All Questions
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 ...
11
votes
4answers
611 views
I'm getting tired of “he said” “she said” in dialogue; how do I get around it?
I get tired of "he said", "she said", "they replied". Is there a better, but still reasonable way, to indicate dialogue?
11
votes
7answers
217 views
Should I translate my own writings into a second language I also know well?
Nabokov was very discouraged when he translated his Lolita into Russian. And he spent half a year on it. So should I try the translation myself?
11
votes
10answers
494 views
Why do writers use pseudonyms?
It's common enough -- recently I was looking for Seanan McGuire's newer book only to find it was published as "Mira Grant".
Why would an author do this?
11
votes
8answers
494 views
What's the benefit of using invented languages in-story?
I'm working on a fictional story set in a fantastical (although coherent) universe; I'm used to seeing, in works like this, invented languages: Tolkien's languages for The Lord of the Rings, or ...
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 ...
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
6answers
371 views
How can I effectively invent a language?
I want to make a particular language that adapts to the story. And the language has to have x and y and e characteristics for example.
Is there a protocol to follow on the process of making a ...
11
votes
7answers
318 views
Do books have to be written in sequence?
So can we write the interesting action bits first, then add in the in between stuff, that maybe needed to understand the story or characters, but isnt so exciting by itself?
For example the ...
11
votes
8answers
1k views
How do I better handle my nameless main character when trying to retain mystery?
I have written a short story, and the main character is referred to as "he" right the way through - the idea being that this character is very guarded and mysterious.
My plan was to not reveal the ...
11
votes
4answers
440 views
When should I avoid the passive voice? When might I use it?
An opinion exists that overusing of the passive voice can make writing harder for reading and understanding. Is it true for all kinds of writing? How to follow this advice without overemphasizing it? ...
11
votes
8answers
2k views
11
votes
4answers
326 views
How do you vary dialogue within stories?
How do you vary dialogue within stories? I often find myself writing "'sentence/dialogue' said character", and it sometimes gets really repetitive. How is this managed?
These are the only words that ...
11
votes
3answers
496 views
How/When to create deliberately boring characters?
Among a million other ambitions under the general heading of "Writing," I have this fantasy where I write a major series, several books long with a giant cast.
But I started thinking. In giant series ...
11
votes
2answers
320 views
Do authors get paid for quotes and attributions used on book covers?
I think I know the answer to this, and my guess is "No", but I don't have a definitive reason what that guess is.
When you see on the cover of a book, not from a newspaper or reviewer, but from ...
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
265 views
At what point does an author deal with an editor?
I'm just wondering: at which point do you have to deal with the editor, and what are the (possible) consequences? That is, when is the editor's involvement greatest? After or before a deal?
I'd ...
11
votes
4answers
110 views
Writing for an Audio book. What are specifics?
What are specific requirements, a writer should follow, when writing something that is going to be (or just can possibly be) not only read but listened as well?
11
votes
3answers
16k 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?
11
votes
2answers
463 views
Is Scrivener involved in the editorial process, or is it strictly a writer's development tool?
Is there any reason that an editor should know how to use Scrivener?
I generally see manuscripts after they're out of draft but before proofreading. (I'm an editor.) However, I see a lot of talk ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
Pitfalls of writing a main character of different gender to the author, specifically first-person perspective?
This is my first question on here, so bear with me, if you will.
My question is in two-parts:
a) When writing in first-person, is it wise to choose a main character of a different gender to yourself ...
11
votes
4answers
16k views
Citation in AP style journalism
I'm writing feature articles and trying to adhere to AP style, but I'm not sure how to attribute a source. I'm familiar with academic citation (APA, MLA), but have never done this in journalism.
...
11
votes
7answers
220 views
Are there any places to have community story development?
Are there any places or ways a group (general public or individually invited) of people can individually contribute to a communally developed story?
For example, a website or collobaration tool ...
11
votes
3answers
203 views
Should I remove scenes that I myself find “boring”?
Sometimes, I find myself writing a scene that does everything I think it should do: reveal details about the protagonist, drive the plot forward, show other elements related to the story, etc. There's ...
11
votes
4answers
185 views
How to get feedback about the quality of one's fictional writing from friends unbiased by the friendship?
It is a little strange to ask, but are there ways to get feedback from friends about the quality of fictional writing (whether they liked it, not more objective aspects like spelling/grammar/etc.) ...
11
votes
6answers
233 views
How do you track submissions to publishers/markets?
What tools (software or otherwise) or procedures do you use to track the progress of submissions to publishers or other markets? How do you reduce the chance of accidentally (and embarrassingly) ...
11
votes
3answers
266 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.)
11
votes
5answers
424 views
What marketing techniques are effective for short story eBook collections?
I have a collection of short stories that I'm currently selling in the Amazon Kindle marketplace, and one of the biggest hurdles to actually getting my works read is lack of exposure.
My passive plan ...
11
votes
2answers
207 views
How can a specific (current) event be made timeless?
There are some movies and some stories that are enjoyable when they're released - but they don't stand up to the test of time very well. I've been wondering about what makes a story timeless, one that ...
11
votes
6answers
179 views
Avoiding foot¬e disease
In his answer to Our note in footnote of a book, Malvolio writes:
I hate numbered foot-notes personally, they're very distracting
Which I agree with, but his recommendation, to use endnotes, I ...
11
votes
5answers
446 views
When is a prologue useful?
Prologues tend to get a bad rap on the internet, and sometimes for good reason. They're often used by as an excuse to start a novel with an info-dump. However, it seems to me that people often ...
11
votes
4answers
710 views
Where is a good place to find beta readers?
Beta readers are important to perfecting a novel/novella/short story. They give you a fresh set of eyes, offer opinions, and can be a great moral boost. But where can you find good beta readers? Are ...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
How should I introduce my characters?
I'm pretty good at creating compelling characters with decent personalities and motivations. I like the comradery vibe, so they're generally already part of a posse of some sort at the beginning of my ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
What's a good writing software for Android phones/tablets?
Everyone once in a while while I'm out I come up with something I want to add to my story. Are there any good writing apps for Android phones and tablets? Most places that recommend mobile writing ...
11
votes
1answer
564 views
Are Names of Characters Copyrighted by Authors?
Are names of characters copyrighted by authors? For example, the character "Eragon" from the Inheritance Cycle series, or a name that you've generated using an online name generator that you'd like to ...
11
votes
3answers
93 views
Where can subject matter experts volunteer to work on proofing the technical details in fiction?
I am not a writer (yet!), but I have been working in the computer field for over 10 years and would love to put in some time volunteering my services as a subject matter expert (SME) for programming ...
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 ...
10
votes
8answers
342 views
I'm not a great pantser; what kind of preparation do I need for NaNoWriMo?
I'm very appreciative of NaNoWriMo's "your first step is writing a crappy first draft" credo, and I like the motivation that NaNoWriMo encourages. I'm precisely at the point where what I feel I need ...
10
votes
6answers
717 views
How does one avoid bland, generic fantasy while they write?
I have been mulling over the plot and characters for an elaborate fantasy work for a number of years now. The longer I mull things over, the more possessed I am that this story is worth telling. The ...
10
votes
4answers
351 views
avoiding making all your characters sound the same
We surely all have little quirks to our speech. Like my daughter once criticized my writing for using the word "surely" too much. (See, I used it on this post.)
So how do you keep all your characters ...
10
votes
6answers
318 views
Should one use the legal “shall” in requirements documents and specification documents?
At least in the US, "will" has replaced "shall" in most every context, with the notable exception of the "legal shall". Shall is used instead of will in legal documents to indicate a sense of ...
10
votes
3answers
246 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 ...
10
votes
6answers
311 views
alternatives to “he said” in dialog
I'm working on my first fiction story. And one mechanical thing I struggle with is how to identify the speakers in dialog without constantly saying "Bob said", "Mary said", etc. Any ideas?
That is, I ...
10
votes
4answers
294 views
2nd Draft- Fix spelling/grammar or plot first?
I just finished the first draft of my novel, and Im going to put it away for at least a month.
The book has a lot of spelling / grammatical errors, as in true Nanowrimo style, I kept typing without ...
10
votes
5answers
231 views
What can one do to get the most from limited writing time?
I do make an effort to write every day, and usually succeed, but I just have too much going on in my life right now to give my writing the time it would like to have. When I do have time, blog posts, ...
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 ...
10
votes
2answers
430 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?
10
votes
8answers
1k views
Story for children without a happy ending
It is a common practice for a story for children to have a happy ending. Would it be considered inappropriate and disappointing for the young reader if his hero/heroine will suffer a horrible tragedy ...
10
votes
3answers
379 views
Do you need to get author's permission to quote him in a non-fiction book?
I have a non-fiction book idea that would frequently use quotes/reviews from a specific author. Would I need to get that author's permission to quote him/her, and to base the entire book on these ...
10
votes
2answers
340 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 ...
