All Questions
3
votes
2answers
121 views
Is this sentence ambiguous?
I'm trying to write something sort of poetic sounding.
Instead of memories let's discover the
present that we wanted to search for.
I'm thinking that maybe I should write the word "moment" ...
7
votes
4answers
827 views
Common words to avoid when writing formally
I am rather useless at writing formal English and sometimes find that I can come across informal with my choice of words. So I wondered what common words and phrases should be avoided when writing an ...
10
votes
8answers
766 views
What is a good OCR program?
I keep a writing journal that I enjoy writing in. I also have a lot of old journal with writing that I'd love to digitize but am too lazy to retype. What is a good, accurate, OCR program that would ...
7
votes
5answers
334 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 ...
12
votes
0answers
285 views
Where should I start if I'm feeling the urge to write something? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Help! I've got Writer's Block
For the past few weeks I have had this "itch" to write something - anything. As soon as I try to put pen to paper, though, my mind ...
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!"
1
vote
5answers
303 views
What's your favorite keyboard? [closed]
After using a Logitech Internet Pro keyboard for the past several years, as well as an Acer OEM keyboard occasionally, I'm seriously thinking about getting a new keyboard. I write upwards of 7,000 ...
2
votes
4answers
107 views
How could this paragraph of writing be improved [closed]
I wrote this but it really doesn't read nicely. How could the following paragraph be improved?
With the increasing green movement, subsidies for energy produced by solar panels installed on ...
4
votes
2answers
81 views
What are effective ways of working with a nonfiction editor?
How do you defend the integrity of your work while maintaining a cooperative and friendly rapport? Specifically, how can one work with an editor who is perhaps a bit overzealous?
6
votes
2answers
939 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 ...
15
votes
9answers
716 views
What methods can I use to revise my writing?
Background
I am finding it challenging to transform an early draft into a finished product. My biggest challenges are putting the prose in the proper order and using topic sentences and transitions ...
3
votes
3answers
197 views
Put text between section and subsection headings?
Are there rules about whether or not to put text between section and subsection headings (in scholarly works)?
1 section heading
text / no text here?
1.1 subsection heading
more ...
3
votes
3answers
399 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
228 views
How explicit should a YA novel be?
For a romance YA novel, how explicit can it be? Are there certain descriptions or words that shouldn't be used?
15
votes
7answers
2k views
Taking notes while reading
I read books for fun and to help my writing. I want to remember the cool things I read, but I don't want to distract from the enjoyment of reading.
Any suggestions on how to take notes or better ...
4
votes
5answers
592 views
How many writers use fountain pens/dip pens today?
How often are fountain pens and dip pens are used today by writers, and why do they use them? Or, if applicable, why not?
8
votes
3answers
819 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 ...
15
votes
5answers
2k views
Submitting a novel for publication: do editors still expect Courier font?
About ten years ago an agent told me not to submit manuscripts in fonts other than Courier (or Courier New) and to double-space lines. He said editors were prejudiced against manuscripts that looked ...
2
votes
3answers
249 views
Please help me polish this paragraph.
I'm learning English as a foreign language. In one of my writings, one paragraph goes:
But it's not saying we just indulge ourselves and turn into wild beasts. We train our brain hard so that we ...
7
votes
5answers
499 views
“multiple personalities” for character development in writing?
How can I train myself to think in "multiple personalities" so I can use these personalities for character development in writing?
12
votes
7answers
289 views
Should you read your own genre?
In terms of novel writing, I tend to avoid my own genre, at least for the most part. Some of the reasons why:
Genre Blindness / Genre Trap:
Too much reading of your own genre blinds you to the ...
7
votes
2answers
252 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
493 views
Guideline on turning points in a novel?
What are some popular guides regarding structuring a novel, specifically what turning points the story should hit and approximately at what point in the manuscript?
I'm looking for something more ...
8
votes
4answers
432 views
How do I avoid a “mid-story info dump?”
I am revising the manuscript for a novel. About a third into the story, a major turning point occurs when the main character (through whom the reader follows the story) realizes that things are not at ...
10
votes
2answers
182 views
What exactly is an editor?
I recently read the assertion that many great works of fiction were chiefly down the contribution of a good editor. I must admit I was a little taken aback by this statement. I had never really ...
8
votes
5answers
870 views
What is a good methodology for researching a historical novel?
I'm having difficulty with the research aspect of my historical novel. This question was originally going to be "how much research should one do to write a historical novel?" to which, answering my ...
9
votes
7answers
1k views
Why is “It was a dark and stormy night..” not a good opening?
Also, why has it spawned an award for bad writing?
5
votes
1answer
107 views
Is there a legitimate step by step guide to getting your book published?
I want to write on a computer topic which isn't covered by many existing books out there. What is the process of getting your book published?
13
votes
4answers
1k views
Using the real world in writing
To what extent can you use locations, businesses, etc. from the real world in fiction? I know someone cannot copyright a city, but what about a particular location in the city that's private. Can I ...
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 ...
7
votes
16answers
400 views
Help! I've got Writer's Block
I really want to write, but as soon as I sit down and set pen to paper, my mind goes blank.
I can't think of anything to write. Sometimes I stare at my screen for hours; doesn't help.
If I do think ...
10
votes
2answers
349 views
Waiting for response to full MS
About three months ago, an agent that I had queried responded with a request for the full manuscript of the novel that I had written to her about. It's now been nearly three months, and I haven't ...
9
votes
2answers
263 views
What are the structural differences between scripts for comics and scripts for films?
Has anyone experienced the transition from writing plots/stories for comics to writing a script viable for films? If so, what are the main differences and challenges?
1
vote
0answers
406 views
Referencing a website in-text using Harvard style
I have the following website page that I need to reference using Harvard style: http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/science/what-is-genetic-engineering.html
Is this a ...
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 ...
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 ...
11
votes
3answers
17k views
What are the advantages and disadvantages of writing in first person?
A lot of people are either on the side of first person or the side of third person. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of writing in first person for fiction?
3
votes
0answers
158 views
Are there any techniques to arrange or list ideas from a short text? [closed]
For example I wrote this:
!Paying! for exams, and also books
to pass them is only a small price /
to give poor people the opportunity /
...to contribute for the MANSIONS of the people in ...
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 ...
0
votes
0answers
81 views
Poem theme connect to Mao? [closed]
I have read and annotated the poem, but seem to missing the big(if there is one) pictures/themes? Does any one have any ideas? Thanks!!
Delivering Newspapers
Who believes in the mask’s weeping?
...
4
votes
3answers
510 views
When is it acceptable to use the first person (“I”, “we”) in technical reports?
When is it acceptable to use the first person ("I", "we") in technical reports?
8
votes
4answers
801 views
Software for analyzing a manuscript?
I would like to get a better picture of a manuscript I've written, especially in regards to word usage patterns and potentially overused terms.
I'm curious whether anyone can recommend a document ...
11
votes
12answers
9k views
Are there any good tablets out there for writing/editing?
I like being able to take my work anywhere with me, but sometimes my laptop is just too big to take with me. Battery life on tablets seem to be much better than laptops as well. Are there any tablets ...
5
votes
3answers
276 views
8
votes
13answers
987 views
Does a technical writer need a technical background?
Does a technical writer need a technical background?
8
votes
3answers
235 views
I'm an editor who generally uses Word to communicate changes with my authors. Is Adobe's InCopy better for this task?
For all of my editing work I'm currently using Microsoft Word. But I've heard a bit about Adobe's InCopy being good for editing and publishing. Is it really better? What makes it better than Word?
7
votes
3answers
389 views
What are the key skills for a new technical writer?
For those that are just starting out, what are key skills they should have or learn to be a good technical writer?
1
vote
3answers
2k views
Know any metaphors about women that…?
... are very skilled in getting men to like them, men really easily fall in love with them, but they (the women) are not interested in anything more than a sexual relationship?
5
votes
4answers
233 views
Meretricious - A bit too fancy?
I have a character that I want to sound very intelligent, well educated, someone who always uses the correct words with no unnecessary filler.
I have found the word 'meretricious' which has the ...
7
votes
4answers
216 views
What to do if I end up confused by my own plot because of 'trying to be original' or 'trying to make the story more deep'?
Sometimes, I find myself in the dilemma that I come out with a plot that tells exactly what I want to say. But then, I try to modify it in order to make it more original (at least, less similar than ...
