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When should I start thinking about chapters?

I'm putting together an editing plan for myself for my novel, and someone said something that made me think of chapters. For my first draft, I hadn't ever thought about chapters that much, only ...
AnnWriter19's user avatar
  • 1,551
14 votes
5 answers
1k views

How to clearly distinguish the settings of different scenes from each other, and make them "feel" different?

Background I've been working on doing nitty-gritty editor revisions of my detective novel in preparation for publishing, going over sentences and picking through details. In the course of the story, ...
Sciborg's user avatar
  • 8,742
3 votes
1 answer
108 views

How to develop ideas?

I participated in a weekly challenge prompt app and many asked me to continue writing and to make it a book but I can't find a good idea to develop that short story.
Nour Fourti's user avatar
-2 votes
2 answers
108 views

Is it correct to write: "Your payment's being processed"? [closed]

Is it correct to write: "Your payment's being processed" ?
user46714's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
140 views

How do I write someone in an enchantment?

I'm having trouble writing a scene in my book where the main character is about to be pulled into an enchantment before her friend saves her. A bit of backstory- the item that is about to enchant her ...
AnnWriter19's user avatar
  • 1,551
1 vote
3 answers
170 views

Making the mutants in my setting more unique?

Okay, so I’m writing a post-apocalyptic story, and what’s a post-apocalypse without mutants? So, I decided I’d create a few. There’s just one problem. So, after reviewing my writing for them, I feel ...
DT Cooper's user avatar
  • 207
0 votes
2 answers
629 views

When applying to Literary Agents do you attach the query letter or paste it into the body of the email?

I'm applying to agents, most of whom want a query letter and most of which want applications via email. I'm confused by the format. Do they want the query letter attached or pasted into the email, and ...
Llongo's user avatar
  • 25
1 vote
3 answers
220 views

What are some good (free) writing communities?

I'm new to writing, I just finished the first draft of the first novel I've written (yay!) and I'm looking for writing groups or communities that I can benefit from. Is there a community that helps ...
AnnWriter19's user avatar
  • 1,551
1 vote
1 answer
112 views

How can you add light, quirky, humor or sarcasm into dialog?

Looking back at my book, I'm realizing how flat the dialog is. I'm not known for being funny and I don't consider myself naturally funny, so this is hard for me. How can I make the characters talk to ...
AnnWriter19's user avatar
  • 1,551
5 votes
4 answers
735 views

What are the stages to self editing?

I just finished writing my first draft of my novel, and I don't quite know the states of self-editing. Right now, I'm not looking for advice on professional editors/proofreaders, I just want to know ...
AnnWriter19's user avatar
  • 1,551
1 vote
2 answers
55 views

When should I bring in beta readers? [duplicate]

I just finished my first draft and I am new to writing. I'm currently researching how to self-edit a novel and came across beta readers. When should I bring in beta readers? After second draft and ...
AnnWriter19's user avatar
  • 1,551
2 votes
1 answer
157 views

When writing the first book in a series, do you need to plan the next book also?

I am just finishing my first book in a series that I started, and I'm wondering if you need to plan all the books in your series. For reference, I'm not quite sure if my series is going to have two or ...
AnnWriter19's user avatar
  • 1,551
0 votes
1 answer
91 views

Should I write a foreign character's dialogue in their language? [duplicate]

When it comes down to story writing, it's always nice to have variety in characters. Such as a character who speaks Spanish more than English or is bilingual with both languages. But say if the ...
AcidicProgrammer's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Are the Arthurian legends freely available for use?

I put a bit of Arthurian fantasy into a short story I wrote. I originally thought that this was perfectly acceptable, as many books do so, and the original stuff is ancient. But after reading this, ...
AureySteader's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
61 views

Will a copyeditor refine both dialogue and plot?

I am a big-picture kinda guy. I have ideas and I love details, but I hate to get stuck up in the microscopic level grunt work - managing accents, tones and environment details that are not so central ...
undocumented sophistication's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
135 views

Use of commas with non-dialogue-tag verbs before and after dialogue

I've recently found myself second guessing a convention I've followed for a while where with a piece of dialogue, for instance: "Hurry home" came down the front stairs behind her. I'm ...
SpraypaintedCurtains's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

Phrases used to refer to “a large number/amount of something.” How do you choose one among many others?

I always ask myself, when writing, which word or phrase to use to describe a large number/amount of something because the English language has a huge variety of expressions as in the below examples. ...
Takashi's user avatar
  • 113
4 votes
3 answers
1k views

Can the first-person narrator use both past and present tenses?

My first person narrator is telling his story in the past tense but there are present tense realities too that get me confused what tense to use. For instance, here are two paragraphs: When I came ...
user191110's user avatar
12 votes
4 answers
2k views

Managing alien languages in Sci-Fi creatively

I’m writing a story where alien races are in constant communication with humans, but I don’t want it to be awkward or have to use language tags like “...he said in x language.” Maybe I could have a ...
GDHPrinter's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
122 views

This is a PREREQUISITE of that, so that is WHAT of this?

Anyone have a sensible word to finish the title above? I'm creating a semantic web, and some of the flip-sides to directional relationships are hard to track down due to their scarce usage. The ...
RocketScienceGuy's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
98 views

What does someone mean when he asks, "are you a writer?" [closed]

There is a phenomenon in the Western world consisting of a person being often asked, "are you a writer?" The question is asked without any context whatsoever, often within seconds of initial ...
James Cropcho's user avatar
0 votes
4 answers
93 views

How to call a paper or book holding charms/incantation/magic formula? [closed]

Hope the title is clear enough. I'm also looking for any vocabulary related to the act of writing magic ( 'runes' as a magical writing system for example).
kkoscr's user avatar
  • 1
5 votes
3 answers
222 views

Should I practice writing novels before starting the novel I want to write, or plan to do a lot of editting?

tldr: Though I've been writing fiction for a long time, I have no real training or experience. I've put a lot of thought into a fantasy novel idea (we'll call it the Hail Mary) and am excited to write ...
Stochastic Kat's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
120 views

Is there a good reference for improving my penmanship?

Over the years I've used the traditional Palmer method for writing different things. However I often developed confusion when trying to integrate this with mathematical formulas and other technical ...
Chris Steinbeck Bell's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
3k views

How do I punctuate a slogan?

I have the following slogan: I sell, I build I want to make sure it's clear and concise. I did not add a period, because I know it's not a full sentence. However, I want to make sure it's ...
code_legend's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
157 views

When vs. If vs. In situation where

An excerpt from Microsoft Writing Style Guide, which I'm trying to follow: Use if to express a condition, use whether to express uncertainty, and use when for situations that require preparation or ...
user90726's user avatar
  • 129
7 votes
1 answer
2k views

Are fictional town names trademarks or protected intellectual property of their author?

If a town name in a popular fictional work is widely associated with a particular fictional work, can the name be freely used as a name for a new nonprofit organization even if the nonprofit is ...
Charles's user avatar
  • 171
1 vote
1 answer
173 views

Am I telling or showing?

I'm having some trouble with "Show, don't tell" when come to writing, so I'd like some advice. I'm trying to highlight the relationship and personality between these characters, but I'm ...
calvin_0's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
146 views

What do you call a person with a master's degree?

I'm from Sri Lanka. and I'm trying to translate a Leaving Certificate. The Principal of this specific school has a master's degree, and in Sri Lanka we give the degree holder the honor of addressing ...
Harshani's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
129 views

What Are Some Practical Ways to Write a Sequence of Actions?

I am writing a scene where a character is performing a series of actions but for some reason the sentence flow isn't quite working for me. The problem is over-reliance on "Then". This is a ...
Perry_M's user avatar
  • 145
2 votes
1 answer
57 views

Can I publish a book with the poems on my website?

I have posted my poems on my website. For a long time, I have been doing this. Now, can I publish a book with the same poems which I had shared on the Internet.
Sarath's user avatar
  • 221
4 votes
1 answer
272 views

How do I write a character with gender dysphoria?

So I'm partaking in a DnD 5e home brew game, and in the near-ish future my male character is going to be turned into a female character without knowing and without willingness. My question is, how do ...
LucidLucario's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
60 views

Are there better chances of being more credible by a grantor if you write about yourself in the third person?

I was told that because I have a good eye for detail, I could do reasonably well as a grantwriter for several nonprofit organisations. I have previously applied for personal grants by writing about ...
HeavenlyHarmony's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
166 views

How do you format dialogue within a paragraph?

He made his way over to the crimson red telephone box that basked in the afternoon sunlight. Ted knew she was hiding in there. “You can come out now." He swung open the door, with a callous look ...
danklegend64's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
201 views

Would incorporating a constructed language into my story this way cause confusion later?

This is part of the story I'm working on: “Imikagaw” a feminine voice called out as she put her hand on the back of the man in cape. “Usamiakusta ow ihsataw aw amas Enna “Uoyustih ag imikagaw aw nah ...
calvin_0's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
195 views

Is a Critique Group More Often Helpful or Not When Writing a First Draft?

I am currently writing my first draft, and also happen to be in a critique group. It's my understanding a first draft is going to have lots of issues. This is where I am confused. While a critique ...
Perry_M's user avatar
  • 145
0 votes
1 answer
283 views

How to write a time skip without indication like "a moment pass" or "a few hours later"

Here is a short of what been stuck in my head lately “CUFFS”, shouts the man as he grows tired of the woman’s protest, using 2 pairs of handcuffs, both of the woman’s wrist fuse with her ankles, ...
calvin_0's user avatar
2 votes
6 answers
294 views

Is it sometimes okay to info dump to enhance your story even if it's not necessary to the plot

I am writing a YA novel in 3rd person limited. The first scene of the chapter opens in a high school classroom. We don't know the name of the school or where it's at just yet. The character does, but ...
Perry_M's user avatar
  • 145
5 votes
1 answer
686 views

Which manual of style suggests using parentheses within parentheses?

When it comes to nested parentheses, there are two options. (The first is to use square brackets for the inner text [like this]. The second is to simply use parentheses (like this).) I believe that ...
hb20007's user avatar
  • 181
1 vote
1 answer
55 views

How to write a book based in many different books?

I'm writing a book about the different stories from religions that existed in my country some centuries ago. In order to learn more about them, I had to acquire over 20 books. Each of those has ...
vitormm's user avatar
  • 113
0 votes
0 answers
81 views

How do I make a love story, that isn't cliche but different from others? [duplicate]

Okay, so I just wanted to know what is the less cliche way of making a romantic fanfiction. I know this question is short, but I just want to know.
Laura's user avatar
  • 1
1 vote
1 answer
87 views

Citing both a paper's draft and published version in Chicago style

Summary: I have a draft of a paper and its later published version. I correctly cite the published version, but I want to know `how I can add a citation to the draft version(?)' in Chicago style. See ...
ctde's user avatar
  • 13
2 votes
1 answer
442 views

Is There a Term or Description For When the Narrator Inserts their Own Personal Perspective Into a Third Person POV?

Occasionally I have read stories where the third person Omniscient/Limited POV Narrator will describe a scene and feelings from a characters POV, but sometimes it seems like the narrator is presuming ...
Perry_M's user avatar
  • 145
1 vote
3 answers
101 views

Authenticity and writing under a pen name [closed]

My question is about marketing and using a pen name. Ofc I want to connect to readers, but I wonder if it's possible to be authentic if you're not revealing your 'true' identity. Is this a matter of '...
NJM's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
3 answers
139 views

How should I write two huge evil reveals in one climax? [closed]

I am only plotting my story as of right now, and I'm trying to put together a good climax. So far, A's parents were murdered by C. A is best friends with B, who actually works for C. Evil reveal #1: B ...
yum_kat23's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Should I rigorously follow 15 beat structure for writing my novels?

I am a novice writer with one novella published on Amazon. Recently I undertook a MOCC on Udemy called Write a Bestselling Novel in 15 Steps. Then I also googled and researched the the 15 step ...
The White Cloud's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
349 views

How to give out a character’s backstory without info-dumping?

In my story, I follow a group of characters traveling across a post-nuclear wasteland. I’ve written all the characters (there are 7 of them in the group) their own unique backstories and whatnot, and ...
DT Cooper's user avatar
  • 207
0 votes
0 answers
28 views

Use of "set down" in a formal document

I was recently asked to translate a Spanish letter of recommendation into English. Not being an English native speaker, I was bound to make a few mistakes. According to a reviewer, one of these was ...
Burtak's user avatar
  • 1
1 vote
1 answer
142 views

If unstated, do literary magazines generally publish work submitted by minors?

Unless a literary magazine/journal is looking for work from a certain age range (ex. the teen experience, 20 to 30-year-olds), I rarely see age restrictions under submission guidelines. If unspecified,...
Kaitlin's user avatar
  • 11
21 votes
11 answers
8k views

How do I write "fantasy counterpart cultures" without being accused of cultural appropriation?

In my book series, the various planets of the galaxy are inhabited by different cultures, most of which are based on or inspired by, at least to some extent, by real-world cultures. For example: ...
The Weasel Sagas's user avatar

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