Texting in your writing

[lovecraft68]

So a real quick question. I'm doing a scene where two characters are texting each other while sitting in traffic, so basically flirting back and forth via text.

I've been using italics for the texts and am wondering if that's what others do. Or seeing texting is something that has gotten big recently if there is now something in any of the writing/editing manuals about it.

 

[Safe_Bet]

So a real quick question. I'm doing a scene where two characters are texting each other while sitting in traffic, so basically flirting back and forth via text.

I've been using italics for the texts and am wondering if that's what others do. Or seeing texting is something that has gotten big recently if there is now something in any of the writing/editing manuals about it.

My phone does threaded texting with each person's text comments in a different color. You might try that.

 

[lovecraft68]

My phone does threaded texting with each person's text comments in a different color. You might try that.

I don't think that would look so hot in print though.

And if I submitted it here, I don't know that they can even do that.

 

[Safe_Bet]

I don't think that would look so hot in print though.

And if I submitted it here, I don't know that they can even do that.

IDK, but maybe with the appropriate indentations????

And I bet one of the resident computer geeks around here can tell you the proper insert codes to change text color. I'm PRETTY sure I've seen colored text in the poem section. (might be wrong on that one though)

 

[lovecraft68]

IDK, but maybe with the appropriate indentations????

And I bet one of the resident computer geeks around here can tell you the proper insert codes to change text color. I'm PRETTY sure I've seen colored text in the poem section. (might be wrong on that one though)

You could be right, I'm tech impaired, my phone doesn't even have a camera.

And yup, I'm sure someone knows how to do it. I never remember seeing it in the story section.

So are they tough in the poetry section? I have a few I have thought of putting up. They're all non erotic.

 

[PennLady]

I'd think for one individual text, you could use italics.

For an exchange, you should probably set it up like dialogue. I read an e-book that had an IM exchange, and one person's text was in italics, the other like regular dialogue with double quotes, etc. If I was relating an extended exchange, I'd probably do this.

I'd say so long as you're consistent, it probably doesn't matter.

 

[Safe_Bet]

So are they tough in the poetry section? I have a few I have thought of putting up. They're all non erotic.

What the fuck are you asking me for? I'm not a freakin writer, remember???



Anyways, my wife who was the poet used to say that there were only about 12 active poets on this site, they were the only ones who ever voted and you'd be assured of at least 11 One-Bombs! . (and it's true = if you look at all the different poet's work, the only ones with a red H have the voting turned off! )


BTW, I actually DID post my very first poem here just the other day! I even got told that it 'made him cry' by a REALLY REALLY good published and award winning poet (made me feel good, even though I had a grammar mistake and my kids said it read like a poem written by a CPA. )

 

[Handley_Page]

So a real quick question. I'm doing a scene where two characters are texting each other while sitting in traffic, so basically flirting back and forth via text.

I've been using italics for the texts and am wondering if that's what others do. Or seeing texting is something that has gotten big recently if there is now something in any of the writing/editing manuals about it.

Italics makes sense. Unless you can get a different font (Courier etc.,)

 

[Cruel2BKind]

You could put a note in the beginning that the main character's texts are marked by one kind of brackets, while the other character's text is outlined by another kind of brackets.

i.e.

<hi, how r u?>

{lol, can't complain}

 

[Safe_Bet]

You could put a note in the beginning that the main character's texts are marked by one kind of brackets, while the other character's text is outlined by another kind of brackets.

i.e.

<hi, how r u?>

{lol, can't complain}

PLEASE NO!!!! NOT Textspeak!!!!

 

[lovecraft68]

What the fuck are you asking me for? I'm not a freakin writer, remember???



Anyways, my wife who was the poet used to say that there were only about 12 active poets on this site, they were the only ones who ever voted and you'd be assured of at least 11 One-Bombs! . (and it's true = if you look at all the different poet's work, the only ones with a red H have the voting turned off! )


BTW, I actually DID post my very first poem here just the other day! I even got told that it 'made him cry' by a REALLY REALLY good published and award winning poet (made me feel good, even though I had a grammar mistake and my kids said it read like a poem written by a CPA. )

Well I have to say this post was not very encouraging, but I believe I had heard that its kind of tough over there and you're lucky to see 10 votes.

Good deal on your poem. I'm sure I wouldn't know good from bad.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

Well I have to say this post was not very encouraging, but I believe I had heard that its kind of tough over there and you're lucky to see 10 votes.

Good deal on your poem. I'm sure I wouldn't know good from bad.

Thanks for being civil LC! Its nice to see you kids play nice.

Now I guess it's my turn to apologize to SR

 

[Cruel2BKind]

PLEASE NO!!!! NOT Textspeak!!!!

That isn't bad textspeak!

I shorten up words to one letter if I can...

That isn't bad, right?

I'm having an existential text-crisis.

 

[lovecraft68]

Now I guess it's my turn to apologize to SR

Blasphemy!!

 

[Cruel2BKind]

Blasphemy!!

No weirder then you complimenting safe_bet

 

[litfan10]

PLEASE NO!!!! NOT Textspeak!!!!

Your posts in this thread have given some great ideas. Thanks!

 

[litfan10]

So a real quick question. I'm doing a scene where two characters are texting each other while sitting in traffic, so basically flirting back and forth via text.

I've been using italics for the texts and am wondering if that's what others do. Or seeing texting is something that has gotten big recently if there is now something in any of the writing/editing manuals about it.

Hey LC. I'm going to have to hunt for this one, but one of my favourite stories (that I've never favourited ) is a story about a mom and son who accidently (she misdialed her son instead of boyfriend and sent a raunchy text) start a dialogue texting that continues when both get home and of course progresses and the texting works fine in that. Great story!

 

[Safe_Bet]

No weirder then you complimenting safe_bet

Yeah it IS! LC is just an ass MOST of the time and I'm only a bitch often.

SR is an douchewaffle 24/365 (and thats on his GOOD days!).

 

[Cruel2BKind]

Yeah it IS! LC is just an ass MOST of the time and I'm a bitch often.

SR is an douchewaffle 24/365 (and thats on his GOOD days!).

Don't ruin it!

I want you and LC to be friends from now on!

FRIENDS!

He's one of the guys on this site that ISN'T a complete douchewaffle, and you now have a story. So stop arguing!

 

[lovecraft68]

Yeah it IS! LC is just an ass MOST of the time and I'm only a bitch often.

SR is an douchewaffle 24/365 (and thats on his GOOD days!).

And most of the time I'm an ass on purpose.

Pilot was born that way and never forget he is a better asshole/bitch than anyone else could ever be!

In the immortal words of Al Yankovic in Amish Paradise

"I'm a thousand times more humble than thou art!"

That would be Pilot being modest.

 

[lovecraft68]

ISN'T a complete douchewaffle, and you now have a story. So stop arguing!

Awwww!

I feel like Rudolph in that x-mas special where he runs around going "She thinks I'm cute!"

 

[Safe_Bet]

Awwww!

I feel like Rudolph in that x-mas special where he runs around going "She thinks I'm cute!"

**slaps both hands over my mouth and thinks LOUDLY, "Don't say it! Don't say it!! Don't say it!!!"**

 

[MatthewVett]

You could put a note in the beginning that the main character's texts are marked by one kind of brackets, while the other character's text is outlined by another kind of brackets.

i.e.

<hi, how r u?>

{lol, can't complain}

I can't speak for other types of marks, but chevrons can't be used in stories. I tried it once, and they told me to resubmit it.

 

[PennLady]

I can't speak for other types of marks, but chevrons can't be used in stories. I tried it once, and they told me to resubmit it.

You might be able to do it if you used the &xxx code for chevrons (if you know it), but I can see why they'd be rejected, since they are used for HTML tags.

I'd advise against too many unusual characters. I really think that using either regular dialogue punctuation, with attributions, or alternating between italics and regular dialogue is probably the best. Not to mention easiest.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Don't ruin it!

I want you and LC to be friends from now on!

FRIENDS!

He's one of the guys on this site that ISN'T a complete douchewaffle, and you now have a story. So stop arguing!

But I don't NEED a story to be here, hon. This forum is just chocked full of egocentric writer "chiefs" and I'm about the sole damn reader "Indian".

Look at me as Jimminy Cricket sitting on the shoulders of a bunch of Pinocchios, with over inflated opinions of them selves. I think I provide a public service, dammit!