All Questions
173 questions
1
vote
0
answers
38
views
Should i write my first fiction novel in the present or the past tense when writing in the first preson? [duplicate]
Im writing my first novel in the first person, and i cant decide if it sounds better (and if its easier) in the present or the past. Please help!
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
308
views
Are using adverbs in dialogue/action tags a sign of bad writing?
Examples from my own writing:
She smiled kindly. “Maybe I can help you. What are you trying to
find?”
"Probably," he said apologetically, as if he were personally responsible for this. ...
- 12.4k
0
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Am I being too descriptive?
Each and every time I read my stories to people, only one comment is usually made, albeit in different ways... I'm just not sure if they're being honest, or if I am actually doing something right.
"...
- 325
0
votes
1
answer
255
views
Is it good style in fiction to write sentences as a flow of (disjointed) thoughts? [closed]
I was wondering whether it is okay to write like this or not:
I never went for the grooves. But I did take a seat near the bar table and checked out the pretty ladies. Drinking was not my cup of ...
- 1,481
0
votes
1
answer
609
views
How to write scenes of negotiation? [closed]
I'm looking for general tips on writing a negotiation scene, and would be interested in some example novels/short stories in which there are scenes of negotiation (preferably light-hearted but any ...
- 111
0
votes
3
answers
131
views
Is the following "...noun, adjective..." structure allowed in fiction?
Exhausted, I continued lying on my back. A cloud drifted lazily
in the sky, heart-shaped, its curves flawlessly outlined as if drawn
with a compass.
Or should I write this instead?
Exhausted, ...
- 12.4k
0
votes
3
answers
217
views
Why is sarcasm so hard to write?
I'm prompted to ask this question because I was troubled by some answers to questions about punctuation in rhetorical questions. The solution also calls into question the notion that 'said' is the ...
- 5,309
0
votes
4
answers
256
views
What do you think about having very different tones in a single story?
What if a chapter is incredibly depressive, dark, with intense language. And the next reads almost like a dialogue from a Seth MacFarlane comedy. Or even better, what if the tone switches occur ...
- 123
0
votes
2
answers
61
views
Is it more difficult to unify the narrator after the story is written, than to juggle POVs into the narrator's world during writing?
A lot of my procrastination in writing my story is coming from anxiety over making the finished product come from one "head." I have perspectives from a couple first persons, and some 3P ...
- 1,122
0
votes
2
answers
116
views
Need help with currencies and numbers/numerals in fiction
How would you write the following in fiction given that my style guide says write out numbers up to and including 99?
From the till, she robbed six 50,000-won notes, two 10,000s and eight thousands.
I ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
155
views
How to present common foreign words in fiction? [duplicate]
In a story I use the Japanese words konnichiwa and kawaii:
"Konnichiwa!" greeted a voice.
"Wanna cuddle with a cutie for a couple of minutes?" She beamed a
kittenish kawaii smile.
I ...
- 1,143
0
votes
2
answers
284
views
A ballad or prose? [closed]
I am now planning to start with the third chapter of my novel. I got an interesting idea to write it as a ballad. But I am much better with prose. Will I better off if I continue writing prose or ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
87
views
Can I tell after already showing?
When writing fiction, I try to adhere to the rule of showing rather than telling. That said, is it ok to tell after already showing?
For example, I have a character already shown to be insecure. Is it ...
- 327
0
votes
1
answer
69
views
How to write a character that lost his passion , his purpose that he had for his goal after he achives it and how to revive his passion?
So that character is like any typical sports anime character who loved to play cricket a lot and fortunately was gifted and lucky enough to become a big name in world of cricket but with time during ...
0
votes
2
answers
144
views
Formatting new line options with actions and dialogue in fiction
I am getting confused about whether rules determine new paragraph positions or if it's sometimes arbitrary. Some choices seem clear cut, but in the sentence: 'I regarded...' it reads fine to me in ...
0
votes
1
answer
134
views
Dialogue in First Person Fiction (Detective Mystery) [closed]
Karl is my detective protagonist. His girlfriend, Jenna, is with him. He is hospitalized, and his boss, Rob Tucker, shows up for a visit. Which example of dialogue is correct? In true first person, ...
- 3
0
votes
1
answer
107
views
I want some critique on my writing [closed]
Laying in a pool of vomit at one o clock on a tuesday morning in the room of a lousy hotel room was not a situation peter ever thought hed find himself in. But as fate would have it he lay there ...
- 31
0
votes
1
answer
377
views
How to write sexual/romantic scenes? [closed]
Yeah, I just decided today to write a Porn/Erotic Book. Seems writing ebooks is a quick way to make a couple of bucks and rise up the ladder these days. But, the problem is I don't know how to write a ...
0
votes
2
answers
149
views
How to provide translations, moods, and registry in multilanguage dialog within an narration in English?
I am starting a serious writing project (a novel book from a story I once drafted as a TV show; I am not a script writer either). Furthermore I decided to write in English, which is not my native ...
0
votes
0
answers
46
views
Best Order of Semantic Parts in a Clause for Clarity
It is not that I want all my writing to be so easily understood, but in some writing of mine, perhaps, I want to be as easily understood as possible, such as in certain kinds of fiction, which I plan ...
user25421
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Being a non-native English writer how can i improve my English Writing style? [duplicate]
I'm an Indian and trying to write a novel based on 2 sisters.
My problem is that i don't feel very comfortable with my english sometimes. How can i improve my english?
And sometimes i use the same ...
- 1
-1
votes
3
answers
80
views
What word would people with outdated technology make up for a plane? [closed]
In my story, my characters live in the wilderness, and they have no modern technology. They do see ruins from the past (from now) but other than that they have no idea how advanced other parts of the ...
- 107
-2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to describe a characters clothing? [closed]
Yeah, So I was bored and decided to write some action Naughty adult fanfic type story today. And then as I started to write I was faced with this issue. How the legit **** am I suppose to describe my ...
- 119