Fiction is a form of prose writing that deals with at least partly artificial or imagined events and characters. This tag should be used for any questions relating to fiction, including fiction formatting and technique, fiction critiques, and the publishing of fiction.
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 ...
4
votes
4answers
298 views
Writing about extreme trauma
I've just written a chapter in which one of my protags witnesses her entire family massacred during an invasion of her home city. This is obviously an extremely traumatic and horrifying event, and in ...
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 ...
4
votes
5answers
184 views
Is this excerpt's style too matter-of-fact?
I get the feeling that this blurb is too... expositiony, not enough description. Too much "this happened and then this happened and then this happened". But I'm notoriously bad at evaluating myself - ...
4
votes
2answers
125 views
What is the difference between “creative writing” and “fiction writing”?
My college offers many writing courses. I notice, one course is called "Creative Writing" and another is called "Fiction Writing". What is the difference between creative writing and fiction writing?
4
votes
2answers
161 views
How to keep the reader engaged in a novel where “not much happens”?
(Hope I don't get an answer like this).
I'm writing a novel where "not much happens," instead, it focuses on things that could happen. In other words, the protagonist does not directly experience ...
4
votes
4answers
386 views
I suck at plots. Is there a way to sort of train oneself to think of creative plots, specifically in scifi?
I'm pretty good in the writing department as far as prose, it's just that I'll sit down and have no idea what to write. Perhaps it's a creative problem, I just don't know. I cannot figure out any ...
4
votes
4answers
183 views
How can I improve this description which includes actions?
This is the beginning of a short story I'm writing (I'm not a native English speaker):
I was lying in the dark, looking at
the ceiling, counting spider webs. She
was lying right beside me. I ...
4
votes
2answers
155 views
Style of writing as told from the point of view of the main character
What would be a good style for writing a story from one point of view while keeping the narration interesting? I mean you can't go into too much detail as what a person does during the day is fine for ...
4
votes
3answers
207 views
Simplicity is fundamental in design. How about in writing a novel?
I'm a web designer. The first rule in design is KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid).
How about writing a novel? Is simplicity fundamental or just an option?
4
votes
3answers
144 views
Deciding the setting: real or invented?
I'm preparing some material because I have the intention of writing a book. I'd do this in every type of work, but considering that I'm writing Crime Fiction, this is even more important.
I've ...
4
votes
3answers
158 views
What is the name of the genre of stories with multiple realities?
The movie "Sucker Punch" and the "Once Upon a time" series make it hard to distinguish what state of reality is the "real" one (not that it matters).
In "Fixing the Shadow" we encountered a character ...
4
votes
3answers
99 views
Should I write about how the character solved some riddle or let the reader solve it himself
"Reaching an end to his path, Eric found a locked door, the lock was a combination of 4 numbers, and above the doorknob a script explaining the lock : 'finishing four circles, a lost day is found' "
...
4
votes
4answers
201 views
What are some disadvantages of writing fiction in a diary format?
I find writing in a diary-style is the easiest way to write fiction. The format is the same as a diary, with each entry beginning with the date, then describing the feelings or events of the character ...
4
votes
3answers
171 views
Slow openings: What is it about this Neil Gaiman opening that pulls the reader in?
I was blogging about opening lines the other day, and looking for examples. I came across the opening to American Gods, and realized that it's neither flashy nor something that will grab the reader in ...
4
votes
2answers
723 views
Pros ans cons of writing a plot based on the present and past tense (character's point of view)?
I'm not sure if I should write my first book in the present or past tense.
The book is about a doctor in a clinic who is analysing his patients.
e.g.
I said, VS I say.
I thought for a while ...
4
votes
2answers
275 views
What is “head popping” and why is it bad?
Most of my writing experience has been with first person, nonfiction stories. Now I want to try some fiction. I'm working in third person, but I'm a little bit confused about how to pull something ...
4
votes
4answers
180 views
Are these fictional musings convincing or overwrought?
I've been working for some time on a story about a detective who finds himself alienated, delusional and hopeless while trapped inside a dystopic, postmodern dream. This segment voices some of the ...
4
votes
3answers
307 views
Fiction writing book recommendation for a 10-year old
My 10 year old niece enjoys writing fiction and writes very well for her age.
I would love to encourage her love of writing.
Can anyone recommend a good fiction writing book that is accessible to a ...
4
votes
4answers
130 views
How much should I reveal of how the world functions in fiction?
I am currently working on a fiction novel. The way the world (magic, technology, government, species etc) works is extremely complicated.
Basically, the idea is to reveal the mechanics bit by bit . ...
4
votes
3answers
199 views
It is a sign of bad writing to have many scenes that are disconnected with the main plot?
So my novel look like this (I took this diagram idea from this site, but I'm not sure exactly from whom):
The beginning and end focuses on the mystery that the heroine is trying to solve (main ...
4
votes
1answer
325 views
When to use the em dash (—) in fiction writing?
I always see the em dash (—) in fiction writing.
Here are some example from Haruki Murakami's After Dark:
Komugi comes in and takes something from one of the cartons piled
against the wall—a ...
4
votes
4answers
174 views
Does this writing create emotion in the reader?
The thing I hear most often about my writing is, "It's too dry." I'm sure this happens to other people too. I'm working on eliciting emotion through writing, and I'd like a critique on some of my ...
4
votes
3answers
227 views
How to achieve a dark and nostalgic feeling/setting in a novel?
I don't want to scare the reader, but I would like to produce a dark and nostalgic feeling.
Pretty much the feeling that gives you this video (both image and music).
The setting of my novel is a ...
4
votes
2answers
142 views
Writing a novel which has the same structure and a particular theme in each chapter
I'm writing a novel that will have 9 chapters. Most of the chapters have the same structure:
The main character goes down a hole she found in her room.
She finds herself in a strange part of the ...
4
votes
1answer
89 views
Background speech with foreground dialogue
A few days ago, I stumbled upon an issue of the type; meaning I had two characters talking between themselves and another character talking in the background; actually delivering a speech.
What the ...
4
votes
1answer
56 views
Effect of real world brands and/or places on story tone
This is based on that question, but from a tone point of view.
Let's say I have a story taking place in a near-future version of Boston, characters are meeting for coffee.
I have no issue saying ...
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
4answers
302 views
Is it true that men (in general) can't write female first-person?
I think I first saw that statement in an answer to this question.
Men cannot, in general, write female first-person.
I gave it a thought, and realized there was some truth in it; I've read ...
3
votes
6answers
344 views
Can a likeable character be unsympathetic?
I believe an unlikable character can be sympathetic, although that's tricky. But can you go the other way? Can your character be likable but at the same time unsympathetic? I've been trying and ...
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
4answers
745 views
What are examples of fiction books picked up by publishers after being self-published?
I've seen some references to commercial publishers picking up a self-published novel if it's been selling well.
Can you point me to a few specific examples of this happening?
Fiction only, please. ...
3
votes
4answers
135 views
Does this microfiction provide a slightly surreal sense when describing an ordinary scene?
In this short story I'm trying to describe an unexceptional scene in an exciting and compelling way. I want to make a common ritual seem strange and a bit surreal. Does this paragraph accomplish these ...
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
4answers
293 views
How best to handle revealing a main character's name midway through a long story in close-third person?
I'm writing a novel, and it's written in close third person perspective, very much sitting on the shoulder of one main character and privy to their thoughts. There is another very important character ...
3
votes
3answers
275 views
Does this beginning hook the reader?
Guide lines Q no. 4:
This is supposed to be the opening part, but certainly not the whole of the first chapter or page for that matter... I'm not exactly sure anyone would take 30 seconds to read ...
3
votes
3answers
297 views
Does this paragraph make you want to keep reading?
Can you remember the last toy you ever bought?
We do. Here at the St. Abattoir, London's largest toy store, your childhood is our business. We think of ourselves not as merely customer ...
3
votes
5answers
150 views
Which version of these three lines is more likely to attract the interest of the reader ? (character's viewpoint vs omnicient narrator)
The first one is a suggestion I got from my previous question. The second one is a version based on the character's viewpoint. Which version is more likely to attract the interest of the reader (and ...
3
votes
2answers
269 views
Use of present-tense for memory-related shenanigans in a past-tense story
I'm writing a story in past tense, in first person. The character is discussing the vagaries of his memory of events in the further past. "I remembered" seems to have the wrong connotation here - he ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Should a flashback be in past tense or past perfect?
Assuming the story itself is in past tense, normally when I go further into the past I'd use past perfect:
He had first met her at the grocery store, six months prior.
However, which is more ...
3
votes
3answers
259 views
How to improve this introductory paragraph (to fit writting standards and grab the reader's attention)?
A clock is striking 4:00am at a
psychiatric clinic. The darkness, the
silence, and absence of people makes it
look like a morgue. A young mental
health professional is sitting in a
chair ...
3
votes
2answers
135 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
109 views
Is it ok to be autobiographical with a main character?
This question really comes down to a personal issue I've had present in my fiction. I'm still very new as far as being a writer is concerned. So a few (if not all) of my main characters seem to be ...
3
votes
1answer
70 views
Is it okay to attempt to write in the style of another person, and how is that done well?
I want to write like Neal Stephenson- I read Snow Crash and absolutely fell in love with the style. I'm trying to write a cyberpunk style book myself, and I have a good plot (I think), but I want to ...
3
votes
2answers
129 views
All persons fictitious - where to place it?
I've got an all persons fictitious disclaimer similar to the one mentioned at All persons fictitious disclaimer — ideas regarding modification? but where should I place it?
Bear in mind, this is a ...
3
votes
2answers
111 views
How do you reference pop culture in a dialogue without proper attribution?
I'm not sure exactly how to ask this question in a vacuum so I'll give an example first:
Many people are familiar with the Mitch Hedberg joke about an escalator being "temporarily stairs" rather than ...
3
votes
3answers
155 views
Do writers use highlighting to clarify ideas in their work in progress?
In programming we often use syntax highlight in order to have a better picture of what the role of particular bits of code is (using different colours).
I wonder if writers do something similar - ...
3
votes
2answers
192 views
Is it safe to write about a fictional murder in a real-life location?
I am writing a novel, and part of the plot has one character killing another in a specific real-life location. I mean the setting is extremely specific - for example, a particular hotel, or one ...
3
votes
1answer
73 views
Flashback or dream as a means of hinting at more going on than meets the eye
I plan to use a dream or flashback as a way to show the reader the story has more going on behind the scenes. As well to sprinkle in a little of my main characters back-story.
I haven't written it ...
2
votes
4answers
216 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 ...
