"Creative writing" is a vague term, but generally means fiction, or writing that's not non-fiction, technical, or business writing.
4
votes
2answers
108 views
Tips for writing sentences like a native speaker
English isn't my native tongue, but I've been writing novels in English for a while. Most of the time, I can be aware of what's grammatically correct and what's not. But making sure that a sentence ...
3
votes
8answers
211 views
Is it possible that my short novel will be boring to my readers because it only has two characters and the location doesn't change?
In my story, there are two characters: a schoolgirl and a strange person with a creepy mask who gives her a tour in an art museum at night. Well, actually there is a third character; the boyfriend of ...
3
votes
3answers
381 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 ...
3
votes
4answers
250 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 ...
3
votes
3answers
90 views
Putting a dialogue a tag before a quote
Sometimes I see stuff like this:
X said, "..."
"..." X did this, and then said, "..."
Is it used to just vary sentence structure? Or to make dialogue more readable or smoother in certain ...
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
136 views
Do the characters in the following dialogue sound the same?
The following unedited dialogue is from a novel I'm writing (which is based on a short story I wrote a while ago):
"I hope it's not an inappropriate question," Icaro said, after
hesitating for a ...
2
votes
4answers
217 views
Is it a bad writing practice to start sentences with a verb?
I realized I start sentences with the, he, she, it, after and then all the time. So I'm starting to use verbs instead. Here is an example of something I wrote:
Erin left out a sigh. "Why am I ...
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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
129 views
Resource for generic plot hooks?
I'm in a long and painful recovery from many years of writer's block. Coming up with even quite simple story ideas costs me unreasonable amount of effort. Sometimes inspiration is generous and I'm ...
2
votes
4answers
135 views
Hooking the reader by omitting a piece of information
I'm writing a short story. I decided to opening it in the following way:
We were in Y, doing Z when she mentioned X. I wasn't sure whether she had misheard X's name or had gotten the wrong ...
2
votes
3answers
94 views
Is a glossary needed in a novel?
Is a glossary needed in a translated-novel?
or I would only need to put the translation of the native words under the brackets?
2
votes
3answers
127 views
Gadgets that make the world/story broken
Every so often I see a nice piece of fiction where its author adds something (to save the plot, or to make it interesting, whatever) that makes the story broken (usually it makes the world, setting or ...
2
votes
3answers
198 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
86 views
Is it unusual for a flashback to have a very long dialogue?
This flashback is from a short story I'm writing (unedited first draft):
I met Limei last summer. Our class had organized a graduation trip to
Green Island, where we stayed for fourteen days and ...
2
votes
2answers
69 views
Writing exercises to practice the art of giving unique voice to characters?
I've read many blogs where they teach you how to give an unique voice to your characters. I feel I understand how to do it, but I think I'm a little stuck the the voice that I've been using since I ...
2
votes
1answer
79 views
Dealing with lackluster plot failure
So, I wrote the beginning of something about novel-sized.
I drafted totally sweet, lovable protagonists in an interesting, original relationship, I placed them in a solid world, I painted the ...
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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
123 views
What existing platforms use crowdsourcing to develop creative writing and editing?
What existing platforms use crowdsourcing to develop creative writing and editing?
What are the barriers in developing an active community? Why would this not work? Has it been tried? Was it ...
2
votes
0answers
62 views
How can I sell articles about TV shows online?
I am a writer, and I write mostly articles about tv shows. How can I sell them?
I researched the freelance content marketplace, but I mostly just found the general sites like fiverr, freelancer, ...
1
vote
2answers
117 views
How much influence does blogging have on learning to write better?
I have 100 blogs and have written for 10 years in my language (Persian), but I'm not focused on increasing my ability to write better.
What exercises should a writer focus on when blogging to be a ...
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
77 views
Is there a reference for “dumbing down” material?
I've noticed some fiction authors (James Patterson, for instance) over time "dumbed down" their writing to include less obscure words and less poetic descriptions.
It's my understanding that this ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Using senses and similes in descriptions
I'm trying to make my descriptions to look less like a bunch of bullet points.
So I decided to use more senses and similes.
This is something I wrote:
The sun hung in the cloudless sky, like a ...
1
vote
2answers
92 views
Which animal symbolises trade? [closed]
Different animals symbolise different objects or actions. For example:
Bird for letter or postman.
Horse for speed and power.
Bull for aggressivitet and anger.
Im looking for an animal or ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
Setting up for writing
I am a work professional and the writer by choice. I have been writing since a long but basically poems, short stories and my reviews on books that I read so far. But since yet I have been writing via ...
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.
...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
Tenses I should use in a translated-novel
I have been translating a novel that is originally written in my native language into English. Considering that the book's plot is the author's experience of a life that has happened in the past, I've ...
1
vote
1answer
127 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
0
votes
2answers
806 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
71 views
Tips For A Good Medieval Fantasy Novel [closed]
I'm thinking of writing my first fiction novel based on a medieval fantasy setting and I know nothing about writing. Any pointers for this type of genre? I think I read somewhere that you need a hero, ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
A more effective way of writing this dialogue:
I'm translating a story, and there is scene in it where an ex-colleague asks the man who had slapped the female protagonist the reason for his doing so. In reply, all he says is something like, “What ...
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 ...
0
votes
2answers
58 views
Writing style — comma, period and re-referring the object of the first sentence again as subject in second sentence
Alex look around the room, it's almost empty except few small empty boxes and few clothes.
Alex look around the room. It's almost empty except few small empty boxes and few clothes.
Alex ...
0
votes
1answer
94 views
How to elegantly convey the finer nuances of language in written form
I am fascinated by the idea of how to convey, in the written form, as much detail of expressive nuance as you originally intended in your head (i.e. what you hear when first coming up with it). I ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
german tourist or German tourist? [closed]
I have learned that 'german' as a noun, written with upper case letter whilst 'german' as an adjective should be with lower case letter. Please guide me more by posting the rules if necessary, thank ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
What types of research do writers do in advance of writing? [closed]
I'm trying to determine how universal story research is, and to what extent writers actually do research vs making everything up from personal experience and imagination.
I know writing is a very ...
0
votes
1answer
119 views
To translate a novel with Westerner's point of view
I am an Easterner. I have been translating a novel, that is originally written in my native language, into English. During the process, I have also been learning about cultural things, meant to ...
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 ...
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.
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.
...
-1
votes
4answers
180 views
What genre appeals to the widest audience?
My writing is focused primarily on love stories, i.e. the romance genre, and I believe this reaches a relatively small audience.
Is there one genre that appeals to a far wider audience than its ...
-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
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 ...
-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 ...
