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Q&A Does the concept come before other "literary devices" in philosophical science fiction?

I have read in a few books about writing science fiction that a compelling concept should override considerations for character, and possibly other things like setting or plot. I have the notion t...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by user9885‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question fiction plot characters setting science-fiction science concept
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Q&A Does anyone have experience with using dictation software for creative writing?

How does it change the writing process? Any suggestions on the various dictation software available?

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by Miss Fluffytail‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question software process creative-writing
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Q&A How to deal with nameless characters?

In the novel I'm planning the human characters that inhabit the world are all clones of each other. Man and woman. They aren't given names when born, instead they are given serial numbers that also...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Victor Matheus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question fiction science-fiction science
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Q&A Writing differently when following different character POVs - mainly age difference. (3rd Person)

I'm writing a sci-fi novel with more than one main character. Since I'm not an experienced writer, I still struggle with some basic "rules" within writing that may or may not exist. This issue ...

4 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by storbror‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question description showing-telling viewpoint characters script pov show
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Q&A In What Way are Most First Drafts Bad?

I've heard from a lot of people - both on this site and elsewhere - that your first draft will be terrible. Some even say that you will barely use any of it. This has me wondering: What about the...

3 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Thomas Myron‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question creative-writing first-draft
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Q&A What do you call a narrator who is not unreliable, but is naive?

While an unreliable narrator is someone who is deceiving the reader (or possibly himself), there are plenty of stories where the narrator is truthfully relaying what happened, but does not fully un...

3 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Graham Powell‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question narrator
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Q&A Can I transition from real to fictional places in fantasy series?

I've started to write my first Fantasy novel. But there's one question that always bugs me. If I were to have a Kingdom, of course I would have a fictional name for it. So if I have a non-fictional...

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by Isaac Yang Hao Tung‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question fantasy
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Q&A How is a dialog interruption actually shown?

Let's say two characters are conversing and one character interrupts the other in mid-sentence. How would that actually be shown in dialog? I have seen some use a hyphen at the end of the sentence ...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Osiris93‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question punctuation dialogue
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Q&A Can I can legally use these song lyrics as book/chapter names?

This topic has been discussed--but please advise me on this particular test case. The title of the fiction novel is "Shorter of Breath" -- a reference to a lyric in Pink Floyd's "Time." Chapter n...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by user1799848‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question copyright lyrics trademark
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Q&A How can I describe nervousness?

Becoming nervous in the heat of a situation. Perhaps you witnessed something not for the faint of heart. Like, how would I describe shaky legs without being so boring about it.

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by H. Alley‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question fiction description script creative-writing
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Q&A What are the Advantages/Disadvantages of Dividing a Novel into 'Sections'?

Every now and then I come across a novel that is divided into sections. It contains Books 1,2, and 3. Or parts, or sections, or any other method to split the novel into several large chunks. Shou...

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by Thomas Myron‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question novel style
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Q&A What else should I plan?

I have started writing a novel. I've done some character questionnaires for my main characters, and I've outlined the plot. I want to do this planning to keep my story from fizzling out, but I don'...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by James‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question planning
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Q&A Seeking advice on establishing the emotional impact of backstory

I am drafting a novel outline. The interesting part (and thus the part I should be writing) would come with several characters with preexisting romantic relationships. The choices they make will ha...

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by Matthew Brown aka Lord Matt‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question plot technique creative-writing romance
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Q&A What English version of the bible should I quote from?

Say I want to quote from the bible in something I'm writing (think the famous passage in Pulp Fiction). What bible version should I quote from? I've done some research but only ended up more confu...

8 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by ggambett‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question quotes
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Q&A Do you need to have an introduction at the beginning of every book in a series?

A series I am working on deals with an underlying storyline that progresses through each book. I'm afraid of confusing a reader if they decide to start reading a book somewhere in the middle of the...

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by K. Bailey‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question fiction technique creative-writing
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Q&A Would it be acceptable to write demonic possession as a form of rape?

Being possessed by a foreign entity seems very tame in the stories where I have seen it. The event doesn't have the gravity that I feel it should, and the person usually goes back to living a norma...

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by System‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question fantasy creative-writing character-development
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Q&A What do you do to prevent dips during which you're not writing anything?

I'm currently a student and I write non-fiction every day. I've committed myself to writing 1000 words every day, and I am successfully doing this. However, I'm trying to improve a particular asp...

3 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by user56834‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question process academic-writing
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Q&A What to do with 'blank' chapters?

I have a chapter outline for the novel series I'm writing, and I have a few 'blank' chapters where I don't know what to write in them. I need to do something quickly, because I've started writing t...

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by James‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question chapters
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Q&A How to imply the opposite of the truth

I have run into a bit of a dilemma in my current story. The main character is on a journey to save her brother from the enemies. She suddenly finds that he is helping them willingly. Despite this...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Thomas Myron‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question plot creative-writing
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Q&A How to copyright my works in India?

I'm a poet and I write small poems. I know there is a lot to learn and update in the works I make, but how can I copyright my works? Is it one time for all the works or does every work need to be d...

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by Sarath‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question copyright
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Q&A What Kind of Story can Achieve Cult Status?

Note: I have rewritten this question, upon realizing it was being misinterpreted. Please reread the question and provide new answers accordingly. Star Wars. Lord of the Rings. Star Trek. These ar...

3 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Thomas Myron‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question readers creative-writing
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Q&A How do I keep the gender of my main character purposely ambiguous?

I'm a newcomer to this community, and have recently started giving serious thought to my first novel. I'm basically working on an idea I had a few years back. It's fiction, has a lot to do with fae...

6 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Jack Rabbit‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question fiction gender ambiguity pov
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Q&A How to write a strong villain who isn't really present?

I've been working on a quite large story for a while now, but going through my drafts I noticed one weakness: My villains are very underdeveloped / weakly characterized. I'll try to generalize the...

3 answers  ·  posted 9y ago by Katai‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question technique characters antagonist conflict
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Q&A Should I use different fonts in my manuscript?

My novel contains emails, titles of news articles, parts of technical journals, and snippets of computer output in addition to regular dialogue and action. Is it common/acceptable to use one font ...

2 answers  ·  posted 9y ago by RichS‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question style formatting format
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Q&A Is a male character crying realistic or are his reactions here excessive?

I would like feedback on if this portrayal of male emotion is unrealistic. I have been told (beta readers) that men don't cry in real life (already know this is not true), he is crying too much, to...

1 answer  ·  posted 9y ago by Zingifer‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question novel characters romance