A Writer's Guide to Formatting

Discussion in 'Fan Fiction' started by nababoo, Dec 4, 2012.

  1. Ooh... transparent text. It seems rather... bulky, though. Inserting images all the time 'n' all.
     
  2. Garneac

    Garneac Phantasmal Quasar

    IndentedTransparent image, not text. ;) The only reason why the Garneac-text appearing in your quotation is visible is because the colour code for it is different than the background of the quote block.
    IndentedI use the "Find and Replace" function of Microsoft Word to automatically insert either form of indents -- usually for longer posts. It takes seconds to complete.

    IndentedEDIT: But I take your point. For others, it might be a bit of a chore.
     
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  3. Garneac

    Garneac Phantasmal Quasar

    IndentedMuahaha!
    IndentedA very convenient way to insert either form of indenting is to use AutoHotKey. This program makes life on forums so much simpler.
    IndentedWith AHK, I have "qq" (without parentheses) set to insert the indent.
    IndentedIt can also be run on start-up—or, failing that, a simple click will run the script and it's good to go.
    IndentedAHK is insanely useful beyond this indent-issue, too, and it'll fast become my gateway drug to computer bliss. So many useful scripts out there that I've yet to discover...
    IndentedAnywho. AutoHotKey. Easiest solution to including indents—among other benefits.
     
  4. I presume it's this thing, right?
     
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  5. Garneac

    Garneac Phantasmal Quasar

    IndentedYou live!

    IndentedEDIT: And yes, it is.
     
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  6. I'll add something tomorrow. As of now, I'm dead tired :P
     
  7. Garneac

    Garneac Phantasmal Quasar

    IndentedAlright, an update to the indenting business.
    IndentedAll credit goes to Chokladkakan for letting me now about this new method in this post he made. The guy is, was and always will be awesome.
    IndentedUsing colour codes, again, instead of having it set to #181818 (this forum's background colour for posts), have it set to "transparent." Take a look at the BBCode of this post for an example.
    IndentedI'll be using this from now on instead of the transparent image and colour code=#181818 for a couple reasons.

    IndentedBenefit over transparent image:
    IndentedNo need to load up images anymore, which means no sometimes noticeable lag when opening up a page—as was the case with The Time-Traveller—on my phone, that is.

    IndentedBenefit over colour code=#181818:
    IndentedQuoting will no longer show the transparent text, as it did with #181818—though, it wasn't too noticeable, but #181818 defeated the purpose of having the invisible text, IMO. With colour code set to transparent, that's no longer the case.

    IndentedNow, for ease of use, like I've suggested, try out AutoHotKey.
    IndentedAnyone who wants the necessary script:
    Code:
    :*:`t::[color=transparent]Indented[/color]
    Indented* will make it so that there's no space after the hotstring is inserted. (So, indent+whatever-you're-writing, and not indent+SPACE+whatever-you're-writing.)
    Indented`t (my TAB button) is what I press to make the indent/transparent text/hotstring appear. Of course, you can change it to whatever you like.

    IndentedIf you don't want your TAB tied up with this script, then try qq instead, as seen in the following:
    Code:
    :?C*:qq::[color=transparent]Indented[/color]
    Indented? makes it so that the indent can be part of something and still be inserted. So, typing Helloqq would actually result in Hello[​IMG]. Remove the ? if you don't want that behaviour.
    [​IMG]C makes it so that it's case-sensitive. As in, typing QQ won't work, it has to be in lower-case.
    Indentedqq is what I press to get the indent. Change it to whatever you like if need be.

    IndentedSpeaking only for myself, having an indent makes writing more comfortable, is easier on the eyes (who doesn't like indents?), makes posts take up less space (no more having to hit enter to separate paragraphs), while AHK makes the entire process automated—as opposed to, you know, having to insert the transparent text for each paragraph or, my earlier method, relying on Microsoft Word's "Find and Replace" function.

    IndentedEDIT: So there are three possible ways to indent on this site.
    IndentedTransparent text:
    Code:
    [color=transparent]Indented[/color]Blah blah blah.
    IndentedTransparent image:
    Code:
    [im/g]insert-url-of-transparent-image[/img]Blah blah blah.
     
    Remove the / in [img] above.
    IndentedColour code:
    Code:
    [color=#181818]Indented[/color]Blah blah blah.
     
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  8. Chokladkakan

    Chokladkakan Aquatic Astronaut

    You definitely don't want to set it to 'zy'; however will you type 'syzygy' and win the local game of hangman then‽

    (Garneac obviously opted for 'qq' due to the key's proximity to the tabulator key.)

    Edit: It's also worth noting that the transparent text method makes for a more pleasant experience for people like me, who use the default XenForo style instead of the Starbound one, because the latter hurts my eyes.
     
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  9. Don't forget wry, wyvern, wizard, jazz, and sesquipedalian.

    The "q" key is still so small in comparison to the "tab" button :zzz:
     
  10. Garneac

    Garneac Phantasmal Quasar

    IndentedExactly. Think I mentioned something about muscle memory in one of the earlier posts, too.

    IndentedTrue, but I've never had a problem with that. Anywho, it's always possible to have Tab set to add the indent, too. =)
     
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  11. Why don't you have tab set to it then o_O
     
  12. Garneac

    Garneac Phantasmal Quasar

    IndentedBut I do! I said as much in whichever post above explains the AHK scripts. :rofl:

    IndentedEDIT:Here, remember?
     
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  13. Tea Mate

    Tea Mate Existential Complex

    Question:

    Can you write the story in "Microsoft word", then take a screenshot and upload it as a picture? Or perhaps you can upload stories as pictures in general?
     
  14. You can, if you want. Pretty inconvenient imo, though.
     
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  15. Tea Mate

    Tea Mate Existential Complex

    Just wanted to know if it was an option.
     
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  16. Stories can be presented in whatever format you wish them to be ;)
     
  17. burthstone

    burthstone Big Damn Hero

    New Terraria Boss! Wall of Text!
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    TextTextTextTextTextText_________(O.O)
    TextTextTextTextTextText_________(___)<---You
    TextTextTextTextTextText _________|_|
     
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  18. JacobPanda

    JacobPanda Subatomic Cosmonaut

    Question:How do i Create a Vote? :$
     
  19. A poll/vote can be created when you're making a thread.

    CreateThreadPoll.png
    All hail my crude Paint skills.
     
  20. JacobPanda

    JacobPanda Subatomic Cosmonaut

    ohhh...thank you i must've missed it :/
     

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