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Posts by Cyn‭

464 posts
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Q&A The unknown and unexplained in science fiction

How technology works is sometimes in a novel or movie or other work (some authors give you every last detail, like Andy Weir) and sometimes it's just there as a given. While avoiding explanations ...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Should I explain the reasons for gaslighting?

Make each of the three, full well-rounded characters who have multiple interactions with not just each other but other people. And with distinct and believable personalities. Show how the two tre...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How much web presence should I have?

At a bare minimum, you need a central landing place to direct people to in your marketing. The important items you want to cover are: Title and brief description (genre, audience) of your book. ...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to trick the reader into thinking they're following a redshirt instead of the protagonist?

Make the character part of the setting. There are various methods for making a person in a story appear to be the main character (or at least a prominent one). For example: Giving her a name (o...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A I have a dialogue that I can't write directly. What would be a good alternative?

How do you know what the sparrows are thinking? I mean that sincerely. If you're watching them, you attribute dialogue to them because they're obviously communicating things to each other. They ...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How do I write "Show, Don't Tell" as a person with Asperger Syndrome?

"Show don't tell" is a general rule which basically means: immerse your readers in your story. It's not meant literally (as others have pointed out) and it doesn't just apply to body language. Fo...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Avoiding cliches when writing gods

Similarities are not the same as cliches. Various pantheons have a lot of overlap because they draw on universal aspects of humanity. Food. Fire. Home. Love. Children (and childbearing). Pro...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A In one book can one narrator be in present and the other in past?

I think it's a mistake. You certainly can do it and probably get away with it. But why make a tonal shift so severe if there's no real reason for it? Even though these are different characters, ...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to find different meanings behind metaphors used in speech writing?

I wrote this before the poster indicated that this was a speech. My advice still applies, it just needs to be on a shorter timeline. Write what you want, show it to people you trust, revise, then...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Any advice on creating fictional locations in real places when writing historical fiction?

Creating fictional places within a real world setting not only works in fiction, but it's extremely common. Creating the the fictional space is helpful because it allows you to flesh it out howeve...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Who decides how to classify a novel?

Young adult vs adult fiction isn't about the age of the characters (though that usually does vary too), it's about the age of your readers. If you're writing for adults, then write for adults and ...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Writing "hahaha" versus describing the laugh

Dialogue quotes are for things a character actually says. If your character says "hahaha" then fine. But I've never heard anyone do that. You might get a single "ha!" but that's an exclamation n...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Seamlessly glueing an archetypal plot to an existing story

Think about why you're doing this. Your readers liked everything about your story except they wanted more of the ending. So instead you're giving them more of everything except the ending? I thi...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Correct punctuation for showing a character's confusion

Behold! The Mighty Ellipses! The demon...she? he?...gestured towards the supply wagons. Ultimately, it's a matter of personal style. Dashes, parentheses, ellipses are all correct. Part of ...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to write the action of someone reading in a story? An example, please

If you format the email as separate from the narration, that will take care of most of the transition between the narrator and the text of the email. Set it aside in its own paragraph and do one o...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A When an imagined world resembles or has similarities with a famous world

I say, ignore it. Sort of. I think you're right that the primary characteristics aren't the problem but it's all in how you flesh the race out. If your goal is humanoid aliens with human levels ...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How do I make a contract with multiple authors

Adapted from my answer to Can I self-publish a book on the Kindle store when I'm under 18? Absolutely, whenever you publish something with multiple authors—whether it's a collaboration or a work w...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is it true that a great cover is enough to sell many copies of your book

Yes and no. I don't think many people purchase a book because of the cover. The cover will not give you direct sales (maybe a couple...). But imagine that you are looking for a book. Either kno...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is my book too weird to be published?

Nothing is too weird to be published. Truly, nothing. But plenty of works will not interest any of the publishers that currently exist. Even many works that are totally mainstream don't get publ...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Can someone publish a story that happened to you?

No one can copyright an event The events that happened to your father don't belong to anyone. They just are. Different people will have different knowledge (or beliefs) about various portions of...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to avoid introduction cliches

The best way to avoid overly general openers is to write them. Go ahead, write them all down. Get them out of your system. If you don't, they're gonna be on your brain distracting you. Once you...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Protagonist's race is hidden - should I reveal it?

Yes, you need to mention it. If race, ethnicity, culture are important (hint: they're always important, even if they don't change the story, they're part of who your character is, just like gender...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to name indistinguishable henchmen in a screenplay?

If they have lines or specific actions, it's important to give them all names. Why? Because each one will be played by a different actor. Each actor needs to know where s/he is at any given time...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to transition from poetry to song-writing?

You have answers about the differences between poems and lyrics. I will focus on the how. What techniques can you use to make this transition? I wrote a lot of song lyrics when I was in high sch...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Can the prologue be the backstory of your main character?

Yes, you can. And many authors do. But, as others have pointed out, it's something you need to tread carefully with. My novel has a prologue (and an epilogue). I had it in my head since I conce...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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