User John Smithers

101 votes

The "Rules" of Writing

answered Dec 11, 2010 at 11:44

65 votes

Accepted

Choosing character names is a constant difficulty

answered Nov 19, 2010 at 9:37

44 votes

When should modifiers be avoided?

answered Nov 23, 2010 at 21:31

31 votes

Accepted

How does one deal with world builder's syndrome?

answered Dec 11, 2010 at 15:48

29 votes

Something different: Help me find the unnecessary words.

answered Dec 6, 2010 at 10:16

28 votes

Accepted

Is it true that men (in general) can't write female first-person?

answered Feb 13, 2013 at 12:43

24 votes

How to overcome the fact that I can't write?

answered Nov 28, 2010 at 16:26

22 votes

How can one make technical issues more accessible to a non-technical audience?

answered Dec 16, 2010 at 18:30

22 votes

Is it frustrating not to know the narrator's gender?

answered Jan 24, 2012 at 14:42

21 votes

Accepted

How do you determine if a plot device is too coincidental?

answered Jun 22, 2012 at 11:30

20 votes

Accepted

Frailties, mistakes, and imperfections

answered Sep 22, 2011 at 21:13

18 votes

Accepted

How do I write a synopsis?

answered Nov 19, 2010 at 12:22

16 votes

How does the 10,000 hour rule apply to writing?

answered Jun 30, 2011 at 13:41

16 votes

So I finished my novel. Now what do I do?

answered Sep 19, 2011 at 9:25

15 votes

Accepted

What to do if I can't meet my chapter word count?

answered Sep 9, 2011 at 11:20

15 votes

Copyright - Can I go to any other publisher?

answered Dec 9, 2013 at 16:34

14 votes

Accepted

Should I edit the first draft until I'm totally satisfied or should I leave that to the third draft?

answered Oct 17, 2013 at 11:44

14 votes

Accepted

Are fantasy books expected to be trilogies?

answered Oct 7, 2011 at 21:53

14 votes

Accepted

Is the idea of single-sourced documentation dead?

answered Mar 18, 2011 at 13:50

14 votes

How do I find an agent?

answered Nov 20, 2010 at 19:44

13 votes

Accepted

Using a world created by someone else for your own fiction

answered Dec 13, 2010 at 9:01

13 votes

Accepted

Should I research what my protagonist’s job would involve, or just create it all from my imagination?

answered Jan 4, 2012 at 20:33

12 votes

How to develop a story for a novel?

answered Dec 29, 2011 at 16:07

12 votes

Accepted

How do I decide if writing expository scenes that won't be in my finished novel is useful, or procrastination?

answered Feb 21, 2012 at 9:51

12 votes

How do I balance reading time with writing time?

answered Feb 23, 2012 at 14:00

12 votes

Accepted

How to juggle work and NaNoWriMo?

answered Oct 11, 2011 at 20:41

12 votes

Accepted

How do I keep the plot interesting in a humorous book?

answered Sep 5, 2011 at 13:00

12 votes

What is a discovery writer?

answered Sep 21, 2011 at 9:31

12 votes

Accepted

Source ideas for monsters in a fantasy novel?

answered Aug 7, 2011 at 17:09

12 votes

Accepted

When should I avoid the passive voice? When might I use it?

answered Nov 25, 2010 at 10:31

Stack Exchange Network

229 Answers

The "Rules" of Writing

Choosing character names is a constant difficulty

When should modifiers be avoided?

How does one deal with world builder's syndrome?

Something different: Help me find the unnecessary words.

Is it true that men (in general) can't write female first-person?

How to overcome the fact that I can't write?

How can one make technical issues more accessible to a non-technical audience?

Is it frustrating not to know the narrator's gender?

How do you determine if a plot device is too coincidental?

Frailties, mistakes, and imperfections

How do I write a synopsis?

How does the 10,000 hour rule apply to writing?

So I finished my novel. Now what do I do?

What to do if I can't meet my chapter word count?

Copyright - Can I go to any other publisher?

Should I edit the first draft until I'm totally satisfied or should I leave that to the third draft?

Are fantasy books expected to be trilogies?

Is the idea of single-sourced documentation dead?

How do I find an agent?

Using a world created by someone else for your own fiction

Should I research what my protagonist’s job would involve, or just create it all from my imagination?

How to develop a story for a novel?

How do I decide if writing expository scenes that won't be in my finished novel is useful, or procrastination?

How do I balance reading time with writing time?

How to juggle work and NaNoWriMo?

How do I keep the plot interesting in a humorous book?

What is a discovery writer?

Source ideas for monsters in a fantasy novel?

When should I avoid the passive voice? When might I use it?