Fanfiction.net, often abbreviated as FF.Net or FFN, is an automated fan fiction website primarily focused on fan-created stories. With an easy-to-use interface and a broad array of genres to choose from, it has become a hotbed of creativity for fans across the globe. One common feature that writers on this platform often want to master is adding quotes to their stories. Although FFN doesn't have a built-in feature for direct quotes, there are several workarounds that are widely accepted within the community. This article will delve into different ways to add quotes on fanfiction.net.

The importance of Quotes in Fanfiction

Stories often rely on dialogue to push the plot forward, to reveal character traits, and to increase reader engagement. In fanfiction, where the stories are often more character-driven, dialogue becomes even more critical. Quotes add realism to the story, allowing the characters to express their feelings and interact with other characters. They bring out the voice of the character, making the character seem real and relatable to the readers.

Quotes also aid in defining the plot, as they can be used to highlight critical details and foreshadow future events. They bring life and depth to the narrative, making it easier for readers to visualize and relate to the story. Therefore, it is crucial to master the art of adding quotes to your stories on FFN.

Proper Punctuation for Quotes

Before we get into the technical aspect of adding quotes, it's essential to understand how to use proper punctuation. Quotes should always be enclosed in quotation marks. Any punctuation (like a comma, exclamation mark, or question mark) that is part of the dialogue should be inside the quotation marks. When changing speakers, a new paragraph should be started.

For example, "I'm just getting started," said John. Incorrect punctuation can lead to confusion for the readers, disrupting their reading flow. Therefore, mastering the correct punctuation rules for quotes is crucial to maintain your story's readability.

Emphasizing Quotes

There are a couple of ways to emphasize quotes in your FFN story. Bold, italics and underline are all commonly used. To make text bold, you can enclose the text you want to emphasize in and HTML tags. To make text italic, you can use and , and for underlining, you can use and .

However, you should use these sparingly as using too much can distract the reader and make your story seem cluttered or overly dramatic. Use these types of emphasis to highlight important quotes or to indicate a different tone of voice.

Block Quotes

Block Quotes are another popular method to insert quotes into the story, especially for long quotations that span multiple lines. To create a block quote on FFN, you can use the HTML tags

and .

A blockquote will separate the quote from the rest of your text, highlighting it and setting it apart visually. This can be particularly effective when a character is making a long speech, narrating a story, or when you need to highlight a substantial thought or idea in your narrative.

Dialogue Tags

Dialogue tags are an effective tool to clarify the speaker of the quote, especially when there's a conversation going on between two or more characters. Use common dialogue tags like 'said', 'asked', 'cried', and 'whispered', always accompanied by a character's name or pronoun.

For example, "I'm just getting started," John said. Remember, the dialogue tag is part of the sentence and should be separated from the quote by a comma inside the closing quotation mark.

Internal Dialogue

Internal dialogue is when a character speaks to themselves within their mind, which is an effective way to provide readers with insight into the character’s inner thoughts and feelings. It can be presented in italics, without quotation marks.

For example, I need to get out of here, John thought. It's crucial to make sure that the context makes it clear that the italicized text is a character's thoughts to avoid confusing readers.

Narrative Interrupting Dialogue

Sometimes, you might need the narrative to interrupt a piece of dialogue. In such cases, the dialogue tag is not enough, and you have to break up the quote correctly. You should use an em-dash (� to signal an interruption. For example, "I don't—"John started, but never finished his sentence.

This style of breaking up dialogue allows you to control the pace of your story and to keep readers engrossed in the situation.

Conclusion

Learning how to add quotes accurately on fanfiction.net can seem daunting at first, but once you understand the conventions, you'll find it easy to handle. By mastering the techniques mentioned above, you can improve your storytelling skills and engage your audience better.

Q&A:

Q: What kind of punctuation mark should I use at the end of a quote?
A: If your quote is followed by a dialogue tag (like 'said'), you should usually use a comma. If not, you should use a period, exclamation mark, or question mark, depending on the context.

Q: How do I make my dialogue sound natural?
A: One of the best ways to make dialogue sound natural is to read it out loud. This can help you catch awkward phrases or spot where the dialogue doesn't flow naturally.

Q: How often should I use quotes in my fanfiction?
A: There's no hard and fast rule for this. You should use quotes as often as you need to, whether it's for character development, moving the plot forward, or adding depth to your narrative.

Q: How long should a quote be?
A: A quote can be as short as one word or several lines long. The length of your quote should be determined by what the story needs.

Q: Can I use single quotation marks for quotes within quotes?
A: Yes. This is a common way to handle quotes within quotes, and it's widely accepted in literature. For example, "She said, 'I love you,' and walked away."

References:

[1] FanFiction. (n.d). FanFiction. Retrieved from https://fanfiction.net

[2] Purdue Online Writing Lab. (2018). Quotation Marks. Retrieved from https://owl.purdue.edu/owl.purdue.edu

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