I’m working on my next book, a collection of scary stories called The Ghosts of Devils Lake. One of the thing that makes them really scary is the fact that they’re all based on true events, and I have sources to back everything up.
But that’s led me into a geeky technical conundrum, too.
I’m writing the book in Microsoft Word, which has built-in tools for automatic endnotes, footnotes, citations, and bibliographies. That means I have a lot of options when it comes to referring readers to my sources. There are so many options, in fact, that I’m a little overwhelmed.
So, lovely readers, riddle me this:
- Do you like endnotes and footnotes? (Sometimes I really like the extra information they can provide, but at the same time, they’re also sort of disruptive. They can really interrupt the flow of a good story. What do you think?)
- If you are a fan of endnotes and footnootes, what would you think of a subtle break with convention? How would you react, instead, to a “source note” at the end of each story? Like footnotes or endnotes, the source notes would offer details about the newspaper archive, historical text, or journal that originally described each event.
- Do you appreciate footnotes and endnotes that conform to the Chicago Manual of Style, or do you prefer a more conversational approach to your references?
- And, as long as you’re here … Do you have much experience with source management in Microsoft Word? Have you ever used the feature that automatically generates a bibliography from citations?
- If you are the Microsoft Word geek of my dreams, do you have any tips or hints to share?
Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.
Corrine Kenner 
1. Do you like endnotes and footnotes? (Sometimes I really like the extra information they can provide, but at the same time, they’re also sort of disruptive. They can really interrupt the flow of a good story. What do you think?)
In a non-fiction encyclopedia/grimoire/BOS-like books, Yes. In a based-on-a-true-story fictionalized scary story that’s meant to have me at the edge of my seat… NO WAY JOSEFINA!… it just ruins it for me altogether! A better option would be to put an ‘Afterword’ section in the book citing your sources n stuff (without making it look like an FBI fact-sheet).
2. If you are a fan of endnotes and footnootes, what would you think of a subtle break with convention? How would you react, instead, to a “source note” at the end of each story? Like footnotes or endnotes, the source notes would offer details about the newspaper archive, historical text, or journal that originally described each event.
(see above)
3. Do you appreciate footnotes and endnotes that conform to the Chicago Manual of Style, or do you prefer a more conversational approach to your references?
(see above) and more conversational style please. Allow your author’s voice to give out a factual, yet spooky tone, making the reader understand it’s all true, as well as, give them the chills even reading the facts!
4. And, as long as you’re here … Do you have much experience with source management in Microsoft Word? Have you ever used the feature that automatically generates a bibliography from citations?
Sorry, can’t help you here… but a writer friend of mine who does fact-checking n stuff, uses Pages in iWork for her Mac… and she says it’s easy breezy compared to MS WORD.
5. If you are the Microsoft Word geek of my dreams, do you have any tips or hints to share?
(See above – sorry for not being much help here)
Hope this was helpful! Looking forward to The Ghosts of Devils Lake! 😀
Good Luck!
I agree with Zorian. I think it would make the experience of reading a work of fiction much less engaging if Chicago Style citations/footnotes were used, and in my opinion, even “conversational” footnotes/endnotes. The only time I’ve encountered them in fiction is in books by Terry Pratchett, and I don’t mind them sometimes, but most of the time it really does interrupt the flow of the story for me and sometimes I don’t read them (though if they’re there, I am compelled to read them anyway, which adds to the mild annoyance).
I do think a note at the end of each story sounds like a good idea, as it would provide whatever information you wanted/needed to include without being disruptive.
And not that this is helpful, but I also use Pages on my Mac and it is lovely. MS Word feels fairly clunky in comparison.
Those are really helpful answers! Now I’m leaning toward putting all of the sources at the end, conversational style, but listed under the chapter headings.
Please don’t torment me with all your Apple/Macintosh talk, though. I used to be a Mac person before I met my husband. I know they’re nice machines … but my husband is a software developer who works with PCs, which means I can buy and upgrade my computers for a lot less money, and I’ve got a built-in technical support specialist whenever any issues pop up. But still … No! I’m not going to switch back! I must be strong!
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You’ve rec’d some good feedback, but my two cents are to stick w/ the conversational Notes, but I think at the end of each chapter (which will be a stand-alone story, right?) would be fine. That way readers who want more info will have it for the story while it’s fresh in their minds, instead of reviewing a section that may be several pages at the end. When I’m reading something and am NOT interested, I just skim over a chapter-end info dump like that.
Do you have EndNote or Reference Manager? One of those programs may be helpful for this. I’m more familiar with Ref Mgr myself but both are excellent repositories that fully integrate with Word.
Good luck, and I hope your writing’s going well!
I’m a research geek and do love footnotes at the bottom of the page. Even though I work in academe but when reading outside of my work, I prefer a more conversational note. Once I get the flow of how you use them then I either read them after the story or along with!
Especially since these stories are based in history, you’ll get a lot of [local] history buffs who eat this stuff up—not only the stories but the notes and research as well. They tend to be meticulous researchers and will correct you if you get it wrong. They will be looking for family connections, connections to place and to ensure that you presented the facts in an engaging way. Well that last one was more for general readers. So if you take liberties with the facts, I’d make sure you acknowledge that somewhere.
I tend to be a story by story person so I’d prefer the notes and information in that chapter rather than at the end of a book.
Word generates bibliographies?!!! I must check that out. THat would be incredibly awesome.
I was thinking of you just yesterday–I was looking at Recollections dresses and remembering your post on FB. I admire how you seek out and land writing opportunities! I was sitting at the table at RS09 when the publisher said she was looking for ghost stories of a region and you said, “I can do that.” And I thought “yes she can” and I bet she will. And here we are. You rock!
Hi Corinne
Firstly, let me say I LOVE your Tarot Journaling book. 🙂
Re the footnotes/ endnotes questions, I agree with the others that footnotes would be too distracting.
Why not just create an index, for interested readers and scholars, and a Notes section at the end of the book to collect all your references in one place. A bibliography would be nice too, for people like me who really like to get into the subject.
I often read collections of short stories (“20 crime stories from women writers”, “25 classical mysteries” etc) and these books have a short introduction/ lead-in to each story, written by the editor. In lieu of notes, these might be a more readable option…
Good luck with the project. 🙂