Topic: Section Breaks and Flourished Section Breaks

In my novel, I use both Section Breaks (blank line between two paragraphs) and Flourished Section Breaks (three lines between paragraphs, with the middle line incorporating a line with ornamental symbols, e.g. fleurons) for transitions within a Chapter.

I want to develop my own  rule for when to apply one or the other, as I can't seem to find a solid consensus on guidelines for such.

Here's my thought:

**Section Break**
Shifts in time, but no significant shift in scene
Shifts in location, but generally the same scene (rare, but happens on journeys, for example)
POV shifts in omniscient scene
As a tool to control pace or mood (rare)

**Flourished Section Break**
Shifts in location/scene
POV shifts in multiple third person (usually done by Chapter break, but, if there is a reason to keep it in the same Chapter)

Does anyone have any rules they use, or any resources they can point out that provide guidelines for such?

Thanks

Quote Post 1

Re: Section Breaks and Flourished Section Breaks

Those guidelines are pretty much what I've used in my manuscripts. But then I was told by three different publishers to nix the space breaks in favor of using all asterisk breaks in order to avoid formatting miscues in the printing process. Yet I've read many novels that do use space breaks, so it depends on the publisher. So my advice would be to continue using the space breaks as outlined, and let the publisher worry about it.

Quote Post 2

Re: Section Breaks and Flourished Section Breaks

jack the knife wrote:

Those guidelines are pretty much what I've used in my manuscripts. But then I was told by three different publishers to nix the space breaks in favor of using all asterisk breaks in order to avoid formatting miscues in the printing process. Yet I've read many novels that do use space breaks, so it depends on the publisher. So my advice would be to continue using the space breaks as outlined, and let the publisher worry about it.

Thank you. I have heard that as well.  Part of it is just to keep me organized, so I can see the sense in that.

Quote Post 3

4 Reply by Memphis Trace (edited by Memphis Trace 2015-02-19 18:28:22)

Re: Section Breaks and Flourished Section Breaks

Temple Wang wrote:

In my novel, I use both Section Breaks (blank line between two paragraphs) and Flourished Section Breaks (three lines between paragraphs, with the middle line incorporating a line with ornamental symbols, e.g. fleurons) for transitions within a Chapter.

I want to develop my own  rule for when to apply one or the other, as I can't seem to find a solid consensus on guidelines for such.

Here's my thought:

**Section Break**
Shifts in time, but no significant shift in scene
Shifts in location, but generally the same scene (rare, but happens on journeys, for example)
POV shifts in omniscient scene
As a tool to control pace or mood (rare)

**Flourished Section Break**
Shifts in location/scene
POV shifts in multiple third person (usually done by Chapter break, but, if there is a reason to keep it in the same Chapter)

Does anyone have any rules they use, or any resources they can point out that provide guidelines for such?

Thanks

I make the first 5 words ALL CAPS of every leap in time and/or space. I don't put any other marks or spaces. I adopted this after noticing it with William Gay http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gay_%28author%29  using the ALL CAPS convention to announce a reorientation in time and/or space. I have no idea if he had other conventions as you describe.

If your interested readers catch on quickly to your conventions, you've done the right thing. I like to read things with the fewest punctuation marks and least creative white space possible.

Memphis Trace

Quote Post 4