All Questions
29 questions
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
3
votes
1
answer
92
views
When to be literal and when to be metaphorical?
I tend to chide myself when I explain things very literally. However, I've noticed some excellent literature uses some very literal explanation of the scene and even the character's emotions while ...
1
vote
1
answer
58
views
How to get across to the reader a character’s prophetic abilities
My protagonist is speaking to my interpretation of the three fates from Greek mythology. He doubts their abilities until one of them echoes his every word as, or an instant before, he utters them.
How ...
- 327
2
votes
1
answer
184
views
How do you format dialogue within a paragraph?
He made his way over to the crimson red telephone box that basked in the afternoon sunlight. Ted knew she was hiding in there. “You can come out now." He swung open the door, with a callous look ...
- 23
6
votes
5
answers
984
views
Averting Bathos
Bathos is a storytelling technique that consists in the rapid succession of 2 “moments” with conflicting tones. This trope occurs when a serious moment gets followed by a gag. One of the many, many ...
user29299
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is it stylistically sound to use onomatopoeic words?
I'm writing a non-comedic fantasy novel, and I find myself using onomatopoeic words, like "SLAM!" and "TWISH" (for the shooting of arrows). To my knowledge, onomatopoeic words are almost only used in ...
- 4,053
8
votes
4
answers
660
views
Tips and tricks to describe more
I'm careful with the phrasing of this question as it is dangerously close to be opinion based. Everyone has their preference regarding the amount of description they expect to find in a work of ...
- 183
4
votes
6
answers
4k
views
How to introduce a large amount of characters in the first chapter?
So, I have a novel idea where the lead characters (seven in total), all have to be introduced in the first scene in my novel. I've already started with a basic idea, but I wanted to know if anyone ...
- 2,643
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
3
votes
3
answers
197
views
Finding My Own Voice [duplicate]
It struck me today that one method of becoming a great writer could be to copy the style of one or more published authors. A bit like standing on the shoulders of giants.
I was therefore going to ask ...
- 7,763
20
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Avoiding Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy
Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy is when the audience is put off by the incredibly dark nature of a fictional work and won't care what happens next, lose interest or want all the characters to die off....
user29299
5
votes
1
answer
261
views
Will this form of "third person limited" confuse readers?
I've been writing a novel that pushes the bounds on a conventional POV. It's essentially third person limited, but I sometimes leave the perspective of the main protagonist to cover an event that has ...
- 261
2
votes
2
answers
612
views
Use of past and present tense in same novel
The author of a current historical novel uses past tense in most of its 38 chapters, and present tense in five or six. The novel is a New York times bestseller: The Women in the Castle. Can someone ...
- 551
8
votes
6
answers
3k
views
How to stop projecting yourself into your writing?
I am writing about a person who is transported 10 years into the past, and has the chance to relive their life (actually being able to: 'knowing what I know now I would...')
The trouble is I keep ...
- 303
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
13
votes
9
answers
7k
views
When can You Pause the Story and Speak Directly to the Reader?
Note: This question was previously about breaking the fourth wall. I discovered that my interpretation of that phrase was wrong. I have therefore rewritten the question.
(The above is in place to ...
8
votes
2
answers
531
views
How does a novel writer explain the meaning of foreign words without giving the English translation?
I am currently reading a historical fiction novel about the Second World War. The characters are German and the setting is Berlin. The author uses German words or short phrases almost routinely, ...
- 551
-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
6
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How to make a dark story not-so-dark (Shining the light in darkness)
I'm writing a war story, and it's dark. However, I find that every scene turns out to be depressing because of it. Readers will be overwhelmed. Are there ways I can induce hope/shine the light in the ...
- 866
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 ...
10
votes
4
answers
938
views
What are potential pitfalls for a young writer?
Though I'm by no means perfect, I generally consider myself a good writer. The issue is that most older writers I know look back on their writing at my age and cringe at the sentences their artless ...
- 233
3
votes
1
answer
395
views
How to format neural actions in a story
I'm writing a short story with androids and cybernetically enhanced humans who have access to neural interfaces. Essentially, they open up some kind of computer terminal, but it's via internal sensors ...
- 213
4
votes
2
answers
445
views
Techniques to avoid superlatives in intense fiction scenes
I'm an aspiring writer and I'm finding it hard to not get swept up "in the moment" of the characters. What are some techniques to avoid superlatives and hyperbole in scenes that are meant to increase ...
- 143
2
votes
3
answers
300
views
A grand scheme or destiny in literature
There's one thing in literature that no matter how cliche or over used it might be, I always find very compelling. For example, when a story unfolds as if there is a larger force at work moving all of ...
- 121
4
votes
2
answers
191
views
Is it possible to publish stories with experimental spacing technique? (aka, blank pages, etc.)
I've got a few stories that employ experimental stylistics. The piece that is giving me the most trouble, though, is split up into five sections-- each section begins on its own page. It's hard to ...
- 81
3
votes
1
answer
247
views
Style signatures and uncommon formatting patterns
Style signatures are bits of words and phrases used consistently throughout the entirety of a work (but not necessarily among my unrelated works). I would like to try using style signatures in a work ...
- 743
9
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Using poetry in novels a good option?
I write fiction as well as poetry. And many a times I use poetry as a tool to bring out that acute feeling of pain or love (as required) in my explanations. What if I use poetry to introduce or end a ...
- 177
5
votes
4
answers
5k
views
How to explain a war scene?
In my novel, I have a part where there is a war scene, and I need to explain it precisely from the king's point of view. How can I explain the war graphics vividly?
- 177
22
votes
9
answers
12k
views
What breaks suspension of disbelief?
So much of Sci-Fi and Fantasy requires the viewer (or reader) to suspend their disbelief: The speed of light can be circumvented, magic works, vampires are real (and may or may not sparkle), etc.
...
- 323