DargonZine Writers' Style Guide

This section details how to compose and format your submissions so that they conform to Dargon Style. Consider it a "How To" on how to properly use dashes, ellipses, etcetera in your stories.

Dashes:

When using dashes to set off an independent phrase -- such as this one -- use two characters, and set them off as if they were a separate word. Something -- well, exactly -- like that.

Ellipses:

Ellipses should appear as a single three-character word, set apart from other words. Like ... this. When an ellipse ends a statement or sentence, additional punctuation is not used in addition to the ellipse; it stands by itself and ends the thought or statement. If the ellipse begins or terminates a quotation, the quotation marks directly abut the ellipse.

Emphasis:

Use *asterisks* around words to indicate emphasis, rather than _underlines_ or CAPITALS.

Format:

Submissions should be mailed as ASCII text. Anything else won't be read, to include ZIPped or UUENCODEd text, word processor files, or text with imbedded control words.

Headers:

All stories must begin with a header, and all the lines in the header must be centered.

The first header line contains the story's title. If it is part of a serial, the second line will contain the part number, and an optional title that is specific to that part.

The next line will contain the word "by" and the author's full name, and then a line with his network userid if he wishes it to be known to the readers.

The following line will contain the Dargon date when the story takes place. All stories must have a Dargon date.

The header will be followed by a blank line, after which the text of the submission begins.

For co-authored stories, the first attibution line will contain "by" and both the author's full name and (optional) network address. Subsequent attribution lines will contain "and" and subsequent authors' full names and (optional) network addresses.

Hyphenation:

Do not hyphenate words. Words that would otherwise exceed the line width should be spilled to the next line rather than split, as they will be reformatted by the editor before publication.

Indenting:

Don't indent your base text. Whenever a space appears in the first column of your text, this will be interpreted and formatted as a paragraph break.

For text that should be indented, adjust both left and right margins inward by 5 characters.

Justification:

Submissions should never be right-justified or contain more than one blank between words.

Length:

Stories should range from 900 to 9,000 words. Stories that exceed 9,000 words must be serialized into two or more stories that will be published separately.

Paragraphs:

Paragraphs should be indented 5 spaces.

Quotes:

Use double quotes for dialogue. When single quotes are needed, use two 'apostrophes' rather than `open and close' quotes.

Sections:

Submissions will often be divided into separate sections by a single blank line. This indicates a change of setting, time, or viewpoint.

Serialization:

Stories in excess of 9,000 words must be serialized. The author is responsible for breaking the submission into parts and writing appropriate prefaces (remember that parts won't appear in the same issue).

Ideally, a serial story should either be submitted and approved by the group as a whole, or individual parts should be able to stand on their own as independent stories. We don't want to get into a situation where a series is left only partially completed when an author leaves the project or loses interest in the storyline.

Spacing:

All submissions should be single-spaced.

Spelling:

Run your submission through a spelling checker and have live humans proof it *before* you sent it to Dargon-L. Spelling and grammar are basic skills that any writer must master, and it's extremely unprofessional to expect other writers to perform this function for you. The purpose of the project is to teach the art of good writing, not fourth grade spelling and grammar.

DargonZine is an English-language publication, but we don't force people to use American English spelling. If they use Queen's English where you come from, that's good enough for us!

Trailer:

Stories should end without any trailer. All pertinent information must be given in the story header.