tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post9198038609593454947..comments2013-04-17T21:35:35.210-04:00Comments on Dangerous Games: More Freelancer AdviceRoss A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-43668184274486809052013-02-18T20:31:12.428-05:002013-02-18T20:31:12.428-05:00As a layout guy who's worked with Quark (7 yea...As a layout guy who's worked with Quark (7 years) and InDesign (5 years), tables don't bother me that much for one wonderful reason: if something's best explained in a table, I'll bet you that table can be reused elsewhere—in another product, on a website, in a supplement—to great effect. And once that content's in tabular format, it's easier to re-purpose than plain text.<br /><br />For InDesign, a GREP replace does wonders for spaces after punctuation. Write one GREP replace, stash it in a file, reuse at will. (For young writers using outdated double-spacing rules, I've seen it come from English teachers, many of whom grew up with typewriters or were themselves taught by the typewriter generation.)<br /><br />Sidebars drive me up the wall, but I enjoy them when they're deemed optional from the start. On the rare occasions when I want to add to a story rather than cut from it, a sidebar is perfect; if it gets in the way, I like having the freedom to send it back to the editor (who'll ideally do something nice with it, like throw it back to the writer to wrap a blog post around it).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-76598786455337180582012-10-24T17:40:15.999-04:002012-10-24T17:40:15.999-04:00Awesome advice. Thank you very much, this is some ...Awesome advice. Thank you very much, this is some very useful stuff you are writing here.<br /><br />So, I have to ask, what is your opinion on plain text docs? <br /><br />It seems to me that most of what you suggest here are things that would work just fine in something as simple as Text Editor. The look at Quark suggests that really what you really need is plain text that you can use your high-maintainance girl friend to make look all awesome and shit. (Let's face it, we date those high-maintainance woman because when we give them what they want, we get what we want. >:D)<br /><br />As to why the new kids are doing the double space after punctuation is that they may be dealing with a mono-spaced font on their hand computers and it automatically does it for them. Funny thing about the double space that I too grew up on a manual typewriter, but I don't bring much more than remembering where the keys are to using computers and word processors. <br /><br />Speaking of typewriters, try using one of those tablet virtual keyboards sometime. If you like me are all about resting on the home row like we were taught, then it will drive you nuts. Did me. I don't know how these kids handle not having real keys to rest on. Messes with me quiet a bit, it does.<br /><br />So that is my just off of work ramble, I must go and catch up on the others now.<br /><br />Laterness,<br />Craig.Craig A. Glesnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06696516342754954732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-8802397650936021542012-10-18T16:52:01.604-04:002012-10-18T16:52:01.604-04:00Love it. I'll be using this in the next 24hrs ...Love it. I'll be using this in the next 24hrs :)Alyssahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02804158010530922880noreply@blogger.com