All Questions
50 questions
0
votes
2
answers
113
views
Stuck on a scene of characters going from one location to another
So the context is that two characters have to go from Country A to Country B. They have to travel through various airports and take a cab in order to reach Country B. The main story starts after they ...
2
votes
2
answers
213
views
How do I fit the scene ideas to the plot?
I have lots of very cool and developed scene ideas, but when I think about them, they seem to be seperate from the plot. It's like instead of the protagonist sailing on a boat down a river, they're ...
- 902
1
vote
2
answers
126
views
How to write an insulting experience for my protagonist?
My protagonist finds out that his friends have completely forgotten him. I want to write an insulting scene for my protagonist and want the readers to connect with him fully. Need some tips on how to ...
- 11
1
vote
4
answers
296
views
When is a good time to have a betrayal?
In my book a character who the main characters have saved before is revealed to be the real main antagonist. I originally wanted this reveal to happen at the end, but after looking at betrayals in ...
4
votes
2
answers
272
views
I'm afraid of being accused that I copied, even when I'm the one writing earlier
My apologies for potential errors, I'm not a native English speaker
Hello. I don't really know, who else I could ask, so I'm putting it here.
First of all, I know, that my writing isn't something ...
- 41
0
votes
2
answers
99
views
How do I find the right audience for my book?
I wrote a book about two years ago with almost no prior planning or outlining done before the writing. I've since matured more and figured out that the audience for my book changes from chapter to ...
- 1,664
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 ...
4
votes
2
answers
656
views
Is it outlawed to start Chapter one with the villain and only mention the protagonist?
Chapter 1 takes place in 1953. A girl is kidnapped. She manages to write a note to her friend (they both go to school together but the boy has moved). The letter is destroyed. Her friend is the ...
- 41
-1
votes
2
answers
228
views
What are the possible driving factors of betrayal scenes?
I've been having a hard time thinking about a good way to create a betrayal scene without forcing it.
Even if I somehow wrote the scene, I just can't feel the emotions behind the betrayal; the sadness,...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
305
views
How do you avoid "rushing to the good stuff" with poor pacing as an inexperienced writer?
I was recently watching a writing review talking about the pacing in the recent Invincible adaptation. One thing that the author of this video pointed out is that when authors are very inexperienced ...
- 4,664
1
vote
2
answers
152
views
Is it okay to write short adjacent story of a second lead in the main story?
I am writing a story of a slice of life of a teenager girl who seeks her forgotten past and run away from her forced marriage to follow her dreams. I want to add another story of her cousin and her ...
2
votes
4
answers
154
views
How exhaustive can I make an exposition?
Typically an exposition is a few sentences or paragraphs to clue the reader into the time and place, and maybe set a bit of the mood for the core of the story. However, I would like to dedicate 100 or ...
- 193
7
votes
11
answers
4k
views
How can I make the story less predictable?
I'm working on my first novel. As I was going through the initial chapters, I felt that the story is quite simple and predictable (in the initial chapters) and picks up after 14 chapters are over. The ...
- 476
1
vote
1
answer
108
views
What is the best way to plan a series?
I am a young author writing a fantasy series. When I first started writing, I had nothing more then a sentence of an idea, but I went along with it and just wrote what came into my head. I never ...
- 488
7
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Changing Genres in the Middle of a Story
Let's say the story was introduced as a romance, then somewhere in the middle it becomes a horror/thriller, would you immediately think it's bad?
Would you feel like "This is not what I came here ...
- 351
0
votes
2
answers
212
views
Fault in writers logic and how avoid?
So yeah I have seen a situation where what the writer has put makes sense, but after thinking it through there are clear faults in the logic they used.
Here's my example
A small team is advancing ...
- 398
4
votes
3
answers
335
views
How can I steer myself away from using pronouns too often as I write in 3rd person?
I noticed that I use "she", "he", and "they" - and a lot of sentences also begin with the aforementioned pronouns. How can I steer away from doing this so often as I ...
- 1,075
0
votes
3
answers
568
views
Is it bad for the narrative to lie?
What I want to know is if it is bad for the narrative to lie to the reader.
I get that using it in first person can be a good use for misdirection and such, but it does that by making the character ...
- 398
3
votes
3
answers
314
views
Rules of Misdirection in Stories
I am wondering if there are any rules for misdirection like how would you tell if a misdirection was done right or wrong in a story? Are there do's and don'ts or a point where you can over do it when ...
- 398
0
votes
2
answers
196
views
Non-sense question about plot structures
Suppose then you have an story in your mind. Then, to write down this finite series of events, you have to translate your imagination into the paper. This process isn't trivial, of course and plot are ...
- 683
1
vote
2
answers
502
views
Doubt about the difference between a "Beat" and a "Event"
My main source of research about storytelling/screenwriting/how-to-write-a-book manual is [1]. But, the definition of "beat" given by [1] maybe can causing me some confusion.
In [1] we have a ...
- 683
11
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What are the components of a legend (in the sense of a tale, not a figure legend)?
I'm compiling in-world legends for my built world, and would like them to feel like established legends from our own human experience.
What should I keep in mind while writing these legends? What ...
- 23.8k
11
votes
9
answers
504
views
How can I make a non-linear timeline less confusing?
My story is broken into 8 sections. Sections 1 and 2 take place simultaneously, in two different worlds. The other 6 continue in a linear fashion (switching back & forth between the two worlds as ...
user36961
0
votes
3
answers
138
views
How do I introduce this character?
I am writing a story these days and I want to introduce a character who is similar to a king. This character is introduced with heavy announcements by his minions who scream out words of admiration ...
- 1
8
votes
4
answers
986
views
Is writing solely about writing a plot?
I often hear that a writer should not write something that is not tightly linked to the plot. "If you can narrate it without it, drop it from your story" - that's what I see.
However, is it really ...
- 413
1
vote
3
answers
590
views
What kind of writing style works for a game?
Background:
I'm creating a story for a video game--it's set in a cyberpunk, futuristic setting, and it has many flows, one of its flows is that the story is so complicated and novelized, that it ...
- 23
19
votes
6
answers
4k
views
How long should I mention an injured character’s pain?
My main character gets shot and survives. One thing that bothers me is a character who is injured and keeps going like the energizer bunny.
I try to set up for a rapid recovery, mentioning training ...
- 12.3k
62
votes
4
answers
14k
views
What kind of protagonist or writing style is Jack Sparrow?
I want to ask about a certain style on how to present a character. I know Jack Sparrow is from a movie (and I've only watched the movies too) but I want to integrate in my writing how he was presented ...
- 764
12
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Misdirection for suspense/plot twists - what's acceptable and what's dishonest?
Note: I'm primarily asking this question because while Surtsey, the original asker of the question didn't actually ask a thing (and instead copy-pasted an excerpt of a novel) I believe it's a ...
- 9,134
22
votes
8
answers
5k
views
How to get readers to care about a dead character?
My story happens as a result of one of the main characters getting murdered. I'm wondering how to get readers to care about someone who's not even in the story (as far as the readers know anyway) or ...
- 321
14
votes
2
answers
668
views
What are methods to refer to something that happened but did not make it onto the page?
As writers we're supposed to know more about our stories than the words that make it onto the page. Can a character refer to something that happened, but happened off-page? As the writer, I know that ...
- 23.8k
11
votes
7
answers
4k
views
Intentionally leaving out a part of the story, for a more interesting reveal?
In the story I am writing, I have a character who is working on a project and will present it to a group of judges who will mark it in a sort of examination. The project is a source of stress for the ...
- 1,783
7
votes
5
answers
320
views
Would it be appropriate to end a side story as soon as a character is killed off?
I am currently writing a war story written from different perspectives on both sides of the conflict. Every primary character of the story has their own side story with a family, life, etc., yet they ...
- 251
6
votes
5
answers
470
views
Can fiction be written without a coincidence?
Does every fiction has a coincidence? Is there any evidence for a fiction not having a coincidental occurring at all ?
I understand by the time we get to the coincidence part it might not seem a ...
- 455
2
votes
3
answers
631
views
How to excite readers
"You have to excite yourself to excite others"
Starting with this quote, that I listened to a conference, I really would know the "magic formula" (even I imagin there isn't) to excite readers with ...
- 225
3
votes
3
answers
149
views
How do I make sure my audience is aware of subplots?
In a first person story I am writing, I have many subplots going on, but when I started writing it, I realized that the subplots were not obvious. How can I make it more clear that progress is ...
- 267
2
votes
2
answers
121
views
Tips for continuing plot when the spearhead character is not the protagonist?
In the story I am writing, the main character is not in control of the events of the story, I did this to create a strong sense of powerlessness, but I have found a problem. I am having difficulties ...
- 267
0
votes
1
answer
106
views
Short Stories - Questions [duplicate]
How many Stories would be required for it to be considered as a Collection of Short Stories ideally?
What would be the approximate Word Count for a Short Story?
- 11
11
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Using "show not tell" while characters are planning for something that happens
In a narrative I'm writing, the characters have to plan an escape from a facility. The thing is, they'll be doing the actual escape in the chapter following them planning. I know usually the right way ...
- 1,185
2
votes
5
answers
18k
views
Should I worry that my storyline is very similar to another? [duplicate]
I've written a story about anthropomorphic animals in a noirish setting solving murders. I came up with the concept and wrote the first draft about a year ago and am planning on releasing it soon. ...
- 21
6
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Can anyone think of books that contain two separate stories or two very different perspectives on the same story being told together? [closed]
I fear that the question sounds vague and confusing, but I can't conjure up the words I need to say exactly what I mean without going into detail.
I thought it would be interesting to have two ...
- 950
0
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How important is a story's introduction?
I would feel like an introduction would be the first impressions and knowledge someone has of a book, along with the cover, just like a good movie. However, you can just skip a book intro. I've heard ...
- 80
1
vote
2
answers
202
views
Setting Up The Climax & Eventual End of The Story
I've been suffering a lot of problems with my writings recently.
I started off a great story, where a girl is accepted in a prestigious school in a far off city. The story I've written in my head is ...
3
votes
5
answers
630
views
My story passes in choppy blocks - how can I fix it?
Similar to this question, I am slowly coming to realize that my writing is getting choppy. Unlike that question however, my problem does not lie within sentences, or even paragraphs. It lies within ...
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
0
votes
2
answers
95
views
Which opening for my book is better? [closed]
I am currently writing a fictional book. I have no idea how to introduce the new country and the history. I already have three ideas on how to start the book, but I don't know which one to use and ...
- 269
1
vote
5
answers
8k
views
Are there rules for, or guidelines on, time gaps between a plot's scenes/chapters?
I've been reading a host of old favourites, classics and authors outside of my usual reading pool, in an effort to dissect the writing (from plot, characters and environment to voice, pacing and ...
- 2,173
4
votes
1
answer
253
views
Looking for some tips on how to improve writing [closed]
I have just completed my first draft of a novel. Now the story is completed it's time to capture the style so the reader can engage in the story. I want to make sure the story style is easy enough for ...
- 41
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is the most effective way to deal with flashbacks in a novel structure ?
In writing a novel, often flashbacks are difficult to manage: if too long and detailed, they can appear as second class (at worst, aborted) plots whose only task is to sustain the main plot line; if ...
- 319
18
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How do you map out your storyline?
There are various ways for mapping out the storyline that you will use for a story. One of them is to create a bullet-point outline, which would theoretically be useful because of the hierarchy system ...
- 3,425