The indent on the first paragraph in a novel can serve several purposes. It is a traditional formatting style that helps to visually distinguish the start of a new section or the beginning of the narrative. It gives a sense of order and organization, making it clear to the reader where a new part of the story is commencing.
It depends. In some modern novels, especially those with a more contemporary or minimalist design, the first line of a paragraph may not be indented. Instead, they might use other methods to distinguish paragraphs, such as adding extra space between them. But in more classic or traditional novel formatting, indenting the first line is the norm.
Yes, it is common to indent the first paragraph of a short story. This is part of the standard formatting rules in written English for various types of texts, including short stories. The indentation serves as a signal to the reader that a new section, in this case, the start of the story, is commencing. It helps in creating a visual structure for the text and makes it easier for the reader to follow along as they move from one part of the story to another.