If the answer is "pick a method and be consistent", your question may be one of style.
13
votes
8answers
1k views
What breaks suspension of disbelief?
So much of Sci-Fi and Fantasy requires the viewer (or reader) to suspend their disbelief: The speed of light can be circumvented, magic works, vampires are real (and may or may not sparkle), etc.
...
9
votes
4answers
310 views
How do you avoid the problem of all the characters in your story sounding the same?
There's a common flaw that I can easily detect in amateur writing, (and of course my own) which essentially boils down to all the characters "sounding the same", dialogue-wise anyway. Trying to ...
5
votes
1answer
332 views
Is an overview clearer when outlined with bullet points, or when written in paragraphs?
I am writing a short piece for a technical audience. In essence I have three main points, each with sub-points. A few of the sub-points themselves have sub-points. I cannot help but find it clearer ...
4
votes
5answers
330 views
How to explain something mid sentence
I'm writing a review for a fiction book and I'm using a lot of terminology that is specific to the book and I feel that it has to be given some context and explanation. Otherwise any reader would be ...
2
votes
3answers
441 views
Help me rewrite this sentence [closed]
I would like help re-writing this sentence. I would like the overall tone of the language kept intact, and I would like it to be as concise, eloquent and well written as possible.
In the event ...
12
votes
2answers
722 views
What needs to be included in a corporate style guide?
What kinds of things need to be included in a corporate style guide that can't already be found in S&W, AP, Chicago Style, etc?
26
votes
3answers
491 views
Explicitly correcting yourself while writing - how appropriate is it ?
Like so:
He worries – well, not worries, but laments a little – that he senses people don't read Henry James anymore
(sentence source: Monkey See, NPR Blogs )
I've used this style myself ...
2
votes
2answers
191 views
Indirect Narration Style
Does the indirect narration style (as in: 'Surely she was going to ask him out tomorrow.') directly fall into the classification of Narration?
4
votes
2answers
86 views
What are some ways to denote presentation style outside of written text.
I would like my document as I am writing it to be independent of software layouts as I think it would be a better decision to make at the end of the process. What would be good ways to denote ...
0
votes
0answers
354 views
Why Haruki Murakami's novels are so addictive and popular all over the world (cross cultural popularity)? [closed]
I've read two books by Haruki Murakami so far. I felt attracted all the time while I was reading, and the weird thing is that I don't know why. I was surprised to know that my writing teacher (an ...
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 ...
1
vote
7answers
1k views
Write a resume objective that expresses my desire to hone and sharpen my skills
I wish to convey to prospective employers that I not only want to use my skills, but hone and sharpen them as well.
Does the below paragraph do justice to it?
Do you have any suggestions?
Does the ...
12
votes
7answers
1k views
Why does using this “-ing” verb construction make my writing weaker?
I had to write a scholarship essay, wherein I wrote this sentence:
Over the ensuing years I read as much as I could, trying to increase my knowledge and understanding of my own language.
I sent ...
8
votes
3answers
707 views
What's the best practice for displaying a personal website url in a resume?
Like most veteran coders in the IT industry, I have an out-of-date website that I use to link to different activities I'm involved with online, like Twitter and Stack Overflow. Up until now, I haven't ...
1
vote
0answers
79 views
Looking for story that deliberately overused “get” [closed]
It was in Writer's Digest, probably the early 1980s, when I saw this. One of the regular columnists (or was it an irregular columnist?) went on a brief rant about careless writers overusing the word ...
7
votes
5answers
328 views
Avoiding cultural differences
I'm not a native English speaker, but I write in English.
I'm now visiting the US, and I have made some very interesting observation regarding the way ordinary life goes on here. It made me think of ...
1
vote
4answers
224 views
“…and the fire from the stove engulfed him” or “jumped on him” or “covered him” or “devoured him” or what?
Which verb should I use here?
He opened the stove and the fire from the stove [engulfed/jumped on/covered/devoured] him. "Help! Help!" - he shouted at once. "I'm on fire!"
6
votes
2answers
929 views
What is the most effective way to deal with flashbacks in a novel structure ?
In writing a novel, often flashbacks are difficult to manage: if too long and detailed, they can appear as second class (at worst, aborted) plots whose only task is to sustain the main plot line; if ...
8
votes
3answers
776 views
Little did he know
In the movie "Stranger Than Fiction" the professor of literature makes quite a big deal about the phrase "little did he know."
I've written papers on "Little did he know." I've taught classes on ...
7
votes
2answers
249 views
How to emphasize a quote is written, not spoken?
In a similar question on EL&U, I asked about suggestions for indicating that a quote is written instead of spoken.
Robusto's answer suggested several possible approaches:
For longer quotes of ...
19
votes
17answers
1k views
Are complex sentences uncommon or unwanted in English?
I wrote my opinion essay using a lot of different complex grammatical structures, linking words and so on, and some of the sentences were even over 4 lines long.
However, I was afterwards told by my ...
13
votes
1answer
247 views
Checklist for making sure your writing is Atomic?
Question:
Can someone please give me a list of things to check when reviewing a document to make sure that it is atomic.
Atomic?
Meaning that anyone can start reading at any section in a document ...
0
votes
1answer
92 views
Is there a way of listing the elements that makes a real fact fun?
For instance I wrote this thing that is real
God’s love is like your parents love /
except for the ‘‘burning, crying, and
screaming for eternity in hell" part
/ if you don’t obey them.
and ...
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?
10
votes
3answers
189 views
Is it a good idea to write a summary of a plot before writing the full version?
Sometimes when I write a plot I get confused about the motivations of the characters and how events connect as I change elements.
Is it a good idea to write a summary first in order to organise ...
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
724 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 ...
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
6answers
203 views
Please help me improve this sentence…
In a first-person narrative, I’d like to use the following sentence:
It took me nearly a decade to write this script, and now I’d pitch it to the top producer in Hollywood.
I’m not following ...
5
votes
2answers
80 views
Could anyone point me in the direction of some resources on conversational writing
Im looking to improve my writing , i would love to know if anyone has any tips on developing an engaging conversational writing style.
5
votes
2answers
191 views
How can you build an interactive tone into articles?
I was wondering about tone in articles lately. My articles don't tend to be interactive. It feels like most of them are just flowing one way.
How does actually tone contribute to the quality of an ...
0
votes
3answers
129 views
How to reword this: repeated back on him?
I don't know how to reword this:
Along the way, we see how the faults
Jacob made earlier in life are
repeated back on him.
I know
repeated back on him
doesn't sound correct, but I ...
4
votes
2answers
154 views
How should I approach possibly unfamiliar pop culture in fiction?
So sometimes I get an idea that forms specifically around some aspect of pop culture. They're often song lyrics. If the reader knows the song, they appreciate the symbolism and allegory or whatever ...
10
votes
2answers
280 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
655 views
Referencing a website using Harvard style
How can I reference a website using the Harvard style?
How would this be different if no author was listed?
3
votes
1answer
89 views
Personal Page - review request
I have created my personal about page, based on "The Personal Page" template. As a non-native English speaker I worry, that my attempt at telegraphic style is riddled with questionable use of ...
9
votes
5answers
579 views
When should a chapter end?
When writing a novel, when should I end a chapter?
Note that I'm not talking about chapter word-count (that topic was discussed here). I'm interested to know when should I end my chapters ...
8
votes
5answers
548 views
How should dialog be formatted?
Is there any "official" rule that I should keep in mind when formatting character dialog?
Line breaks, placement of quotes, mixing dialog with action descriptions etc.
For example, I want to build a ...
5
votes
2answers
503 views
How to make a letter interesting?
I have a question regarding the art of letter writing.
I believe in the old-fashioned way of maintaining pen friendships (not necessarily a relationship, but could be) through hand-written letters, ...
1
vote
4answers
335 views
How can I write poems in an attractable manner?
I have written several poems, but only very few won prices. Those poems impressed people very much, so I want you to share your thoughts, what are the key things I have to focus on or I have to keep ...
2
votes
5answers
520 views
What does “Exposition and Ammunition – back story” mean in screenwriting?
I am just starting my first screen writing class and I got an assignment that says: Exposition and Ammunition – back story. I have been searching online but I don't get it. Can someone explain it for ...
2
votes
0answers
167 views
Is Strunk and White's “The Elements” full of “stupid grammar advice?” [closed]
In a previous question I asked about The Elements, RegDwight posted a comment containing a link to this article by Geoffrey K. Pullum:
50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice.
There is also a lengthier ...
4
votes
3answers
183 views
What revisions for this draft would be more readable and/or more humorous?
Notes:
My audience knows that adrenaline and epinephrine are synonyms.
I'm new! I'm sorry if I abuse the site by posting this!
Please critique ruthlessly.
I would send by Facebook message to a ...
4
votes
5answers
223 views
Using uncommon abbreviations
Something which I see all the time in (popular) science writing is the use of abbreviations to indicate concepts. For (a made up) example:
So when we're dealing with Anachronistic Meta Mechanics ...
1
vote
7answers
634 views
Verb tense for technical document titles
I'm writing a technical manual about creating database systems, and wondered what is the best verb tense for title names.
My ideas are:
Continuous (-ing) form: (e.g. "Creating a Cluster", "Creating ...
3
votes
4answers
489 views
Strunk and White vs “Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace” by Williams and Colomb
I'd like to improve my writing and have been considering getting either The Elements of Style by Strunk and White or Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace by Williams and Colomb. What are their ...
9
votes
6answers
747 views
What are the tricks to avoid repetition in writing?
After some time of working on my research, I usually have a structured information of my results, which I can best describe in bullets/numbers. Unfortunately, this is not what academia expects. For ...
5
votes
4answers
298 views
Rules and resources for scientific writing
The writing style in scientific papers in the natural sciences, e.g. chemistry and biology, seems very different from many other kinds of writing. There are usually severe restrictions on the length ...
5
votes
1answer
109 views
What are some appropriate uses of readability tests?
Do you use readability metrics (such as Gunning fog or Flesch-Kincaid) as you're working on a piece?
If so, how do you use them, and what benefit do you get from using them?
7
votes
2answers
527 views
