Hatrack River Writers Workshop   
my profile login | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Hatrack River Writers Workshop » Forums » Open Discussions About Writing » Question about formatting letter within my short story

   
Author Topic: Question about formatting letter within my short story
Arnen123
Member
Member # 9428

 - posted      Profile for Arnen123   Email Arnen123         Edit/Delete Post 
Hi,

I had a quick question. If anybody could help, would appreciate it!

I'm writing a short story. How do I format the closing part of a letter(spacing, indentation, etc.)?

When I google, all I get are guides to writing query letters.

Example:

To Beloved Anne of Romulus III,
Sincerely,
Jason Bourne bin Bourne


Thanks!

Posts: 30 | Registered: Feb 2011  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
extrinsic
Member
Member # 8019

 - posted      Profile for extrinsic   Email extrinsic         Edit/Delete Post 
I suggest a block quote format. Chicago Manual of Style, the U.S. English book manuscript and publication format style manual, recommends block quote for letters as well (section 11.39). Also, italics formatting is recommended for publication format if a letter was handwritten. Generally, though, not italics for the manuscript format, but as a suggestion to the publisher if the house is unaware of the practice, as newer or smaller, inexperienced houses may be.

[ March 27, 2014, 11:23 PM: Message edited by: extrinsic ]

Posts: 6037 | Registered: Jun 2008  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Arnen123
Member
Member # 9428

 - posted      Profile for Arnen123   Email Arnen123         Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks for the detailed answer!
Posts: 30 | Registered: Feb 2011  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
jerich100
Member
Member # 10202

 - posted      Profile for jerich100   Email jerich100         Edit/Delete Post 
You mean a letter IN the story?

If your story is science fiction, why not create your own letter format that works for your fictional world/environment?

I'm writing a novel where creatures at one point put their signatures on a written message. In their language, the name, date, and country of origin are all part of one word. Some languages on Earth blend multiple words together (German) or even build in verb conjugations into their nouns (Russian). Why must a fictional entity conform to our style of writing?

Posts: 92 | Registered: Dec 2013  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

   Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | Hatrack River Home Page

Copyright © 2008 Hatrack River Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.


Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2