Smashwords formatting issue

Flumplepuss · 11-04-2014, 10:49 AM

Hi, apologies if this question is a) daft or b) has been asked before, but I am in the process of formatting my book for epublishing and have hit a potential snag. My book has quite a bit of dialogue, and in the majority of cases this starts on a new line so I have a hard return. Unfortunately this appears to be recognised as a new paragraph and as a result it has a first line indent and a space before and after. How do I get rid of this, either in the draft, before any formatting is done, or after I have done it? This is a (very) long term project so I am quite happy to go through the book again (and again) if necessary. Many thanks for any help you can give.

pdurrant · 11-04-2014, 11:12 AM

Look at books on your bookshelf with dialog. I think you'll find that each new speaker does indeed start a new paragraph. The first line indent is correct.

As for the space above and below a paragraph. This is a choice of your formatting and/or the ebook renering software. I prefer not to have such spaces in ebooks, and I'd recommend that (if you are applying them) you remove them from all paragraphs.

But if you choose to/have to keep them, then they too are correct between speakers.

Flumplepuss · 11-04-2014, 11:36 AM

Thank you. I think I might change the paragraphs slightly, as I am going through it page by page anyway. Many thanks for your help!

11-04-2014, 10:49 AM	#1
Flumplepuss Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2014 Device: kindle	Smashwords formatting issue Hi, apologies if this question is a) daft or b) has been asked before, but I am in the process of formatting my book for epublishing and have hit a potential snag. My book has quite a bit of dialogue, and in the majority of cases this starts on a new line so I have a hard return. Unfortunately this appears to be recognised as a new paragraph and as a result it has a first line indent and a space before and after. How do I get rid of this, either in the draft, before any formatting is done, or after I have done it? This is a (very) long term project so I am quite happy to go through the book again (and again) if necessary. Many thanks for any help you can give.

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11-04-2014, 11:12 AM	#2
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,653 Karma: 315126578 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Look at books on your bookshelf with dialog. I think you'll find that each new speaker does indeed start a new paragraph. The first line indent is correct. As for the space above and below a paragraph. This is a choice of your formatting and/or the ebook renering software. I prefer not to have such spaces in ebooks, and I'd recommend that (if you are applying them) you remove them from all paragraphs. But if you choose to/have to keep them, then they too are correct between speakers.

11-04-2014, 11:36 AM	#3
Flumplepuss Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2014 Device: kindle	Thank you. I think I might change the paragraphs slightly, as I am going through it page by page anyway. Many thanks for your help!

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