"Creative writing" is a vague term, but generally means fiction, or writing that's not non-fiction, technical, or business writing.
0
votes
3answers
150 views
Writing a very complex relationship
I am writing a webcomic, and have come upon a snag, I need two characters to like each other very much, but one is the slave of the other.
In the comic, there are characters who find and use powerful ...
21
votes
14answers
6k views
Is there any good time-line software out there?
I write mostly speculative fiction, and use Scrivener for writing and note-taking.
But I'm looking to start crafting timelines to keep track of the exact year and months events in the distant and ...
5
votes
3answers
171 views
Is it really necessary to add things like “I thought, I wondered, etc,” in first-person narrative?
Example:
The whole thing sounded a bit strange. How had she gotten my number? I
wondered. I didn't know anyone called Maria.
The whole thing sounded a bit strange. How had she gotten my ...
9
votes
5answers
356 views
How can I learn how to outline, so I can write like an architect?
I've just watched one part of Brandon Sanderson's lecture on writing, the section entitled Gardeners & Architects and I realised I'm a Gardener, almost exclusively. This often ends up with me ...
5
votes
2answers
161 views
Breaking the 'cooling down' rule after finishing the first draft
I've read that after finishing the first draft, you should distance yourself from the project at least a month.
I just finished the first draft of my novel (10 chapters). I've been trying to not to ...
2
votes
2answers
168 views
How to know if the events in my novel are 'realistic enough'?
Sometimes I find my self wondering if the events in my novels are 'realistic enough.' I aware that they don't need to happen in real life, but I want the reader to think: oh yeah, this could happen in ...
-3
votes
2answers
140 views
Need a resource for creative writing
I'm already quite good at writing and putting together words and sentences. However, I would like to improve myself to the level that I can write a nice entertaining novel or several short stories to ...
4
votes
3answers
209 views
Deciding whether to use a dialogue tag or an action tag in a dialogue
Example:
"I'm not saying you don't know what you are talking about," he said,
then looked at her and shrugged his shoulders. "But I don't know what
you are talking about."
"I'm not saying ...
2
votes
1answer
92 views
Is it better to divide writing time for a 'many short times' approach instead of 'one long session'?
Most authors I read write in small chunks of time (1hr~40min). I wonder if this is a writing technique. I always find myself writing for 3 to 4 hours straight (taking 5 minutes breaks). The thing is ...
8
votes
2answers
173 views
Is it typical to add variation to the words used for a character's name to keep it spicy?
A friend has asked me to read through a chapter of his story and give my opinion.
Lets say he has two main characters Mr John de Havilland and Mrs Sally de Havilland.
I've noticed that the author ...
-1
votes
1answer
65 views
Does this flow nicely? [closed]
I've started this short story. In essence past this part it's a conversation this intro is to just sort of "set the stage". Does it work? if not what sort of revisions should be made?
Man is an ...
2
votes
3answers
197 views
How do I stick to one story?
I have been writing bits and pieces for quite a while now. I just can't ever follow through. I have written tons of poems (close to 50) but the only reason they have been possible is because I can ...
7
votes
7answers
413 views
How to overcome the fact that I can't write long stories?
I have written some short stories (in fact, they are flash fiction). When I'm writing short stories, the ideas and the structure come to my mind by themselves.
Something different happens when I try ...
10
votes
6answers
719 views
How does one avoid bland, generic fantasy while they write?
I have been mulling over the plot and characters for an elaborate fantasy work for a number of years now. The longer I mull things over, the more possessed I am that this story is worth telling. The ...
0
votes
0answers
143 views
Help my wife find a career in writing :( [closed]
I'm asking this question for my wife who hates programming job(Anything which is technical). She has been in the software industry since 2.6 years, but now she is going through a very tough time. She ...
12
votes
3answers
274 views
Writers Communities?
I don't mean writer's circles, or "auditioning sites", although some of these have forums tacked on as a by the by. Usually places to talk about the beardy philosophy of writing are moribund places as ...
11
votes
4answers
186 views
How to get feedback about the quality of one's fictional writing from friends unbiased by the friendship?
It is a little strange to ask, but are there ways to get feedback from friends about the quality of fictional writing (whether they liked it, not more objective aspects like spelling/grammar/etc.) ...
11
votes
6answers
371 views
How can I effectively invent a language?
I want to make a particular language that adapts to the story. And the language has to have x and y and e characteristics for example.
Is there a protocol to follow on the process of making a ...
0
votes
1answer
113 views
Describing a machine's world in a metaphorical manner
The actual meaning that I want to convey is sort of like a good design covers up the nitty gritty technical aspects of a machine and provides a smooth experience when using it.
I want to describe ...
5
votes
2answers
369 views
How to concentrate when writing?
I looked through the questions and didn't see this one so hopefully it's not a duplicate. I often have ideas of stories I want to write and I work on outlines or write down elements and I know what I ...
2
votes
5answers
200 views
How do I keep up with current written English language?
I am a speaker of English as a foreign language. I appreciate that English is a living language and that different regions in the world use English differently. I wanted to know how I can keep up with ...
1
vote
2answers
226 views
How do I appreciate a subject matter expert's expertise?
Situation -A subject matter expert is helping me with something that, well, matters. (to me)
I want to send a quick one liner thank you and let her know that I fully appreciate the time that she ...
3
votes
2answers
133 views
How to restart a novel(la)?
I've got a novel(la) of 33,000+ (130 or so manuscript pages) words that I would like to build up to 60,000 or so words - but I'm having trouble restarting the project...
So my question is this: what ...
1
vote
1answer
126 views
How to express in a better way? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to overcome the fact that I can't write?
Normally I have good ideas to write. But when I come to writing those on paper it seems I don't have much vocabulary or ...
6
votes
3answers
405 views
How to develop a story for a novel?
I am looking for some inspiration on where to start writing a novel. I have a general idea for a plot and characters, but I don't feel it's enough for sitting down and starting to write. It needs a ...
17
votes
13answers
1k views
How does a code monkey become a novelist?
I have always loved creative writing, but honestly do not see software engineers that write fiction all that often. Heck, I do not see software engineers that read fiction all that often either.
To ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
What sites can I use to crowdsource my writing project?
I have a writing project I'd like to crowdsource. I imagine opening the project definition to an open call, and awarding the work to the most creative writer / thinker based on a sample of their work ...
1
vote
0answers
60 views
How to use His/My/Your permutations in adressing persons [closed]
I'd like to understand the rationale of when, why and how His/My/Your are used in titles of addressing people.
For example, the standard commonly accepted uses are:
"His Honour"("His Grace", or ...
3
votes
4answers
249 views
What are useful resources for a beginner whose eventual goal is to write a novel? [closed]
I am new to creative writing but have been an avid reader for years (mainly SF/fantasy). I have wanted to write fantasy stories for a long time and have recently started to build a setting for them in ...
4
votes
3answers
413 views
Single character POV vs. two POVs - how to decide?
I'm starting to look at my next novel, and I'm trying to decide whether I should tell it from one POV or two. I've used both techniques in the past, so I'm aware of the basic ...
6
votes
7answers
648 views
Dialogue writing practices?
First time novelist, long time writer here. I'm looking for creative writing exercises to help with my dialogue.
Any ideas?
8
votes
5answers
431 views
An engineering student wants to write fiction, where to start?
I'm a computer engineering student, programmer, avid book lover and have a very vivid (some would say "screwed up") mind.
I recently thought up an idea for a very cool short/medium story. It's like a ...
7
votes
5answers
498 views
How Do you Stave Off Boredom While Writing?
I have about 20 half-finish novels sitting on my computer, in my filing cabinet, or under my bed. The story with each is the same - I start out with a full head of steam and great ideas, but about ...
0
votes
0answers
128 views
Crowdsourcing for writers ? [closed]
I have a project and would like to crowdsource the project. I want to award the work to the most creative writer / thinker based on the sample of their work or on the complete deliverable.
5
votes
5answers
379 views
Is a novel less credible if the dialogues are too perfect?
I always find myself trying to make dialogues perfect. For example, the perfect advice, the perfect punch line, the perfect joke or irony. OR maybe if the characters talk continuously without ...
0
votes
1answer
129 views
What are some possible reasons of why my readers preferred this “writing” over the others two? [closed]
Recently, I wrote the following stuff for a photo web comic I created inspired in "a softer world.":
To break up and stay friends means to
throw away a possession and turn it
into something ...
7
votes
6answers
456 views
How to attract the average reader to an “intellectual” novel?
For instance, If I write a novel which has the following:
“The universe goes through a gradual
transition from one condition, to a
different condition, without any
abrupt changes.”
...
3
votes
3answers
379 views
What is a systematic way of using Roget’s Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases?
I'm new to the book, and not sure where to start. Please share some ideas on how you as a writer use Roget's. I love that the book has so many different words and I would like to know how you use ...
4
votes
5answers
1k views
In what order should I describe a setting?
For instance I'm describing the park of an art museum in a foggy day. I'm not sure if I should start with the fog, wind, grass, threes, walking paths, buildings, stairs or something else. Is there a ...
5
votes
4answers
346 views
What makes a good action scene?
Action, in any storytelling medium, is the relationship between build up and pay off. While cinema may emphasize the payoff (pyrotechnics play well to theater-going crowds) it seems that the written ...
0
votes
0answers
265 views
What's the best and clearer way of presenting a character description for a novel? [closed]
Basically, I would like to know which method gives more clarity for the writer or helps to develop the psychology of the character the best?:
1.-
Name: John
Physical Appearance: tall, thin, etc.
...
-2
votes
1answer
142 views
How many words (or lines) are long enough to make someone think about his life but short enough to hook lazy readers? [closed]
OK, I know that it depends of what it is written. But I believe that human brain responds to a certain amount of words in different ways. Based on that, how many words (or lines) you think are long ...
1
vote
4answers
105 views
How to convey the fact that the person that I'm talking to, is “she” but from the past?
I wrote the following:
I think about cheating on you...with a
girl who I used to have random
romantic moments with, a girl who no
longer exist, a girl which was you,
the first days we met.
...
7
votes
8answers
584 views
What should step one in writing a novel be?
I'm new to this site, though not to StackExchange...I'm excited by the existence of a group like this for (in my case, aspiring) writers.
Here's my issue/question: I have had an interest in writing ...
0
votes
2answers
804 views
Sample Metaphor for Cycling
Can you please give me a sample metaphor for cycling specially if you used to pedal in an uphill and its a bit tiring and your sweat are flowing.
Also, when you used to ride in downhill wherein the ...
10
votes
2answers
279 views
Getting emotional while writing, good or bad?
Once in a while I get really emotional when writing.
Writing about love, jealousy or even thinking about a simple scene in which a father plays with his child can get some strong emotional responses ...
7
votes
7answers
366 views
Are there good tips on being a better *creative* writer?
I'm a student at Case, and while we of course have an English department, it seems the only kind of writing classes/courses available are for learning to be either a "literary" writer, or a ...
8
votes
4answers
258 views
Are there any techniques that make complexity work?
One for the creative writers, although I suppose a lateral shift might put it within reach of journalists/technical writers.
As authors we all want to write, I would imagine:
Something that many ...
15
votes
7answers
917 views
What's Essential In A Combat Scene?
I've just been reading a bunch of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files books. Although they were the most enjoyable read I'd had in ages I always found myself skimming long segments that described involved ...
19
votes
9answers
702 views
Are there jobs that involve creative writing in the software industry?
I've been a developer for some years now, but I've realized that I need a job where I can be more creative (and hopefully work more with people (except dba's)).
Since I love writing, but at the same ...
