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Q&A

General Q&A about the craft of professional writing, editing, and publishing. Questions about all types of writing are welcome -- fiction, technical documentation, scholarly articles, poetry, scriptwriting, blogs, and more.

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How do I stop my characters falling in love?

So I'm writing a short story based in a WW2 American military base camp stationed in Germany. It's about A Jewish Soviet soldier that, with the help of an American soldier and a series of coinciden...

5 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by brandi‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Character is called by their first initial. How do I write it?

A character's name starts with a hard G, as in Gary. Another character (dismissively) calls him by his first initial "G", said with a soft G, as in gee whiz. I've been using the letter G, but it'...

7 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by wetcircuit‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Good ways to sort "rambly" notes?

I know there is a name for this kind of "writing", but I just can't think of it at the moment. Basically, most of my notes are endlessly long ramblings that can go from one place to another in a he...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by noClue‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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How to write references?

I am writing a document for my project, and some information is from another website, I didn't copy the text but use their data, do I need to write that website in references? If so, how to? And t...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Wenqi Guo‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Should I describe a character deeply before killing it?

So, I have this little story I would like to tell. It's about a girl and how she's forced to take a journey with the man who has just killed her father. I'll skip the details. The point is I'm no...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Andrea Panda Zen‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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In a script how can I signal who's winning the argument?

Arguments, discussions, disagreements In my script I have a lot of "arguments" – loose definition: long discussions where characters disagree about what to do. These arguments don't escalate to ...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by wetcircuit‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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How to write a sincerely religious protagonist without preaching or affirming or judging their worldview?

I am writing a book in which one of my main characters is a devout Catholic. His struggles with reconciling his religion and his experiences in life are crucial to his character and I'd like to por...

6 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by wordsworth‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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If you are beginner when it come to writing, should you be pantser? Or plotter? [closed]

I asked my friends this question, they say being a plotter is better for a beginner, then once you get good you transition to pantser. I ask here because I hope to get advice from professional (or ...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Haru cat lover‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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What language to write in for a beginner wanting to write fiction?

So far, all of the fiction I've written in my life has been short stories given as writing tasks in school. However, I've always enjoyed reading/watching/experiencing fiction and for the last few y...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Scounged‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Linux command line based Word Processors?

I am on the hunt for software options that may have gotten drowned out in my google searches by emacs, vim, and wordgrinder to use as a word processor in a Raspbian Terminal environment. The goal ...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by TheLuckless‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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The seven story archetypes. Are they truly all of them?

The seven archetypes are as follows: Overcoming the Monster. Rags to Riches. The Quest. Voyage and Return. Comedy. Tragedy. Rebirth. But surely, there are more? ...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by A. Kvåle‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Writing Longer Flashbacks

In my story my MC has suffered a severe injury and has no recollection of who he was before it occurred. He knows what happened and where he was when it occurred as he was told by the people who fo...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by J Crosby‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Character Arcs - What if the character doesn't overcome the big lie, flaws or wounds?

I've been reading a lot of books about plot and character arcs. Most structures—and I believe this is generally good and true—require that the character come back from their journeys changed, usual...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by romebot‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Is an easily guessed plot twist a good plot twist?

In my post-apocalyptic novel, there are two "twists", but they're mostly tied up in each other. The first is that humans have developed different kinds of kineses, like hydrokinesis, telekinesis, ...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by weakdna says reinstate monica‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Storyboarding Approaches for the Non-Artistic

TLDR: Tips and Tricks for storyboarding a novel? For someone who can't draw well enough to do the "Draw and describe method" Hello, having read the "Storyboard a Novel?" as well as some sources ...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by J Crosby‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Magic is the twist

It feels silly to say, but I've got myself into a bit of a bind of a side project. In a three-act structure (not what everyone uses, but a good reference point) you generally need to set up all ex...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Weckar E.‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Self-Publishing Chapters

Is selling individual chapters a valid marketing scheme? Is there anything against it or examples where it worked to sell a whole novel?

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by poeticvampire‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Do we have to introduce the character's name before using their names in a dialogue tag?

Do we have to introduce the character's name before using their names in a dialogue tag? I am wondering if we can use the names without saying it's a man or a woman, and then making the characters ...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by blackbird‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Which tools are recommended for writing/authoring with? [closed]

I have to following tools available, looking for other options. Microsoft Word Sublime Text Editor Atom Visual Code I'm a Software Engineer, who is interested in writing. Thanks in advance.

0 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Dean Van Greunen‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Do I have to mention my main character's age?

I finished my novel and realised that I never mentioned my main character's age. In chapter two I said that she in in her twenties, but that's the only mention of her age. I know that she is twenty...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Lymaba‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Trivial non-dark twist in dark fantasy

I am writing a rather dark, grey fantasy story. It is supposed to feature a twist that turns the antagonist's goal to not to be evil at all (just misjudged) and really trivial (despite requiring la...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Kiratta‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Has anyone ever written a novel or short story composed of only dialogue? [closed]

The participants describe everything needed for the story to continue, within the conversation. The environment, the emotions, everything. The reader gets to "see" it all through their words. Has i...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Daydah‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Term for future-tense technique that isn't exactly foreshadowing

Not sure if this has a name, but I think it's best demonstrated with some examples I've seen: Nadia and her family both considered her thereafter to be without a family, something all of them, ...

0 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by purpleladydragons‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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A thesaurus that detects rhyming

I have been looking for a word that rhymes with post with similar meaning to a school. But I go to thesaurus.com, sounding the words on my head for results under "school" and none rhyme. I then tr...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Jossie Calderon‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Developing a dialogue that unexpectedly leads to strong feelings between two strangers

A short story I'm writing involves a stage in which the male protagonist talks to a stranger with the intent of asking them to do a favor for his friend. I want them to start having strong feelings...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by tawsonfield‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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How important are the author's mood and feelings for writing a story?

How important are the author's mood and emotions while writing a story or describing a scene? For example, while writing an erotic scene, is it important for the author to feel the same way as the...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by srini‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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How to tell readers that I know my story is factually incorrect?

Sometimes, it so happens that I do some research for a story and find that a major plot point could never work in real life. At this stage, I can either continue with my impossible (for a non-fanta...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by tryin‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Can I modify and turn my published short stories into a novel?

I'm writing some short stories that are all connected and are set in the same universe, because I planned to put them together into a novel later. My question is: If I publish those short stories, ...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Tomas Oier‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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How to not confuse readers with simultaneous events?

In an omniscient third person, I have 8 (practically unrelated) events going simultaneously in different parts of a large mansion. I want to present these events as they happen, but I feel jumping ...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Weckar E.‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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what techniques or approaches can I use to explore distasteful concepts while also making them necessary?

In my story democracy crumbles in a nation, replaced by a powerful dictatorship. Our world has been invaded by servants of the elder god, Nyalathotep. Governments have been fighting back for years,...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Incognito‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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How do I write a compelling villain-all-along twist?

I have in mind a character who is the protagonist's trusted ally throughout the story, but it is revealed at the end that he was the primary antagonist for most of it. This kind of thing has, of c...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by PlutoThePlanet‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Is it okay for a chapter's POV to shift as it progresses?

I have this duo in my novel, they're always together in chapters. Usually the story alternates between them within their plot, though mostly leaning to one of the characters, as he's one of the MCs...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by A. Kvåle‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Balancing setting, theme, and character arcs: how to deal with a setting that carries emotional weight but is left behind?

When writing a story, how do you find a good balance between the significance of different elements, such as plot, themes, and bold settings and characters, and the character arcs? In my case I ha...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by wordsworth‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Is straight-up writing someone's opinions telling?

When I first learned about the "show don't tell" guideline, I believe it applied to everything. I have now learned there are many grey areas, like for example exposition, and that the most importan...

5 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by A. Kvåle‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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From reactive to proactive; When should the protagonist change tack?

In my exploration of story structure, I have encountered some conflicting advice. In some instances, it has been suggested that the midpoint of a story represents the moment that the protagonist s...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Arkenstein XII‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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How can I efficiently write down my personal problems for further auto-analysis? [closed]

When I have some personal problems in relationships or there are worrying issues about life in general and I am really upset about the situation, in order to “solve it”, or efficiently think about ...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Open the way‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Is 7000 words too long for a chapter? [closed]

I've been working on a story for the last 4 years. It's just a personal project now and I've gone really in depth to clean up any plot holes I can readily see (thanks Cinemasins). I think I love th...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Emily‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Book on (character) voice

Any book recommendations that teach you how to make sure each character sounds different in dialogue and is recognizable even without dialogue tags? Any book tips to learn more about character deve...

0 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Abidabiwriti‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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When to ask for constructive criticism?

I have 40,000 words of a novel and I am not sure at what point to ask for constructive criticism.

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Mandy Russell‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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What effect does compounding bring when used in the title of a song, poem, story?

What effect does compounding bring when used in the title of a song, poem, story? Sometimes, you see word that are made of two conjoined words, and you wonder what's the point of it. Does it make a...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by blackbird‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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I gave my characters names that are exactly like another book. Is it a problem?

Ok, so, I am currently writing a book and 3 of my characters have the same name as in another novel. I didn't realize it until someone pointed it out to me. The names I picked are fairly common and...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by WidePen‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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How would you write the dialogues of two characters talking in a chat room?

How would you write do the dialogues of two characters talking in a chat room? I am seriously wondering about the format. Should it look like regular dialogues, what about emoticons like OWO and ;)...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by blackbird‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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When to finally reveal plot twist to characters?

In a post-apocalyptic novel I'm writing (which is the subject of many questions I've asked on Writing.SE), I recently cut out my entire Chapter 10-11. I was revealing the MC, Eris' finékinesis (de...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by weakdna says reinstate monica‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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When to publish satire of current events?

I'm writing a satirical novella of sorts, based on the current American political climate. I'm exploring themes of race, political polarity, and youth. I do want to finish and possibly publish th...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by weakdna says reinstate monica‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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How do I write a romance that doesn't look obvious

I'm writing a story, it's not focused on romance, but that's an important part as well. The point is that I have two characters and I ended up ("accidentally") seeing chemistry between them, they h...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Ana Clara Moreira‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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What is a self expression article called?

I've been blogging for a while and I only write my thoughts and opinions on topics such as world peace, social matters, art & culture, and various other topics. I want to make a living writing ...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Yostina‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Ambiguous sentences: How to tell when they need fixing?

A story of mine has the following sentence: Alyssa was possessed by a sudden, fierce urge to snatch the teacup out of her sister's hand and dump the contents into her perfectly arranged hai...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Evil Sparrow‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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1st person addressing a narrator

I'm writing a story in first person, but with a third person narrator for the secondary character. I was wondering if there were any books or stories to research how the first person character coul...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Jack Woods‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Using ”as” after dialogue tags

Should a comma be used after a dialogue tag and before the word ”as”. For example: ”I don’t like this at all, ” he said, as the door closed behind them. Or ”I don’t like this at all, ” he s...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Vh123‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Is killing off one of my queer characters homophobic?

(For reference, I am queer.) In my post-apocalyptic novel and in the short story from the novel's antagonist's perspective, my MC, Eris' love interest, Caspian, has/had two mothers, Saskia and Ezr...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by weakdna says reinstate monica‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭