Things You Should Try to Avoid Doing as an Author

Brackets, Commentary, and Author's Notes

Brackets, Commentary, and Author's Notes;

What I am really talking about are; parentheses. Which are ( ).

These [ ] are brackets.

{ } These are not brackets, but I don't really know what they're called.

Brackets;

             You may be wondering why I decided to write a chapter on this particular subject. Well, I have seen so many authors inturupt the flow of their story with commentary in brackets. (A/N; Like this.) If you mention a song within your story, that's fine, but we don't need to know if it is your favourite song in brackets! 

               Some people do this when they write in another language. If there is a bit of French within their story they will do this: Bonjour (Hello/Good Morning.) While this may be helpful it is not how it should be done. Some of us will still need the translation, but you should have this either at the top or bottom of your page. This way we still get the translation and it doesn't interupt the flow of the story. 

               Brackets/Parentheses should only be used in your story if they need to be.This example was found on a different website, I did not write it! Mainly you ahould use rules One and Three. Two can be used, but it is better to use the full word for a number. As in One, Two, Three ect.

i.e. Rule 1

Use parentheses to enclose words or figures that clarify or are used as an aside.

Examples:

I expect five hundred dollars ($500).

He finally answered (after taking five minutes to think) that he did not understand the question.

Commas could have been used in the above example. Parentheses show less emphasis or importance.

Em dashes, which could also have been used instead of parentheses, show emphasis.

Rule 2

Use full parentheses to enclose numbers or letters used for listed items.

Example:

We need an emergency room physician who can (1) think quickly, (2) treat patients respectfully, and (3) handle complaints from the public.

Rule 3

Periods go inside parentheses only if an entire sentence is inside the parentheses.

Examples:

Please read the analysis (I enclosed it as Attachment A.).

OR

Please read the analysis. (I enclosed it as Attachment A.)

OR 

Please read the analysis (Attachment A).

Commentary;

               You can make commentary on your own story if you like. You can tell them what something means to you within the story. Or why a character is written that way, and why they act that way. You can tell the what the story means to you and if you've ever gone through anything like it. You can tell people what certain things mean, or why something is mentioned. This does not need to be done in brackets as it usually is. If you are going to mention these things you need an author's note.

                For how you should mention this in an author's note, look below.

Author's Notes;

                An author's note should be one entire thing. It should not be several short or long paragraphs at the end of each chapter. This is annoying, and nobody is going to read it. If you have something to say about your book, something to say about the characters, warn people about certain events, then this should be done in an author's note. 

                         If you have a warning about your book, does it have sex scenes? LGBT (for some reason some people don't like this) scenes or themes? Abuse or rape scenes? Your readers need to know about all of this before they read the book. The warning should either be said on the description page or in an author's note. If you have warnings your author's note should be the first part or chapter of your story.

                              Some people opt for an author's note at the end of the story. This is fine, but it is no good including a warning at the end of a story. If your author's note is at the end then make sure it doesn't need to include anything like warnings!

                              No author's notes between chapters. An author's note should be at the beginning or the end of the chapter. Again, it takes away the flow of a story. Try to avoid adding author's notes and commentary between chapters.

                                 What should you include in your author's note? Well what do you want to tell your readers? Do you want to tell them what a certain character means to you? Or maybe why you wrote about a particular topic? This is what you should include in your author's note. The good thing about it being your first or last chapter on Wattpad is that you can edit it, you can add things or take them away. If it is a for a published book then make sure you think the author's note through. Re read it because it is important. Not as important as your story, but it is still an important part of your story. You are essentially telling your audience why you wrote this book. And why it means so much to you. If the reader enjoys your story a lot then they will probably want to read more. They will then look for information, this information can be found in an author's note. Which is why, if you do write an author's note, they are so important.

Conclusion; 

                Not everybody is guilty of this of couse, but if you are it interupts the flow of your story. There are appropriate places to put all of your commentary and author's notes. Most of the time you should put your author's notes in their own chapter away from the rest of the story.

                 Your tranalations should go at the beginning or end of the chapter, there should always be translations because not everybody can speak another language.. Your author's notes and commentary on any part of your story should go at the beginning or the end of the chapter. 

What's your opinion? I'm always happy to know your opinion.

Is there anything I missed? As I usually feel like a do! 

Tell me in the comments!

The next chapter will be about Changing POVs.