All Questions
5
votes
1answer
199 views
How can I find short-story spinoffs for my fantasy epic?
I write epic fantasy; I've written two trilogies in a joint setting, and am writing further books in the same setting.
I would like to start writing short stories for my setting as well - stories ...
5
votes
1answer
134 views
What are tips / techniques to manage the consistency of a plot encompassing several subplots ?
When I lay out a plot consisting of interwoven threads, one of the most annoying things is to manage effectively the factual, logical consistency of the whole.
In order to be more effective and ...
4
votes
2answers
107 views
How does one break into the field of professional writing?
First, some background that may help explain the question. I have recently realized that most of my life has been spent pursuing technical-creative hybrid projects. As a professional software ...
4
votes
3answers
398 views
How do I cleanly show the passage of time, with multiple, varying time scales?
Semi-complex idea, more easily seen than explained, but here we go.
I was re-reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone recently (notice I bring those books up a lot...I think they're brilliant) ...
3
votes
2answers
227 views
Does this sign-up email announcement sound friendly and conversational?
This is version 2 of this post
The intended audience is from 16-45 m/f, they have given me their email address and will recieve this email because they signed up for a mystery service I'm 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 ...
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 ...
17
votes
6answers
803 views
Why does an author need an editor?
I'm firmly in the camp of "your novel needs an editor, and that editor better not be yourself." But recently I was asked why that was, and I couldn't articulate an answer that was passable.
Young ...
14
votes
3answers
414 views
Is there a quick way to know I have created a Mary Sue?
For those who don't know what a Mary Sue is: see here.
The problem is, there are far too many ways a character can be a Mary Sue, as seen here. Many websites that offer tests to see if your ...
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.
...
13
votes
5answers
1k views
How do you come up with non-fiction story ideas?
My biggest problem is that I'm often at a dearth of ideas. I can target a publication or radio show or whatnot once I've got it, but I'm just not good at coming up with them. Tips?
12
votes
3answers
274 views
Writers Communities?
I don't mean writer's circles, or "auditioning sites", although some of these have forums tacked on as a by the by. Usually places to talk about the beardy philosophy of writing are moribund places as ...
11
votes
7answers
1k views
How to start a book off?
I have been working on my book (on and off...) for about 6 months. I have a good bit planned out with the plot, story line, and characters. I even have a small idea on how to start the story but ...
11
votes
2answers
454 views
What are advantages/disadvantages to use a CC-license for your writings?
What are the implications, if I choose a Creative-Commons-license for my work? Cory Doctorow seems fine with this. Is this exceptional?
11
votes
3answers
124 views
Are there any good magazines about writing?
As in all other fields I'm interested in, I love to have a subscribtion that makes sure some hugely inspirational material gets dropped into my mailbox once in a while. I'm not looking for magazines ...
11
votes
5answers
256 views
Should I start writing on paper first or start directly on the computer?
If I have an excellent idea for a story, would it be wiser to write on paper first or start directly on the computer? There are many different reasons for beginning stories on paper as well as on the ...
11
votes
3answers
268 views
Podcasts useful for improving writing skills
Any podcasts that can help with writing skills?
(One per answer please, I'll add my own fave to get started.)
10
votes
3answers
123 views
How can I keep up with my co-author's detail creation?
Keeping track of details invented for a work of fiction is never simple, often requiring writing bibles and continuity editors. But when two people are working on the same book simultaneously, then ...
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 ...
9
votes
4answers
900 views
Would a paid-for review from Kirkus give me real insight into quality of my manuscript?
As an amateur writer who has just finished my first manuscript, I want a qualified, non-biased, and thorough opinion on whether what I've written is any good.
I recently heard about a service offered ...
9
votes
4answers
417 views
New digital ways of presenting a novel in 2011?
The traditional way of presenting a novel is in a book. I know about e-books too.
Do you know another digital ways of presenting a novel?
For instance, a blog, a twitter novel or something like the ...
9
votes
10answers
619 views
How much sex is allowed in a non-romance novel?
Exactly how much sex would would most publishers allow to be in a today's novel? Does it vary from publisher to a publisher? I'm not talking about romance novels where apparently everything goes. I ...
8
votes
4answers
889 views
How often do writers develop characters before plot, and why?
As someone who writes a little as a hobby, this is something that I haven't really thought about until just recently, but...
Is it common for a writer to develop characters before actually coming up ...
8
votes
3answers
449 views
What are the advantages of incorporation for a writer?
I have heard of some (rather successful) writers incorporating - that is, creating a corporation of which they are the sole member. What are the potential advantages (or disadvantages) of doing this?
...
7
votes
1answer
5k views
What does Character development actually mean?
I keep hearing the terms "character development" and "characterisation", but I'm still not sure what they mean? How does one "develop" a character?
7
votes
4answers
169 views
How do I find a suitable copywriter?
I am in the process of creating a web application. I will need some copy written for various pages in the site and some of the marketing marketing material. I am contemplating hiring a copywriter to ...
7
votes
2answers
527 views
7
votes
2answers
124 views
What is the key reference documentation and how should I cite BASH?
I originally posted this question at SO, but two users there suggested that I take it here.
I am writing a scientific research paper, and I want to know if it is appropriate to cite bash, and if so, ...
7
votes
5answers
141 views
How do I go about finding a writing group?
Any websites that list writing groups by geographic location, or genre?
Should I try libraries or something?
Fan forums of a favourite author?
Are there "virtual" writing groups (by email or chat ...
6
votes
6answers
720 views
Coming up with names for species in fiction?
When you are writing a story that is set in a fantasy world (maybe our world with just one made-up element, or a completely different world), what is a good way to come up with names for species that ...
5
votes
4answers
318 views
How can I make description more natural to me?
Description is a weakness in my fiction. My understanding is that the first priority in fiction is to tell the story. Setting does this by providing props and indicating character mindsets, either ...
5
votes
2answers
82 views
How do you track dependencies for your co-authors?
I and one or more co-authors, sometimes geographically distributed, are working on a set of related documents. Sometimes I will make a change in my part that has effects on someone else's part; this ...
5
votes
4answers
213 views
Least possible editing effort if a text is for multiple media?
I want to write a text with some basic styles and images. I plan to use it on a blog, maybe later in a wiki. And there should be a pdf version.
I am writing about a software. So there will be ...
5
votes
5answers
928 views
What are some strategies for developing basic writing skills? Beginning Writing (again)
I have a friend who is going back to college after a decade, and is quickly finding out that his/her writing skills are not up to snuff. He/she writes in a style suited more for Facebook than ...
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 ...
5
votes
3answers
688 views
Character details of male archetypes
In this link about character development, the author describes basic male archetypes that are found in a romance novel.
http://www.likesbooks.com/eight.html
My question is: although this is very ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
What techniques are used to create non-linear stories?
For stories that are highly non-linear, or that use multiple simultaneous sub-plots, what are some techniques for creating and managing the different items? An example that comes to mind is Steven ...
5
votes
3answers
101 views
Books about English writings
Can you recommend a good reference book about the basics of English writing?
4
votes
4answers
166 views
Which traditional presses publish poetry?
I would like to publish a poetry folio through my university press. My ex-poetry professor at my alma mater says that is possible, but the university will only publish me if I already have a book ...
4
votes
5answers
187 views
Is it safe to create a wiki for a book (or something featured in it) before the book is published?
I'm working on a sci-fi novel, and it contains a lot of fictional creatures, which are in some ways separate from the novel because I came up with them a while before I actually got the idea to write ...
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
101 views
Different Points of View
What are the different points of view one can write from? I understand the basic first person (I) and third person (he/she), but I hear the term "limited" and "omniscient" a lot in point of view ...
3
votes
2answers
171 views
Correct order for Thesis Front Matter
What is the correct order of the following pages comprising a doctoral thesis: Title, Abstract, Colophon, Copyright, Dedication, Preface, Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, List of Tables, List of ...
2
votes
2answers
120 views
What is a “Gather” service for?
There is this Gather service in the webz. It's been said that this service is for writers. How exactly can it help me as a writer? Cause I didn't get anything meaningful from their "about" page, and I ...
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
3answers
214 views
What are jobs that prefer or require MFAs in Creative Writing?
Other than getting adjunct work with your shiny new MFA, what other professions like them?
(I'm gainfully employed, and while I think my MFA helps me, it is in not appreciated by my employer in any ...
1
vote
6answers
265 views
Are there any free programs for screen writers
Screenwriting has a very strict format that Microsoft Word cannot fully match. Are there any good screenwriting word processors out there that are free?
12
votes
7answers
286 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 ...
12
votes
5answers
526 views
How much should I describe things or persons, that are not important for the story?
I discussed a book with a friend, and he disliked that the author described a person who is dying shortly after and has no further effect on the story over a page or more. The same would go for ...
10
votes
3answers
247 views
Frailties, mistakes, and imperfections
In the past, I've been inclined to believe that god-like characters are fun to write about. They are impossible to kill, cause omnipotent levels of destruction without consequence, and always come out ...
