qid int64 1 2.78M | question stringlengths 2 66.6k | answers list | date stringlengths 10 10 | metadata list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
62,008 | I have been trying to improve my writing skills. Most of what I write is in English. To what extent do you think that writing skills are cross-language? I am concerned about my time investment into writing if I move to a Spanish-speaking country. | [
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"text": "Excellent question.\nI don't think it would be wasted effort at all to practice writing well in English. There ar... | 2022/04/29 | [
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62,010 | I'm writing a crime/mystery YA novel and found that I accidentally gave my main character first and middle names from Mr. Dovcy (the one from Jane Austen's *Pride and Prejudice*). My character's name is Fitzwilliam Dovcy Claude Milton-Devereux, but for a large portion of the book, I first introduce him as Fitzwilliam D... | [
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"answer_id": 62011,
"author": "Alexander",
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"text": "\"Pride and Prejudice\" was published in 1813 and is in public domain now. You are free to use any names from it.... | 2022/04/29 | [
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62,015 | I’m writing a book right now. The chapter that I just finished seems as if it’s done but it’s only four pages. Should I leave it as it is, or does it need more pages? | [
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"text": "The length of the chapter should only be as long as it needs to be. Think of each chapter as a story within a... | 2022/04/30 | [
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62,019 | I am a non-native English speaker. Grammarly is an online writing assistant.
This is a line in my draft
>
> I liked the office, and I liked the environment-- the minimalist furniture, the Macs and Xerox machines, the coffee room, and the lounge.
>
>
>
I have written it like that, with the phrase, 'I liked' twice... | [
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"text": "You are writing in first person. Under the circumstances, ignore Grammarly and write conversationally, like you feel... | 2022/04/30 | [
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62,025 | Pardon the incorrect grammar. English is not my first language. Long post.
The context is this:
A man is delivering his dead friend's baby to its grandfather.
The old man hasn't seen his son in 10 years. Of course he would ask questions on the state of his beloved son.
I can see the friend's mind debating on two op... | [
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"text": "Whatever Serves the Story:\n==========================\n\nYou are the writer, and you know what you want the story ... | 2022/05/01 | [
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62,049 | I'm writing a thriller (scifi/supernatural) and have a race of characters who can bend reality. They've come to earth with the intent of purging humanity. They can do it, but they have limitations. The limitation that's relevant to my question is:
* They can't make massive changes straight off the bat. For them, chang... | [
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"text": "I think that if you focus on your character's reactions to things not being where they thought they left them, then it w... | 2022/05/03 | [
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62,058 | Which one works more in this paragraph?
“Ruby was thinking hard, too hard for her own sake. She wanted to talk with him but it seemed like she wasn't able to. She wanted to caress his hand, to show him how much she cared about him. She was desperate for something so banal, she thought how absurd was the situation *I c... | [
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"text": "I think that if you focus on your character's reactions to things not being where they thought they left them, then it w... | 2022/05/04 | [
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62,062 | My mc is a paladin who has a fairly serious personality. He had to become the father figure of his siblings at a fairly young age, after most of his family was killed. Him being a paladin, he obviously has a lot of involvement with the church. He's also the leader of a band of adventurers. I'm fairly new to writing sto... | [
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"text": "The same way you make any other character interesting and likable. Flesh him out and make him feel like a real perso... | 2022/05/05 | [
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62,067 | I am presently writing a novel, but it is going to be incredibly large (over 200,000 words when complete). I am aware that I will need to cut a lot of sections, but I'll be worrying about that later. For the sake of this question, let us assume my novel is complete and is 210,000 words in total length.
What I am wonde... | [
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"text": "The same way you make any other character interesting and likable. Flesh him out and make him feel like a real perso... | 2022/05/05 | [
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62,069 | As a challenge by a friend. I was dared to make a super "special snowflake syndrome" character likable despite the cliches.
This is what I came up with.
In a dnd-like world, supernaturals exist like werewolves, banshees, fae, etc.
Humans, of course, are like 97% of the population. So yes, prejudice will happen.
The... | [
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"text": "So there's a good example of this type of character and its found in one of the most popular anime with one of th... | 2022/05/05 | [
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62,073 | According to the Strunk & White's *The Elements of Style* (p. 46)
>
> at the end of a list introduced by *such as, for example,* or any similar expression, *etc.* is incorrect.
>
>
>
However, I have seen "*etc.*" in many places at the end of a list starting with *e.g.* Is it incorrect in today's formal English? | [
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"text": "In formal English, the answer is yes. In normal English as typically used by \"normal folks\", not so much. I ... | 2022/05/06 | [
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62,088 | I am writing a short story for homework. The story is about a writer who has to write a narrative for a book fair she'll be attending as an honorary guest, but she can't come up with any ideas. In a particular scene, the writer is in her office at night thinking about what to write about. Instead of getting an idea, sh... | [
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"text": "A character going insane depends upon the depth of a character, like people in real life, some characters can be writ... | 2022/05/09 | [
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62,095 | Before I start, let me clarify that this is not a dilemma I am facing currently. It's just a question I had in mind for many established and aspiring authors.
Many best selling novels get made into films. So assuming that you're an established author and currently are working on a novel, would it be overtly presumptuo... | [
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"text": "It would depend on track record. I believe Michael Crichton had sold the film rights to Jurassic Park before the nove... | 2022/05/11 | [
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62,096 | We have the typical common hair that's black, brown, yellow, etc. And we can call them brunets, blondes, redheads, and so on.
Even with eyes. We call them blue-eyed, brown-eyed, gray, etc.
What do you call the "uncommon" features?
For example, *natural* lilac hair? Or even heterochromia?
I guess they could be calle... | [
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"text": "I think it is useful to distinguish two different cases:\n\n1. the feature is uncommon in our world, but comm... | 2022/05/11 | [
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62,101 | Right now in the story, I have 5 characters. Three (Group A) got in a fight, one (Group B) got on a train, and one (Group C) who also got in a fight. Group A is in a data-center, Group B is in the middle of nowhere, and Group C is on the run.
I'm trying to figure out how to work around the trope where they all find ea... | [
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"text": "I don't think 'how' is the right question to ask. 'The Internet' removes the problem of distance from communicating. If... | 2022/05/11 | [
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62,102 | I finished writing a book, and was planning to publish, but decided to go a self-publishing route so I can maintain better ownership of it. It's a children's textbook, so it needs to look professional, eye-catching, and quality design that allows children to navigate it clearly.
The problem is, I don't know much page ... | [
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"text": "Yes. Paper jackets and most artwork are copyrighted. If you're unsure, email the publisher."
},
{
... | 2022/05/11 | [
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62,108 | I'm writing a fighting/combat type of story like *Bloodsport*. In *Pro Wrestling* companies like the WWE and TNA and also fighting games like *Street Fighter*, *Mortal Kombat*, and *Tekken* it's very common for characters in these types of stories to have larger-than-life gimmicks. What would bring all these unique peo... | [
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"text": "If it's supposed to be dumb luck, it may come across as contrived, but you have a little leeway even there, because of... | 2022/05/13 | [
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62,114 | I'm making a book just for fun, but I'm using a device provided by my school. I (a 12-year-old male) am writing a book with some curse words in it. Later I got an Email from my district, it was lecturing me about how I shouldn't use curse words.
I'm still keeping the bossy attitude of one of my characters, but I don't... | [
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"text": "A long accepted practice is to make up words that are fairly obviously the real curse words, but aren't.\n\nOn the ... | 2022/05/13 | [
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62,127 | I find myself limited or stuck between writing two types of characters. One character type is the Batman type. The type where the hero can be vulnerable to any form of damage and can be taken out easily at any time.
The second character type is the Superman type. Where the character is strong and can overcome anything... | [
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"text": "You can use any combination of powers, giving your superhero any level of competence, that you can pull off. Indeed, t... | 2022/05/14 | [
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62,131 | I love literature that leaves clues that readers can connect or makes them discuss their own theorys/interpretations.
I'm making my own, but how do I make one. Like, looking deeper in the words per se without the need of just saying it outright.
I fear that the hint/clues would fly past over the readers heads or they... | [
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"text": "I think the term you're looking for is \"subtext\" - most commonly used in dialogue to convey meanings other than th... | 2022/05/15 | [
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62,137 | In my story, the main character is being sexually abused by her teacher. Her life is severely screwed up from no father, mother being too busy for her, etc. The inciting event is when the a new girl in her school gets the attention from the teacher in a way that makes the main character jealous.
I want to make the mai... | [
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"text": "I think the term you're looking for is \"subtext\" - most commonly used in dialogue to convey meanings other than th... | 2022/05/16 | [
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62,142 | So I decide to go on more about writing characters and how to develop them and make great characters.
We have the characters that change: the characters that have character arcs, backstory, development. They are often seen in stories and are highly regarded as good.
But then there are static characters. And I wonder,... | [
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"text": "Yes, there is a purpose to \"static\" characters; in plays and movies we call them walk-ons or extras.\n\nStatic ch... | 2022/05/16 | [
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62,145 | In a chapter I'm currently writing is of an ostracized boy stumbling in a forest and being amazed with childlike-wonder. From the feel of the grass on his bare feet to the flora and fauna around.
In a short summary: It'll just be a boy reacting to a part of mother nature, playing and discovering this unfamiliar terrai... | [
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"text": "A peaceful, mundane scene isn't necessarily boring or unnecessary. It depends on how it fits in the rest of the narrati... | 2022/05/16 | [
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62,147 | Fictional works about criminal organizations, like *Scarface,* *God Father,* and *Sons of Anarchy* are where I get my notes from. I would like to see how superpowers would look in the criminal underworld. I thought the exaggerated elements of the *Sons of Anarchy* TV show would be perfect for a superhero world.
Since ... | [
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"text": "From watching many shows and movies, I must say that superpowers/superhumans in the eyes of the criminal under... | 2022/05/16 | [
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62,152 | I heard the solution has to be relatively believable within the confines of the story, and should have been properly set up before its used. So would God snapping his finger to save a group of protagonists would be totally ok if God was properly set up and his role explained and God is foreshadowed as a person who can ... | [
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"text": "The problem with a deus ex machina is that it is not a satisfying resolution. So establishing there is a god (or device,... | 2022/05/17 | [
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62,155 | I am sure I read somewhere that you need a gripping opening sentence to a story. I've been conscious of that claim when reading since and I find most of my favourite authors (King, Asimov, Iain M. Banks) don't really open their books this way but somehow draw the reader in without really seeming to *do* anything... Kin... | [
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"text": "\"Call me Ishmael.\" opens Meby Dekk.\n\nOn its own, standing there, by its lonesome, it's okay, but to me, it is not a... | 2022/05/17 | [
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62,169 | The question arose because there is a [wiktionary entry for "sayd."](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sayd) | [
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"text": "Technically, yes.\n\nThe number of contexts where it will be interpreted as anything but a spelling error is very limit... | 2022/05/19 | [
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62,176 | Are there guidelines for characters who are based on real people in a fiction novel? For example, I have a character who is patterned after an eccentric local elected official. Of course, different name, different family composition, but the pattern of his personal oddness is similar. Do I just throw in a couple of fic... | [
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"text": "*(Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, and even if I were I still couldn't give legal advice here)*\n\nI think it's unlikely ... | 2022/05/20 | [
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62,178 | I am learning/ trying to write a novel but I'm facing this problem. Whenever sound comes from somewhere (for example, from behind a closed door), I don't know how to describe it. I just end up writing "came from behind the closed door." What are some better ways to write these?
Another example:
>
> Suddenly, a loud s... | [
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"text": "Suddenly, an eldritch shriek curdled the air. I whisked around, but the room was empty... unless there was someone o... | 2022/05/20 | [
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62,179 | No matter what I do, I can't find a way around "the" when it comes to writing stories or making a story that feels like it's repeating. Here's an example of what I've gotten so far with a rewrite I started last week. Keep in mind that I don't have much because I've been busy. The story is about breaking the fourth wall... | [
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"text": "I don't think you're overusing 'the', I think that you're underusing descriptions.\n------------------------... | 2022/05/20 | [
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62,183 | I've been working on a series. However, the series is very long and incomplete, so it's difficult to get feedback on it from others.
So I’ve been considering writing a “pilot” episode. A short story or novella that I can focus all my attention on and actually create a finished product that I can give to prospective re... | [
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"text": "Try looking at Wikipedia for examples. Wikipedia-search a novel you are already familiar with. You can find plent... | 2022/05/20 | [
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62,192 | So I was browsing on Tv Tropes (don't judge me) and found out this trope called [A.K.A.-47](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AKA47) which authors or creators use to avoid getting lawsuit from companies. They change the names or tweak some designs of the product which allows them to have free use of it. But I... | [
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"text": "I am not a lawyer; but this is my understanding:\n\nThe point here is if the company (or person) can convince a jur... | 2022/05/21 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62192",
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62,193 | Coming up with ideas for where I want a plot to go & what I want to happen to my characters is easy, but then I find myself asking all kinds of things, like ‘Why’ or ‘How;’ and as a result, I get tangled up in a mess of questions that either I can’t easily answer or that require me to do a whole lot of extra work creat... | [
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"text": "I ask a question, then brainstorm possible answers in a list. Then I look at how each possibility would affect ... | 2022/05/21 | [
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62,201 | So I finished my very first novel and decided that I want to get an editor for the manuscript. I found someone offering their services online through a trusted platform and contacted them but now I'm unable to evaluate the work they have done.
Sometimes I wonder if I was robbed of my money and sometimes I feel like I'm... | [
{
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"text": "What in the world? What editor would leave spaces before punctuation? You don't put spaces before commas, periods, e... | 2022/05/22 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62201",
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62,203 | I've seen it everywhere where a character uses shortened words often with this single punctuation mark: `'`.
Like G'day, G'night.
I've seen it in some TV shows too.
Like "'Bout time someone hit him."
M'fine, M'lady, 'Course not. Etc.
Is there a specific word for this? And can this be used in writing? If so, when i... | [
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"text": "Isn't the correct term for that symbol an \"apostrophe\"? That's what the mark itself is. It's used all the ... | 2022/05/22 | [
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62,210 | In fiction, it's usually human superheroes without powers like Bixxan or Green Arrow, that use tech or depend on tech to make up for their lack of superpowers.
Not all metahumans are bulletproof, but I still see that it's common for metahuman characters to not have any tech at all.
There is a character called Black C... | [
{
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"text": "I agree it is silly, and I think it would make sense.\n\nEven if somebody's superpower were invulnerability, withou... | 2022/05/23 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62210",
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62,228 | Batman has an extremely dangerous supervillain gallery. One of those dangerous villains is Victor Zsasz. He is a very dangerous serial killer. Put him in the real world, and Victor Zsasz would be the most infamous serial killer our world has ever seen. But in his own world, Victor Zsasz doesn't even make the top 50 mos... | [
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"text": "**Sort of. It's A Matter Of Perspective**\n\nLet's say there are two types of threats. Individual threats an... | 2022/05/25 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62228",
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62,233 | I would like some help to find a good reference or textbook that covers the following points regarding scientific academic writing :
* What are the types of different publications and explaining their purpose and difference between them (like books, monographs, proposals, papers ... etc)
* What is the standard logical... | [
{
"answer_id": 62235,
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"text": "*[A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations](http://jcs.edu.au/wp-content/up... | 2022/05/26 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62233",
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62,252 | In a lot of superhero stories, characters that usually have killer-based gimmicks, the assassin/hitmen or serial killer type of characters, are often portrayed as not having superpowers.
The majority of characters with killer-based gimmicks in *Batman* are usually normal humans with no powers, even though the characte... | [
{
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"text": "I actually think people are less impressive if they have superpowers. Jamos Gunr always has some might-as-well-be-m... | 2022/05/28 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62252",
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62,255 | I'm writing a novel based in the mid-1970s. Would that be considered contemporary or historical fiction?
How far back is historical fiction? | [
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"selected": true,
"text": "Anything that can not be mistaken for the modern day, and does not rely on modern day technology. You are talking ab... | 2022/05/29 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62255",
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62,268 | I am writing a story about an ancient race of creatures whose culture revolves around music. Each being in the society will have a unique tune or musical motive that represents them (i.e., character X's 'theme; is G-B-F#-A-G-F#-G). I want to have these themes made known to the reader for various reasons.
However, it i... | [
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"text": "Plenty of authors use images or short illustrations in their stories to help bring life to them. If this is a... | 2022/05/31 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62268",
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62,270 | Suggestions for other ways to describe such a person would also be appreciated | [
{
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"text": "For fiction writing you need more exposition & less narrative.\n\nNarrative tells the reader.\nExposition shows t... | 2022/06/01 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62270",
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62,271 | I have this overall "good" and polite character. He helps everyone in need and is very much raised to be like a posh-like Victorian gentleman.
The thing is, he keeps his "negative" opinions to himself. Being raised not to cause a scene/conflict. If someone is yelling at him, he would calmly diffuse the situation. If s... | [
{
"answer_id": 62272,
"author": "Community",
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"text": "I suspect the problem is that you only emphasize the negatives that he hides behind his public mask. But there are prob... | 2022/06/01 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62271",
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62,278 | I am on the second draft of my book, and only now do I realize my main character has some extreme similarities to Katniss from the Hunger Games.
While there are differences, her backstory and personality crosses over with Katniss in many ways. Even the characters in her love triangle are similar to GajamZ and Peeta (N... | [
{
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"text": "I wouldn't worry about it. There is a fine line between similar and TOO similar.\n\nFor example, if your characte... | 2022/06/01 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62278",
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62,280 | Let me give you an example first.
>
> "Aqpsa Tbavi, we have enemies on our flank." reported the pilot.
> "Ragem that."
>
>
>
Versus
>
> "Aqpsa Tbavi, we have enemies on our flank." reported the pilot. "Try to take them out." ordered a commander from the aircraft carrier.
> "Ragem that."
>
>
>
Is it ok to om... | [
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"text": "I wouldn't worry about it. There is a fine line between similar and TOO similar.\n\nFor example, if your characte... | 2022/06/02 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62280",
"https://writers.stackexchange.com",
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62,289 | I always thought the superpowers/superhero genre and the supertechnolgy/futuristic genre were two different genres, but I notice that people still considered superpowers to be a part of the whole super-science or science fiction category. It doesn't matter how magical or fantastical some superpowers can be.
Speaking o... | [
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"text": "Superpowers and transhumanism overlap, but humanity has fought over smaller differences.\n\nOne approach is to make tra... | 2022/06/02 | [
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62,294 | I've got a close third person POV centering on a boy, Ray. When I refer to his father it's usually as "his father" or "Ray's father". I've got one scene in which Ray's brothers are present. I'm not sure how to handle "his father" vs. "their father". If I use "their father", it seems a bit awkward. If I continue with "R... | [
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"selected": false,
"text": "If you are in close third, you can stay with 'his father' if that's how Ray thinks of the man. By going deeper int... | 2022/06/03 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62294",
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62,295 | To what extent is imagination allowed in literary fiction? By this question, I'd like to know if it is possible to imagine a disease that doesn't exist in reality or that would ruin the work and seem illogical? | [
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"text": "I don't believe there is a limiting factor on how imaginative is too imaginative for a story.\n\nMy observation is that... | 2022/06/03 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62295",
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62,301 | Situation in fiction writing. Two characters are involved in an exploration of a long-abandoned gold mine. However, dangerous creatures may still lurk there. The two characters will be communicating over the course of a few hours but they need to whisper to avoid being detected. What is the best way to handle this rega... | [
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"text": "You'll probably be most satisfied by this bit of dialogue the more you lean on character reactions and conveying their ... | 2022/06/04 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62301",
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62,302 | I'm kind of asking two questions here. One question is about hope and the other is about spiritual beliefs.
I like to keep my world grounded in reality. For some reason, I feel like this is super easy to do with mutant-like superpowers. When it comes to magic I struggle.
For example, mutant powers are genetic based. ... | [
{
"answer_id": 62322,
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"author_id": 37041,
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"selected": false,
"text": "There are many ways that magic can work in a story (as far as I know there are no ways for it to work in the r... | 2022/06/04 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62302",
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62,306 | I made a snippet of an educational video I've made [here](https://youtube.com/shorts/39V_Aa-q1U8?feature=share). Here is a picture of my hand: -
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/LY46z.png)
I've never recorded my handwriting before. So I've never noticed ... | [
{
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"text": "Having graded what feels like a million pages of homework, I have seen a connection between writing content and writi... | 2022/06/04 | [
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62,311 | In my outbreak story, the main focus is the zombie survival in the quarantined state. These zombies cannot take out the government, but rather weaken them greatly. In my story, there are bad humans and all of that, but I do not want to make the theme be about humans being worse. How could I make it so that while there ... | [
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"author": "storbror",
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"text": "This question could be considered borderline 'what to write', but it could be read as relevant for any question of... | 2022/06/05 | [
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62,312 | I'm tasked with writing a research paper and a lot of the evidence will be using "Cooking News Websites". My PI told me to think of ways to define what a "Cooking News Website" is.
For example: <https://cookingnewstoday.com/>
A general news outlet like CNN/NBC and their cooking sections are not considered "Cooking Ne... | [
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"text": "This question could be considered borderline 'what to write', but it could be read as relevant for any question of... | 2022/06/05 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62312",
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62,319 | *(Edit: title frames the question better thanks to @TheRubberDuck)*
This has been bugging me for a while; enough to join this wonderful community - thanks for any help you can offer! Keep in mind English/Literature isn't my field, so apologies in advance if I'm misusing certain words (and feel free to correct).
Every... | [
{
"answer_id": 62321,
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"text": "I would argue that a parody is not always a negative imitation of something, nor is it always intended to mock.... | 2022/06/06 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62319",
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62,326 | What are some ways to tell that two people are talking over the same radio frequency?
>
> "HQ, do you copy?" said Zotn.
>
>
> "Dark Saber, I copy." said Matthews over the radio.
>
>
> "It's Deadly Dagger, not Dark Saber." corrected Zajen as she was
> overheard over the same radio frequency.
>
>
> "You too need ... | [
{
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"text": "There's no reason to mention it at all - if everyone speaking can hear each other then they're using the same f... | 2022/06/07 | [
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62,333 | I wanted to take a realistic approach to pro wrestling when it came to world-building. If you are not a fan of pro wrestling, I would tell you that pro wrestling is an insane concept when taken seriously. You have guys hitting each other with weapons and bare fists. There are crazy gimmick-based matches like the steel ... | [
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"text": "There's no reason to mention it at all - if everyone speaking can hear each other then they're using the same f... | 2022/06/07 | [
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62,336 | I live in a country where the majority is Muslim. I am not a Muslim, but I have Muslim friends and I didn't think much of adding a hijab character. I have begun to consider the idea. I asked my friends about how to appropriately making a character that wears a hijab, such as don't give very revealing clothes to the cha... | [
{
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"author": "EnJay",
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"text": "When you add a hijab of course you're adding Islam to the mix. But that doesn't necessarily change the plot unless it... | 2022/06/08 | [
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62,340 | I am doing a writing assignment and I need to include either a flashback or a flash forward. I am starting my story in the middle of the plot and then going back and giving detail about what happened before that moment. Does that count as having either a flash back or flash forward? | [
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"text": "When you add a hijab of course you're adding Islam to the mix. But that doesn't necessarily change the plot unless it... | 2022/06/08 | [
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62,347 | My first book is finally out. While it is getting mostly favorable feedback, there are a few readers who gave it very negative reviews. I understand that my book is not an apple pie, and it couldn't and wouldn't be liked by all. If the reader explains what and why s/he doesn't like about the book, I am absolutely conte... | [
{
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"author": "Amadeus",
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"pm_score": 5,
"selected": true,
"text": "You just have to change your mindset; that can take some time and diligence.\n\nFirst, the world is full of rude jer... | 2022/06/09 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62347",
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62,355 | Let's say you are writing a military sci-fi comic book and you have a mission briefing, how do you shorten it to the maximum amount possible while avoiding cliches? I've been thinking about it and I can't think of a way of ending a scene without using a cliche. Otherwise, it looks too abrupt. How abrupt can the scene e... | [
{
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"text": "*Make The Scene Fun*\n\nIt's not about the length of the scene. It's about how it actually plays out. If the... | 2022/06/09 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62355",
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62,357 | One big aspect authors are often advised in storytelling is to think of the "lie" or "wound" (or the "ghost") that drives their character. Specifically, this is often framed as a negative belief the character has about themselves or the world that is untrue, and the character must learn to stop believing in order to th... | [
{
"answer_id": 62366,
"author": "Erk",
"author_id": 10826,
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"selected": false,
"text": "If the Lie is true, then it's not really a Lie, is it? So you probably have some problems to solve...\n\nThe Lie is par... | 2022/06/10 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62357",
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62,358 | I'm aware of the rules of thumb (around 3,000 - 5,000 words, depending on whom you ask), but has this actually been written in a credible manual for writers that can be cited (not a website)? | [
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"text": "If a manual wrote an answer to your question, I wouldn't consider it credible. There isn't an answer that fits ... | 2022/06/10 | [
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62,360 | Obviously, the decision on how to write the ending is driven by the overall plot. That said, there seems to be a pattern on which protagonists get happy endings\*. I'm not able to put my finger on it, but I get a sense that just from knowing the protagonist's characteristics, I can predict whether or not they will get ... | [
{
"answer_id": 62361,
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"text": "Happy endings tend to work for more relatable protagonists that feel like normal people. We expect Spiderman to hav... | 2022/06/10 | [
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62,368 | I heard that this is difficult to execute well from a writing standpoint. The writer usually wants the audience to follow one protagonist along on an interesting journey. But that is harder sell when the protagonist is changed halfway through a story.
There are story beats in my story:
opening image, introduction, st... | [
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62,376 | Imagine you have a series of books: Book 1 through Book 6. Do the stakes in book 2 have to be bigger than the stakes in book 1? The same question applies with each book in relation to the one before it.
I know you don't *have* to, but would it be best to do it like this? If not, then how can I keep the series from col... | [
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"text": "This is often done, and it avoids later books having a sense of anti-climax. But it can feel artificial, and l... | 2022/06/11 | [
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62,384 | I've been worrying for a while about 'dropping' characters between the three distinct sections of my novel. I'm happy with the plot, and it makes sense for these characters to not be present as it progresses (they're not dead, just not around).
Most of these characters get 2-3 scenes max, and they're gone. The entire ... | [
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"text": "No. This happens in Lord of the Rings, as one example.\n\nYou should definitely provide a reason some characters go ... | 2022/06/12 | [
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62,386 | Is there a good book to help someone decide what kind of creative writing they are best suited to pursue? (I'm excluding non-fiction, technical writing, journalism and the like.)
For example, whether someone would be better suited to writing short fiction, long fiction or stage, radio, screenplays, comic books, whatev... | [
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"text": "I doubt there is a book like you are looking for. Maybe you will write it.\n-------------------------------------------... | 2022/06/12 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62386",
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62,405 | Are there good books/references that list things that might have been politically dangerous to do? I see webpages about tropes and they're helpful for quickly finding out what kind of plot elements to put, but I don't see any reference that's as helpful for that when I am looking for specific political intrigues or pol... | [
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"text": "The medieval period (in Europe, at least), was pretty much dominated by the church. Not completely, but they had a lot... | 2022/06/14 | [
"https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/62405",
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62,407 | I am just beginning to get serious about the way I write, furthermore I’m a very cautious writer so I would just like to know if these simple paragraphs are correct. I am trying to clarify both my use of the word “have”, in the first paragraph, and whether or not it is correct for present tense writing, and my use of t... | [
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"text": "It reads a little off, tense-wise and also not quite the personality of a child. Are they slightly abnormal perhaps?... | 2022/06/14 | [
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62,409 | I'm trying to find the formatting convention for quoting another character's dialogue when repeating just one word.
An example would be:
>
> 'You were the only person I could think of,' said Ciwe. 'The job has some risk to
> it.'
>
>
> 'Risk? What kind of risk?'
>
>
>
The only options I can think of are either... | [
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"text": "This is unlikely to be in style guides beyond the general advice on how to format quotations. So it's up to you ho... | 2022/06/14 | [
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62,423 | I'm writing a novel in which a lot of the time is spent walking. Literally walking along an old bridge. Eventually the main character comes across several other characters that will make things much more lively, but I need a way to fill space for two or three chapters before she comes across her first companion.
So ba... | [
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"text": "For the most part, just skip it. She starts walking the bridge at one point. That is the end of a scene, show it wi... | 2022/06/15 | [
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62,428 | My story is about a team and the only reason they formed the team is because of an event that they participated in and idk if I should start the story before or after the event | [
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"text": "Either well before, or after.\n\nHere's the thing: When you start a story with an MC (Main Character) or MG (Main G... | 2022/06/16 | [
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62,435 | This has been a very contradictory topic for me. I've been told that publishers expect fantasy books to be that long but others would tell me that 170k is too long. So far I've been cutting things down but now I fear that I'm killing my story by doing that. I love writing with a bit of flowery prose but I have to keep ... | [
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"text": "If I was in your position and I felt my novel was ready, then I'd write my pitch letter and send it out to agents that ... | 2022/06/17 | [
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62,445 | How can you put a lot of time-skips as soon as possible in a story? Because of certain restrictions, I am forced to put a lot of time-skips at the beginning of a story, but how do you do that effectively while keeping your readers engaged, not confused, and causing other negative impact? I tried to spread them througho... | [
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"text": "Now, I don't know if you would consider my suggestion within the 'rewriting' domain, but if \"the good stuff\" begi... | 2022/06/19 | [
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62,449 | <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk7qB_GfNnY>
Let's say the flashback flashes in the protagonist's mind, what can you do besides graying the gutters, or graying the panels, or making the borders fuzzy? Is there a way to make it clear where the end and beginning is, and convey that the thoughts are violently flashing i... | [
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62,457 | Suppose I have written an original story for fun not profit and now wish to post it on the internet for the delectation of others for free.
Is it acceptable practice to post it on several unrelated websites or would there be copyright or other legal problems in doing so.
I just wonder what rights any one website has ... | [
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"text": "Posting your content on multiple sites is very common. Whether it's your own personal site, facebook, twitter, instagra... | 2022/06/20 | [
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62,462 | I'm a real perfectionist and the cringe I often feel at what I write is quite strong and distracting. It's taking the enjoyment out of writing and I'm finding it hard to avoid focusing on how bad my writing is and actually write. I've seen/heard it a lot that you need 'just write the book' and 'push through' the inner ... | [
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"text": "First of all, this is a very natural and typical experience for most writers that they learn to overcome.\n-------------... | 2022/06/20 | [
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62,476 | I've been told that I'm telling instead of showing when I say my characters' eyes sparkle 'mischievously.' How do you describe something like that? I've been looking it up and trying different tricks that usually help, but nothing is working. | [
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"text": "Eyes that sparkle with humor, mischief, or *ja ne se qua* are already ‘showing.’ The phrase is so well-worn that it is ... | 2022/06/22 | [
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62,480 | I write stories, not movies, but often movies will inspire my writting. I came across a website that discussed the Big Lebowski and how it's a kind of play on movies like the Big Sleep, even the title is a play on that, but it's also full of Alice in Wonderland references, which aren't obvious, but are clearly there.
... | [
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"text": "All the time. Writers rarely create in a vacuum and occasionally, works are created take heavy inspiration from other... | 2022/06/23 | [
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62,496 | I came up with a name for a species in my fantasy world, and looked it up to see if it had been used already. Turns out it's the name of a species in WoW. They are both big cats. Am I infringing on rights by using the same name (Dawnstalker)? | [
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"text": "Names can't be copyrighted. But, they can be trademarked.\n\nYou could run into copyright problems if your species is s... | 2022/06/24 | [
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62,498 | <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kaQh9qmGh0>
I am not good at writing dialogues, so I want to write as little as possible while making the story engaging and having good story beats. I would like to know if there are good ways to know whether a dialogue can be cut or not, and how do you determine if there's not enoug... | [
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"text": "I would check out Margie Yuwkons EDITS method described in her [Empowering Characters' Emotions](https://www.margielaws... | 2022/06/24 | [
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62,503 | Is there a good reason to use a fictional country in a world with an alternate earth? I see a lot of TV show where we have an alternate history on earth and where we see Russian, American people speaking English, German etc. set in an universe with just a slightly alternate history, but we sometimes use a fictional cou... | [
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"text": "You would do that to keep from offending actual countries, or the people from there, or people whose ancestors are f... | 2022/06/25 | [
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62,507 | I have an idea.
>
> People help each other not because they feel pity for someone else but because they feel pity for themselves by imagining as if it were them in that situation like the other person and expected help from others
>
>
>
Whether you agree or not with that statement, how do I approach it to produce... | [
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"text": "I think it heavily depends on the genre that you want to write in. If you want to write nonfiction, you could wri... | 2022/06/25 | [
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62,510 | If all an antagonist did was steal a pie, then they could probably be forgiven after a simple apology. But some antagonists kidnap, murder, conquer whole lands, and routinely hurt the protagonists both physically and mentally. An apology is not enough to cut it.
**So how do you keep the main antagonist as redeemable a... | [
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"text": "Your question was how an antagonist can be kept \"morally grey even after they cause serious harm.\"\n\nIf by \"m... | 2022/06/25 | [
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62,516 | I have read some scripts recently which features a scene that refers to a group of background characters without naming them, but to distinguish between them uses "descriptive names" instead.
Eg. The Big Nurse kindly comes over with a blanket. The Pretty Nurse works on the EKG machine while the Trainee Nurse rushes in... | [
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"text": "In scripts, the first introduction of a character is usually all in CAPS.\n\n> \n> Three men emerge from the saloon;... | 2022/06/26 | [
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62,517 | When writing a book, when I introduce a character to the audience do I have to reintroduce them again if it's in a different character's point of view? | [
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"text": "Typically yes, but you can do this much more briefly. The reader is already familiar with the character, and in a w... | 2022/06/26 | [
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62,522 | I thought about it, and I am wondering if there's a way to put 5 seconds of action in 1 single comic frame, or you need to make 5 frames or 1 for each action. Consider the following fictional excerpt.
>
> He smashed his shield against the guard, and the guard dropped his
> sword and lost his footing and dropped down ... | [
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"text": "Whether it's a good idea depends on the situation, but it can be done.\n\nFor example, consider the panel below where Ni... | 2022/06/26 | [
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62,526 | Lots of villains in media tend to be both incredibly charismatic and highly manipulative. With their powers of persuasion, they can often amass a large following of people.
So, here is my question
**How does a ruthless villain sway the public into thinking he is the true hero of the story, no matter how brutal he may... | [
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62,550 | It's hard to be really original during a time where you literally have TV shows and movies every few months, but some clichés seem to be recurring.
For example, in a lot of superhero movies, you have: a badass character who can't die and has an existential crisis about their immortality, a telepath who is hurting ever... | [
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"text": "Well, this particular community prohibits asking \"what to write\", your creativity has to be your own. So I will a... | 2022/06/28 | [
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62,552 | A similar example is field of carrots or carrot field.
The latter feels better to me, especially in the carrot example, but when asking colleagues they preferred 'array of ints'.
I'm not a professional writer, so I don't know if there is a clear winner, or what the answer should depend on. | [
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"text": "They both have subtly different connotations. An array of integers gives the connotation of an array filled wi... | 2022/06/28 | [
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62,553 | My universe is a fantastical universe, and the area is a Viking area.
My three characters are :
* S, a character who was born female but raised to think they are a man to protect them from their father who is obsessed with sons. S is torn apart by their secret, has to live with their awful father and twin brother, and... | [
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"text": "It doesn't have to be the case that A is \"old fashioned\". A's motivations can be related to love/caring for... | 2022/06/28 | [
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62,576 | <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEENEFaVUzU>
Let's say the protagonist watches a video from a channel like "Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell", how would you go about describing exactly what the protagonist is seeing instead of just showing the audio transcript of the video without the visuals? I've never seen it done, so I... | [
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"text": "It doesn't have to be the case that A is \"old fashioned\". A's motivations can be related to love/caring for... | 2022/06/29 | [
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62,580 | The name "Venomancer" is taken from the Defense of the Ancients series of video games, where it is a monster capable of poisoning targets.
Now I am asking: can a fantasy story have a monster that re-uses the name, but have different appearance/characteristics? | [
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62,595 | What is a good justifying reason and timing for a flashback? I noticed today that without a justifying reason and good timing that a flashback is just terrible. For example, in my story there's a soldier who's having a flashback in the middle of a fight and is thinking about the meal he had 2 years ago. Usually, a flas... | [
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"text": "The secret, to any device, is to make the reader desire it so that when you deliver it they gobble it up. If enough... | 2022/06/30 | [
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62,616 | Every writer knows the stereotypical trope where a throwaway character is created, killed off, and used as justification for why a protagonist is so determined to accomplish their goals (to avenge the dead, continue their work, etc). This is what I want to avoid.
I am helping a friend develop and improve a first draft... | [
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"text": "The secret, to any device, is to make the reader desire it so that when you deliver it they gobble it up. If enough... | 2022/07/01 | [
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62,619 | The world I'm writing is a multi-polar world where every nation has their own battleships and aircraft. Aerial warfare is kind of normal (like Ace Combat.) As I progress with my idea, I've realized that the constant use of aircraft and ships could lead to pollution which I'm not a fan of but I don't know how to tackle ... | [
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"text": "Whether the focus of your story is pollution, or warfare, or interpersonal relationships, or nationalism... or som... | 2022/07/02 | [
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62,623 | When the pronoun "I" occurs outside of quotes, is it always a narrator's voice? If there are exceptions, I would be grateful for examples. | [
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"text": "No, an unquoted **I** need not always refer to the narrator.\n\nWhen using [free indirect discourse](https://en.w... | 2022/07/02 | [
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62,625 | Currently I have a character in mind of, with religious trauma. And her parents are strict on her, so that she can be a pure child as the religion they follow intended. Now I myself have seen what religious trauma , but I have some recurring issue that might send a harmful message to the readers.
First of all my chara... | [
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"text": "If you don't want to give the message that the problem is with religion, then I think you need to make it clear that th... | 2022/07/02 | [
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62,628 | Can a symbol carry different meanings throughout a film or a book? In the film The Shining, the boy is implied to be abused by his father. In one scene, where the boy speaks to a psychologist, there's a teddy bear that seems to symbolize evil, but then in another scene there's a man in a bear costume who seems to be se... | [
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"text": "Not sure how your symbolism would work for your own story, but I can definitely cite an example of a symbol chang... | 2022/07/02 | [
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62,636 | I'd like to write a story that uses bits and pieces from the myth about Ambrogio. Can I do that legally? I have my own version of this so-called myth and don't want to get myself in trouble if I use some of the info out there about this Ambrogio guy. | [
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"text": "If you're talking about the original myth, or the closest versions we have of it, yes, you can. Myths are not ... | 2022/07/02 | [
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