Retaining spacing

[amofiga]

If this has been addressed before, I apologize. I've been around here for at least 10 years and have about 23 stories posted, some 5-8 chapter long.

I always do my stories in MS Word and then copy and paste into the text area of the submission page. However, when I do that, all of my paragraph spacing and formatting is lost. I've tried regular Word format and Rich Text Format but still, when I copy and paste, I end up with one monolithic block of words. I know I can "upload a file" but if I do that, all I see in that area is the file name and so I have no idea what sort of formatting will come through.

In the past, I've had to copy and paste and then go back through the entire story in the submission box to reformat paragraphs either with double spacing between them or tabs. It's tedious. Is there a simpler trick to doing this?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[HappySpouse]

Set your document to 1.0 spacing and then remove the default "space after paragraph". That should show you a better representation of the vertical spacing you'll see when you paste.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

If this has been addressed before, I apologize. I've been around here for at least 10 years and have about 23 stories posted, some 5-8 chapter long.

I always do my stories in MS Word and then copy and paste into the text area of the submission page. However, when I do that, all of my paragraph spacing and formatting is lost. I've tried regular Word format and Rich Text Format but still, when I copy and paste, I end up with one monolithic block of words. I know I can "upload a file" but if I do that, all I see in that area is the file name and so I have no idea what sort of formatting will come through.

In the past, I've had to copy and paste and then go back through the entire story in the submission box to reformat paragraphs either with double spacing between them or tabs. It's tedious. Is there a simpler trick to doing this?

Thanks for any advice.

I upload from MSWord, and all my stories have formatted correctly, including italics and bolding.

 

[astuffedshirt_perv]

I always do my stories in MS Word and then copy and paste into the text area of the submission page. However, when I do that, all of my paragraph spacing and formatting is lost.

Just hit submit. The Literotica algorithm takes care of putting in the extra line between paragraphs. Every time.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Just hit submit. The Literotica algorithm takes care of putting in the extra line between paragraphs. Every time.

If you copy and paste into the submit box and get a wall of text, that story will get returned because it's... a wall of text.

If you are drafting in Word or a clone of Word, you need a double Return at the end of each paragraph. It's not spacing that gets it right, it's the double Return.

 

[KeithD]

If you copy and paste into the submit box and get a wall of text, that story will get returned because it's... a wall of text.

If you are drafting in Word or a clone of Word, you need a double Return at the end of each paragraph. It's not spacing that gets it right, it's the double Return.

This, and be aware that the Web site, not the author, sets formatting and does so so that all of the stories have a uniform basic appearance for the reader.

 

[amofiga]

Thanks all. I'll first try the double return and see what happens. I'm not sure that the Lit algorithm does indeed format because the very first story I posted years ago got some nasty comments from readers like, "Learn how to make paragraphs. This is all just one long paragraph and impossible to read." Perhaps it was HIS computer because when I called it back up it looked ok. It's always a crapshoot when moving written things from one place to another as I found out years ago when I was still working and doing a lot of technical reports with charts and graphs and such.

 

[astuffedshirt_perv]

If you copy and paste into the submit box and get a wall of text, that story will get returned because it's... a wall of text..

Has not been my experience, because that is not how it works. Cutting and pasting is always how I do it, and the submissions work just fine.

I cannot understand why so many people insist on believing two returns. Do you think, perhaps, that the submission guidelines don't ask for two returns because the website doesn't require two returns? It is easy formatting that Literotica takes care of on their end, adding returns after each return.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Has not been my experience, because that is not how it works. Cutting and pasting is always how I do it, and the submissions work just fine.

I cannot understand why so many people insist on believing two returns. Do you think, perhaps, that the submission guidelines don't ask for two returns because the website doesn't require two returns? It is easy formatting that Literotica takes care of on their end, adding returns after each return.

Please yourself. I've always used two returns on a million words and it's always worked for me, perfect paragraph spacing.

The OP was seeking advice because he had a wall of text. I gave him advice with a solution that I know works in .doc .docx. .txt and .rtf as well as cut and paste into the text box - all of which I have usd with no problems at all, over five years. Why is my advice wrong, all of a sudden, when I know it works? Perhaps I have a million words in a wall of text, but I think I'd have spotted that by now.

Your experience obviously differs. That doesn't make my advice wrong.

 

[astuffedshirt_perv]

Please yourself. I've always used two returns on a million words and it's always worked for me, perfect paragraph spacing.<snip>That doesn't make my advice wrong.

Yes, if you submit with two returns between paragraphs, the story will post with two returns. However, if you submit with one return between paragraphs, the story will post with two returns. The website ensures that. Your advice

you need a double Return at the end of each paragraph

is incorrect. It doesn't hurt, but it is not needed.

I will gladly abandon this position if you can point me to a story that, out of the 100s of thousands on here, slipped through with one return between paragraphs. Surely no one, not even Laurel, could get it right every single time over 20 years.

 

[KeithD]

I would use the two returns in both composition and review even if it didn't work with flush-left paragraphs at Literotica (and is industry standard with flush left paragraphing). It's easier on the eyes during composition and review as much as it is for the reader in final read and it clearly shows paragraph formatting.

Why authors have just "got to do" their own thing on formatting is beyond me.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Yes, if you submit with two returns between paragraphs, the story will post with two returns. However, if you submit with one return between paragraphs, the story will post with two returns. The website ensures that. Your advice is incorrect. It doesn't hurt, but it is not needed.

I will gladly abandon this position if you can point me to a story that, out of the 100s of thousands on here, slipped through with one return between paragraphs. Surely no one, not even Laurel, could get it right every single time over 20 years.

To clarify, I meant one Return to end the paragraph, one more Return to force the break, then start typing the next paragraph. The way I see it, that's two presses of the Return key at the end of a paragraph. I think that's where our disconnect comes from. Two discreet returns between paras would in my head be three, and indeed, that' s not necessary.

What the OP thought, probably, is that their paragraph set-up in Word, with six extra points at the end of a paragraph, or whatever, was enough to show the para break. But you've got to see two of the whatever it's called symbol that designates a Return.

I think we're actually saying the same thing, just describing it differently .

 

[Emirus]

I always do my stories in MS Word and then copy and paste into the text area of the submission page. However, when I do that, all of my paragraph spacing and formatting is lost. I've tried regular Word format and Rich Text Format but still, when I copy and paste, I end up with one monolithic block of words. I know I can "upload a file" but if I do that, all I see in that area is the file name and so I have no idea what sort of formatting will come through.

I submit my stories in MS Word, don’t do anything special, and have never had a problem with italics, bold or paragraph spacing. Everything appears exactly as I want it to which may, or may not, be because I always upload (which takes a matter of seconds and no longer than pasting) a file and then, after checking the other information, hit submit. It works every time.

As for spacing I hit the space bar at the end of the sentence and then once more to create the break. Again it appears exactly as my original. I honestly can’t see why anyone has a problem.

 

[PennameWombat]

If this has been addressed before, I apologize. I've been around here for at least 10 years and have about 23 stories posted, some 5-8 chapter long.

I always do my stories in MS Word and then copy and paste into the text area of the submission page. However, when I do that, all of my paragraph spacing and formatting is lost. I've tried regular Word format and Rich Text Format but still, when I copy and paste, I end up with one monolithic block of words. I know I can "upload a file" but if I do that, all I see in that area is the file name and so I have no idea what sort of formatting will come through.

In the past, I've had to copy and paste and then go back through the entire story in the submission box to reformat paragraphs either with double spacing between them or tabs. It's tedious. Is there a simpler trick to doing this?

Thanks for any advice.

I use Google Docs but also MS Word. I have it set to line spacing of 1.5 and paragraph spacing at double lines, no initial line indent. I only hit ‘Enter’ once, at the end of a paragraph. Otherwise I just type and let the tool worry about the word flow within a paragraph, since I do my writing and editing on multiple devices (laptop, iPad, phone and each different screen will flow differently.) I use Times New Roman font (size 12), occasional Courier New (monospace), rare bold and/or italic.

I always, always, always simply upload the .doc file with the settings described above. If you want to see posted format, see here: Chronicle: Mel & Chris, Ch 04 or check out any of my stories linked from the sig just below.

This allows the website to flow however it flows. My paragraphs are always fine, in both the standard (narrow) story view and the more expansive beta reader view (which I prefer and which is the new ‘mobile friendly’ format.) The one thing a bit odd is section headings, which is a quirk of mine.

 

[Jada59]

I upload from MSWord, and all my stories have formatted correctly, including italics and bolding.

Same.

 

[astuffedshirt_perv]

But I have one story where I tried to insert a song-text, wanted the lines of individual verses to stick together, and used single Returns (In this story, somewhere halfway this page), but it wasn't meant to be. Lit added the extra return itself, and it looks a bit messy.

This. Lit takes care of the 'extra' return if you didn't add it yourself.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Your paragraph spacing dialog should look like this...

You will need to hit enter twice between paragraphs. And paragraphs have no indents allowed.

ETA: I guess you don't have to hit enter twice, but it sure makes reading it tough on the eyes if you don't while you are writing and reviewing your work.

 

[PennameWombat]

Your paragraph spacing dialog should look like this...

You will need to hit enter twice between paragraphs. And paragraphs have no indents allowed.

ETA: I guess you don't have to hit enter twice, but it sure makes reading it tough on the eyes if you don't while you are writing and reviewing your work.

In the original posting it actually displays the image inline, instead of an attachment.

How do you get that? I know all about the IMG tag, but it requires a web link. I want to screengrab something and thus have a local .png file (ala what it appears Zeb did) and have it display in the posting instead of as an attached file.

I figured out one way. I created a posting (in another thread) and attached an image. Once that was posted I copied the link to the attached image file, edited the posting to use IMG and put the copied link. This seems... clumsy.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

In the original posting it actually displays the image inline, instead of an attachment.

How do you get that? I know all about the IMG tag, but it requires a web link. I want to screengrab something and thus have a local .png file (ala what it appears Zeb did) and have it display in the posting instead of as an attached file.

I figured out one way. I created a posting (in another thread) and attached an image. Once that was posted I copied the link to the attached image file, edited the posting to use IMG and put the copied link. This seems... clumsy.

When I originally used that image I had it as an attachment and just clicked on the attachment, copied the URL where it is stored on Lit and pasted it into the image dialog box on the first post.