Activity for codeNewbie
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit | Post #37708 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #37704 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #37688 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #37686 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #37672 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #37667 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #37641 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #37612 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #37608 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #37583 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #37555 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #37051 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #37000 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #36979 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #36970 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #36918 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #36891 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #36873 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #36603 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #36555 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
What are good ways to improve as a writer other than writing courses? As a novice writer to improve my writing I have taken one online course. I want to ask, what are good ways to improve as a writer other than writing courses? (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
Should I self-publish my novella on Amazon or try my luck getting publishers? I have completed my novellas first draft which is 32k words long. For all the reasons, I was doing research as to whether self-publish or try my luck getting a publisher. I should tell you that I am a complete novice at writing fiction books and publishing. This is my first book. The genre is genera... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
In which language does the Russian mafiosi speak in my English novel? In my novel, the MC goes to a Russian mafia in Moscow. Now before the MC character introduces herself as an English speaking person, will the Russian character start the conversation in Russian or as the book is in English, they will speak in English. Also, how will the mafia talk with each other, En... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
How do I compensate for lack of knowledge about foreign accents and takling styles? In my novel, Matt goes to the club in Moscow and starts walking towards a Russian mafia. I have written the following line; > Christoff was sitting in the club balcony with his acquaintances. As we proceded towards Christoff, one of the bouncers stopped Matt by gently pushing him on his chest. > >... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
How do I know when and if a character requires a backstory? In my novel, at the point where the MC meets her would-be boyfriend, Rufus, I have added a small backstory about his job. Later on, the story is almost entirely focused on the MC and what happens to her with a very little mention of Rufus' backstory. Now, IMHO, being a lead character, his backstory ... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
How do I show and not tell a backstory? In my novel, Matt's girlfriend Ella gets kidnapped and Matt is held responsible by the kidnappers. As it wasn't for ransom but as a revenge of something Matt did. And then Matt storms into my MC's office and there he explains how much innocent he is and starts telling why there is no reason for Ella ... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
Is the first page of a novel really that important? I am reading in a few blogs like this that the first page of the novel is really important if it has to get published. Is this true? Can a good story not compensate for an ordinary first page. I have a first page which is the introduction of my characters in a pub, is it advisable to bring up the th... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
Is the MC in first person singular always all knowing? While writing a first-person singular novel, is the MC all-knowing? How do we handle plots which do not include the MC, like something happening with others but not including MC? Will it be taken as granted that as the story has already happened MC knows it all. Edit: In my novel, the characters ar... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
Does the use of a new concept require a prior definition? In my novel I have written this line; > At your deepest core the buddha nature is waiting quietly for you. Now Buddha-nature is a complex concept to understand. If the reader is not savvy about religious concepts it might confuse the reader. However, a prior explanation would make the novel like a... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
How can I Include a verbatim passage in my fiction without plagiarizing it? In my novel, the MC goes to a resort and at the resort, they offer two types of Buddhist meditations. Those meditations are from another book and I cannot fiddle with the meditation steps without taking the main point of the meditations away. I want to include these steps in my book, and I can't cha... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
How do discovery writers hibernate? I am 20% outliner and 80% discovery writer, (I know many will object that this is not possible) meaning, I have a very brief outline of what is going to happen in the end and then I go on filling the story in discovery writing way. At the moment I have almost finished my novella but the last two cha... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
How should I present a resort brochure in my general fiction? In my story the protagonist goes to live in a health resort. The receptionist presents her with a brochure of activities. At the moment I have written like this in a word document; > After patiently listening to my story, she pulled out the resort brochure and pointing out with the pen in her hand s... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
| Question | — |
When should the dialogue reference be written, before or after the dialogue? This might be a very trivial question but I don't know what to google to get an answer so asking anyways. In this dialogue; > "I have such a miserable cold, your sarcastic remarks are hardly making any effect on me," he commented. Should the phrase ' he commented' come before or after what he comm... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
| Question | — |
What tense to use for events that are still happening? The question is similar to this but the answers does not answer me. In my general fiction novel, which is told in first person singular past tense, I encounter moments where I am confused whether to use present tense as the events are still happening as the story is being told. For an example: > Ma... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
| Question | — |
Can I use spoken English at some places over 'technically accurate English' in a general fiction? I have written my novel as a 'first person singular' and in past tense. There are lot of times in it where I have written it as I will say it while speaking. I have used phrases which have implied meaning but it's not technically accurate. Following is an example: > "Ahh don’t worry, it means nothin... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
| Question | — |
Will writing actual numbers instead of writing them with letters affect readership? This question sounds similar to this but I am asking something different. It is said that Stephen Hawking removed all the formulas except one because with each use of a formula the readers of book will reduce by half. Will such a thing be applicable to writing actual numbers? I have done that in my... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
| Question | — |
Should fiction mention song names and iPods? In my novel, the protagonist is depressed. In the story which is in my mind... > The autumn leaves were falling as I was sitting alone and Gary Jules' "Mad World" was ringing in my iPod. The setting is in 2013 and it was normal then to listen to MP3s and iPods. But I've read that it's lazy writing... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
| Question | — |
What is the art of designing names? If you read names from popular novels you feel like the names define characters. They fit perfectly to the personality of character. For an e.g. Harry Potter, Robert Langdon, Jason Bourne, etc. I have a character who is a professor of psychology, is chubby, easy going, interested in mystical things.... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
| Question | — |
Is it advisable to add a location heads-up when a scene changes in a novel? In my novel, I have a scene at home which changes to scene at the office which is completely different. I have written it in a way that in a line or two the reader will understand the scene is changed but I am not sure. I am asking is it advisable to mention a scene change by adding a phrase like, ' ... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
| Question | — |
How to convert dialogue in to paragraph? This is my first time writing a novel. In my novel, there is a part of the married life of my protagonist who is a woman. I don't have any experience of married life so I have taken inspiration from a movie. There is pages and pages of dialogue between the two for an e.g. this one... > What time is ... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |