All Questions
12,411
questions
0
votes
2
answers
26
views
How to find motivation in putting ideas on paper and use literary devices effectively?
I always want to write a book or story and I have very good ideas. However, I can never follow through with my ideas on pen. It feels very frustrating when all you have are a bunch of miscellaneous ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
13
views
Using capital letters in a sentence to stress a word [closed]
Can we capitalize the first letter of a word in a middle of a sentence to emphasize the context and importance?
For example:
Long-term Goal: To be Financially Independent and Tick my Bucket List.
...
1
vote
1
answer
19
views
APA citation style for different authors with the same last name
Let's assume I have the citation list that includes the three different hypothetical authors A. Miller, B. Miller, and C. Miller (next to Y. Young, S. Stevens, Z. Zona):
Miller, A., & Young, Y. (...
- 11
0
votes
4
answers
68
views
Is it morally right to base a novel on a tragic historical event?
I'm writing a historical fiction based on a historical tragedy where many people died. It's a very specific setting and situation, but I'm not using the names of any of the real people involved in the ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
38
views
What are the benefits of using 'scene cards'?
From what I understand, a scene card is a short description of a scene. I have thus far ignored them completely whilst reading The Weekend Novelist's Writes a Mystery, though the author seems to deem ...
- 23
2
votes
1
answer
47
views
How to slow down plot in slowburn romance?
My current work in progress is a slow burn romance between two characters who do not believe in love in their own way. MC simply does not believe in it due to bad experiences being proven, and LI (...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
42
views
Using indefinite article in repetitive chapter names
I'm writing a technical book (for programmers) on functional programming in TypeScript
In my book I go over a relatively big list of all sorts of data types, where each chapter is dedicated to its own ...
- 101
0
votes
1
answer
25
views
Scrivener using "First pages" setting for entire manuscript
I have a 'project format' template I've been using for a long time that shows a different header for the Front Matter, then starts the manuscript at Chapter 1 with the project title/page 1 etc in the ...
- 133
-2
votes
1
answer
31
views
The writing perspective of The Grapes of Wrath [closed]
Is John Steinbeck "The Grapes of Wrath" written in third-person perspective ?
- 97
0
votes
0
answers
23
views
Is it ok to be inspired by Sophie Cleverly's Scarlet and Ivy, but with different twin characters, plot twists, and a different school? [closed]
You have read Scarlet and Ivy
You have knowledge of copyright throughout story-writing
The correct way to copy a story but differently
Maybe have experienced this before
-1
votes
2
answers
37
views
Choosing perspective and tense
Have encountered the dilemma on what perspective (first person, second person, or third person) and tense (past, present, or future) to use for writing. A very challenging decision.
Switching between ...
- 97
-1
votes
3
answers
77
views
How do you know if it is morning or evening if I write 9 o'clock?
If I write 9 o'clock in my novel - or any o'clock - how does the reader know if that's morning or evening?
2
votes
3
answers
116
views
How Do I Overcome Writing "Scrupulosity" When Editing?
When writing, I notice that I have this tendency where everything has to be 100% perfect. At first, I thought that this was no big deal and just a desire for perfection. However, today, while writing, ...
- 353
0
votes
3
answers
131
views
During the "resolution and closure" phase of a story, can you start a new arc for a sequel story, or do you absolutely need to close the story?
During the "resolution and closure" phase of a story, can you start a new arc for a possible sequel story, or do you absolutely need to close the story and not leave anything that's not ...
- 14.8k
-2
votes
1
answer
44
views
Definition of "bridge," "verse", "chorus" and "outro" [closed]
It is common for lyrics to be divided into "bridge," "verse," "chorus" and "outro". Are these all written in the same way? If not, how do they tend to be ...
- 14.8k
0
votes
2
answers
41
views
Should I mention the number of books I'm planning to have in my novel series?
I'm currently on the second draft of my MG fantasy novel, which will end up as a series (if sales do well on the first book, of course." My original plan was to do a four-book main series and ...
-2
votes
2
answers
55
views
Is there anything too important to "offscreen" in a comic book?
Is there anything too important to "offscreen" in a comic book?
I just read a comic book where it looked like a character had won a fight against another character, and in the next panel, we ...
- 14.8k
1
vote
2
answers
788
views
Is it okay if I use a historical figure's name for a work of fiction completely unrelated to history?
I was planning at some point to write a mystery fiction unrelated to history. I was inspired by writers who used literary figures as a name for their characters, yet the plot was completely unrelated ...
- 11
-1
votes
1
answer
79
views
How to pad the pages in a murder mystery
I have arrived at a plot point that I would rather be later. If one were to say that a page is 250 words, then the murderer has scapegoated someone else at page 8. As far as I can recall, Agatha ...
- 23
-1
votes
0
answers
27
views
What is the name of this citation style?
13 Kusner, Matt J. Grammar variational autoencoder / Matt J Kusner,
Brooks Paige, Jos ́e Miguel Herna ́ndez-Lobato // International conference on machine learning / PMLR. — 2017. — Pp. 1945–1954.
2
votes
3
answers
532
views
Transitioning between scenes in a novel
One friend of mine told me that the scenes in my mystery novel-to-be go abruptly from, for example, a scene at the main character's home, and to the middle of his conversation with the detective. The ...
- 23
-3
votes
0
answers
58
views
Would light novels be considered with short story elements?
I'm just unsure if light novels are considered to have short story elements, even though I'm noticing one relevant theme (The Environment) from a light novel-based game. Fantasy is prevalent in it, ...
-1
votes
1
answer
54
views
A Novel Based Off A Song...How Close Can It Get?
I have recently become obsessed with the song Devil Town by Cavetown. I haven't been that into writing recently and this song has really inspired me. I was wondering what's a yes and whats a no to ...
- 1
5
votes
4
answers
1k
views
To rewrite or not to rewrite?
so basically, i am writing a story where there are two main characters. every chapter, the perspective swaps between the two main characters. the thing is, i'm writing the story in third person past ...
- 51
1
vote
2
answers
100
views
What are the rules for using mythological names in characters?
Are there any of such rules applicable to this case? For instance, if a story has various character groups, should all characters from one group be named after gods from a single mythology?
2
votes
3
answers
61
views
Format for writing extended dialogue
Is it acceptable to write dialogue in a book in screenplay format? (writing the name of the speaker and a colon, followed by the text)
- 53
-1
votes
1
answer
57
views
What is necessary to hide your antagonist’s dirty deeds in plain sight before the big unmasking in 1POV?
This could be essentially the opposite of the question here, about introducing evil characters before they’ve done anything evil. I’m showing the “questionable” activities of a character before ...
- 1,100
3
votes
11
answers
5k
views
How to safely pose this Mary Sue character?
I'm writing a science fantasy, and I'm afraid that the protagonist has too many superpowers.
Here's the concept: The protagonist is Berta Newton, an isekai counterpart of Issac Newton. She is the ...
- 163
2
votes
1
answer
73
views
How to refer to alternate versions of a character in a non-sci-fi way?
I'm writing a story featuring a plot element which is a variation on A Christmas Carol involving the multiverse. A character is escorted to other timelines, where she looks at where those versions of ...
- 663
-1
votes
1
answer
65
views
I may publish a true crime non-fiction book... who is legally responsible of the accussations? Author or publisher?
I run a small imprint about a niche topic (in fact, I use POD services, so it may not be considered an actual imprint/publisher), but I was approached by an author who is writing a book about an ...
- 1
2
votes
0
answers
71
views
Why would Amazon allow my book to be published in Dutch
Not sure how it happened. Found out when I received a link and discovered it has been translated. I am not sure who, when, or how the translation occurred. Is this normal practice?
- 21
-1
votes
3
answers
32
views
Spacing around (and types of) dashes in American English
I'm not a native English speaker, and the way American English texts typically use em-dashes without spaces to separate sentence parts seems very strange and even disruptive for me. For example:
&...
- 99
-1
votes
4
answers
58
views
Comparing two files for similarities not differences (inverse-diff)
I need to compare two documents for common sentences and phrases. I cannot, however, find a tool that does this, and I have tried so many at this point: Word, Acrobat Pro, Araxis Merge, BeyondCompare, ...
1
vote
2
answers
46
views
Does publishing book chapters as standalone short stories hurt recruiting an agent for the books?
If I publish some chapters of completed book manuscripts as standalone stories in literary publications, does it hurt my chances of recruiting an agent to represent the books?
I have a colleague who ...
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
60
views
Seeking advice on safeguarding my manuscript
I'm an Australian writer who is contemplating sending my manuscript to a novel editor in America. I'm concerned about the possibility of my work being claimed by someone else. Given my limited ...
- 373
-1
votes
0
answers
57
views
Are/were there social guidelines for keeping marginalia?
When writing in your Bible, there are some obvious do's and don'ts; then there are things that seem gray that I'm hitting up against in my fictional work. Culture and language has many ettiquette ...
- 1,100
2
votes
3
answers
61
views
Are there any books on academic paper writing?
I currently have a job doing research, but since writing was not a part of my education curriculum (I studied engineering and mathematics) no one really taught me how to write these sorts of papers, ...
- 23
1
vote
3
answers
120
views
How do I cope as a cultural minority in a creative writing class?
I’m an international student in an American college. I’m currently taking a class in creative nonfiction but I’m worried that my cultural references and an overall cultural difference would get in the ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
56
views
Can I publish a collection of poetry that alludes to other authors such as Shakespeare and Wordsworth without violating copyright?
I am a teacher. My students want to self publish their work as a collection of poetry and short stories.
Some of their assignments were to allude to other works and authors—like Wordsworth or ...
- 3
-1
votes
1
answer
43
views
Should this sentence use "might be" or "might have been"?
I am writing about a woman who has found an anonymous parcel on her desk, and she is talking to her colleague to find out who might have sent it...
The novel is written in past tense, and I am not ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
42
views
What to notice when applying conventional commit and semantic versioning for writing projects
I'm inspired by Conventional Commits, and would like to add some more structure elements for writing projects, e.g. documentations or personal or organizational knowledge management system. I'm ...
- 381
0
votes
0
answers
35
views
Non finite (..ing) v finite (..ed) verb form correct usage
The rhythm of these 3 excerpts below are different, they read to me more or less the same though. Are any actually grammatically wrong? It's funny the sort of questions that pop up when you start ...
0
votes
2
answers
70
views
Are fake movie titles mentioned in dialogue italicized?
So, a made-up title like All Loud on the Eastern Front, in dialogue, would it be italicized?
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
87
views
Can an author write a mythology-related story and publish it with "Riordan" in the name? [closed]
Will this cause people that the stories come from Rick Riordan an author known for mythology fiction?
-1
votes
1
answer
53
views
Usage of "Dubious" - Descriptor of noun versus feeling?
My general feeling is that "dubious" should be used to describe "a dubious wastrel" or "a dubious abandoned castle drawbridge" - instead of "I felt dubious towards ...
- 9
10
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Paid beta seems to have skipped large portions of my manuscript
I feel terrible for having to lay this out there, but I'm a little frustrated following use of a beta reader service.
I received a beta report on time this past weekend, but didn't receive my full ...
- 111
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Can I use more specific monsters and creatures legally?
To be specific, metallic or chromatic dragons for an example. I know mindflayers and beholders and such are way off the list. But is the concept of dragons in distinct categories like this too similar ...
- 61
1
vote
1
answer
67
views
I am seeking for a partner to finish a fictional story. Where can I find somebody to work with me?
I have written a fictional novel of about 40,000 words with a very bad translation to English. I need someone to expand it with 30,000 more words to reach 70,000 and become a partner with me for ...
- 11
5
votes
7
answers
802
views
I’m feeling overwhelmed about writing a novel, can anyone help?
I’ve always wanted to write a book. I’ve finally gained enough courage to attempt to write a small novel, 100-150 pages. I’m 13, which I’ve learned is a small problem. I hate to say it, but I’m just ...
- 59
1
vote
4
answers
187
views
Keeping your audience after you've guilted them - what's the secret sauce?
Consider that your story has a moral that points to the simple fact that we all have committed and contributed to your protagonist's crisis. The protagonist walks through life desperately needing help,...
- 1,100