Format Question - Text Message

[MicKay]

Is there a correct way of formatting a text message in a story? I would like to know if indention, italics or special punctuation is required/preferred.

Example: John sent a text message "Where are you?"

None of my English Handbooks offer assistance with electronic communications.

Thanks for your assistance. I truly appreciate the advice all of you provide @ EF.

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

Is there a correct way of formatting a text message in a story? ...

Short answer: no.
Long answer: On a site which allowed font changes I would use a different font, probably Courier if my story were in my usual Times Roman, but this option is not available here.

... I would like to know if indention ... is required/preferred. ...

Entirely your choice, but possible on Literotica, I believe, using the block command (in square brackets).

... I would like to know if ... italics or special punctuation is required/preferred. ...

That depends on the rest of your story. If, as I do, you use "double quotes" for direct speech, 'single quotes' for direct thoughts, and bold for emphasis, then italic is available for text messages.

Of course these are merely my opinion and (many) others will doubtless disagree, some of them forcefully. Some of the disagreement may be less than polite.

 

[MicKay]

Thanks for your response. Your suggestions will be neater than the format I had considered using.I didn't want to distract the reader with too much motion on the page but I couldn't find a solution.
As for any negative comments, it would be interesting to see someone disagree when there are no rules.

Thanks for your time.

 

[bronzeage]

Thanks for your response. Your suggestions will be neater than the format I had considered using.I didn't want to distract the reader with too much motion on the page but I couldn't find a solution.
As for any negative comments, it would be interesting to see someone disagree when there are no rules.

Thanks for your time.

I imagine writers faced the same problem when telegraph messages became a part of ordinary exchanges. Some military fiction have many passages of radio messages which read as "SURROUNDEDSTOPSUPPLIESLOWSTOPWILLNOTSURRENDERSTOP". When words are is put in quotes, irregular forms are allowed. In the case of a text message,

John texted, "Wher RU", is sufficient. The reader knows it is a text message.

In the absence of rules, the general rule applies. The general rule of all writing is "It must be readable and understandable."

 

[MicKay]

In the story, the main character is receiving text messages from a friend while having a conversation with a stranger. Dialouge of all three is crucial to the plot. I wanted to avoid confusion during the changes without overuse of special effects.
Does this make sense? While I might need an editor to review, I'd like to avoid a total redo.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

 

[sdsioux]

I think if the text messaging is going to be used in the story I would say "Where are U"

 

[Firebrain]

I usually use italics. E.g.

My phone squeaked to life.

Where are you? J

Or

I hammered out a quick text: what's happening this evening?

I basically treat it like dialogue but use the italics instead of quote marks.


(I would use text speak if that's what my character would do).

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Is there a correct way of formatting a text message in a story? I would like to know if indention, italics or special punctuation is required/preferred.

Example: John sent a text message "Where are you?"

None of my English Handbooks offer assistance with electronic communications.

Thanks for your assistance. I truly appreciate the advice all of you provide @ EF.

Great question, I have dealt with this but went with how the author intended. Thanks for asking.

 

[Darkniciad]

It may very well be that the authorities haven't dealt with this in any substancial manner as of yet.

I've gone with both italics and quotes in various stories for various forms of electronic text. I even experimented with special characters in one. To me, italics provides the best presentation.

 

[PacoFear]

Another vote for italics

I'm with Firebrain and Darkniciad. I use italics for text messages. Ergo, sic:

The trouble with the time difference was that my wife's evening text messages came at inappropriate times. Like business meetings.

3x 2nite - new solo record. When R U coming home? I've run out of batteries.

I had to restart my whole presentation.

 

[MicKay]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll give it a try and see what happens.