Questions tagged [creative-writing]
"Creative writing" is a vague term, but generally means fiction, or writing that's not non-fiction, technical, or business writing. This tag should be used when asking questions that apply to multiple categories of creative writing, such as when asking questions that could apply to fiction or poetry alike.
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How to write symbolism into a story?
I'm writing a dark academia/Gothic romance. It's about this guy named Humphry who accidentally summons a ghost girl named Cal after a failed experiment. He at first is freaked out and wants nothing to ...
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Writing a surreal, dreamlike setting?
I am working on a concept for an existential horror / comedy, similar to works like the DHMIS TV show and Little Runmo. I already have a collection of strange, dreamlike entities; like an organic ...
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Past progressive in a novel
I have been reading a lot of different options on how to write a novel.
Many people suggest that the past progressive tense is most often used in fiction to describe interrupted actions (in relation ...
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What does it mean when people say your dialogue should have its own line? [duplicate]
So, I've been trying to write a novel and some people have read it and said it was great and I've also received some criticism saying I needed to give each line of dialogue it's own line. Does it mean ...
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Which Is Clearer: 'Being pressed' or 'Pressed'?
Consider these two sentences:
[1] Being pressed against the wall, he struggled to break free.
[2] Pressed against the wall, he struggled to break free.
I've recently spent some time reading grammar ...
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Should I use 1st-person or 3rd-person perspective for an alien character alone in a post-apocalyptic world?
This has been a difficulty for me for a bit. I'm writing a story about an alien character alone in a post-apocalyptic world. Them being alone makes me think it'd be easier and better to chose 1st ...
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Should I change my character's name if it's a variation of mine?
I'm trying to name a character, and I found one that fits him perfectly. It makes sense for the setting, it supports the theme and his character arc, and it supports his parents' characters (mainly ...
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What should I do while waiting for alpha readers?
I have finished the first draft of my first novel, a work of LGBT gothic fiction/horror. I have 5-6 people who said they are happy to look at it as alphas, but I have no idea what to do in the ...
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How to refer to different versions of a character?
In my historical spy thriller, there are five different characters named Miku that our protagonist has to fight. So initially, they're refered to as Idol Miku, Vampire Miku, etc. etc. etc. But then ...
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Does every piece of dialogue need a dialogue tag like "she said"?
If I quote what a person says and use "she said" after the speech, do I have to state that again if I add another part of the speech after "she said"?
For example:
"It's a ...
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How do you know if your story is too complicated or just complicated enough?
I've been working on my current story for almost a year. It's a great story but at times it seems really complicated. How complicated is too complicated in a story?
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Stuck...Stuck and stuck how do I overcome it? [duplicate]
I've been writing since I was little but despite the idea I've had for over a year I still haven't completed it. I'm feeling stuck but I know I have something to say with my writing. Someone on a ...
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If a character has multiple names, how can my narrator refer to them?
I'm writing a story about a spy. The narrator is third person omniscient. However, our spy has multiple names.
Her fellow spies refer to her as "Spy 94" but her real name is "Kafu"....
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Is it better to create a new word, or add anew connotation to an already existing word? Does it matter?
This question arose from another question I asked on the English Language & Usage Stack: "Is there a specific name for that singular exhalation laugh that happens when you read something only ...
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How to Capitalize a Weird Title
I've googled and googled this to no avail.
Say I'm making up a weird title for a business like Great Super Wonderful Smart Fancy Famous Hamburger Cafe.
Would I put commas between all these adjectives ...
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In historical fiction, should the narrator call the characters by their last names or by the nicknames used by other characters?
I'm writing a historical fiction. For context, it's about Robert Oppenheimer and how he swapped lives with a modern-day kindergarten teacher.
Here's a little piece of dialogue between him and his ...
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How to include multiple rare events in a story without it feeling contrived?
I'm working on a detailed plot outline for a fantasy story that revolves around three main characters, Liana, Celia, and Ander. Here's a brief overview:
Celia suffers from a condition called "...
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Story by two people, but written by one... whose names go on cover?
My friend and I conceived of a story, a world, and set of characters. We started an LLC partnership so that this IP is split evenly. We then decided person B would write a book based on the story we ...
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What is an inciting incident?
I've been struggling to find a clear definition of what exactly an inciting incident is.
According to Masterclass, an inciting incident is:
The inciting incident of a story is the event that sets the ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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?
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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 ...
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What stories include a story within the story that is brought to life, creating the main source of conflict? For example: Jumanji [closed]
I'm outlining a new story idea and curious if there are other premises like it out there. I know there are, but am looking for more examples to make sure what I'm trying to do has not been done before....
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Moving Historical Figure to Different Century?
Hello historical fiction writers! What do you think about moving a minor historical figure to a different century, but in the same historical epoch? Maybe this figure was alive too early or late for ...
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Would a story about a character who dies by suicide and regrets it in the afterlife be disrespectful or inappropriate?
I've had this story idea on my mind for months. It is rather taboo as its centered around a suicide and the afterlife, and I want to know the best ways I can go about it respectfully and considerately ...
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Should I self-publish my first ever novel?
I’ve spent the past (counts on fingers) too many years working on my first novel. I was in college and found more enjoyment daydreaming and writing it down than listening in lectures. I had never ...
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How to make a scene from the point of view of a drunk person dramatic?
This is sort of related to my previous question because I'm preparing to write the same scene, but this is different enough that it warrants its own question.
So I'm working on a scene where a ...
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How to write a drunk person's train of logic?
I've read some of the other questions on this site about how to write a drunk person (this link, this link, and this link) but what I'm not clear on is writing a drunk person's train of logic and how ...
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Chekhov's gun, agree to use or disagree?
In my opinion there's a relationship between Chekhov's gun and Minimalism.
But it's sometimes used to create a bad feeling (something bad won't occur, just our imaginations), like Dostoevsky novels or ...
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Character vs story [closed]
How much should I allow my characters to influence my plotting, and how much should the plot influence how I create my characters? Should I begin with a plot and then devise my characters to be "...
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When writing a trilogy, should you plan the entire series before starting the first book draft?
My book plan is to cover at least 2 possibly 3 books. I've skeletoned out the first book into a very brief plot. Should I do the same for book 2 and 3 before developing the plot of book 1 or should I ...
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How do you write a succesful character development without changing your character?
In dystopias, you can't avoid the fact that your protagonist is going to be changed from their experience. Not only this, but it's important for them to change for good character development to happen....
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What is the difference between the 5-Act structure and the 6-Act structure of storytelling?
There is a YouTube channel called 6-Act Structure, which I will be citing as a reference, run by an Marshall Dotson who wrote The Story Structure Secret: Actions and Goals. The author argues in favor ...
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How do you turn a protagonist's desire to get revenge on an antagonist without killing the antagonist into a quantifiable and tangible goal?
I'm writing a story inspired by the 2010 South Korean movie called I Saw the Devil. The movie is about a secret service agent called Kim Soo-Hyun who enacts his revenge on a serial killer called Jang ...
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Tips for writing a contemporary story
I have a couple ideas for an upcoming novella that I am writing - one that I am quite excited about happens to fit into the contemporary fiction category. I don't consider myself to be a contemporary ...
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What are examples of overused tropes in dystopian fiction?
I'm writing a Dystopian Novel and am in the initial plot-planning stage. I'm trying to ensure that I avoid the major tropes and have researched examples of this, however the examples I have found were ...
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Writing a particular plot in my story
In my story, a group of courageous teenagers named Maverick, Kristy, Stuart, Alice, and Gaurav find themselves engaged in an intense battle against formidable extraterrestrial foes. These teenagers ...
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How can I write a story with a morally ambiguous protagonist that challenges traditional notions of good and evil?
I am seeking guidance on crafting a morally ambiguous protagonist who defies conventional ideas of good and evil. I want to challenge people's preconceived notions about morality and create a ...
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When the ending is abrupt and the protagonist dies should you explore the aftermath or can you just end it abruptly with a hint of what's to come?
I have a story where the protagonist dies as a martyr and fuels the fire of rebellion against an evil empire, but I am not sure how I should approach it and whether it's perfectly fine to end the ...
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Is the “my parent died in a car accident” backstory overused?
I’m currently working on a book in which the main character’s parents died in a somewhat ghastly car accident. I haven’t decided yet if my MC was a part of the accident, which would make the death of ...
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Should you support the aftermath of every single supporting characters after the main conflict is resolved?
Should you support the aftermath of every single supporting characters after the main conflict is resolved?
Not exploring the aftermath of supporting characters can be seen as a mistake to avoid when ...
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