Stories with little or no paragraphs

[ottomun6]

I know we all appreciate the stories that are submitted, but some of them are not split into paragraphs. ...so before I go blind...

PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU, USE PARAGRAPHS!!
Those sentences are hard to read when your eyes try to drop to the next line.
There are probably several stories that I missed because of the constant run-on stuff just turned me off. And they remind me of mono-toned speakers that drone on and on and on.
I don't think it has to be "english teacher" perfect, but at least try to break it up some, ok?
..Had to get that off my chest

[glammaman2000]

oh,i started a story on a friend's computer.i'm big on standard english&as i got used to his machine,i enjoyed composing the story graphically on the page;for dramatic effects,etc.i finished it on my own webtv hook-up&no matter what i do,the machine smooshes text to eliminate paragraphs,etc.sorry

[Muscleboi20]

Hmm, I might be able to help. I agree--one long paragraph for a story can sometimes be difficult to read, and a lot of great story content has the disadvantage of being lost or fumbled over if there is no eye marker such as indentation or spacing. Working on a degree in English and frequently editing I could easily give feedback and help anyone edit their stories.

[Mad Dog]

Another drawback to the lump method is that a story can look too intimidating to begin reading.

I'm sure in some cases the fault is not with the writing, but with the transfer technology or document format settings. Even Fantcman has a couple stories that are without paragraphs. Perhaps someone can identify a way to assure accurate transfer of documents. i.e. what format to use, how to transfer it. The problem is not limited to WebTV. Also knowing which formats to NOT use or which settings to avoid would be helpful.

[ottomun6]

Originally Posted by glammaman2000

oh,i started a story on a friend's computer.i'm big on standard english&as i got used to his machine,i enjoyed composing the story graphically on the page;for dramatic effects,etc.i finished it on my own webtv hook-up&no matter what i do,the machine smooshes text to eliminate paragraphs,etc.sorry

Well, I guess we won't spank you for technical difficulties beyond your control, glammaman come to think of it, I wondered why some of your words were packed so tightly together, now I understand.

I can only hope the other guys were having similar problems. And like LG says, maybe they can get some help with their postings.

[sexiscriptor]

Originally Posted by LeatherGryphon

I'm sure in some cases the fault is not with the writing, but with the transfer technology or document format settings. Even Fantcman has a couple stories that are without paragraphs. Perhaps someone can identify a way to assure accurate transfer of documents. i.e. what format to use, how to transfer it. The problem is not limited to WebTV. Also knowing which formats to NOT use or which settings to avoid would be helpful.

Now, if I were a bastard, I would point out LG's split infinitive in his last sentence. Thankfully, though, I respect the man greatly, and therefore instead I am abstaining from staining his great name.
However, I myself can at times get really picky about some minor grammar stuff. I'm not such an ass that I openly and consistently gripe about random, trivial, and rare-exception-type-stuff, but I feel that at least some of the basic guidelines of formatting should be easy and familiar enough so that the writer or SOMEONE could correct any slight deviations.
However, I'm usually one to go for the big stuff first (aren't we all in some sense or another?). So I think it is reasonable to address some of these larger issues, some of which are in fact the fault of the writer, while others are indeed techno-spasms, so that the forum as a whole can, if nothing else, look as savvy as we all know we really are deep down.

[Mad Dog]

I could care less about split infinitives, but when people don't know how to put things in quotation marks or spell common words, steam comes out of my ears.

Originally Posted by sexiscriptor

Now, if I were a bastard, I would point out LG's split infinitive in his last sentence...

Oh, go ahead. Enquiring minds want to know.

[sexiscriptor]

I'm actually that much of a geek that I "joke" about creating special rules, "exceptions" if you will, to the whole split infinitive thing, so I really don't bother as much with those as some people.
And I do hear you, man, it gets me so angry when people leave some of those sorts of mistakes in their stories and posts. But, honestly, sometimes it's just a matter of not proofing or something like that.
Oh well, let's hope some of this begins to fix itself or something soon.

[Mdlftr]

As long as we're all nitpicking.....


The title of this thread should be, "Stories with few or no paragraphs"

This thread is discussing the number of paragraphs in stories (i.e., the paucity of paragraphs) not the SIZE of the paragraphs that are present!


My two "being-a-prick" cents,


Mdlftr