All Questions
26 questions
3
votes
2
answers
274
views
I want to describe a young man sitting astride on a chair, leaning his forearms on the top of the back
I want to describe a young man sitting astride on a chair, leaning his forearms on the top of the back. I am aware that I am focusing too much on the mechanics of the posture, and I will deal with the ...
- 33
1
vote
2
answers
407
views
I need help writing a scene or experience about air being knocked out of you
How would you write a scene of someone trying to breath again after getting the wind knocked out of them?
I am trying to describe the experience and how your body reacts physically while your brain ...
1
vote
1
answer
343
views
How to describe a sinister expression
I'm a noob at writing and I wanted to find out how to describe someone's face contorting into a sinister expression. I'm having a bit of trouble doing so. The most prominent features I want to focus ...
1
vote
1
answer
266
views
Describing light like water
I am currently working on writing a storyline for a text-based videogame. I am trying to describe how there is very little light coming into the room that the character is entering, as the window is ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
562
views
How do you describe the sound of a body being dragged through the snow? [closed]
How to describe the sound of a body bring dragged through snow
- 11
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Help with describing an unconscious character
One of the characters in my book, the narrator, is suddenly knocked unconscious. How would I describe what he sees/feels?
Do I just have a big timeskip, with him confused as to what happened when he ...
- 727
1
vote
3
answers
341
views
How would a character with a certain personality react in a certain situation? [closed]
I'm at a point in my story where the main character(M17) was in a huge car crash. He'd been in an overturned vehicle for about 10 minutes and had sustained heavy damage. A few of his friends had come ...
- 441
6
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How should you describe turning pages quickly? [closed]
I want to describe this action. How should I describe this action?
- 255
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How to describe sound? [closed]
I have this scene in my novel that I'm trying to write. There is this character who is on the boat, rowing. I don't know how to describe the sound of the oar touching the water as he paddles.
The ...
3
votes
5
answers
719
views
Details: How do you describe a character's clothing in a story?
I'm writing a story and I need to describe the character's appearance. My character is wearing a football jersey and running on the field, so how can I describe this better?
This is what I came up ...
14
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Should I use the real name or attempt to describe?
I'm writing a story in a fantasy setting, where there are characters who dress with ancient Egyptian type clothing - such as haram pant and usekh collars.
Since the story is a fantasy and not set in ...
- 141
18
votes
6
answers
8k
views
How to express martial arts action in fiction?
In the context of an actual as opposed to training fight scene in a fictional narrative, how would one express martial arts action?
Generally, martial arts has a distinctive disciplined but powerful ...
- 343
2
votes
1
answer
446
views
Trying to regain writing skills I lost after a writing hiatus [closed]
Edit: I'm confused what I need to ask so this question can be taken off hold.
I'm looking for help on writing descriptive language. (it no longer flows freely in my mind like it did in the past.)
...
- 932
7
votes
4
answers
145k
views
How can I describe nervousness?
Becoming nervous in the heat of a situation. Perhaps you witnessed something not for the faint of heart.
Like, how would I describe shaky legs without being so boring about it.
- 183
2
votes
2
answers
458
views
What is a good ratio of description/action to talking?
Background
I probably am wording this badly and that's why when I searched the site I didn't get an answer. So I was wondering, because the recent totally epic chapter of my masterpiece novel ...
- 4,439
0
votes
2
answers
250
views
Is it best to make a description metaphorical, or upfront?
Background
I've had this question for a really long time. A lot of my work seems quite 'floaty' and 'old style' because I describe things in a very metaphorical and surreal way. For example:
Her ...
- 4,439
1
vote
1
answer
150
views
How to add a new word to the dictionary
Background
Okay, so I've decided now is my personal time to shine! I have thought of a great new word, and want to add it to the dictionary. Theoretically, if enough people read my book and see this ...
- 4,439
1
vote
2
answers
502
views
Am I just a coward, or will my reader be a coward too?
So I was trying to write about creatures that would vomit maggots, and then a different creature would lick it back up and vomit it out again to keep the meal going around. There was loads of maggots ...
- 4,439
1
vote
2
answers
241
views
Is the following analogy of natural selection effective and clear?
I'm writing a scene where one of the characters is explaining the process of natural selection:
“Think of it as a beach full of crab holes of various shapes and sizes, and
with little pebbles on ...
- 12.4k
4
votes
3
answers
243
views
When to be specific and when to let context fill in the holes?
Some examples:
Half-crouching, I went over to the railing and pointed my flashlight
down (to the ground). It was approximately a two-storey fall. Not incredibly high, but
high enough to kill a ...
- 12.4k
10
votes
7
answers
12k
views
Is it important to describe how the characters are dressed?
One thing that I never mention in my stories is how the characters are dressed. Well, except when they are being described for the first time, when the main character first meets them. How important ...
- 12.4k
11
votes
8
answers
19k
views
Is it better to describe the main character's physical appearance early on in the story?
I'm writing a novel, and I just realized I don't describe be main character's appearance until Chapter 3 (each chapter is 1500~2000 words long and there are 25 chapters in total).
I do mention that ...
- 12.4k
2
votes
1
answer
226
views
Does this text flow smoothly (description of suicidal thoughts)?
So how did this animal suicide thing start? Ironically, it began with
my own death wish. But why? I had perfect health, friends and family
who cared about me, plus I had just been admitted into ...
- 12.4k
0
votes
1
answer
251
views
Is this a good description of a jew looking out the window at nazis? [closed]
Cautiously I rose, briefly leaving his side. Turning to the lugubrious window when suddenly I was forced to duck down as cantankerous Nazis dehisced from behind great timber doors, parading across the ...
- 1
4
votes
2
answers
950
views
Does the following piece have too much dry narration (mundane tasks, moving about)?
Tsuki woke up to the morning sun that entered through the window. She
yawned and sat on the side of the bed, rubbing her eyes. The clock on
the wall said half past ten. She brushed her teeth, ...
- 12.4k
9
votes
7
answers
9k
views
In what order should I describe a setting?
For instance I'm describing the park of an art museum in a foggy day. I'm not sure if I should start with the fog, wind, grass, threes, walking paths, buildings, stairs or something else. Is there a ...
- 12.4k