Activity for Amadeus
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
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A: Phrasing to balance immense speed with boredom I'm not sure that can be done, especially if the MC is bored with it. It isn't a good idea to try and thrill the reader with the same thing again and again and again anyway! So do it once, and then gloss over it. In my story, one character is an extraordinary marksman. He takes this for granted, bu... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How best to avoid the appearance of Deus Ex Machina with established character? Basically to prevent a D.E.M. you need to introduce the skill (or person) early, and sustain reference to it (or them) frequently; so they do not fade from the reader's mind as a possibility. FOR EXAMPLE, If my MC is a 13 yo girl, and needs to knock out an adult male kidnappers at the end of the boo... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Is it reasonable to have weary character climb rope to safety? You are better off with the ladder; it is easy to climb a ladder using only one good leg, if your arms are functional. The other leg can be completely broken. Just use your hands and arms to hold up ALL your weight while you move the good leg to the next step, dragging the injured leg without any pre... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How to create a likable and sympathetic character, even if they are a pervert? "Pervert" covers too much ground, or is too general a term. Pedophilia is a perversion, and you won't get any sympathy for a guy that wants to have sex with children under 10, or wants to see pictures of them naked, or masturbates in his car outside a grade school playground. Whether he actually harm... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Should I write my story if I haven't established a plot? > Should I write my story if I haven't established a plot? Yes, You Can Be A Discovery Writer. Discovery writers, like myself, "discover" their characters and their plot as they go along; it is not uncommon for them to be more than half way through the book, or even two-thirds of the way, before th... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Why do expert fiction writers often give conflicting and contradictory advice to novice writers? Different writers give different advice depending on what bit them the hardest when THEY were learning to write. Every beginner has different strengths and weaknesses, the same goes for beginning writers. So they tend to give advice on what they found difficult when starting out, and tend to have le... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How do you make a scene "tasteful"? This is going to be up to the director, but I think you basically don't show anything that can't be seen in a tiny string bikini. So there is a strong suggestion of nudity (because there are no strings or bikini) by the setting and pose, but no frames showing nipples or genitals or pubic hair. Note ... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How do you know if your story concepts contradict each other? I don't think they make sense together, if the queen has no political power, she is just a pretty prop or puppet that has to do as the men decide. You say she does not rule "directly", that is incorrect. She does not rule at all, she can make no decisions, she is just a lucky heiress. I think these ... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How to include detailed, long dialog in a narrative written about a few events taking place over many months All Narrators have photographic memories! Unless you tell us they don't. Just write them as they happened. Readers are accustomed to narrators, first person or third, having effectively photographic memories of everything that happened. The narrator of most 3rd person novels is disembodied, but spea... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Hint to murder in a dramatic monologue? The obvious hints are support for any potential murderer, and the "If I had done it ..." comments. > "If we're lucky, somebody killed him, and we owe them a party. Maybe I'll throw it!" > > "If I did it, they'd never find the body. I know just what I'd do." > > "I hope he's dead. I know how I'd do... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Choosing between two people in a romance? Obviously as an author, you are going to wind up with 1) No girls, 2) Girl 1, 3) Girl 2, 4) Both girls. You have to decide. Probably, no matter the outcome, you should have him try with both girls. Take the one he will not end up with, so he discovers in the course of that relationship why he... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: When should a supporting character be scrapped? > When does a supporting character become necessary for the plot? Think of a supporting character (SC) as a partner to the main character (MC), somebody they can rely on when they need help in a jam they truly can't get out of themselves. The MC gets captured, or injured, or drugged, or arrested, or... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Is writing solely about writing a plot? > Is writing solely about writing a plot? No. A plot is needed, but writing is about far more than the plot. It is (IMO) impossible to write a good story without conflict going on. If there is no problem facing the protagonist, no momentous decisions, nothing they want but cannot reach -- I don't s... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Having Trouble Writing An Opening Scene With A Shy Character Put her alone. People are shy of other people, if she is alone she has nothing to be shy about. Generally you want to open a story on the MC normal, status-quo world. Give her an every day problem to solve, it doesn't matter too much what it is. A power failure makes her late for school/work. Whatev... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How to make a cool unmanly character Give him a talent. Make him a musician, or singer. Let him have a sense of fashion. Let him win some talent contests and awards with this talent. I'd say even a comic, but writing that dialogue could easily fall flat. I will note that many professional comics freely admit they were cowards in school,... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: What is a subtle way of mentioning a man became physically aroused? This question borders on "what to write" instead of "how to write", so I will concentrate on the latter. If your character has masturbated, he has had erections. Probably every day, since teen age boys do. If he is "reserved" and doesn't like to think in crude terms, then he will have invented his o... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How can I avoid a predictable plot? Things are not as they seem. Time and again. What you present to the MC is not what it seems to be. It requires your imagination to figure why it isn't. You can conceive of a problem: Then try to imagine a way what looks like a problem is NOT, or is actually an opportunity, or is actually the way th... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Does this scene fail the Bechdel test? In both scenes, this seems like for women, all roads lead to romance with men; that this is the only thing they are good for. Or in the second scene, the only reason these women are together in the first place is related to child-care. You do not need women in a story to talk to each other in order ... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How to sell your book? The problem with your plan is you are assuming every step of this works. What do you do when your (1) youtube videos get no views, or get bad ratings? Why do you think (2) critics and media persons will watch your videos because you email them? (Instead of sending them to spam with the other twenty ... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Coining words - when and how? I would call this character building, both in practice and to the editor. The narrator is in Bilbo's mind (to know he is bewildered) and \\Bilbo\ considers himself "bewuthered", so this is a word he learned, perhaps a colloquial expression. I would assume, since "bewildered" indicates confusion, that... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How should I calculate the rate for a book I am writing as a co-author? I think this is VERY opinion based due to the situation, so here are my opinions. First, I agree with @Cyn, put the deal in writing and in detail and signed and dated. Contracts are simple, and if either the best or worst happens, you will want to refer to what you agreed upon to start, before the w... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How can I make a character who isn't a jerk seem like one? People can perceive poor people skills as being harsh or mean. "Cruel" is a word that carries a connotation of enjoying causing others pain, I wouldn't go quite that far. But some people have very low "EQ" or emotional awareness, they are emotion-blind to others, and don't realize that when they are... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Am I using too much exposition here? Professional writers can write pages of exposition without a problem, this is not too much, and 3 times as much would not be too much. As a matter of critique; you are weakening your prose with too many fudge factors and emphasizers: with "usually", "more often than not", "Try as she might", "simply... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Facial expressions as part of dialogue - getting rid of a verbal tic I agree with the sentiment, stop doubling down; or tripling down: > The prince looked abashed. “I- I thought I was being polite,” he mumbled. You have three indicators of the same emotion in this line; abashed, a (presumably non-typical) verbal restart, and mumbling. If this were my own writing (a... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Need advice about changing character's gender Each writer is of one gender, and one sexual orientation, and in order for their stories to reflect real life, they have to learn to write from the POV of other genders and other sexual orientations. Don't be sexist on yourself, male heterosexual writers have written about homosexual males and homos... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: When should the protagonist have a self-revelation? It depends on what the self-revelation is supposed to accomplish. There are multiple turning points in a story. At about the 25% mark, the character needs to leave their "status quo" world and start solving some inciting incident. But typically this is a non-expert or fumbling attempt (that may have... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: What to call a main character who changes names? One of my characters, a kind of spy, goes by several names in the course of her story. The narrator always refers to her by her real name. I make sure she introduces herself by whatever cover name she is using, and she never fails to answer to it. In about 95% of scenes, everybody is calling her by h... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: If I use a quote followed by a citation, then a small sentence from the cited material, should I include another citation? Eliminate the FIRST citation, it doesn't make a difference that it is quoted. You have a single sentence, the second [3] is enough for the whole sentence. Further, you do not need to quote the first part, it is a statement of fact not an opinion you need to distance yourself from. If you decide to ... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Generalize or specialize? This is a form of copywriting (ad writing) and I'd say broadly specialize, but not by label. Mention broad types of products you feel good at writing about. Tech products, household appliances, kitchen appliances, automotive add-ons are examples. Don't exclude anything or "go negative" in your ad, i... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How can I indicate that a particular relationship between two male characters is purely brotherly (Philia) rather than romantic (Eros)? I don't know if this helps, but I think war movies do this very well. The Deer Hunter, Saving Private Ryan, some movies involving gangs, or cops on a mission. The series Vikings has elements of this brotherly love too. Many police movies and series show the same thing amongst fellow cops without maki... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Writing a book that involves an ex husband We are not lawyers here, and I am not a lawyer, and you are asking for legal advice to avoid a defamation lawsuit (if it is published it is called Libel, if it is spoken it is called Slander). The question is not whether it is true, the question will be whether you can prove it is true in a court of... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Are reactive protagonists inherently a bad thing? This is just about the psychology of what makes a good story. A person is not a hero if they fight because they are forced into the fight. A person did not solve their problem if the solution just happens and they made no decisions leading to the solution of it. They just survived until the problem w... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Can I use the passive voice to avoid referring to myself in a scientific report? You can also use the royal "we", even if there was only one person doing it. > "We conditioned the matrices using ..." > "After these adjustments, we found a significant increase in ..." We use this extensively. We think it improves readability as well. It has never been mentioned as an is... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How do I handle different PoVs, at different times and places, each dealing with the same event? Yes, just do a different POV every chapter (or two if you must). You can handle the transition with chapter titles and sub-titles, or an identical opening on a particular day: Pick something like a Saint's day, there are several for any date. This doesn't have to be a religious reference exactly, it... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: People like my book, starting halfway through There may be action, but perhaps what you are missing is conflict. (Conflict is the MC personally having to make choices and solve problems, not just reacting to or living through "action".) Your character might be unlikable to other characters, but for me it would be impossible to get people interes... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How does one discovery-write court intrigue? You don't have to PLOT, you just need to realize, as you discover the story, that you have somebody plotting against them. Then, as we write, this is something we keep in mind (and perhaps notes). IRL, if somebody hates me or just needs me out of the way, and they are plotting against me, they too a... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Why are outlines so essential? Outlines are Absolutely Not Necessary. At All. You are probably a discovery writer, like Stephen King. And like me, and that is not a bad thing. Check out this advice: Six Secrets of Writing a Novel without an Outline. Or this, from NY Book Editors: Planning to Outline Your Novel? Don't. Which cont... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Is my story pacing too fast? You Jump In The Deep End Too Quick. Your Story Structure is Off. I'm pretty sure your story is "rushed" because you did not spend enough time in the setup. At 3000 words, I don't think that is possible. You say your story begins: > MC heads off to work to confront her boss about something; MC colla... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Writing compelling dialogue First, people do not notice "he said" or "she said", and you should use them more often. We expect them, they work, and they are not intrusive; stop thinking they are. That said: When there are only two people in a conversation, attributions are seldom necessary unless your break the repeated patter... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: What makes a bestseller - Writing or Setting? If I am limited to Writing and Setting as you describe them, I have to choose Writing. Because I think a fine story can be written in an unsurprising setting, about lawyers, or love, or comedy, or hacking. Mr. Robot has no really exotic or memorable settings, I think that is excellent writing. I th... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Do Science Fiction Stories Follow A Particular Pattern? If you have written fantasy, sci-fi can be written in the same structure. Pretty much all stories follow a 3-4 act structure (the second act in the 3 act structure can be broken into two acts). 1) 25% of the story. You introduce your characters in their normal life, solving normal life problems, mee... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Help with reasons for rebellions against my oligarchic/Philosopher kings inspired empire The big reason for rebellion is simple, the leaders are not delivering what they are supposed to: safety, prosperity (whatever that means to your culture, it may be as little as Food and water, or if they are more sophisticated, high tech, health, education, etc). It doesn't make a difference WHY th... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Does a story require a villain to succeed? No, a story does not need a villain. There are many stories in which a person struggles against nature, struggles to survive, struggles to invent something new, etc. All the story requires (to be interesting) is a person trying to do something that they do not find easy, so they have setbacks, make... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How should I deal with travel time in fantasy? People on long journeys talk to each other, about themselves. Even life-long friends (I have traveled with some) talk about what they are seeing, what it reminds them of doing together, what it reminds them they wish they did. If you have people that do not know each other well, this is a chance for ... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How to give cartography information in a fantasy setting without being too precise? I would use relative sizes to compare sizes or countries. > "The armies of Asia are many hundreds of times our armies in Fengard", or > "The map makers say five hundred of Fengard could fit in the East Kingdom". I would use seasons to indicate travel time and difficulty. > "It took us all Spring... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How to write internally emotional characters? I agree, too much exposition. Which likely means, too little "setup" in your book. If Celeste thinks Marko is brilliant at chess or Go, that should have been shown earlier, in the story setup. (ACT I, typically first 20% to 25% of the story.) You are being too repetitive, you don't trust your reade... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Proven psychological or scientific means of scaring people? What scares people is the threat of disaster they cannot control, or anticipate, that they are helpless to do anything about. Their fear is of impending loss, which includes injury, death, loss of financial security, loss of someone they love (in particular a child they feel responsible for). These ... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How to write female characters as a male writer? I'm going to agree with Galastel (write a person), and wetcircuit (Celeste sounds shallow). For the latter, when I think about my lover, I never take an inventory of their physical attributes. I have images in my mind that do not get articulated, if I was describing her feelings of Marko I would, ins... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: It seems safer to make everyone white then to be accused of 'racism' if I I make any of my pre-written cultures a different race For a video game: One approach to being post-racial is to just have racial mixing. As many cultures today are, due to migrations (forced by slavery or not) and inter-mixing of genes. We have had the same thing here on Earth forever: The modern human genome shares genes that are distinctly Neandertal... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Avoiding spectacle creep Similar to what has already been said, but I'd say do what they do in long-running television series. In Law and Order, they have mostly single episodes dealing with a new criminal. Same in many detective stories or variants of Sherlock Holmes like Monk or Elementary or The Mentalist. The same in man... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |