All Questions
0
votes
3answers
116 views
Is there a description of location required in intense moments of the story like in a love story
I am writing a short love story. There is a moment when the man and woman he loved meets after 3 decades at his home and they strike up a conversation. They had some unsaid feelings buried deep within ...
0
votes
3answers
181 views
Is the opening of this detective short story gripping enough to read on? Can it be shortened?
Is this opening too short or too quick? Can it be shortened further, removing any unnecessary description like "not giving him a lift to the office"? (I feel this last can be avoided but I am not ...
0
votes
3answers
278 views
What is the “three-asterisk-break” section called?
What is the name for a text subdivision that is shorter than a chapter, but longer than a paragraph? They are always untitled (unlike chapters, which are at the very least called "Chapter 1", "2" ...
0
votes
1answer
98 views
Quotes inside of Quotes inside of Quotes
For an essay I am using Mother Lois' quote on page 104 of the Washington Square Press paperback edition of Warrior's Don't Cry. In particular, the line goes like this:
"Look," Mother said, ...
0
votes
1answer
132 views
How difficult is it to get published? - The Objective Version [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Does anyone know the average number of times a new author has to submit before acceptance?
I've been looking through this site to understand the difficulty in getting ...
0
votes
2answers
81 views
Do I have to revise my book on paper?
When I read books, blogs, or even answers like this, the advice is usually always the same: To revise properly, you must print out your manuscript, and revise on paper. The thinking goes that one ...
0
votes
4answers
229 views
Creating metaphors in poetry
When writing poetry, is there a known method of some kind that exists that makes it easy to turn a concept I'd like to illustrate into a metaphor? If so, please elaborate as much as possible.
...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
APA Formatting - Changing Adjectives in a quote
Should I change "our" to "their" in this quote? If so, how?
As stated in their 2011 Annual Report, Siemens’ identity and corporate culture is defined by their vision to be a pioneer, which is based ...
0
votes
4answers
243 views
How to use “I think, therefore I am” in a more fluent manner?
I want to allude an experience that feels almost like Descartes' idea of "I think, therefore I am". Because the phrase is a proposition, I find it very difficult to fit in the statement in because I ...
0
votes
1answer
193 views
Resume Preamble: Sounds wrong [closed]
Writing a Resume for an internship at a large local CMS company. How does this preamble sound? How can I make it better/follow it up?
My name is Korvin Szanto, I'm an 18 year old programmer from ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Good book on writing for children?
I've dabbled with the thought of writing a childrens book. It allows my mind to go all out weird, and I believe they are ususally short enough for me to see the project through.
But, as usual, I like ...
0
votes
3answers
51 views
How to number the equations in an academic paper?
I know that the figures and tables are numbered consecutively throughout the
while paper. What about the equation numbering? Suppose I have four equations in the paper, but I want to number only two ...
0
votes
3answers
92 views
figures and tables always on top of the page?
I have to write a scientific paper for a university course. As far as I know, and as far as I have ever seen, tables and figures are always inserted at the top of a page, instead of at the exact ...
0
votes
2answers
31 views
What are the 'header' lines/meta information in a formal letter called?
When writing a letter there is often meta information about the correspondence before the actual content of the letter. For example, in bold below:-
Address,Town,City,Postcode
23rd July 2012
...
0
votes
1answer
106 views
How well would this beginning sell the book to readers? Not necessarily for money
Disclaimer: English isn't my native language.
A while back, I posted this and this. I got... well, reviews. While not outright helpful (ie. indirect, which is the whole point of critiques, I guess) ...
0
votes
1answer
77 views
Giving something an alias
Within a technical document I want to refer to a system or process by a shorter name. I have no idea what this process is called so searching the internet is not getting me anywhere.
Is this correct?
...
0
votes
2answers
142 views
How to improve the ending of my short novel (mostly dialogue)? [closed]
In a previous question, I asked about how to improve the opening of my short novel. The following is the ending:
"Can I talk about something that makes me feel strange?" he asked
while searching ...
0
votes
2answers
61 views
Clarity: What supports it? What hinders it? [closed]
A friend recently challenged me on communicating an idea clearly, and we ended up discussing clear thinking. I explained that in the idea communication process, concepts sometimes get tangled amidst ...
0
votes
3answers
235 views
American English: Is it acceptable sentence structure to write, “May God have compassion on your family, in whole.”? [closed]
Does it make sense to write, "... May God have compassion on your family, in whole." I am attempting to rhyme the last word with the last word of the sentence prior to it. Thus, the odd--but hopefully ...
0
votes
2answers
77 views
Where can I find information about how to cite a web address using MLA?
Say I was trying to cite this question and properly format my works cited section using MLA. Where would I look to find information on how to format it?
0
votes
2answers
638 views
Origin of Passive Voice or Third Person in scientific Writing
I was reading a turkish translation of Robert A. Day , How to Write & Publish a Scientific Paper.
Foreword is written by A. M. Celâl Şengör.
In this foreword
The writer who always uses third ...
0
votes
3answers
100 views
Risk Assessment in Technical Standards Documentation
In your experience, are sections on risk and risk management typically part of technical standards documentation?
For example, in a document that describes how the Network Time Protocol is ...
0
votes
2answers
131 views
What can I write to improve reader participation at this blog?
I work for a costume company that has a company blog intended to inspire costuming and general ideas. We focus on Halloween sales, but we also have Renaissance and Oktoberfest themed costumes that ...
0
votes
2answers
123 views
Do writing goals really work--what are the pros and cons?
I know a lot of people strongly believe in having writing goals. In addition to daily writing goals, some people will have date specific target goals to ensure they finish by a specific time.
Do ...
0
votes
2answers
78 views
How to close read and do an oral presentation on it in 12 minutes orl less? [closed]
so i am going to recieve a random passage from the book "1984" and will be given 12 minutes to read it, write all over it, and then do a 4+ minute oral presentation on it.
My teacher also says to ...
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
1answer
336 views
English writers IDE [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there a special software for writers?
What IDE's do writers typically write in? I'm aware of Microsoft Word, but surely that is not something that a professional ...
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
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Maintaining the consistency of voice and spontaneity throughout a piece
So straight to it, I don't write very long pieces. Usually poetry or flash fiction and a smattering of short stories whenever it needs to be longer, though I have aspirations (mostly just dreams) of ...
0
votes
1answer
77 views
Is it possible my book could be taken off-line for sale if there is a cease and desist letter?
I have written a true story on my experience with some individuals and major corporations. The book has factual proof throughout story. I am afraid that they may get angry and send cease and desist ...
0
votes
2answers
68 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
2answers
49 views
How to describe the dissipation of tension between two people?
I'd like to describe the sense of two people, one who is angry (call him Joe) at another (call him Bob), but upon hearing Bob's retort, Joe reconsiders his position and changes his mind about being ...
0
votes
2answers
45 views
0
votes
1answer
79 views
What literary tools can be used to make stories more immersive?
That question derived from my previous critique question. That's one of the problems I think is more obvious in my own writing right now and would like to know of ways to address it.
What I know so ...
0
votes
2answers
50 views
What is the correct word/term that needs to be before the names of the maker of the project?
I am doing a project with one other person, we have finished the project
and we are working on a cover page.
We are not sure what to write out before our names, we have thought
of a couple of ...
0
votes
2answers
51 views
What are the advantages of different date formats in resumes and CVs?
I've seen a somewhat related question, but it doesn't answer my question quite right. Say you're writing an event that happened on a single day, and you need to put it in your resume or CV. So how ...
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
52 views
Should I punctuate abbreviations for Old English, Middle English etc. in academic writing?
When using an abbreviation such as OFr (Old French) or ME (Middle English) in academic writing, what is the best way to stylise it? Masses of punctuation looks messy, but I am concerned my assignment ...
0
votes
1answer
66 views
Is there any merit to the term “Mary Sue”? [closed]
In this question I asked about whether there was a standardized definition of the term "Mary Sue". However, a related question would be whether the repeated dilution of the use of the term has rid it ...
0
votes
1answer
73 views
Should paragraphs split over pages in thesis?
I am writing a technical thesis with quite a few figures, tables and equations. These items break up the "flow" of the document. To mitigate this some journals suggest placing such items at the top or ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Which fantasy worlds can be freely used in new work without a license? [closed]
There are lots of different fantasy worlds depicted in fiction. In general, due to copyright, a license is required from the original creator of the fiction to publish a new story set in that universe ...
0
votes
2answers
106 views
Text referencing protected, trademarked™ and copyrighted© names, what is the correct procedure?
When writing an academic essay, if I was to reference Microsoft or Facebook, should I write Microsoft™, Microsoft® or just Microsoft? What is the difference?
0
votes
2answers
38 views
Is the statement readable [closed]
This is not a proof reading request, I would just like to know whether the statements are readable or at least correct in structure before I would submit it.
"Prescriptions hold no metaphysical ...
0
votes
2answers
104 views
Are there any specific rules to write Prequels and Sequels so that we don't end up with conflicting situations?
Whenever I watch 'Smallville', I wonder how the writers take us back and forth the timeline without getting into a conflicting situation. Another example would be 'Back to the Future' trilogy. Also, ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
Main idea or Thesis
When I was taught to write in school, my teacher told me to start with an introductory paragraph and end that paragraph with my thesis. I understand what I was writing in school was very elementary ...
0
votes
1answer
134 views
Incorporating diagrams and equations into text when writing
I am looking to write a book on Physics/Mathematics.
Of course this book will need to include mathematical equations and diagrams.
Are there any writing softwares that have devices such as TeX and ...
0
votes
1answer
247 views
substitute for however [closed]
I find myself using however much too often. What's the best way around this? Should I find a list of substitutes? I'm thinking a better approach would be to fix my overall sentence structure and ...
0
votes
1answer
322 views
What are the names of the different levels of English?
In a recent discussion regarding software manuals, we came across the issue of different styles of writing / speaking in English. I am having a hard time finding a list of the different styles, such ...
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 ...
