On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:57:30   David Homerick wrote:

MegaZone wrote:

You don't seriously think people write fanfics with screen editors like
VI, do you?  They use word processors, which can and do introduce odd
formatting problems when used to create e-mail messages.

I wholeheartedly disagree and see it exactly the 
opposite.  For writing fanfics, you should use a non-
formatting, 7-bit ASCII text editor.  Be it Notepad, 
VI, or edlin (I'm kidding), stick to a text only 
program.  The only time you need special characters 
is for printing on paper, which I would hazard a 
guess that most people don't do for fanfics.  Even 
if a reader did print it, plain text looks good on 
paper.  My writing is crap, but I always make sure 
it is at least readable by using a vanilla editor.

This is an issue of common courtesy: people do not 
have the exact same computer, software and setup as 
you do.  (If we did, it wouldn't matter.)  It's best 
to be considerate of others and make your fics 
readable for *everyone*.  If you're not thinking of 
other people, why would they think of you and read 
your story?  (I'm speaking of all authors in general, 
here.)  Do unto others, etc.

Just my two yen,
Shunsuke





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