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Q&A Introducing a new POV near the end of a story

I DON'T think it is okay to introduce a second POV in what is basically the third act and approach to the climax of the story. I think that will throw readers. But the solution, as you are wonding...

posted 5y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is the phrase “You are requested” polite or rude?

As an academic myself, I write We submit our paper, "title of paper", for your review. In the end I think editors don't care or bias their treatment either way, they deal with numerous submi...

posted 5y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Dumping an entire world for dramatic effect?

Is there any way to do this without alienating the reader, who may well have invested significant time in the previous part of the story and feel cheated as a result? No. This violates common ...

posted 5y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Should I use made-up words for spells?

The natural way of naming things is to use something unique about them that "everybody knows". For example, "linen" comes from the Latin word "linum" which is the ancient name given to the flax pla...

posted 5y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Where to put acronym/abbreviation explanation?

In the ordinary text following the table I wrote "Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)", but should I put a footnote also in the table? You could but I don't think it is necessary and I would...

posted 5y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Why are one-word titles so dominant in books, film, and games?

The reason, as you guessed, is marketing. One word that sums up something memorable about a movie is a mental handle, it can appear in far larger type on a billboard, it eats up only 1 second in a ...

posted 5y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Writing the dialogue of two travelers who dislike each other

You could play them as opposites. He hardly talks at all, she talks enough for both of them! She is not unaware or oblivious to him, but she just chatters along, asking him questions that he doesn...

posted 6y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A How do I become a better writer when I hate reading?

Along the other valid answers, I'll suggest audiobooks. I don't hate reading, but lately I have little time to spend on a single book. Audiobooks are convenient since they allow you to enjoy a bo...

posted 6y ago by Liquid‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Using published pictures for a book based on a true story

Photographs belong to the photographer (or to a business which has a contract with the photographer such that they own the copyright). It makes no difference if the subject is alive or dead. A ...

posted 6y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A How can I radically time-jump for my epilogue well?

There are multiple ways to approach this and any of them can work. The important thing is that it's very clear to the reader. My novel is structured as follows: Prologue set in 1939. Body of no...

posted 6y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A ...and then she held the gun

Have you considered doing something like skipping, then describing? Something like (but do consider this first draft quality): The man kept the gun pointed at her. Jane had trained for years, ...

posted 6y ago by Canina‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A How do I become a better writer when I hate reading?

Obviously you have to read, but you don't have to read a LOT. The lessons for writing are distilled into non-fiction books on writing, usually by authors of multiple best-sellers. It is actually ...

posted 6y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is it expected that a reader will skip parts of what you write?

In your particular circumstance: No. That is not normal. If I am given something to provide feedback, then I will read it all; OR I will read it all until I have seen enough to not bother reading ...

posted 6y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is it a bad idea to have a pen name with only an initial for a surname?

Your name is fine. I would not choose an initial for a surname because people will wonder what you're hiding and you have to file extra paperwork for a pseudonym. But of course you can always tel...

posted 6y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is it expected that a reader will skip parts of what you write?

In Technical Writing, it's expected that readers don't want to read what you write. In fact, I used to teach with a book with that on the cover (see the notepad): (basically - Tech Writing p...

posted 6y ago by April Salutes Monica C.‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to write a nice frame challenge?

It helps to remember that people are here looking for advice, not orders. Also to remember that what works for you may not work for someone else. I'd recommend wording your answers along the lines...

posted 6y ago by Evil Sparrow‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is it expected that a reader will skip parts of what you write?

In my experience, people don't do this for significant part of the writing. It may happen to skip a sentence or two if, either: the passages are not clear, the reader is tired, there is a "wall o...

posted 6y ago by Liquid‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is a lack of character descriptions a problem?

First, good for you, it is a good sign that you aren't feeling compelled to describe characters. To me, physical descriptions stalls the story, it is a lot of "telling", not showing. I always avoi...

posted 6y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Different header numbering formats in a document

[Freely quoting from Office Support. The following text is entirely from the link provided. I do not think I have anything to add to it.] Microsoft Word does not support multiple heading-numbering...

posted 6y ago by _X_‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Starting from future smoothing your way to present

Exactly how you do it depends of course on your story. One way is to simply use them with no explanation and let the reader figure it out over time. Or you can indicate the past within the quotes...

posted 6y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Helping my beta readers help me

I recognize that it's difficult to ask your beta readers to be more specific, because you already feeling in debt to them. After all they're doing you a favour. I'll mention a few points: (Critica...

posted 6y ago by Liquid‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A In a stage play, how should the script refer to minor characters whose names are irrelevant?

+1 Cyn, however, typically you use a designation (Woman #1, Cop #1, Kid #1) and always number sequentially from 1, using '#', and don't not use random numbers like 5 or 9. If you want to be specifi...

posted 6y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A Does every chapter have to "blow the reader away" so to speak?

Your beta reader feels the chapter isn't pulling its weight. It's not about being blown away, it's about a chapter having a purpose and engaging the reader. Because your reader has put it in thes...

posted 6y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to represent jealousy in a cute way?

This is something you need to be careful with. In popular Western culture, going back decades or further, jealousy is often seen as a positive trait. "His jealousy proves he loves me so much." E...

posted 6y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to represent jealousy in a cute way?

Why this is difficult. Jealousy is a natural trait, nearly everyone that falls in love is subject to it at some time. The reason is that the extremely high emotional value of the love interest cre...

posted 6y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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