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Q&A Is there a balance between a page-turning read and an exhausting 'too much' reading experience?

I have learned over the past fifteen months of writing fiction that every scene needs to have tension and advance the plot. This is good. But, I find that as I read my novel (again and again) to ...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by DPT‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question plot structure pacing
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Q&A Categorizing paragraphs in a stack exchange answer

I stumbled across the question on Writing Beta about "How do you write a stack exchange answer?". The best answer says use headings. What would the headings be for? The main idea/topic of each para...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Sweet_Cherry‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question structure
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Q&A Good rule of thumb when varying sentence lengths/structure [closed]

My question is, are there any good rules on how to vary your sentence length/structure to keep your writing interesting? Eg. start out with shorter sentences and then start to lengthen the sentenc...

0 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Ryan Cameron‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Do I need to provide in-text citations in a news article for school?

So, for my Senior English Class, I need to write a news article about technology. However, I'm unsure as to whether or not I need in-text citations for said paper. Do I need in-text citations for a...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Kale Slade‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Does a page-turner have to be continually high-octane?

I've experimented with both critique partners and people I know (be they friends, family or colleagues) as unrewarded beta readers. The latter are very slow, sometimes reading slower than I wrote a...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by J.G.‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A What are some examples of an inciting incident that would force a character to go on a quest or adventure?

I've noticed that my novel is missing a really strong inciting incident and I can't think of anything strong enough to suffice. The only inciting incidents I'm familiar with seeing in nearly every ...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Nsim‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Parentheses in scientific writing

I occasionally use parentheses in scientific writing when a piece of information is related to a previous statement but not to the central story. Is it bad style in scientific writing to use pare...

0 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Bananach‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Ordinary writing or Prose: how to make it immersive?

As a beginner, I have a frequent problem when writing: I know what I want to write, but I fail to put it in good sentences that reflect my thoughts. Often, this appears in dialogues when I try to ...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Sasugasm‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Alternatives to starting a sentence with well [closed]

I'm new to narrative writing and especially have trouble with dialogue. I too often am using the word well to start a character's sentence after receiving some information to then ask a question ab...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Seth Painter‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is it permissible to use subconclusions for argumentative paragraphs if they contain multiple arguments in support of the main point?

Argumentative paragraphs often contain a topic sentence that states the main point, and the main point tends to be supported by multiple arguments that are introduced throughout the paragraph as Fi...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by user3776022‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Eliminating the Dash in Prose Writing

I have been accused — shock, horror — of using the dash (the one that indicates a three-quarters pause) too much in my fiction. Thing is — I quite like the effect (the space inserted in sentences b...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by robertcday‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to write a book about an amnesia patient properly?

I am writing a book about an amnesia patient. I do not know much about amnesia, which is quite shameful, but I want to know how to write this book in a way that does not make it cliché. My protag...

0 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Yass Meen‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to link two sentences properly? [closed]

I have two sentences: In general, the better the equipment, the higher quality of production you will end up with. We choose our equipment very carefully. To link them together, I have to use t...

0 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by John‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A What is the "Proposal" Part of a Query Letter?

I'm trying to follow query guidelines that include a query letter, proposal, outline, author bio, and sample chapters. What is the 'proposal' part of the query letter? I have not been able to find...

3 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by James McLellan‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question structure queries
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Q&A How do experienced writers introduce the topic sentence halfway or near the end of the paragraph?

I have repeatedly come across the comment that experienced writers are able to put their topic sentence anywhere in a paragraph, but I wonder what that looks like and how they are able to do this. ...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by user3776022‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How much can the supporting sentences deviate from the topic sentence before introducing a second paragraph becomes a better option?

My question is: How much can one deviate from the topic sentence before transitioning to a second paragraph becomes a better idea? For example, if a topic sentence consists of an assertion, then ...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by user3776022‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Which authors' style would be more appropriate for me to write in? [closed]

When I study the style of Ernest Hemingway, Raymond Carver, and other authors, I find that they use very simple language and simple words. But when I look at present day authors, such as Stephenie ...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by kakoo bacha‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Structure for software documentation: long vs short pages

For online, developer-centered documentation for a complex software product, which structure is going to be more usable: a smaller number of long, comprehensive pages, or a larger number of more gr...

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

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Q&A Can someone tell me the source of this story diagram image?

This image was found on a University of Hawaii Cinematic & Digital Narrative Production course and the professor found the image on Google search. Although the plot structure is not unique, t...

0 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by MXMLLN‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question structure graphics
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Q&A Length as action [closed]

I was wondering if using length in this sentence would add to take away from the message. Also am I constructing the sentence correctly. A sudden outburst drew my gaze from lazy sky to chalk dr...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by O_Maina‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Where should I put my tl;dr?

By definition TL;DR, short for "too long; didn't read", is Internet slang to say that some text being replied to has been ignored because of its length. In slang it can also stand for "Too lazy...

3 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Vylix‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is it too long for each chapter of a 12-15 chapter novel to be around 10k words in length?

I'm writing my first novel and I wanted to try and write around 12-15 chapters about 10k-ish (give or take a thousand or two) words each. The idea behind it being each chapter covers a very large a...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by jayjay‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is discovering memories are false, a plot twist that invalidates my story so far?

So about halfway through the story I'm writing, the main characters discover that they're actually AI whose entire lives have been simulated in order to create an AI with human-level emotional skil...

4 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Allan Smithy‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question plot structure twist
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Q&A How do you use adverbs properly in fiction writing?

How do you use adverbs properly in fiction writing? In a related question, a reply states: When to use [adverbs]? When your alternative would be pretentious. There are strong nouns and verbs, ...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by elika kohen‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to simplify a sentence so that a younger audience can understand it?

I have the following sentence: Pocket squares are a standout amongst the most vital apparatuses for a man of style. It's important to have the correct pocket square for the correct event. ...

3 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by John‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How can I plan the chapters in my book?

I'm looking for methods of planning chapters for books. I always saw structures and scripting in the macro level, but never in the micro level.

3 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Hanilucas‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to "Show" and not "Tell" for nervousness?

I was told to ask this question here. There’s a saying in writing to “show; don’t tell”. For example instead of saying: “She was angry”, you would write: “Steam started coming out of her ears”, or:...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by iiRosie1‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to create this scenario [closed]

The novel I am writing hinges on an orphan boy, who is not evil, but merely frustrated and angry with the world and how it is treating him. I need him to do something or cause something to happen t...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by Miro Nieto‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How do I make a book or series of books that take place in three different centuries make sense and flow appropriately?

I have a vast series of scenes, characters, and stories coming together in my head, which I have yet to transcribe to an actual story on paper. I have notes, and many of them, but I cannot seem to ...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by Caitlyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Structure / arcs for multiple characters

The Hero's journey is very individualistic. I want to know how writers build the book's structure for multiple characters. Do they make one for each character of for a whole? If it is for a whole, ...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Hanilucas‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A What is an arena-driven story?

There is an answer here from FraEnrico which is the cause for my question: What is the difference between character-driven stories and plot-driven stories?. Here he explains a bit of what an "arena...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Hanilucas‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A What is the origin of the Hero's Journey?

I'm curious as to whether or not there was one story seen as the 'first' example of the Hero's Journey. Most Googling returns academic theory (Campbell's steps) rather than examples. But I'm curi...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by peanut‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question structure hero
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Q&A Character pivots, where to put them

Normally this sort of thing is easier than actually writing the piece for me but this time I can't get anywhere with the overall structure of the story: I want a character to win a great victory, ...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Ash‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Help with phrasing a survey question [closed]

I think this sentence is awkwardly worded: Do(es) you/your company add job questions on job applications currently? I think it should say: Do you or your company currently add job questions on j...

0 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Laurie Riekmann‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question style structure
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Q&A How to ask a question and define what I mean?

I am in the middle of the painful process of buying a car. I am trying to do much of my legwork online before going into a dealership. One of the things I hate the most about purchasing a car is se...

0 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by ahsteele‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is it necessary to use words like "said", "asked," etc in dialog?

I am writing a novel. I'm not sure if the below sentence structure is correct. I have not used any word like said/replied/asked. He was looking at the painting. “You do not have to believe me. ...

4 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Abhishek dot py‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Writing garbage to see if the characters do something interesting?

I need a change ~ 80% of the way through my story. At the moment, I'm just throwing my characters into different combinations and seeing if they come up with anything interesting. Two of my charac...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by DPT‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Skipping the first act?

In traditional story structure theory, the ACT 1 is made to set up the world and host the inciting incident, the ACT 2 is made for the main quest and sequence of obstacles, and ACT 3 is made for th...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by FraEnrico‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question structure 3-acts
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Q&A How often can I use time lapses?

I looked at a few questions regarding time lapse, but I didn't find one that helped. In my story I skip parts of the life of my main character, because they don't drive the plot, but of course wri...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by E.Milla‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Flash-forward as Prologue and then Flashbacks too complicated?

Chronologically, the story begins with the protagonist as a child and description of her world, which is important to the plot. Since I thought "girl abandoned by parents meets a man who explains ...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by E.Milla‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question structure prologues
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Q&A Alternative for the Hero's journey (since it is about Ego)

According to psychologist Carl Jung, there are divisions into one's mind. The "Self" (often described as "Higher-Self" or "Soul") is what hold all of those divisions together (or try to). It is wha...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Hanilucas‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A A Question of Pacing - Trilogy or Quadrilogy - Cluttered Story

So I recently had a discussion with a reader and who pointed out a significant flaw in my work that I hadn't seen. When I first started writing my series, I had a trilogy in mind - based on explor...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by Gaius The Observer‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to make my story structure less repetitive?

Someone told me that the way I write is almost like I'm writing from a template, how do I break away from this? I always end up with this: Saying what the person is doing in the present tense, ment...

3 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by AneiDoru‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is it good to add 'I believe' at the beginning of the sentence?

I believe that people should eat apples. or, People should eat apples. Which one is best, or when to use which? Is it good to say 'I believe' or 'We believe' in public speaking or public...

3 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by AMahdy‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Should I use colons and semicolons to summarize information?

I'm writing a paper that goes something like this: To quickly summarize MIT is located in Massachusetts FIU is in Florida, The tuition cost for MIT is 45 thousand versus 6 thousand for 30 credi...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by Paul‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to decide which sentence structure is correct?

I'm trying to describe an action (a gust of wind blows) and its result (the flame is doused) and its subsequent effect (the room is plunged into darkness). However, I'm facing some issues with how ...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by user96551‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is there a method to estimating the length of a work before writing it?

I am writing my first novel, which I think likely will end up being several volumes. Although I have a lot of experience in poetry and short stories, this is a very different challenge! My questi...

3 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by DoctorWhom‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A What's the effect of placing "of course" at the beginning or at the end of the sentence?

Example from my writing: Not everything was rainbow and roses, of course. Sometimes rain would fall on my head or a thorn prickle my finger. Of course, not everything was rainbow and ros...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by alex‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Does a novel require a conflict?

Unless a better writer can dissuade me I am minded to say no. The 'essential' 'conflict' is cultural. It is part of the western 'Human Condition' - Eastern cultures have stories without conflict. ...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Surtsey‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How many plot points ( whatever you call them ) do you need for a novel?

I just started to plot out my scenes like this in bullet points Tess runs away Tess fights the bad guy Tess gets injured and so it goes on. So far I got 30. I know that I need a lot more. I am...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Zp73‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question plot structure