn't pay as much attention as to how I spread things out and only really made the space when it was a new scene. Some people find it easier to read with the separation, others don't, and some don't see a difference, lol.
 
YungQ94 said:
Say your writing like a script format (aka my story) do you still space whenever someone talks?
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interesting question

your stories are nearly 100% dialogue right?

That's a toughy because then it sorta is a perfect example of how bblp hates scrolling down for every 8 lines you read.

I myself would do it. But upon looking at how yours is set up.

I think people will be ultimately fine if you also just colored the names.

like if scorpions name was orange but his text dialogue is white.

and say 2nd character is green: text is white ect.

It might be more pleasing to read.

If you find the double spacing for everyline REALLY annoying (which I do not)

I suggest using colors to make up for it.

By the way I typed like this so you can judge for yourself if you think it would be annoying.

EDIT: fixed some ugly typos.
 
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And if you have difficulty spacing the stories yourself, send a draft over to someone with experience. I know that I've already edited the stories of a few people.
 
Toxic said:
And if you have difficulty spacing the stories yourself, send a draft over to someone with experience. I know that I've already edited the stories of a few people.
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How will anyone learn if they just give it to someone else to do?

;P
 
Great thread mate! This will surely help people with spacing their fanfics and posting in general.

Although I agree that using color while writing dialogues would make it easier for the reader while reading online, it won't help people who are serious into writing since they won't have the luxury of using colors while writing a book. Perhaps stories with more than 90% of it being dialogue can go by this approach and also since there is hardly any pubslished which consists of only dialogue.
 
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