All Questions
9
votes
2answers
239 views
Striking the balance between dialogue and narrative
I am participating in National Novel Writing Month this year. I have never in my life written so much of a single story. Although I am supposed to tell my inner editor to shut up this month, she is ...
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 ...
1
vote
0answers
43 views
How to fix writer's thought muddledness? [closed]
Honestly my problem here is that I've been on writing hiatus for like...a year and half. Apart from writing small stories here and there, I haven't really taken on a story to a larger scale in a long ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
Story-Telling on the Internet [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Internet communities where I can read/rate/review short fiction, and post my own?
I am a user of Cowbird already, and I love it, but I want to branch out, and go to ...
6
votes
3answers
313 views
How to avoid repetitive sentence structure?
I've realized that I always start sentences with (name of character), he, she, it, they, her, his, the, after (a moment/that), and then.
I wonder if there's any useful exercise or tip to reduce this?
...
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
180 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 ...
4
votes
3answers
124 views
How can people doing technical, archane work be portrayed interestingly?
I'd like to write the biography of an important, underrated scientist who performed a really important experiment. He persevered for many years, became ill (and recovered) along the way, and ...
2
votes
2answers
56 views
Introducing the next sub-section or not?
I am writing my phd dissertation in a technical field and I have a question. When in the same chapter, I finish a section and want to connect it with the next section I am not sure what is better. ...
4
votes
4answers
321 views
Does this opening paragraph grab your attention? (very normal setting)
This is the beginning of a short story I'm writing:
Jun was standing motionless at entrance of the 7-eleven. He was staring down,
searching for something in his memory as students picked their
...
10
votes
2answers
113 views
Can a copyright be made in the name of a fictional writer?
Is it possible to copyright a work in the name of a fictional writer? For example, like Nicolas Bourbaki or some pen name of some author? Can I use my own fictional name to copyright the work?
-1
votes
1answer
39 views
Can you cite an article to your bibliography? If yes, what is the format?
I have written a 60 page essay. However most of my references are articles. How can I include this in the bibliography?
3
votes
1answer
87 views
How applicable are screenwriting ideas to novels?
My current goal is to write a novel (I'm already close to the 35K word mark). However, most of the books I've read about story structure are actually about screenwriting.
While stories are stories no ...
1
vote
2answers
101 views
Using abbreviations after in-text citations
I am writing an academic paper, specifically a Position Paper, using APA.
According to the Purdue OWL webpage, to cite an organisation:
"First citation: (Mothers Against Drunk Driving [MADD], 2000)
...
1
vote
2answers
66 views
Stick to in-text citation or use a mixture of both parenthetical and in-text?
I'm currently writing an academic paper for a school assignment, specifically a short Position Paper with 500 word limit. I have chosen to use APA for my citations.
I am wondering if that
it is ...
0
votes
1answer
120 views
APA citation style - capitalization of titles
I'm writing a paper, supposedly using APA citation style, and I've encountered the following conflict.
On the one hand, the title of the work I cite is cited in all small letters, and only the first ...
-1
votes
1answer
91 views
Poem in a short story? [closed]
So I need to write a short story for my university writing portfolio and I was wondering if I could put a poem in it or would that be inappropriate for a short story? And are there any short stories ...
1
vote
2answers
105 views
Does a Haiku needs to have exactly 17 syllables?
Having 17 syllables is in the definition of Haiku, but does it have to have exactly 17 syllables, is this usually followed strictly, or it is only more as a guideline?
I am asking about Haiku ...
-2
votes
1answer
91 views
Does stilted english means that the writer is dumb in using the langauge? [closed]
Does stilted english means that the writer is dumb in using the langauge? Or can it be said to be their style?
Some said that it can easily be pointed out if someone is not a native English speaker. ...
14
votes
3answers
242 views
How do authors incorporate languages they don't speak?
In many, many English-language novels I've come across characters who speak other languages, most often French for whatever reason.
In many cases, such as with Ulysses and Lolita, this is a simple ...
10
votes
3answers
213 views
How can I write anonymously (based on true experiences)?
I want to use an experience I had which is pretty unbelievable but true. The majority of the story will be completely true. It's not over yet so I want to use an ending which is NOT true yet works ...
3
votes
2answers
108 views
Is it ok to be autobiographical with a main character?
This question really comes down to a personal issue I've had present in my fiction. I'm still very new as far as being a writer is concerned. So a few (if not all) of my main characters seem to be ...
9
votes
4answers
476 views
How to continue someone else's story gracefully, with fan-fiction?
I've been juggling some ideas for NaNoWriMo and one of them is a Doctor Who story. Now I've not read a great deal of fan fiction but I've never read any that I'd say that compares to the original, and ...
4
votes
4answers
130 views
How much should I reveal of how the world functions in fiction?
I am currently working on a fiction novel. The way the world (magic, technology, government, species etc) works is extremely complicated.
Basically, the idea is to reveal the mechanics bit by bit . ...
4
votes
3answers
126 views
Adding Detail/“Filling” the story
I've got a lot of story fragments that contain the major plot, but that are also very short because everything moves so fast.
What I find a lot in Novels is a bit of "filler", like someone just ...
0
votes
3answers
277 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
183 views
Citing foreign language sources (Swedish) in MLA7 bibliography?
I'm unsure of whether or not I should cite a foreign language source (Swedish), with the original (Swedish) title, or use a translated English language title. The paper is for university-level ...
1
vote
3answers
94 views
The Best Title for my Skill Set [closed]
I'm about to branch off into the freelance world. I'm starting an LLC and I'd like some input on what I should title myself as the owner. For example "creative specialist" or "creative technician" or ...
3
votes
1answer
67 views
Can I improve my beta reading skills to aid a close person's writings?
Finding beta readers were suggested to get unbiased feedback for a writer.
Can one work on oneself to be able to give a more unbiased feedback to a close relative, friend, wife/husband, etc.? Can one ...
0
votes
1answer
119 views
Is the ambiguity in my story the salt which makes it tasty or just plain frustrating?
Because this story is quite ambiguous in relation to the setting and also the main character's gender, I have been wondering whether this is frustrating for the reader or whether it provides a good ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
Is an anthology a valid NaNoWriMo entry?
I'm considering taking my first run at NaNoWriMo. 50,000 connected words of beginning-to-end narrative is a little more than I'm used to, so I was considering writing a series of novella-length pieces ...
0
votes
3answers
150 views
Writing a very complex relationship
I am writing a webcomic, and have come upon a snag, I need two characters to like each other very much, but one is the slave of the other.
In the comic, there are characters who find and use powerful ...
1
vote
1answer
111 views
How short is “short monograph”?
I've seen several references to some "short monograph on subject X". But how short is that? Is there a standard length to use as a reference?
I realize that this depends on page size and font, so I ...
2
votes
2answers
121 views
What existing platforms use crowdsourcing to develop creative writing and editing?
What existing platforms use crowdsourcing to develop creative writing and editing?
What are the barriers in developing an active community? Why would this not work? Has it been tried? Was it ...
-1
votes
1answer
113 views
Is this essay title critical?
I'm currently writing a critical essay, arguing individualism, narcissism and collectivism within an online society.
However I feel that the title I've come of up with for this essay just isn't ...
2
votes
1answer
312 views
How to write time duration correctly
Within a user manual, I need to convey the maximum time period allowed as "365 days 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds" - are commas expected between each component? Is the word "and" expected before the ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
Is a chapter the equivalent of a sequence?
When I do my daily writing, questions often pop into my head, and I jot them down to ponder later on. I was going through all the papers on my desk today and couldn't help but wonder: are chapters in ...
1
vote
4answers
123 views
How to get over writer's block related to revising?
I'm a PhD Student in the social sciences. When I do focused free-writing on a topic, my thoughts just fly out and I can easily generate 600-800 words an hour of relatively high quality text. However, ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
When citing information from a source do I need multiple citations for multiple ideas or sentences
I am doing the works cited part of my paper and am trying to avoid plagiarism. I have used information which is not common knowledge in my paper so I must use citations because i have put it into my ...
4
votes
9answers
328 views
Problems with character development?
I'm 1/4 through my first novel, with a pretty solid 12 page outline of the whole thing. After years of reading books about story structure, I think I have a good grasp on how to make a plot work.
My ...
4
votes
2answers
139 views
“I have/am” what are other short ways to not repeat this in a cover letter?
This is my first post to this forum - I use the GIS/Programing ones extensively.
For a cover letter what are ways that you can avoid repeating "I have done ....", "I have experience with ...", "I am ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
Starting Out - Plot + Charaters by Documentaries [closed]
I gues I could say I am decently good at writing, for someone who doesn't write much besides English 101/102 classes.
I have a couple questions, which may proceed some background information to why ...
1
vote
2answers
116 views
Word Choice: When something negative happens that changes your perspective for the better [closed]
Examples:
1.Today I got in a car accident, but I now value life more.
2. Today, I stubbed my toe, but looked down and found my wife's wedding ring we thought was lost.
This concept is called the ...
4
votes
1answer
159 views
How long is a single-title romance novel supposed to be?
My friend is a literary agent who mostly works with YA novels, but she told me recently that I should aim for about 75,000 words for my book, which I'm currently speccing out as a romance novel or ...
5
votes
2answers
78 views
ISBN - is it possible to have one and a title before publishing?
i am currently writing a book but would like to know if i can pre register an ISBN and Book title. I am little concerned someone might call their book the same as mine before i finish it. So i really ...
3
votes
2answers
98 views
Websites that offer book/movie/story analyses useful for writers?
I was wondering if there are any websites that offer analyses of stories, written or otherwise, with the intention to teach people something about writing and storytelling?
I realize I can just ...
4
votes
3answers
144 views
Deciding the setting: real or invented?
I'm preparing some material because I have the intention of writing a book. I'd do this in every type of work, but considering that I'm writing Crime Fiction, this is even more important.
I've ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
282 views
Writing subjectively or objectively? (IELTS writing)
I'm asking this question in the interest of getting a high score on IELTS writing, specifically Task 2, the 40-minute 250-word one. My primary confusion is whether to write subjectively or objectively ...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
How can I freelance remotely for overseas advertising agencies as a writer?
How can I freelance remotely for overseas advertising agencies as a writer? Is there a site that caters for such a thing?
The idea excites me and as a writer, I'm able to liaise with clients and ...
