All Questions
8
votes
4answers
382 views
When writing on paper, how do you move things about?
I am amazed thinking how people used to write before the computer ever came about. Before that, everyone was forced to write on paper.
I'd very much like to write on paper but my ideas come in a ...
8
votes
3answers
360 views
8
votes
4answers
756 views
Software for analyzing a manuscript?
I would like to get a better picture of a manuscript I've written, especially in regards to word usage patterns and potentially overused terms.
I'm curious whether anyone can recommend a document ...
8
votes
3answers
116 views
How does one go *back* to editing an older piece?
I have a longer work that took me a lot of effort to get through, and the moment I finished it, my life went crazy. That was about 6 months ago, and in the intervening time I haven't been able to ...
8
votes
6answers
230 views
What makes a great writer's space?
If you have a usual or favorite place to write at home, what makes it so good?
I like having multiple places to write -- sometimes I find a change of scenery helps break a block -- but my most-used ...
8
votes
4answers
173 views
How to juggle work and NaNoWriMo?
I love to participate in NaNoWriMo, but this year for the first time I'll have a full-time job during November. Is it feasible to write less on weekdays and "make up" for it on the weekend? Should I ...
8
votes
5answers
133 views
How can I edit my own, very old work?
I have about a hundred pages of a novel I wrote in high school, I like the concept behind the writing but I'm finding it extremely difficult to go back and read/edit it again. I last edited the ...
8
votes
5answers
431 views
An engineering student wants to write fiction, where to start?
I'm a computer engineering student, programmer, avid book lover and have a very vivid (some would say "screwed up") mind.
I recently thought up an idea for a very cool short/medium story. It's like a ...
8
votes
6answers
617 views
What tools do you use for your writing journal?
I usually keep a notepad and pen with me at all times. So, if I'm out thinking about a story and a scene or a bit of dialogue comes to mind, I write it down for recall later. I also keep a list of ...
8
votes
5answers
250 views
How does one present spoken dialogue as a secondary language to signed speech?
I was starting to leave a comment on this excellent question when I realized I had come up with a second question which was equally intriguing.
If you're writing a story where 95% of the ...
8
votes
5answers
119 views
What style suggestions are common for which words are used in hyperlinks?
With a purpose of avoiding "More details here" style links that do not provide any information in the link itself, what styles are common/popular/suggested?
A good example case (with bold as the ...
8
votes
5answers
658 views
Writing about drug induced hallucinations and paranoia
Not long ago I wrote a short story about a mathematics graduate student on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The young student is innocent and working to finish a difficult mathematical derivation ...
8
votes
5answers
427 views
How do you meet a writing quota?
As a parent with a full-time job, I usually have a limited amount of time to write each day. What are some tricks I can try to reach a specific word count in a specific time (e.g. 500 words in an ...
8
votes
3answers
446 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?
...
8
votes
3answers
198 views
How to figure out if an agent is “on the straight” or “shady”?
Are there any specific signs (singular or groups of) that I should pay attention to when it comes to agents?
I have read about agents who work for less reputable publishing houses, charging fees for ...
8
votes
4answers
230 views
How to improve my skill at writing a question?
I'm a member of some SE sites, like SO and CSTheory. In those sites I'm an active member, I'm reading Q&A and also answering some questions or asking questions, but I think my writing is poor.
I ...
8
votes
3answers
266 views
World Building critique: Building an SF society off a tangent of “Adaptation”
I'm writing a short story for my english final - I'm a junior in high school; we've already taken our AP exam, but our teacher wanted to finish the year with something meaningful.
Anyway, I have been ...
8
votes
5answers
294 views
Our note in footnote of a book
How do I designate the footnotes that are mine inside a quote?
I tried "our note", "note ours" and "remark is ours". Which one is the correct one and most commonly used?
Or is there some other way?
...
8
votes
3answers
703 views
What's the best practice for displaying a personal website url in a resume?
Like most veteran coders in the IT industry, I have an out-of-date website that I use to link to different activities I'm involved with online, like Twitter and Stack Overflow. Up until now, I haven't ...
8
votes
3answers
767 views
Little did he know
In the movie "Stranger Than Fiction" the professor of literature makes quite a big deal about the phrase "little did he know."
I've written papers on "Little did he know." I've taught classes on ...
8
votes
4answers
424 views
How do I avoid a “mid-story info dump?”
I am revising the manuscript for a novel. About a third into the story, a major turning point occurs when the main character (through whom the reader follows the story) realizes that things are not at ...
8
votes
4answers
258 views
Are there any techniques that make complexity work?
One for the creative writers, although I suppose a lateral shift might put it within reach of journalists/technical writers.
As authors we all want to write, I would imagine:
Something that many ...
8
votes
5answers
549 views
A rhyming dictionary worth bookmarking online or purchasing?
Has anyone come across any really good rhyming dictionaries? If so, what makes it worth having/bookmarking? (eg. completeness/ease of use/absence of really sketchy suggestions)
8
votes
7answers
564 views
Using slang as a narrator - pros and cons
Is it advisable to use slang and euphemisms as a narrator, in addition to the main characters who use it? Are there arguments for and against it?
For example, if I were to write about street thugs ...
8
votes
5answers
833 views
What is a good methodology for researching a historical novel?
I'm having difficulty with the research aspect of my historical novel. This question was originally going to be "how much research should one do to write a historical novel?" to which, answering my ...
8
votes
3answers
167 views
What are the benefits of being a slush reader?
I've heard a few people recommend doing time volunteering as a slush reader (for a small press magazine, say), as the experience can be helpful for your own writing. What benefits do you get out of ...
8
votes
7answers
408 views
Writing different genres
I like to write many different genres in my fiction writing but I think that this would be confusing as an author's name becomes somewhat of a brand. Is it therefore a good idea to invent pen names ...
8
votes
4answers
155 views
How can I deal with an overload of writing projects?
I'm formulating a habit where I create too many writing projects. I'll work on a project, and things will go fine, until I have this incredible idea and I start writing on it. This continues overtime ...
8
votes
3answers
399 views
Are composite characters in creative non-fiction okay?
I come from a journalism background and am very interested in the dying style of narrative journalism, or creative non-fiction. I was discussing a project with a potential editor and said I didn't ...
8
votes
2answers
108 views
Should DOIs ever be preferred to ISBNs?
Any ISBN yields a DOI. For example, the Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed. has ISBN 978-0-226-10420-1, which maps to doi:10.978.226/104201, allowing any book to be digitally identified in a reference ...
8
votes
4answers
177 views
When the second person *view* is not an uninvited guest?
It is very strange to read the narrative from second person, but there are examples! Maybe there are a number of situations which are good for using second-person view?
8
votes
6answers
253 views
Effective techniques for describing pain
I've noticed something in writing: it's difficult to convey pain, and even specific types of pain, to an audience who's comfortably sitting at home in an easy chair.
I can hardly imagine pain until ...
8
votes
4answers
206 views
Characters with no names
I've got a few short stories going, and I've foregone naming any of my characters. It started because I just didn't have any good names in my head and I was going to take care of it later, but now I'm ...
8
votes
2answers
172 views
Is it typical to add variation to the words used for a character's name to keep it spicy?
A friend has asked me to read through a chapter of his story and give my opinion.
Lets say he has two main characters Mr John de Havilland and Mrs Sally de Havilland.
I've noticed that the author ...
8
votes
2answers
869 views
How do I write a believable romance subplot?
Sexuality is a large part of who we are as persons and it influences many decisions we make.
Sadly, I don't know how to make a romance subplot believable.
Are there any good guidelines to creating ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
What's the difference between academic and journalistic writing?
I'm not talking about "boring" academic papers that are 99% science and 0% interesting. But in comments on a draft of my senior thesis, my teacher made the comment that my writing style was quite ...
8
votes
2answers
107 views
What to do with my odd-length work?
I've just about finished up the first draft of a piece of work I've put a good deal of love into. It's genre fiction (paranormal/supernatural horror/urban fantasy/whatever they're calling it this ...
8
votes
4answers
577 views
What is the process for turning a story into a “movie” script?
This is probably a slightly vague sounding question, but I'm curious as to how "stories" go to the point of becoming a film production (at least to the point of becoming a script).
8
votes
4answers
273 views
How can I strike a balance between setting and plot?
I'm not a fan of Tolkien's work, but it's relevant to my question, so take it as a reference point.
I love linguistics, culture, and worldbuilding, but sometimes have difficulty focusing on specific ...
8
votes
7answers
723 views
What is a good OCR program?
I keep a writing journal that I enjoy writing in. I also have a lot of old journal with writing that I'd love to digitize but am too lazy to retype. What is a good, accurate, OCR program that would ...
8
votes
3answers
178 views
What disciplines/habits are used to stay focussed on one novel over a long period of time?
One of my biggest issues is staying focussed on a single novel.
My imagination is always creating new and wonderful ideas. I write a few chapters on this story, a few on that story, but never ...
8
votes
3answers
282 views
Spiritual elements in a science-fiction novel
Does using unexplained spiritual elements (soul, "spiritual"/non-physical beings, afterlife, God, etc.) in a story with a futuristic setting make it science fantasy rather than science fiction?
8
votes
3answers
233 views
I'm an editor who generally uses Word to communicate changes with my authors. Is Adobe's InCopy better for this task?
For all of my editing work I'm currently using Microsoft Word. But I've heard a bit about Adobe's InCopy being good for editing and publishing. Is it really better? What makes it better than Word?
8
votes
4answers
789 views
How does one implement effective foreshadowing?
I am a "reread reader" - that is, I like to read the same book more than once. The books I have the most fun reading again are the ones that effectively foreshadow what comes later in the book. This ...
8
votes
4answers
331 views
How can I get started screenwriting/playwriting?
I have some experience writing stories, but would like to beginning screenwriting. Are there any online guides to show how to get started and transition into writing for the stage, where ideas need to ...
8
votes
2answers
147 views
In writing a cover letter accompanying a submission to a literary journal, is listing publications in less well-regarded journals detrimental?
Mostly, I've heard that having previous publication credits to your name is beneficial, but I wonder if listing many publications in journals that aren't particularly well-known or impressive might ...
8
votes
2answers
602 views
Kindle self-publishing, automatically update
I have a couple of small ebooks available on Amazon via Kindle direct publishing - I've just found a mistake in one of them so I fixed it and have reuploaded the file. I'm assuming that everyone who ...
8
votes
4answers
884 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
5answers
922 views
How do I avoid legal repercussions for writing a story based on events in my life?
How do I avoid legal repercussions for writing a story based on events in my life?
Mainly, I have experienced events that I would like to share with the world. These events are somewhat disturbing ...
8
votes
6answers
887 views
Hardware-based Word Processor
Do they still make hardware-based word processors? I would like a portable, no-frills dedicated machine for writing. The Neo from Alpha Smart looks close but $150 seems excessive for calculator ...
