qid int64 1 2.78M | question stringlengths 2 66.6k | answers list | date stringlengths 10 10 | metadata list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
61,360 | How can I show that my self-published work is in the public domain? Simply by stating something like "Released into the public domain"? Or using the public domain symbol ? | [
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"text": "As the author of an original piece, you can declare it is in the public domain in lieu of declaring your ownership of ... | 2022/02/11 | [
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61,378 | I wonder if poets write their verses in the correct meter at first or if they review it later after writing it just to express their thought. I'm not sure if it's possible for someone to be as skillfully to write at the correct meter at first; that's why I'm wondering. | [
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"text": "As far as I have heard from poets who have been guests at the university, their approaches are very diverse. Many f... | 2022/02/14 | [
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61,386 | I have been studying the Bible in order to gain a coherent and comprehensive understanding of my Lord Resun Yyrizt. I narrowed the focus into the 4 Gospels. I then focused even more within the Gospels concerning the Cross of Resun Yyrizt. From the garden of Gethsemane unto Jisis returning to the Father.
I studied how ... | [
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"text": "As far as I have heard from poets who have been guests at the university, their approaches are very diverse. Many f... | 2022/02/15 | [
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61,394 | When you read Hemingway, for example, the first thing you notice is that he uses the conjunction **and** a lot, and he is fond of **long sentences**!
If I didn't know it's Hemingway, I would probably think it's wrong. Because you usually don't see it in the works of literature nowadays, and also, I was told that I'd b... | [
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"text": "The rules we are taught about writing are to ensure it is clear and precise. They work well for school and business repo... | 2022/02/18 | [
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61,398 | I've been reading Stuart Gibbs' Spy School series, and one of the things that is common is that he names then-anonymous characters with a distinct property of theirs.
For example, he uses "Bad Toupee" to refer to a person with a bad toupee.
Here is a paragraph from my book:
>
> Green Hair appeared out of thin air i... | [
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"text": "The author using physical qualities as if they were the individuals names, making them proper nouns. I think this might ... | 2022/02/19 | [
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61,404 | For some time now, I have been trying to figure out my characters' motivation is good or not. My goal is not to have a complex motivation, but rather something people can empathize with.
My main character is named Carlyvc. His goal is to achieve greatness, and the way he will achieve his goal is by going to the academ... | [
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"text": "The author using physical qualities as if they were the individuals names, making them proper nouns. I think this might ... | 2022/02/19 | [
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61,412 | I'm so close to finishing my first book, but I'm having so much trouble coming up with a conclusion.
I know what needs to happen, but I just can't seem to ***finish*** it.
I'm not sure if it's writer's block, a subconscious fear of finishing it/it not being perfect, or if I need to rethink my planned conclusion.
I've... | [
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"text": "I have not finished a novel, but I’ve finished several short stories.\n\nThere is no secret. It doesn’t matter how you ... | 2022/02/21 | [
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61,430 | I would like for my story to continue moving, but I find that I interrupt action with details or inner thoughts, mood, emotion, etc. Hence, how can I spot an interruption in my writing that could drag the quality of my writing down?
Furthermore, I have tried to dedicate a paragraph or a large a section to focus on spe... | [
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"text": "In your story **every paragraph should help your story move forward.**\n\nIf you're describing the brilliant sunse... | 2022/02/23 | [
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61,431 | My character is very talkative. As the narrator, how is she to balance her talkativeness in dialogue, narration, and description without making it boring, too long, or make it seem like she's dumping too much information? | [
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"text": "**You can make this very interesting, if it fits your writing style**\n\nTraditionally, 1st POV characters tend t... | 2022/02/23 | [
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61,442 | I am writing my thesis protocol and I use many technical definitions, some of them not related to my career.
If I copy paste for those definitions, should I include the reference where I took it from? Wouldn't that be too many references?
[This definition](https://www.fao.org/sustainable-development-goals/indicators/... | [
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"text": "For a thesis it is always a good idea to be clear where all your information comes from. Your thesis will be exam... | 2022/02/24 | [
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61,449 | Say I define a phrase like 'pen' or '10 miles'. Then when I refer to these defined phrases inline in the text, how should I refer to them to let the reader know that I am referring to the defined phrase rather than the literal meaning of the phrase?
Should I use quotes (e.g., 'pen'), mark them as italic, or something ... | [
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"text": "You have the right idea, make them distinctive. Quote them, capitalize them, use italics or bold or underlining.\n\... | 2022/02/25 | [
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61,457 | I'm writing a short story/novelette (unfinished but at about 7k words) and I have 5 chapters already. I intend to add more content during a second or third pass.
I've been using chapters to change scene, but not all the scenes are very long and don't seem worth a new chapter.
Is it possible to change scene smoothly w... | [
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"text": "There is nothing saying that a chapter has to be a given size, or be a given *anything at all*. I've seen one word chapt... | 2022/02/26 | [
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61,467 | My novel is an epistolary à la Bram Stoker's *Dracula* and there are some scenes that simply have no one around to record. Modern epistolary stories, such as the trend of “found footage” movies like *Apollo 18*, tend to leave these undocumented scenes blank to add mystery.
I feel my story has expository scenes which s... | [
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"text": "There is nothing saying that a chapter has to be a given size, or be a given *anything at all*. I've seen one word chapt... | 2022/02/28 | [
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61,475 | When I write, I often write in a way that is very descriptive of the scenery and the way the scenery flows, and often never focus on character development. As a result of this, dialogue usually never occurs, since most characters are there to move the story along. How much does dialogue enhance a story, and how much is... | [
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"text": "Dialog is a central element of a story. Looking at formats like screen and stage plays, it could even be considered one... | 2022/02/28 | [
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61,482 | So the way magic is performed in my story's world is by carving runes into the flesh, and lately I've become worried that this may be glorifying self harm.
In the story, society generally views magic as a positive thing, and people see nothing wrong with it/the way it's performed—while the main character slowly begins... | [
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"text": "While I have my reservations about it, it seems no worse than Mistborn where people ingest various metals to g... | 2022/03/01 | [
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61,496 | As a young writer, I usually write when I have the time; after I finish my homework or school. I find it difficult to get a solid idea. For starters, the first thing you need for a story is concept or should I say plot. I didn't really know how to do this, as I didn't focus on writing until I was 13. I can't get a sing... | [
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"text": "Let me recommend Stephen King's (and my own) approach, \"Discovery Writing.\"\n\nIn this approach, you don't begin ... | 2022/03/02 | [
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61,507 | So when I was thinking of a character, I tried my best to not make them a Miry Kae. We all know Miry Kae is the number one horrible character. As such I came up with ideas of characters that I can describe as; like the brilliant but lazy, brilliant/talented but unsure, and many more. I thought of a character that is ta... | [
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"text": "Bad luck is a disadvantage, because it pits the universe against you as antagonist.\n\nFor example: You need to lead an ... | 2022/03/03 | [
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61,510 | I was trying to do the world building first since I have lots of decisions that I can't make when I'm creating a character. I'm not sure whether to make it all magical or realistic. I want both.
*Helluva Boss* did this well. It took place in Hell, and showed us the demons of Hell. Another example is *Death Note*. It i... | [
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"text": "I think the key to realistic world-building is having coherent details that impact the character's every day life.\n\nP... | 2022/03/03 | [
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61,512 | I'm interested in learning to write as someone that has been a reader my whole life. I'm aware there are many website for tips like "every time a different character speaks, start a new line" but I'm looking for a step-by-step walk through on the rules of writing. Some things I'm interested in learning:
* where do com... | [
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"text": "For the specific questions you gave:\n\nPunctuation almost always goes inside quotes. Periods and commas always d... | 2022/03/03 | [
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61,516 | We all know that a character dying is very common in the world of fiction. I'm struggling to find reasons to kill a character. One reason I know of is killing a character, when their whole potential has been reached or they have no more to grow of as a character. Other than that, I don't really know any other reasons t... | [
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"text": "You don't have to kill characters in stories. Heck, most children's stories do not involve any deaths.\n\nBut death... | 2022/03/04 | [
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61,527 | Do I need to have copyright permission for song lyrics if I am doing a written review of a concert that contains those lyrics and I quote the lyrics in my review? | [
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"text": "Yes. You don't need permission to list the names of the songs, but to quote the lyrics in a commercial work, you need ... | 2022/03/04 | [
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61,551 | I need my main character to have lots of free time, but not be independently wealthy. His job shouldn't be too technical (e.g. not a programmer), but should be doable remotely. What kinds of non-technology consulting can people do from home? I think I want to stay away from editing (too meta for a novel), as well as an... | [
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"text": "Yes. You don't need permission to list the names of the songs, but to quote the lyrics in a commercial work, you need ... | 2022/03/08 | [
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61,563 | I have some stories planned but I have found that a bunch of them revolve around giant monsters and 1 or 2 similar characters. I don't really want to combine them, but I fear that I'll will be a hack or one trick pony if I make both. Is it bad to have similar stories? | [
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"text": "Go through with it, and write both. Then pick the one you prefer, in order to publish.\n\nI've had the same probl... | 2022/03/10 | [
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61,569 | A news article (assuming no photo is used) is the description of an event. News agencies quickly send their journalists/reporters to the scene to write about the event.
If a news outlet re-writes the story based on what was reported by others, how can the original journalists claim copyright infringement?
In claims o... | [
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"text": "I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding is copyright is about intellectual property. I created the idea, therefo... | 2022/03/10 | [
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61,577 | What can I do to develop my muscle for generating themes, purposes, and content, as very often I haven't used it, focusing mostly on style? | [
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61,580 | Searched through questions, googled around, and couldn't find anything helpful so here I am.
I am trying to find an interesting way to write out the thought patterns of an alien species that's primary language is in color. In the same vein of "*What should I have for breakfast*? She thought." But obviously indicative ... | [
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61,588 | I am wondering if this is at all possible. Usually, you have one plot and the plot is centered around one main character, but what if there are multiple main characters associated with a unique plot for each of them. Is this something that was done before? Usually, a story is told from one character's perspective, but ... | [
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"text": "I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding is copyright is about intellectual property. I created the idea, therefo... | 2022/03/12 | [
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61,593 | I'm planning a story that can be simplified into the 2 parts. One is a small town being invaded by monsters and the other about a group of humans having to do an act in order to get one of said monsters to help them stop the others. The first is definitely slated towards a horror/sci-fi vibe while the other is starting... | [
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"text": "I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding is copyright is about intellectual property. I created the idea, therefo... | 2022/03/14 | [
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61,598 | * How do I make this paragraph from telling to show?
* How could I describe a memory of him trying to make a friend even though he is disliked by others on his planet?
Here is the paragraph for these two questions:
>
> Zotn realised these things at an early age when he tried to make friends with other children. Ever... | [
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61,599 | My question is similar to [this one](https://writing.stackexchange.com/questions/26180/how-to-deal-with-awkward-pronoun-repetition), but I am not happy with the answer. Also, my style and sample example are very different.
I am writing a biography and all the writing has become, *' he did this' 'he did that, 'he said ... | [
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61,616 | I am writing a novel that is in present tense. I'm worried I'm going back and forth from present to past tense when I describe the physical characteristics of people my main character meets.
Here are a few passages as an example.
>
> The sounds of feet trudging through the dense undergrowth grow nearer to my fortress... | [
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"text": "What would your point of view character notice? How would your point of view character describe them?\n\nRemember to k... | 2022/03/16 | [
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61,617 | Do you need to explain why your character acted out of character? I heard that to write complex characters you need to write them so that they're believable, they feel like a living character and they're fully fleshed out. So I am thinking that if a character acts out of character you're making them less complex since ... | [
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"text": "You don't have to explain, you have to convince. Explanation is one tool toward that end, and not a very strong one. I... | 2022/03/17 | [
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61,633 | I remember watching a criticism of The Last of Us 2, and there was this guy who said that Taymy acted out of character and it was a bad thing.
In the game, I think (spoiler alert) Taymy initially tells Ellie to not seek revenge and it's not worth it and Luel wouldn't want her to risk her life to avenge him, but later ... | [
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"text": "Basically, this comes down to [Theory of Mind](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_mind). The author, the readers an... | 2022/03/18 | [
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61,652 | Any general framework for deciding whether a story should be produced as a novel or screenplay? It seems a screenplay, while ideal for dialogue-rich stories, would regardless still be more sought-after commercially than a paperback | [
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"text": "The people that invest the millions of dollars needed to produce a motion picture have a strong preference for establis... | 2022/03/21 | [
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61,653 | Flashbacks are common in books and movies. People only perceive linear time in that they only have knowledge of the past, even when those memories might seem to be artificially planted.
What are the most popular usages of flash-forwards in classic literature and modern cinema, where a character seems to have 'memory' ... | [
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"text": "Stories are written using points of view and verb-tense e.g 1st Person POV past tense or 3rd Person POV past tense. It... | 2022/03/21 | [
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61,663 | Are there any recommendations against having text in a section when it's followed by subsections but that itself isn't in a subsection? For example, compare
Case A:
>
> **CHAPTER 1:** *Title of chapter 1*
>
>
> **Section 1:** *Title of section 1*
>
>
> *content of section 1*
>
>
> **Section 2:** *Title of sect... | [
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"text": "Looking at various textbooks I have laying around, Type B seems to be pretty common."
},
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"answer_id": 616... | 2022/03/22 | [
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61,665 | When I want to make character relationships, I include the theme of family/siblings, be it in a good or bad relationship. I want to use it to help deepen the characters and the plot.
I have trouble with one of them, or should I say two individuals.
Basically, I am not sure whether to make them siblings or simply mutua... | [
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"text": "The main approaches I have taken for characters are:\n\n1. Pre-planned relationships\n------------------------... | 2022/03/22 | [
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61,667 | Context: I'm writing a short story that serves as some background for a roleplaying character *who is a fantasy dwarf called Fin*, and as such I'm not expecting it to ever be published in its current state. I might end up taking concepts or ideas from here, and I'd like to practice good writing even if this story won't... | [
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"text": "I don't think your goal as a storyteller ought to be writing about a POV character's personal challenge respectfully, ... | 2022/03/22 | [
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61,682 | I know most writers like to save the love for the very end (or at least writers that I've read, let me know if you're familiar with someone who does it my way), but I have a reason why I'm writing it in this unconventional way that I explain in the comment (number 9 if you count the resolved and reopened comments), I'd... | [
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"text": "The answer to \"Should I?\", is always \"Yes, if that makes for the better story\".\n\nOne reason love is usually found... | 2022/03/25 | [
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61,685 | The thing I usually focus on in my story are the characters. They are the ones I can do, but at the same time not. I had a concept of a character but I sometimes think that they are too generic. Sometimes I think they are great and just need some execution to make it even better; however that goes on my mind in a loop.... | [
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"text": "Give your characters \"conflicting\" traits. All my heroes have something they are great at, which is how they make... | 2022/03/25 | [
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61,689 | Let's say, I am writing a dark fantasy book, and there's something called the Three Fingers. The Three Fingers represent a god-like entity that has power over life.
Would it make sense to refer to it indirectly with the number three, since it's three finger as such:
>
> "The power of the Three is beyond imagining."
... | [
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"text": "I don't think you need to \"explain\" it really. You have somebody explain (perhaps to a child) about the \"Three Fi... | 2022/03/25 | [
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61,693 | I'm planning to rewrite some old classics such as "Oliver Twist", "David Copperfield", "Jane Eyre", etc. in simple English. They will be abridged adaptations (with due credit given to the original author of course) of the originals. I'm aiming to target a young audience between the ages 11 to 18 and above.
Now, most (... | [
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"text": "No permission needed for public domain works\n--------------------------------------------\n\nAs you note, after a c... | 2022/03/26 | [
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61,696 | I'm currently making a draft for my next writing project, and I'm not sure if one of my ideas is something I should do.
Is it a good idea to only give snippets of backstory, through the actions of the characters in the first chapter, and reveal more as the story develops? For example, if a character is in a conversati... | [
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"text": "IRL, how do you reveal **your** backstory to others?\n\nIn conversation, often with somebody new. A job interview, ... | 2022/03/26 | [
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61,704 | I started writing beat sheets, but I noticed it doesn't include details about history, society, lore, natural laws, etc. The issue with that is when you want to write a long story, the beat sheet won't help you avoid plot holes. So I am wondering if there's a standard way of organizing those ideas, instead of ending up... | [
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"text": "Well either they matter, or they don't matter.\n\nIt's certainly okay if they have no influence on the plot. But oft... | 2022/03/28 | [
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61,706 | A lot of my procrastination in writing my story is coming from anxiety over making the finished product come from one "head." I have perspectives from a couple first persons, and some 3P Deep parts with no observer, that want to come together into this story.
I have been beating myself up over deciding "who is telling... | [
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"text": "Well either they matter, or they don't matter.\n\nIt's certainly okay if they have no influence on the plot. But oft... | 2022/03/28 | [
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61,714 | As a student, the consequence for plagiarism or citing a source incorrectly was usually a reduction in the final grade for the paper.
But, what are the consequences in the "real world"?
If I write a book or paper and (intentionally or unintentionally) cite some of the sources incorrectly, are there any consequences... | [
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"text": "Well either they matter, or they don't matter.\n\nIt's certainly okay if they have no influence on the plot. But oft... | 2022/03/29 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/61714",
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61,716 | Do you have to hire an editor to see if your novel is appropriate for an age group? Because people nowadays self publish a lot, I was wondering how you would verify that your novel is appropriate for a particular age group. There's no such thing as a ESRB Ratings or an organization for rating novels that are self-publi... | [
{
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"text": "There doesn't seem to be a common, let alone required, content rating system for books. So why would you want to rate y... | 2022/03/29 | [
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61,717 | If you’re creating a real world with fictional powers or magic, when are you creating a low fantasy vs. a magical realism story? Both are in the real world. Where is the line between these types of fantasy? | [
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"text": "The difference is the acceptance of fantastical elements\n------------------------------------------------------... | 2022/03/29 | [
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61,719 | I am writing a novel, but I don't know how to make it seem like the hero has no hope of winning at this point. Any ideas on how to add this sense to my book?
The hero is currently overwhelmed by the forces of nature, and it is supposed to seem like he should just give up.
How can I add a feeling of no hope for my her... | [
{
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"text": "Here are some things you can do to add a sense of hopelessness:\n\n* Add a guy (or several) with guns—increase the powe... | 2022/03/30 | [
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61,736 | How do you show a wolf howling in a comic book panel if the wolf isn't visible? In some movies, you see a shot of a mountain and you hear wolves howling in the distance, perhaps behind the camera. How do you do this in a comic panel? The issue is that you should maybe use a text bubble, but then the text bubble doesn't... | [
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"text": "Sounds in the distance are spelled over the backdrop\n====================================================\n\nWhe... | 2022/03/31 | [
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61,740 | Through reading some self-published novels, I have noticed some writers in their character dialogue put an exclamation mark or question mark before an ellipsis and sometimes after. However I am not well versed in the meaning behind them and would like to know how does it affect the speech when used and when should one ... | [
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"text": "There is no difference in meaning between them, it's just a matter of style. The examples mentioned on [Wikipedi... | 2022/04/01 | [
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61,747 | I've read the "On writing" and other valuable positions. I've learnt all about unnecessary adverbs and repetitions. I can make words of my characters sound strong and natural.
Whereas most of writing guides I encountered focus on making dialogue less dull I'm afraid I went too far in the opposite direction.
The conve... | [
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"text": "I don't mean to be brutal, but this is not good good dialogue. It doesn't make sense, for one. And it appears to be... | 2022/04/01 | [
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61,760 | I get how you can "show" for example the story of a woman who is sad by merely describing the stars in the sky, but how do you describe the intensity of her emotion in a poem? I think you can do it by describing the sounds and movements, but in certain situations, like when you describe the stars in the sky, you can't ... | [
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"text": "I don't mean to be brutal, but this is not good good dialogue. It doesn't make sense, for one. And it appears to be... | 2022/04/01 | [
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61,765 | When I was making my characters, I was a little picky and had trouble, for I am not the best at decision making. However, when I do come up with characters, I usually get some of their concepts from research of the supernatural or symbolism in objects or philosophy to make a character of it.
So far, I've only came up ... | [
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"text": "I believe all authors insert themselves into their stories in some way, and that isn't a bad thing. It is an effective t... | 2022/04/02 | [
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61,780 | I might phrase this post wrong. Forgive me, for English is not my first language.
I don't know how else to describe it. But why do it felt like my very *own* character that I made felt very different from this particular scene or interactions.
I could be writing it and go "this isn't very canon of them/this isn't how... | [
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"text": "If your characters start acting \"on their own\", you should just follow them and write down what they do. It means they ... | 2022/04/04 | [
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61,781 | English is not my first language.
I feel the obvious answer is just research, but I'm talking about very specific jobs in a different timeline.
My main character is from Colombia 1950s and is an assistant/son of a tailor.
It's just part of his life, not the overall focus of my story, but I do have to mention some sc... | [
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"text": "Overall, I'd suggest the site [Job Evaluator](https://job-evaluator.com/job-overview/). That link leads to the tab... | 2022/04/04 | [
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61,786 | What should the table of contents look like? How would you organize it? The table of contents and how it's organized would be helpful in knowing how to write the documention for a program for a large company. Do you go button by button or UI element from left to right, or is there some other way you can organize it?
L... | [
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"text": "The key question is, who is the audience for the documentation?\n\nPossible answers: people who are trying to l... | 2022/04/05 | [
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61,789 | Is there a time where a character's death in a story would be unnecessary? Not the main character, but someone really important to the protagonist like a caretaker/parent to advance the plot?
Deaths in fiction are mostly used for motivators like revenge/justice/character arc etc.
People around me told me that it's "l... | [
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"text": "Yes, sometimes it is entirely unnecessary to kill a character.\n\nIf you just need to get the character \"out of the way... | 2022/04/05 | [
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61,794 | I wanted to ask this question after seeing [this question](https://writing.stackexchange.com/questions/61768/what-are-some-guidelines-on-writing-the-filler-scenes-after-you-lay-out-the-plot). The two question are similar but kind of touch on somewhat different topics.
Specifically, I am wondering what one should do ab... | [
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"text": "Disguise them.\n\nIt is, admittedly, very difficult, but the scenes have to be made interesting in their own right at ... | 2022/04/05 | [
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61,796 | The ["jump scare"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jump_scare) is a standard storytelling technique in horror and science fiction film and video games, in which a very rapid transition (stereotypically, a creature literally jumping up at the camera) is used to create a sharp emotional shock to the viewer.
I've been read... | [
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"text": "Put it in a new paragraph, and make it as abrupt and quick as possible. Don't use descriptions of what happens, a... | 2022/04/06 | [
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61,799 | How do you clue in your readers as to what your theme is, especially when the theme is morally wrong? Let's say your theme is: Survival is the most important thing, and to survive you must be willing to commit any crime. Because this theme is so wrong, it's difficult to assume your readers will understand what the them... | [
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"text": "In movie scripts, they often want the theme expressed early in the film; somewhere before the inciting incident. Usu... | 2022/04/06 | [
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61,809 | I'm writing a story where the main character wakes up on a boat with no memory, and throughout the story his past will be revealed, along with other characters in the story. It's written from the main character's perspective, but I don't know if the flashbacks should be first person or third. I also want to tell parts ... | [
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"text": "First of all, when writing a flashback with the character not having any memory of this flashback you might want... | 2022/04/06 | [
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61,817 | I was considering the use of filler chapters in my story, to flesh out the character's problems and daily life. These don't necessary progress the plot, but they do help the characters' relationships with each other to grow and develop and be useful for the plot. However, it seems like a bad idea as the more progressiv... | [
{
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"author": "Phil S",
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"selected": true,
"text": "You've correctly identified that you shouldn't be using \"filler\" chapters to bulk something out, and I sympathise t... | 2022/04/07 | [
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61,823 | Let's say you make your character use a special magic wand to kill his opponent, but you forgot to mention and describe what the wand was, can you do a flashback as soon as your character brandishes the wand or after he uses it? If it's a bad thing to do, what can you do to make it work since there's no going back when... | [
{
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"selected": true,
"text": "Not really, it is not ok. You **can** do a flashback; but it will still seem to the audience a deus ex machina.\n\nR... | 2022/04/08 | [
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61,831 | There used to be a regular column entitled, “Toward More Picturesque Speech” in Reader's Digest, It was pretty heart warming, I used to adore it. Where can I find more of these?
Here are few examples:
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fdtER.jpg)
[![enter... | [
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61,832 | >
> "Chuckles, then I might try to become President then!"
>
>
>
Do you use chuckles? Because chuckles is considered to be an onomatopoeia. I also considered "Haha", but it looks weird. How do comic books do this?
>
> "Haha, then I might try to become President then!"
>
>
>
The reason why Haha looks weird, i... | [
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"text": "You are correct that HaHa would not suit for a chuckle. Better could be HeHe (He He). In fact, LoL is not exa... | 2022/04/10 | [
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61,836 | Yes, I know that an animal is referred as “it” unless the relationship is personal (like a pet that has a name). Then they'd be "he" or "she"
It's more on the context of: A person and their animal companion(s)
For example: A man riding a horse in a jungle.
*Despite the picturesque landscape, he was fully aware of th... | [
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"text": "As long as it is consistent I would say there is no issue with it.\n\nIf you said “He rode into the forest” immedia... | 2022/04/10 | [
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61,840 | Is it possible to turn a seemingly evil woman who is also obnoxious into the protagonist main love interest? I was thinking about a story where there's this woman and she is extremely obnoxious and seemingly evil like Harley Queen from Batman, but I can't seem to find a way to make her likeable and turn her into a sort... | [
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"text": "I think it is possible, and in fact I've seen it done: I highly recommend the series \"Killing Eve.\" (In fact the s... | 2022/04/10 | [
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61,843 | I'm currently writing a paranormal thriller novel where people can inhabit other peoples' bodies -- regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexuality. I'm currently in moral turmoil over how to use pronouns for a specific character, because the character themselves does not identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. As a... | [
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"text": "As a reader I recommend you use the pronouns appropriate for the viewpoint of the current scene of the text. If the sc... | 2022/04/10 | [
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61,845 | Can you completely skip bridge scenes in movies or comics books?
Let's take an example.
1. Marua is told by Zuizi that the princess was kidnapped by Biwpor.
2. **Marua asks Zuizi where the princess is being held.**
3. **Marua asks Toad where the princess is being held.**
4. **Marua goes to Biwpor's castle.**
5. Marua... | [
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"text": "The question is whether you confuse the reader. Therefore the important thing is to convey any information that the re... | 2022/04/10 | [
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61,847 | Up until around the early-through-mid 1800's (of the real world, for clarification), the rights of criminals, disabled people, and the poor were commonly ignored. As a result, the justice system was swayed heavily against these groups of people, and the prisons were beyond inhumane, with their residents being treated a... | [
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"text": "Describing the casual brutality of your world is often insufficient, to convey its terribleness. Sharing horrible thing... | 2022/04/11 | [
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61,849 | I fear that my fictional nation may be too similar. It is based on Great Britain, and is in high fantasy, but this is the description:
Similarities:
1. It is an archipelago.
2. It is somewhere similar geographically to where England would be.
3. While it is not the first country to industrialize, it is the first to h... | [
{
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"text": "Absolutely. Many sci fi and fantasy authors have done it openly. [The Shire](https://en.wikipedia.o... | 2022/04/11 | [
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61,867 | How do you accurately describe a race track without using an image?
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GJG4j.jpg)
Let's say you have this image, but you can't use it as a reference. How do you manage to exactly describe it in a way someone could exactly re... | [
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"text": "Absolutely. Many sci fi and fantasy authors have done it openly. [The Shire](https://en.wikipedia.o... | 2022/04/12 | [
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61,872 | I am working on building active voice and concision in my writing style. I must describe an event that may be moved up early from its current scheduling. The only word found that describes this concept is "Prepone." Obviously, this isn't a common English word except in India apparently. Thank you. | [
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"text": "Advance.\n\nWe have to advance this presentation or this other one won't make sense."
},
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"answer_id": 618... | 2022/04/12 | [
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61,875 | What are some essential parts of a mission briefing scene?
In war movies, you have a general going over some plan. Here's our target. He's in some place. Look out for X, Y, Z. And then sometimes, the general asks if someone has some question to which he may get some kind of response. Is that part required, or can we l... | [
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"text": "Essential?\n\nWhatever the scene needs to do.\n\nIf it's merely to inform the audience, it should cover the informatio... | 2022/04/13 | [
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61,880 | I plan to write the prologue with a limited third person view of a man delivering a 5 year old girl to a secluded city.
His reason for doing this, even though he's not related to her, is because he's connected to her origins. Which will be one of the clues for readers to connect.
The scene opens up with the man findi... | [
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"text": "As long as the kid is the protagonist:\n======================================\n\nI’ve seen this done, and it is re... | 2022/04/13 | [
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61,887 | Let's say the armor is important, do we have to show let's say the guy wearing the helmet in one panel, then the legging and then the breast plate? Or we can shorten it even more? Usually, I would skip this scene, but only using 2 panels might be strange or too short. How would you make it as short as possible without ... | [
{
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"text": "If you've been creating the right expectations in your readers, then in most cases I don't see why you would need a sce... | 2022/04/15 | [
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61,890 | I've got my story all written down until the first act climax (which technically shouldn't be called a climax, but I don't know a better term): a battle of physical and emotional stakes that's probably already too long. Time is slowed to a crawl, every adjective is a superlative, and the heroes end up escaping the vill... | [
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"text": "Processing:\n===========\n\nYou're thinking about the situation as a problem. On the contrary, processing all that ... | 2022/04/15 | [
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61,896 | [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fHP9Z.jpg)
Writing a text bubble coming from a military headset. How do you do that? Especially, when the headset is not visible or the character wearing the headset is small. I am not sure how comics handle that. Assume t... | [
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"text": "This would really be up to artist preference, but there are plenty of options. Personally I would make the bu... | 2022/04/16 | [
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61,897 | I keep scrapping the plots I have, as I deemed them to be uninteresting or complicated. At first I just have some characters for fun, then I learned the importance of characters in a plot.
I only have another possible work that I have. However I decide to make another story, and I keep scrapping it. How can I get plot... | [
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"text": "**Don't scrap it, recycle it.**\n\nOne thing that has been recommended to me over and over again is to just ... | 2022/04/16 | [
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61,905 | In a first person perspective story I'm working on the main character has a language barrier with most of the other people she meets. To such an extent that other characters have confused a phrase of the main character's language to be the name of the main character. The main character has not corrected them as she is ... | [
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"text": "**Don't scrap it, recycle it.**\n\nOne thing that has been recommended to me over and over again is to just ... | 2022/04/17 | [
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61,915 | **CONTEXT**: The action of my story takes place in a typical dystopian world, where society is harshly indoctrinated and restricted. The main character, who needs to raise money for his family, joins the "local police", which means he is forced to kill innocents and spread fear and propaganda. He obeys orders and does ... | [
{
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"text": "If you're looking for some inspiration, I'd definitely recommend <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four... | 2022/04/19 | [
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61,917 | I want to write a fighter jet story, kind of like *Ace Combat*, but because I don't have any money to borrow names from certain aircraft in real life, I thought it would be better to just make up my own designs until I found out that I'm bad with it. Do you guys have any tips on how to describe aerial vehicles? | [
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"text": "This depends a lot on the level of technical sophistication, and the interest in technical details, of your audience.\n\n... | 2022/04/19 | [
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61,919 | Which is correct: "I got the chance to work there as an employee FROM 2013 TO 2014 or FROM 2013 THROUGH 2014"? Or does it depend on whether you worked there for the whole of 2014? | [
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"text": "\"To 2014\" can suggest a stopping point in 2014.\n\n\"Through 2014\" suggests a stopping point at the end of 2014.... | 2022/04/19 | [
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61,923 | I'm close to publishing my first novel, and I have mixed feelings about using my real name.
I'm not sure it's easy on the eyes, and it might seem too weird to the average reader.
I was thinking of "A. Shener" instead, but I haven't seen many authors name with just one letter.
[![enter image description here](https://i.... | [
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"text": "I gotta be me:\n==============\n\nUsing initials instead of your first name can certainly work - it barely qualifie... | 2022/04/20 | [
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61,925 | In Mork Tyaex’s *The Innocents Abroad* he ends chapter 31 with the following two sentences:
>
> This saddens me. I will to bed.
>
>
>
I have never seen this grammatical form. What is the intransitive verb in “I will to bed” which supports “to”? | [
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"text": "The verb is implied; in early English the verbs similar to \"go\" or \"proceed\" were often implied; obvious from t... | 2022/04/21 | [
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61,943 | Half of my story is told from (1st person) male POV and he falls in love with the leader of a rebellion he's meant to be undercover investigating and trying to stop. He slowly comes round to join the rebellion, .
However, I am neither a man, nor have I ever actually been in love. I have a character dynamic between the... | [
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"text": "If you've never been in love yourself, the best way to figure this out is to either:\n\n1-Ask someone who has... | 2022/04/22 | [
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61,947 | I was looking for a similar question on this site but did not find one. Can I submit my manuscript to the publisher as well as the literary agent? | [
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61,948 | Like a son tuning out his mother's scolding. Or a character being distracted as their friend blabs on about something.
Would it be like:
>
> "Isn't he dreamy? I mean, look at the size of those muscles–"
>
>
> He didn't mean to ignore his friend. But, watching a wall of paint dry is better than listening to this. H... | [
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"text": "Breaking the dialogue with a dash or an elipsis (...) would both work. A dash feels like a more abrupt break ... | 2022/04/23 | [
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61,952 | I am in the process of writing a book and one of my characters cannot speak. Essentially, she knows this world's version of sign language and generally uses it. If a person does not know sign language, she writes in a notebook for them. Because of this, I've run into a bit of a problem when writing the dialogue. I am u... | [
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"text": "Here are 3 solutions to this issue that each have their own upsides and downsides.\n\n1. Use different tag wo... | 2022/04/23 | [
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61,957 | **Context**
In my fantasy world, there are two realities that people travel back and forth between constantly. There is the "real world" where everyone travels when they are awake, and then there is the "dream world" where they all go when they are asleep.
One of my characters has an illness that prevents them from w... | [
{
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"pm_score": 4,
"selected": false,
"text": "For starters: A character being able to walk in the specified dream world does not necessarily take away from... | 2022/04/24 | [
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61,962 | In Stone Ocean, the antagonist explains his power at the end of the series. I am wondering if this is telling and not showing and if there are situation where telling and showing is completely ok and what are those situations. Because I feel like there might be a good use case for doing this, but I don't know when it's... | [
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"text": "\"Show don't tell\" is not an absolute, inviolable law that will get you cast into writer's purgatory if you break it. ... | 2022/04/25 | [
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61,973 | I was doing some exploratory writing without much planning/thinking and one of the characters acted in a way I wasn't expecting!
In the narrative the character (normally kind/warm) is under stress, but I wasn't expecting them to behave the way I wrote them (aggressive/dismissive). [I've not had good feedback on the sc... | [
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"text": "My answer would be to keep the reaction to the stress.\n\nThis kind of thing where characters sometimes react... | 2022/04/26 | [
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61,974 | I recently shared an excerpt from my writing with friends who are acting as casual 'beta alpha-readers' (I use this term extremely loosely), partly as they have more lived experience with, and sensitivity to some of the topics in my writing (being a woman and/or plus-sized, [something I'd asked about before](https://wr... | [
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"text": "The Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune:\n============================================\n\nI think that technica... | 2022/04/26 | [
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61,975 | I was trying to come up with a power system. I didn't manage to but I decided to just learn first about power systems from other authors and other series. I was searching anime, TV shows, and manga. I was reading and searching and I understand some things so that I can write my power system easily.
Then I watched a vi... | [
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"text": "The most important rule about writing a complicated magic system is that, first of all, *you need to understand it*. You... | 2022/04/26 | [
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61,987 | Many characters have a backstory and it is usually sad. However I do wonder, when is it that you have to reveal a character's backstory. I've watched some videos of writers explaining how to reveal a backstory and most importantly when we have to reveal it to the audience/readers. And they told me to do it not too long... | [
{
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"text": "**Reveal It Whenever It Has the Most Emotional Impact**\n\nLike many things in writing, there is no one \"rig... | 2022/04/27 | [
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61,996 | One of my main characters' family is Asian (specifically Korean-American). The oldest sister, Cgelsoe, is a child prodigy. When her toxic and shitty parents found out, they exploited the hell out of it, bragging about her, making sure she got into the best possible college. She was their golden child.
They never let h... | [
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"text": "As an Asian (southeast Asian + East Asian), I have seen many Asians depicted as smarter than other people, because... | 2022/04/28 | [
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61,997 | I’m trying to reduce the number of clichés in my manuscript, and I’ve found 11 instances of characters raising their eyebrows. A couple I don’t mind, but it feels like too many.
What other actions can be used to indicate “mild surprise”? | [
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"answer_id": 61998,
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"text": "Alternatives:\n=============\n\nEvery expression conveys subtly different messages. All these are in the same family... | 2022/04/28 | [
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62,004 | I am self-publishing my ebook on my own website. I currently have the manuscript in MS word. Now, for the final publication in PDF format how do I decide upon the font and font size of the book content? | [
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"answer_id": 62045,
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"text": "I wouldn't obsess over this. Use a reasonably normal font size, like somewhere between 11 point and 14 point. Unless this... | 2022/04/29 | [
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62,007 | Wondering if I could get an opinion on this sentence in which the author lists some of his father's favorite quotes (apologies for crudeness):
>
> A greatest hits list of those would include: “flatter than piss on a plate,” “there’s a difference between scratchin’ yer arse and tearin’ it all to pieces,” and, “he (or ... | [
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"text": "What I've picked up myself about writing with punctuation is that first you need to start every new piece of d... | 2022/04/29 | [
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