Activity for Thomas Myron
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question | — |
How can I establish the nature of a person/group without action? How can one establish the nature of a person/group to the reader without relying on actions to 'show' it? For example, if I have a group which is evil, how could I convey that to the reader without actions? Telling is of course an option, but I feel like I need to back it up with something, so the re... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: How to express sarcasm in non-dialogue text? This is one of those instances where figuring out how to show is simply too tedious and detracts too much. It is far easier and far better to simply tell. The first thing to realize is that there is no 'right' way to do this (unless it's in a style manual you are following). You're idea of simply pu... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Making the death of background characters sad There are two methods by which you can make the death of a relatively obsolete background character sad and meaningful. There is one thing you have to watch out for though: Cannon Fodder This might just be me, but I never like cannon fodder - that is, a character who is created purely to die. They ... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Why are clichés discouraged in fiction writing? This answer requires two parts, because it is important to note the difference between cliches in the plot, and overused phrases in dialogue. They might technically both be cliches (I'm not sure), but they are not the same thing. I will deal with cliches in the plot first. Two Truths The first ... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Is it wrong if I kill off a black character? There are two simple rules when it comes to writing which trump all else: 1. Always write for the reader (or in this case viewer). 2. Never let anything get in the way of your writing. The second rule is what we are dealing with. This rule follows the theory that you should never compromise your ... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: When writing down a huge amounts of detail is inevitable This is a great example of when to show instead of telling. Infodumping is the act of telling a lot of information in a short amount of time. Sometimes it works, but usually, as you have noted, the reader simply falls asleep. Amadeus has provided a great method with telling the information through d... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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How can I make a setting which shows something? I am trying to write novels where the setting plays a large part. I want the setting to naturally and passively show a truth to the reader. Sometimes it is easy to create such a setting, and other times it seems impossible. This question is about those impossible times. Before I go further, I realiz... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Pitfalls of morally grey protagonists? The reader must want to read As far as I'm concerned, this is the basis for nearly everything you put into a novel. If the reader doesn't want to read your book, he will usually stop. Everything, therefore, must focus first on making sure the reader wants to read your book. The same logic applies t... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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How to write dialogue where only some of the words matter? Occasionally in a novel, you have a point where there is dialogue, but only parts of it matter. You usually see this where the hero conveniently catches only the words he needs to hear: > He could only make out a few words: "Enemy... coming... keep... daughter... safe." Using ellipsis like that is ... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Dialogue continuations by another speaker: capitalize or no? You are correct, a new speaker is capitalized. It's a new sentence, and the first letter of a new sentence is always capitalized. Period. When you say it is continuing the same sentence - it's a sticky situation, but it isn't, grammatically. You need to think of everything within quotes as a single ... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Will a publisher create a custom font? This question is based on this question. It is different, however. While that question deals with the safest way to create a custom font (or have someone else create it), this question assumes you've written your book and have no custom font, but still need one. If this is the case, will a publisher... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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I want my novel to contain custom fonts - what should I do? I intend to write an extensive fantasy series. There is a plethora of different languages and cultures in the series, and I've developed language systems and alphabets for some of those cultures, including unique lettering. It is possible that at some point in the series, I would like to include samp... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Ideas for short story - not sure how to proceed I'm going to answer your question by telling you about a nearly identical experience I had. I get myself fired up to write by going to YouTube and searching for 'epic music mix'. There are several channels which compile truly epic music and use awesome artwork as a background. The result rarely fail... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: I have another question about adverbs. Can you check my instincts? You're overthinking it Adverbs are, on the surface, not bad. Without them, certain sentences and phrases wouldn't sound right, and we couldn't convey what we wanted to. You're finding this out with that 30%. However, there is a tendency to overuse adverbs. Adverbs can be an easy way out of descrip... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Chapter size matters? Do short chapters affect story progression? Perception is key Short Version: There's two kinds of story progression: how fast the plot moves forward (meaning the time it takes for one action to lead to another), and how fast it is perceived by the reader to do so. The length of the chapter can indi... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Should I take breaks from writing? Should you take a break from writing? Yes. Writing is, at its core, a creative process (especially where fiction is concerned). You can't force creativity. Or at least you shouldn't. If you try to force your writing, your writing will be... well, forced. A rule of writing I've always followed is t... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Should I make my prologue chapter 1? Where prologues are concerned, it all comes down to one thing: Contents It all depends on what the prologue contains. You mention a major plot point, but you also say: > Building a website for my world with minor character sketches, short stories, mythologies, etc and additional supplemental is on... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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How to handle a character's failure? I've been writing fan fiction for 7+ years, in an attempt to weed out the beginner mistakes and know what works. In one of my fan fictions, the main character failed to make the right choice. The readers let me know that, while they found the choice fully justified, they still didn't like it. They di... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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How can I give a novel a particular atmosphere? I've been writing fan fiction for 7+ years now. Recently, I went back and compared the ratings my fan fiction has received from my readers, compared to what they contained. I discovered that those fan fictions with a distinct feel had generally better ratings, and were in fact some of the highest rat... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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What is a subplot based on: conflict or tension? I'm attempting to understand how subplots work, and one aspect has me confused. I'm trying to create a process by which I can create subplots. When I create the main plot, I start with conflict - two opposing forces. This doesn't seem to work with subplots. Let me use the movie Thor as an example. T... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Is it okay to have my family edit my book? They are your family. They will be biased. That doesn't mean they can't lend constructive criticism if you really impress on them how important it is that they be unbiased. Be very clear about saying that anything bad or even neutral can vastly help your writing - it can. That being said, they will ... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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How to deal with multiple climaxes (multiple protagonists)? I'm writing a series, and I have two protagonists. Both are PoV characters, and both offer different viewpoints on the main conflict (an ongoing war). One is a respected general, has frequent contact with the leader of the army, and heads many campaigns. The other is a healer (the genre is fantasy-is... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Two protagonists where one is dark - a mistake? I'm currently writing a tale with two protagonists. One of them is a dark protagonist - that is, technically evil. The other protagonist is not evil. I'm wondering if this will cause the reader to gravitate toward the good protagonist. I have a way of dealing with dark protagonists. The trick is to ... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Finding a thematic setting Allow me to explain what I mean by 'thematic setting'. I'm talking about a setting which, simply by having the story located in it, shows the reader something: ideally a message - or theme - that you wish to convey to them. You can test a thematic setting by removing the story or plot. If what remain... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: How to make a character's personality trully distinguishable/memorable? There are two parts of character development: the part which builds characters to tell your story, and the part which defines who those characters are/what they are like. I always start with the first part, and get my characters from that. However, your question is dealing with the second part of cha... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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Recaps: Yes, No, and How To? Recaps. We've all seen them. This question deals with whether or not they should be included in a series of novels, and if they should, how. Many series use recaps to 'catch up' the reader to what has been going on. They are also a good refresher if there are long pauses between novels. J. K. Rowlin... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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Do I have any control over the grammar of my novel? English grammar is generally pretty black and white, but there are a few areas under debate. For instance, should a series of three have one or two commas? For example: > The coach was black, dusty, and large. OR > The coach was black, dusty and large. What happens if I write a novel using the fi... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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When can You Pause the Story and Speak Directly to the Reader? Note: This question was previously about breaking the fourth wall. I discovered that my interpretation of that phrase was wrong. I have therefore rewritten the question. (The above is in place to explain the number of answers and comments about the fourth wall) This question deals with an autho... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: System for Coming up With a Good Title Short answer: no. Long answer: A title is a very important part of a novel. That and the cover are the only two things you have selling your book to someone browsing the bookshelves (or internet). The title is what gets them to open the book. From there you should have them (assuming you have a goo... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: How to not change my mind Let's start by setting something straight. Changing your mind is not the problem What you are after is why you are changing your mind. Looking over your work and rewriting it is a natural part of editing - you don't want to get rid of it. What you want, is to know when to stop. What you are experi... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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How does (or should) an inner conflict span a series of novels? I recently asked this question, about inner conflict. Mark Baker supplied an answer to that question which redefined how I saw inner conflict, and as a result, the whole process of making a novel. Because this way of thinking is still new to me, there are some parts of it which I don't have figured o... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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How does External Conflict set up the Climax? Note: As with any aspect of writing, I'm sure there are those who disagree with it. If you disagree with the conclusions I've come to below, I would like to hear your thoughts. However, I would ask that you put them in comments, and leave answers for actually answering the question. I recently asked... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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What is the Purpose of an Inner Conflict? I've long known what the purpose of inner conflict is. Indeed, it was one of the simplest concepts for me to grasp when I was learning about it. Now I'm not so sure. I seem to have developed a dual understanding of inner conflict: what I used to know, and what I now know. Neither seem wrong, but the... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: Is it a bad idea to write and edit chapter by chapter? Writer Preference You'll find that a lot of the 'rules' of writing can be boiled down to what works for you. There are different ways to write. When giving advice, writers tend to assume you write the way they do, and offer rules for that method. Those 'rules' might work for them, but not for you. S... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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How much development does a subplot need? I've recently begun studying subplots, and I've realized I don't know how far I should develop them. Does a subplot need everything a main plot does? Does there even need to be a conflict for the subplot (if it's short), or can it simply be a few scenes that link together to show something related to... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Help! I have no 'cheese-meter'! Over the past few years, it has come to my attention that I lack the ability to identify cheese. And by cheese, I mean cheesy things in movies/books. I simply don't see it. My friends have informed me that many a movie I thought was excellent was, in fact, full of cheese. While this detracted from th... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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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 are the phenomena of stories that never die. These stories have what I'm calling (for lack of a better ter... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: How to imply the opposite of the truth Disclaimer: I've had an idea on how to resolve my problem, but if you have a better idea, please post it. You have a few options: - Remove the scene - Might work, but will remove the other information you need. You'll need to find a way to implement that information somewhere else. - Remove anythi... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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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 evidence, she refuses to believe that he has betrayed her (her resolution is later shaken). This scene ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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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. Should I do this? What are the advantages/disadvantages of dividing a novel into sections? Or is it simply wr... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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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 first draft is so bad? Is it that the wording will be bad? The story won't convey the message or sound ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How do I know when to include subplots? Disclaimer: This is not a duplicate of this question. That question deals with subplots being necessary to a story's success, and also loosely how to create them. This question is aimed at knowing when to include subplots, and how many I need. If any. Let me open by saying that I design my novels ex... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How can I get my readers in the gut? Braveheart. Titanic. Lord of the Rings. What do these movies (movies, not books) have in common? Besides great musical scores, they have what I call Gut Emotional Appeal. In other words, at some point, they get you in the gut. They make you pause and really pay attention. You really feel what just ha... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: What is the best time of day to write? Day or night? and welcome to Writers. As has been pointed out, this is likely a duplicate, but I will offer my opinion. A lot of writing is done via writer preference. This means it's up to you what works and what doesn't. This doesn't stand for all of writing, of course. There are rules which other people have d... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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What Can Ensure Re-Readability? I've come across some answers and questions on this site which have gotten me thinking about re-readability. It isn't something that I think about much, but now that I consider it, I think it could be the difference between buying a book and simply checking it out of the library. I will skip over th... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Is mixing cultures for the setting of a fantasy story frowned upon? What you are doing is called being original. It's not frowned upon; it's something most every writer strives for, especially with fantasy. The real challenge comes with making it believable. There a few questions on this very site, as well as other resources online, which can help you here. However, ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Is it acceptable to start a sentence with the word "But" Sticking to the technical grammar definition, a conjunction is a word that connects two phrases within the same sentence. If you start a sentence with a conjunction, one of the phrases is in a different sentence. Therefore the conjunction is uneeded, and it is improper grammar to begin a sentence wit... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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Is including a large number of twists a bad thing? I've been doing some research into twists, and after not knowing how to create one, I'm starting to get a handle on them. Unfortunately, now I'm at the other end of the spectrum, and wondering if I can have too many twists. Background: To understand where I'm coming from, you have to know that I pla... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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What are some conventions for creating a sense of urgency? I do not believe I came up with the concept of urgency in a main conflict, but I cannot find the original source, so I will just define it here. When I create and develop a main conflict (I am a plotter, meaning I plan out my novel prior to writing them), I make sure it has several key traits. One o... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: How can I rephrase that that? This is a common problem I face as well. Sometimes there's nothing you can do about it, and have to leave two `that`'s together. But usually, you can fix it by using the following rule: Replace a 'that' with what it refers to. In any sentence with two `that`'s, at least one of them is acting in pla... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |