Struggling with format, styles

[St.John]

I do appreciate all of the kindnesses given by you in helping to solve my
problems, but I find that each answer leads into a labrynth of special
vocabulary and obtuse instructions that are difficult for me to manage. I
have no interest in learning more about my software than that which allows me
to complete my task. These past two weeks of trying to learn how to make a
simple format(sentences into paragraphs into chapters into book)have been the
worst learning experience of my life, including the suffering of getting
advanced degrees. I simply need to and know the step-by step instructions
for formatting a novel that can be edited and rewritten when necessary,
with margins that do not move, text that does not change font, and
paragraphs that stay put. I feel that it is really very simple, but I cannot
quite master it, and I cannot spend more time trying to learn it. Give me
the instruction or point me to it and I shall be forever in your debt.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Perhaps you could start with
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/concepts/introduction/index.html

 

[St.John]

I wish that it had been written for word 2007, but I have made some progress
with styles. I am not yet comfortable, but moving forward nevertheless. I
am applying styles to an already written document and the first 75 pages
worked beautifully, and then, for no particular reason, the first-line indent
ceased to function. I have tried to
"fix" it, but nothing seems to work. I will not indent the first line
according to the instructions I have given it in the box. How may I restore
my original first line indent?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Are you sure that the line that is not indenting is actually the first line
of a paragraph? Display nonprinting paragraphs to make sure that the
previous paragraph ends with a paragraph break and not a line break (or
two). Text pasted from the Web will often have line breaks instead.