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I read somewhere, don't ask where because I forgot, that if you wait for the right mood to write, you won't get anything done. So, I think if you just try to sit in front of your computer/paper, ...
Since free indirect speech relies on the narrator picking up the dialogue instead of relying on a lot of "John said that he thought that..." or similar, it's going to make it difficult (but not imp...
The answer to this question really depends on which scale you are talking about: do you want to slow down a paragraph? A scene? A chapter? The whole story? You talked about the story in general in...
Derive the profane words from something your characters' culture reveres. Swearing emphasizes a moment. Profanity does that while also reinforcing the cultural background that helps to make a sto...
One way to accomplish this is by using the same word roots and structure of swear words but modifying them in a way that is not immediately obvious. For example, think of the ominous land of "Mordo...
I like to limit narrative text and let the audience get to know the character via dialog and interactions with other characters. Its more challenging than a mere description but I find it also hel...
Fake swear words are a staple, particularly in otherworld fantasy and science fiction. But most of the fake swear words that I can think of are real words, just not ones that are typically used as...
I think this is a good technique, I've recommended it myself elsewhere here, but it needs to align with how people really create and use words. Curse words and oaths are generally used for shock v...
Keep it consistent throughout the story and don't use lots of words. Making up one or two is better than four, and keep using those. Make his audience gasp when they hear him saying the word. Make ...
There is no such condition as writer's block. However there are several reasons you may be unable to write. You may not have anything of consequence to say. Since the young tend to imagine that...
To the extent you plan out arcs at all (many of us do not, and Stephen King does not), make a plan for each character present for a significant part of the story. For example, in 007 movies, Q is...
You may do it, you may not. Pulp Fiction didn't do it, neither Memento. When writing a small nonlinear section in my novel, I didn't do it. However, in all of those instances there are several thi...
Yes you should. If it is truly non-linear, you should use years: 1997, 2020, 1983, etc. Do not count on your viewers/readers to be able to add and subtract from the current year being shown, in the...
You cannot treat the group as a single unit. There is no such thing as "the gang is the protagonist". You can have a group (a gang, a party) with individuals, each with their approach to the stor...
Arena driven story: A man crashes his airplane in the desert, breaking his leg. His radio doesn't work. If he stays there he will die. He splints his leg, takes all the water he can carry, and trie...
Stories like Castaway, Gilligan's Island, Lost, and the such would be examples of an environment that is the antagonist. The MC has to survive their surroundings which is threatening their lives or...
I have no idea if I understood you right. I hope I have. If I haven't, I apologize. English is my second language as well :). I was -or I hope I was, that is- the same as you. I start with an idea...
Here is an idea. First, I warn you I am a 'discovery' writer, and it sounds to me like you should be too, but your write yourself into corners. A discovery writer (like Stephen King) begins with ...
One thing I'm surprised no-one seems to have mentioned is the architect-gardener distinction. I get the impression your current writing style is that of the gardener, meaning you see what happens ...
Showing instead of telling has several advantages, though which apply depend on the context. I'll list several off the top of my head, based on my experiences of what showing achieves: You can be...
You are telling and should not be. "Show don't tell" comes from the film industry and their need to restrict dialogue, for many valid reasons of verisimilitude. So nobody should say "I am angry," ...
The cause of your problem is difficult to diagnose on the information given, so I'll explore a few possibilities. You'll need to experiment to see what helps you. Do you have access to what you wr...
I believe the most powerful solution is that the presence of the guide develops your main character (the one you do not want 'pulled from.') I believe the answer to this is through your main char...
Your basic strategy is the same as that of any magician: misdirection. Drop the clues while the characters, and hopefully the reader, is paying attention to something more interesting. A typical ...
I think it is fine and reads well, however, I do not ever break the rules of breaking :-) I don't embed dialogue or italicized thought in exposition. No! I'm not a dengenerate! should appear as a ...
