Activity for Thomas Myron
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
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How to write an essay on a very narrow field I am more of a fiction writer, so writing essays or nonfiction doesn't come as naturally to me. The need does occasionally arise, however. I normally wouldn't have much trouble with it, except that the topics for my current essays are... different than usual. I am supposed to write an essay on a spe... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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How do I write numbers in dialogue? My proofreader recently revealed to me the following, which I was wholly unaware of: > ...when a number/code/serial or whatever is said in dialogue, you write the whole thing out... I had written the designation of a robot as Unit M55/987.3, and he said I would need to sound it out: > ...“Unit Em-... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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What is the main inner conflict in Harry Potter? Recent events have compelled me to study inner conflicts. Having arrived at this decision, I turned to one of my favorite books in an attempt to identify said conflict. However, upon opening Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (Philosopher's) Stone I realized that I hadn't the faintest clue what the main... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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Clear steps for developing a powerful inner conflict This question is similar to this one. However, it is different based on what I am looking for. I know what inner conflict is, and I know why I need it. I have tons of examples, and I can usually generate perfectly fine inner conflicts (hereafter called ICs) for my characters. Until now. For some re... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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Multiple sentences in a parenthetical phrase - How do I punctuate properly? I keep on running into this problem. I will have a parenthetical phrase (which is something set off by parentheses, rather like this, for those of you that do not know), but I need to include multiple sentences in it. The normal punctuation for a parenthetical phrase at the end of the sentence is: >... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: Is it more optimal to make a longer story or leave it at three pages? Word Count and Page Count matter nothing when compared to what they contain. If your story is in it's final form, it is in it's final form. It doesn't matter if it's one hundred pages or one. If you feel it can be improved by increasing it's size, by all means do so. If, however, you feel it is fine ... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: How to correctly punctuate this dialogue? I suggest you revise your current question to reflect a more general nature. Ask how quotes like this can be revised to achieve the effect you desire. > "You're John Doe. Still." The clerk raised an eyebrow. The trick is to just end the sentence. Find some action (sigh, motion, whatever) for the cl... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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Prologues with no protagonist - How can they work? It is my understanding that novels should generally start right off with the protagonist. The story is about the protagonist, after all, not something else (This obviously changes a bit if the PoV is not the protagonist, but that is beside the point). It is also my understanding (through experience a... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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Skipping telling to get to the showing - pros and cons In my style of writing, I often find that I lapse into relating what happens or has happened, usually via short, choppy, dead sentences. As far as I can tell, this is because the scene I am writing cannot be shown - or at least would need to be greatly revised before it could be. My method for fixing... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: Proper way to punctuate an abrupt stopping of speech? You have it correct EXCEPT for the capitalization, as pointed out by krman. The sentence should read: > "Yes, I th—" He was not allowed to finish. > > "Shut him up NOW!" the guard growled. The reason 'He' is capitalized is because 'He was not allowed to finish,' is a complete sentence. If it had b... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: Structuring a novel like a television or graphic novel series While I have never published anything like this, I have plotted and written something based along the same premise of a TV series. Therefore, I'm speaking from the viewpoint of the writer and plot developer only. > What is some general guidance on how this might be done? The first thing you need to... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: Skipping the action scene As to a good way to skip the action scenes - what you have seems fine. It's basically just that - skipping the action scenes. Say 'he slew the monsters,' and you can technically stop there. However , I think you're going about this wrong. Fighting scenes can be tedious in a book. Does this mean you ... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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Referring to characters that are too familiar for a name This question is very similar to this one. However, I felt it was different enough, and I also did not find an answer. In the tale I am currently writing, a girl, whose parents have both been long dead, is talking with her adoptive father. I'm having trouble referring to him. Normally a name is wha... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: How can clarity and flow of long sentences be improved? I will second CLockeWork's comment. I will also add that while parentheses work, I think commas are more readable. > John said it was constructed in 1664, during the Dutch occupation in Taiwan, by an admiral that had decided to settle in the island. (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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How/When to include twists when developing plot. Disclaimer: This is a new question, not an extension of my other questions concerning twists. When I develop fiction, I start with a premise and a theme. I have a general idea of where I'm headed, and the events that get me there. I add in character and stakes, which help flesh out the story until I... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: How do sci-fi stories hold up if their premise or details become discredited? The number one rule in making things believable is detailing. This applies to outlandish theories just as much as world-destruction type stakes. None of it will seem real without the details that lend it credence. It is admittedly a bit more difficult with things we know to be false. I think in orde... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: Fantasy - chapter length Assuming there are no requirements for chapter length you are supposed to meet, I don't believe it matters. Some books maintain a steady chapter length of twenty or so pages (Harry Potter), but I've seen several with a page long chapter, followed by an extremely long one (Inheritance Cycle). Still ye... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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Avoiding passing time by switching PoV - Viable method? I once wrote a short story that was around ninety pages. It encompassed approximately a month. Since it was a short story, there were necessarily parts of it where days, weeks even, went by without much happening. Aka, passing time. Needless to say, said passing time would be boring to read through,... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: How to stay motivated while writing a story, after the initial burst of enthusiasm? There are some very good answers posted here. I have read the one you marked as the answer, and glanced at the others, but none seem to mention the thing I find most obvious. Keep in mind they are great answers, and should definitely not be disregarded. However, I believe this is your problem, as it ... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Naming my character Yes. You can very easily start a story without naming your character. An example off the top of my head would be the Hunger Games. The name of the main character isn't introduced until page 5, if memory serves. However, that novel is written in the first person. If you are writing in the second pers... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Unofficial Fan Fictions - How can I Secure Them? For a long time now, I have been writing fan fictions based off of the storyline of a board game. I have posted these fan fictions on a website dedicated to the same board game. I am not the only writer doing so. However, the time will come when I want to publish a real book, and I am finding that m... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Use of realism in a fictional setting I think you will still have a sense of realism. As long as you explain the physics laws/magic laws/whatever differs before they take effect, the reader will know why/how things are happening. As long as your definitions are clear, detailed, and consistent with the effects, you should be fine. Consid... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Is it OK to use "I guess" in fiction? You're right, it does sound a bit weird. That's only because of the tense of course. If you were writing in the present tense, it would be just fine. While no professional, my suggestion would be to use a different word. In the above example, substitute was and make it a question. > Why was I doing... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Real-Life Setting versus Fictional - Can They Attain the same Realism? My assumption here is that a novel set in the current time and world seems more realistic to a reader than a novel with a fictional setting. The reader has the ability to say, "that could be true." In a fictional novel, it's understood that what is written could never happen. My assumption is that th... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: How to refer to magnetism in ancient cultures? I'm not entirely sure what you are aiming for here, but it sounds like you need people in an ancient culture to refer to electricity and magnetism without actually using those words. Describe the effects. Is the piece of metal moving? The reader will probably come up with magnetism. Is there a spark?... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Series: Is there a disadvantage to the number of books? I'm an aspiring author. Though I am fairly certain of the answer to the question below, I figured I would make sure, or at least collect opinions, since I have not 'been there.' My question is this: In the event that you are writing a series, is there a disadvantageous number of books you can publis... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Use of real-world languages in a fantasy world I would agree with Mr. Shiny that the simplest way might be to say that they are speaking in their 'strange language,' and then just tell the reader what they said in English. For example: > "I should think not," said the witch, still speaking in her strange tongue. If you do NOT want the reader to... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Story without any character development whatsoever? It is possible. How, I know not, but it is possible. I once wrote a story that was literally a narration of events with no character, and the community (it was a fan fiction) really liked it. I still don't know how that happened. A character did appear later on, but there was no character developmen... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Killing the protagonist - should it be done? I am an aspiring author, but I have written several short 'test novels.' With each of those, it became increasingly clear how you have to develop the main character, the protagonist. After all, the story is about the protagonist. The reader needs to like the protagonist and want him to win, otherwise... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Should I specify the time/date at the beginning of a scene? I would say that you should definitely include time/date, but as was mentioned above, you should show, not tell. If you have to tell, I would use the chapter header mentioned by Mac Cooper. But actually stating that information within the body of the text itself might not be a good idea. The most im... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Should a beginning writer start with a series or a stand-alone? I am an aspiring author, but I intend to start publishing soon. I have several ideas for potential books; however, they are all series. I am hesitant about starting my writing with a series. What if it isn't successful? Then I would be stuck with a series that is going nowhere. If, however, I wrote a... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Is my opening chapter too short? In my experience, chapter length does not matter. Your book may look more 'impressive' or 'official' with long chapters, but are they necessary to the book itself? No. As long as the first chapter does what the first chapter is supposed to do (be that introducing the protagonist, setting the scene, i... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Main male character description As others have said, show, don't tell. Because that advice is rather vague, however, allow me to explain. The way I understand 'show, don't tell' is 'let the reader form his own conclusions. Just make sure they are the ones he is supposed to form.' For example, you don't need to say that someone roll... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Is there a disadvantage to transcending genre? I am an aspiring author. I've often heard that you have to keep your 'target audience' in mind. It makes sense - certain genres attract certain crowds. Well... I want my books to reach as many people as possible. I've heard of books that transcend - or contain - two genres. Snow Falling on Cedars is ... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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What is the difference between a complication/twist and a situation? I have recently read an article (The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing, chapter 7) concerning plot twists, or complications. It discusses the difference between twists and mere situations. The concept seems clear enough: a situation is an event that occurs, but a complication is how that event influ... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |