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How do you avoid purple prose? I try to watch out for bland, overused adjectives and I keep adverbs to a minimum but -- I hear this phrase a lot and I'm not even sure what it means? <Q> "Purple prose" is overwrought metaphors, melodramatic and clichéd phrasing, and cartoonish actions. <S> She gasped, her snow-white b...	In its broadest sense, I would define purple prose as excessive and imprecise description .
What is flash fiction? Is it simply defined by its short word count? Or are there other accepted conventions in flash fiction? If it's just the word count, how short is too short? How long is too long? <Q> I have written flash fiction as short as 50 words and seen submissions in the range described by OneMonkey . <S...	Flash fiction is primarily determined by its word count.
How do you come up with non-fiction story ideas? My biggest problem is that I'm often at a dearth of ideas. I can target a publication or radio show or whatnot once I've got it, but I'm just not good at coming up with them. Tips? <Q> One thing you can try (something I have just started trying), is the "fieldstone" meth...	: as you go about your day, you read things, you find something that interests you or bothers you, you take note of it, and over time you will see the idea for the next idea form. See if the storyline of a fiction book can suggest a real-life story that might be out there.
Where is a good place to find writing prompts? I love using writing prompts to come up with story ideas. I'm looking for good sites that have a lot of good writing prompts. One that updates fairly often would be best. :) <Q> I know Writing Excuses has a writing prompt at end of each weekly show. <S> Usually they are ...	I love The Writer's Book of Matches for fiction writing prompts.
What is the proper way to write time in a manuscript? I haven't been able to find an answer to this question for a while now. What is the proper way to write time in a manuscript? I'm referring mostly to A.M. and P.M. Should it be written in caps? With or without the dots? Should it be omitted all together and be state...	If it's for a novel, then I would say your characters should express the time in the most natural way for them to be doing so. There is no need for an additional period if the sentence ends with the time.
What is the preferred way to type out ellipses? I have seen ellipses written out both with ("Well . . . gosh . . .") and without spaces ("Well...gosh...") between the dots. I've also looked at several different online writing style sites, and found no consensus. Which way do editors of fiction prefer? Or is it more a ...	AP Style says to treat an ellipse as one word by using 3 periods (dots) with a space on each side. You can look up the manuscript format submission guidelines for individual publishers, but you will find that most of them don't say anything about ellipsis. As far as how an ellipsis comes out when printed in hard copy, ...
As a non-native English speaker, Is it better to get translated or get copyedited for long texts? My English level is average. I can write fluently and my vocabulary is not too limited. With the thought in mind that the end result must be perfect, is it better for me to write my long text (100 pages) in English and th...	Writing it yourself also has the added benefit of beefing up your experience with a foreign language which never hurts.
Where are the best places to promote tech books? Where would you recommend a new author of technical books (operating systems, programming, networking, etc) to go to in order to get help in promoting his work? Are there any good reviewing services or other types of promotion services? <Q> I've never heard of any legit...	Make sure your publisher's marketing people know that you want to work with them on promotion. Talk to people you know in the target audience I tend to find technical books through recommendations on Hacker News .
Why are papers printed in a two column format? Is there a reason or is it arbitrary/tradition? <Q> Long lines of text can be hard to read, so doing multiple columns breaks the lines up to something more optimal. <A> It was shown, by experiment, that optimal amount of text for print material is ~60 characters per column...	Using two columns not only to make text reading more comfortable, but it also allows to make a better use of the space on the page, by reducing the white space on the side of the equations.
What to do about noun clusters A personal frustration of mine is when I see a cluster of nouns sitting together in a sentence. I usually see these in highly technical emails, but not exclusively. Here is a particularly bad example I received this morning: The Web Product Provider search print Individual Provider M...	When you see a cluster of nouns, ask yourself which one should become a verb. You might just try to eliminate an unnecessary noun or two, where context is sufficient:
Finding before/after examples where writing has been improved, to learn from I'd like to see a series of example paragraphs, showing before/after a rewrite, to give me specific examples of how writing can be improved. Is there anywhere that shows such things? I once read the biography of James Herriot, where they show...	One of my favorite writing books, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers , shows before/after examples. A couple of good sites I know of: writing.com --- the 2 best I have read are: Description by Monica Wood --- The only last place I can think that will help is by finding sites that have writing by others, many times an out...
Writing your last will and testament Coming from a background where I've only ever seen readings of a last will and testament in movies, what kind of style would be expected of such a document? Some personal stuff and then legalese generated from that, or something more elaborate? In movies the structure is usually ve...	I Am Not A Lawyer, but so far as I know, you can make your will as formal or casual as you like.
Rules and resources for scientific writing The writing style in scientific papers in the natural sciences, e.g. chemistry and biology, seems very different from many other kinds of writing. There are usually severe restrictions on the length of the papers which calls for a compact and efficient writing style. How can ...	One of the classic books for scientific writing is Dey's "How to write and publish a scientific paper" .
What disciplines/habits are used to stay focussed on one novel over a long period of time? One of my biggest issues is staying focused on a single novel. My imagination is always creating new and wonderful ideas. I write a few chapters on this story, a few on that story, but never finish one. What disciplines / habit...	What I did to handle it was to start writing down an outline or synopsis of the new story ideas as they came to me.
How do I find a suitable copywriter? I am in the process of creating a web application. I will need some copy written for various pages in the site and some of the marketing marketing material. I am contemplating hiring a copywriter to handle these task for me. What is the best way to find one? Also, since I am a p...	Always good to get a personal recommendation from someone you trust.
Strunk and White vs "Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace" by Williams and Colomb I'd like to improve my writing and have been considering getting either The Elements of Style by Strunk and White or Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace by Williams and Colomb. What are their relative strengths and weaknesses? ...	Again, I highly recommend Style . Get them both (if you can afford it). If you cite Elements of Style in a grammar battle with an editor, you win (unless he can counter with Chicago Manual of Style.)
Where can I find sales numbers for books? I'm a writer, working on a non-fiction book proposal. Finding public, free sales numbers for comparable titles is nearly impossible. BookScan is a subscriber service run by Nielsen. "Above the Treeline" is a subscriber service that collects sales data from some independent b...	You can also get Amazon's historical data by signing up for an account at TitleZ and selecting the books you want to track.
How important is typing speed to a successful writing career? How important is it for a writer to be fast when using a keyboard? <Q> Being able to touch type is essential, in my opinion. <S> I don't think I could keep my train of thought if I was constantly scanning the keyboard for the next letter. <A> Typing <S> We...	It is important to be able to type fast enough to focus on the writing and not the keyboard.
Where is a good place to find beta readers? Beta readers are important to perfecting a novel/novella/short story. They give you a fresh set of eyes, offer opinions, and can be a great moral boost. But where can you find good beta readers? Are there any sites that writers can use to find beta readers that have a reputat...	I've been apart of a few fangroups that have open lists for beta readers. On the other hand a good friend, preferably one who is also a writer, can be a good source of beta work, but if they are also a writer you should be willing to beta read in return.
Where can I find a good vocabulary list? I'd like to expand my vocabulary and already do several of the things recommended in the Tips for expanding my vocabulary question. In addition to that, I've been spending some time with a flashcard-like program I wrote and am looking for good lists of vocabulary words. Here...	I like to recommend two favorite fantasy/sci fi writers Stephen Donaldson (Thomas Covenant books) and Jack Vance (The Demon Princes) to those who wish to develop vocabulary; both these fiction writers, though their writing is very clear and direct, use tons of complex and unusual words in rigorously technical style.
Verb tense for technical document titles I'm writing a technical manual about creating database systems, and wondered what is the best verb tense for title names. My ideas are: Continuous ( -ing ) form: (e.g. "Creating a Cluster", "Creating a Database", ...) Descriptive form: (e.g. "Cluster creation", "Database cre...	If it's proscriptive, how-to content such as a getting started guide, the Continuous or Imperative forms will be most appropriate. The Microsoft Style Guide says it depends on usage:
Are there good tips on being a better creative writer? I'm a student at Case , and while we of course have an English department, it seems the only kind of writing classes/courses available are for learning to be either a "literary" writer, or a "scholarly" writer. I'm not interested in either of those alternatives ...	You need to look at what you like to read and read what you would like to write, preferably from several authors.
How To Avoid Using Cliches In Storylines? How is it possible to avoid cliches in storylines that you are writing? Obviously, there are external sources of influences as you read more and more. It would be possible that we are subconsciously and unaware that we are crafting a story that bears similar resemblance to a st...	As has been said, depth and variety can turn a cliché into something engaging. If you don't read the clichés and get to know them, you won't know to avoid them. If you know that you read a lot of one writer, mention that writer to the editor and say "I like this person, but I want to make sure I'm not unduly influenced...
Why does an author need an editor? I'm firmly in the camp of "your novel needs an editor, and that editor better not be yourself." But recently I was asked why that was, and I couldn't articulate an answer that was passable. Young novelists often underestimate their need for an editor, so frame your answer in such a...	An editor will point out areas oftext that could be rewritten toimprove flow and cohesion. Most writers will benefit from having their work edited, no matter how good a writer they are.
Should one blog in a few languages? Greetings. I've been blogging for a while now and I do it in Russian. But, some of my English-speaking... AHEM "Internet-friends" are unable to read my personal blog, 'cause they're just not familiar with my native language. When I do a post or two, and share it with my Facebook acco...	Write in English and then translate to Russian.
What does "Exposition and Ammunition – back story" mean in screenwriting? I am just starting my first screen writing class and I got an assignment that says: Exposition and Ammunition – back story. I have been searching online but I don't get it. Can someone explain it for me please? <Q> "Turn exposition into ammunitio...	Most exposition is a setup for the rising action or when the protagonist or villain pulls the trigger, and then the action starts.
Unquestionable Taboos and Self-censorship In the community/nation/country I am to be living, mentioning some themes is the best way to be ostracised for life (or for a very long time). Talking about not being published or read, not being mentioned, completely ignored. Is someone experiencing similar dilemma - choosing...	If you really don't care about personal rewards and only want the work to be out there, the internet is a good outlet.
Keeping track of multiple plot lines How do you track several plot lines woven together? I usually run 2 or 3 plot-lines in parallel, so I detail those plots each in a separate document. But as the book goes on, it is sometimes difficult to make sure all those "threads" are woven together nicely because I have to man...	I know others who create more of a flowchart for their plots, and there is plenty of free flowchart software online that can help you with that. You could also try the technique displayed in a lot of police investigation shows: note cards and/or pictures taped to a wall with colored thread to show the connections betwe...
Writing a math exercise book I am in the process of compiling a collection of exercises in Linear Algebra, (freshman course). This is mainly just a series of examples, with a short theoretical introduction to each chapter with a few broad ideas of the concepts used in the problems. My audience are students that prefe...	Solve the first 1 or 2 problems completely right in front of the question, so the student gets an idea of what to do.
How can I write poems in an attractable manner? I have written several poems, but only very few won prices. Those poems impressed people very much, so I want you to share your thoughts, what are the key things I have to focus on or I have to keep in my mind, when I write poems. When I wrote short love poems, five or s...	If you know what you want to say, andexactly how you want to say it, writea poem.
How should dialog be formatted? Is there any "official" rule that I should keep in mind when formatting character dialog?Line breaks, placement of quotes, mixing dialog with action descriptions etc. For example, I want to build a sentence like: "Look Jones, this will be yours someday" and describe the speaker point ...	The best way to learn who to properly write and format dialog is to read. There are exceptions to every "rule" and reading a lot of different books will help you learn what works and what doesn't work.
Character with extreme manners My objective is Victorian-style tea-drinking "upper class" lady characters. (It's more of a writing challenge.) Does anyone have any useful resources or tips for creating such a character? Personality-wise everything is pretty intuitive, however the language is a little out of my reach. ...	A Guide Through the American Status System, or True Prep might give you some great details. I'd also read The Importance of Being Earnest from Oscar Wilde.
When should a chapter end? When writing a novel, when should I end a chapter? Note that I'm not talking about chapter word-count (that topic was discussed here ). I'm interested to know when should I end my chapters conceptually. Is there a rule of thumb? Examples will be appreciated. <Q> The last line or lines shou...	And as soon as the chapter has told its part of the story, it should end.
Finding the 'voice' of a character This is a very general question that I want to throw out there just to get some insight into different approaches used. I have my own, but am intrigued to know what others might try. I'm wondering what processes you might go through in order to develop a unique 'voice' for a characte...	Ask a question that invites the character to tell me something new Listen for emotional intensity in the answer.
What's a good program for tracking submissions? What's a good program or technique for tracking submissions? I need something that'll keep track of who I've submitted to, when, if they've replied, and preferably tell me how long it's been out. Any suggestions? Preferably something that I don't need an internet connecti...	I use a database that I built using Filemaker Pro.
Getting emotional while writing, good or bad? Once in a while I get really emotional when writing. Writing about love, jealousy or even thinking about a simple scene in which a father plays with his child can get some strong emotional responses from me. I usually stop writing then, fearing that all that emotional clu...	Having said all that writing itself can be a therapeutic and cathartic act.
How does one go back to editing an older piece? I have a longer work that took me a lot of effort to get through, and the moment I finished it, my life went crazy. That was about 6 months ago, and in the intervening time I haven't been able to pick it back up. The story is complete, and if I may be so bold, the wri...	Have someone else critique the piece. Another trick that I've found works well is to use the full piece to write an outline.
Please help me improve this sentence... In a first-person narrative, I’d like to use the following sentence: It took me nearly a decade to write this script, and now I’d pitch it to the top producer in Hollywood. I’m not following strict grammar rules here (for starters, I should use “It had taken me”), but I’m goi...	"It took me a decade to write this script; [conditional upon its completion], I'd pitch it to the top producer in Hollywood."
Are there any free programs for screen writers Screenwriting has a very strict format that Microsoft Word cannot fully match. Are there any good screenwriting word processors out there that are free? <Q> One of my friends <S> and I decided to write short plays last summer <S> and this was the program I used <S> and I l...	Somebody already suggests but I'm really satisfied with Latex. For a non-spam answer: I highly recommend Celtx.
Simple way/techniques of arranging all the ideas and scenes in a plot? Sometimes, I get confused as I add more and more ideas and scenes in a plot, is there any way of arranging these? <Q> Buy a bunch of 3x5 cards and write plot elements on them, then organize them into a line or a tree or some other visual representat...	You can put each of the elements into place to get a visual representation of your story flow.
What's the indent rule of poetry? I've seen people indent their poems like below: Writing on wall It was just plane writing on wall I must have taken it a serious call She was on and off repeating same thing There was hidden message through something There may be long wait All dependants on fate How can o...	The obvious is that there is no rule, apart the ones set by the poet.
How to achieve a dark and nostalgic feeling/setting in a novel? I don't want to scare the reader, but I would like to produce a dark and nostalgic feeling. Pretty much the feeling that gives you this video (both image and music). The setting of my novel is a psychiatric clinic (always at night). Any suggestions? ...	Try several techniques, read out loud and read to others.
Simplicity is fundamental in design. How about in writing a novel? I'm a web designer. The first rule in design is KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). How about writing a novel? Is simplicity fundamental or just an option? <Q> In my experience, clarity is most highly valued in genre writing. <S> Plot is often very importa...	From a purely plot standpoint, it is also relatively dependent on the genre you're writing. The answer to this depends a lot on what you're setting out to achieve. So, to answer your final question: yes, simplicity is an option, not a requirement.
Meretricious - A bit too fancy? I have a character that I want to sound very intelligent, well educated, someone who always uses the correct words with no unnecessary filler. I have found the word 'meretricious' which has the perfect definition I'm after but I wonder if it's just 'a bit too much' - maybe too obvious t...	So if your character is talking to someone else who's well-educated and has a large vocabulary, I think this could be the right word.
Know any metaphors about women that...? ... are very skilled in getting men to like them, men really easily fall in love with them, but they (the women) are not interested in anything more than a sexual relationship? <Q> Are you trying to make the women look good, or bad? <S> Like, are they deliberately hurting the m...	If you're looking for a negative metaphor, I think the Greeks could probably help.
Is the idea of single-sourced documentation dead? Is the idea of single-sourced documentation dead? <Q> I do not know, why it should be dead. <S> Writing and updating several sources with the same content is tedious, error-prone and will cost a lot of money. <S> The idea is to separate content and design. <S> You wri...	Joining John Smithers, single-sourcing is not only not dead , but increasingly vivid.
Software for analyzing a manuscript? I would like to get a better picture of a manuscript I've written, especially in regards to word usage patterns and potentially overused terms. I'm curious whether anyone can recommend a document analysis tool. Specifically, is there a program that takes a Microsoft Word document ...	yWriter is basically a downgraded version of Scrivener for Windows.
Using the real world in writing To what extent can you use locations, businesses, etc. from the real world in fiction? I know someone cannot copyright a city, but what about a particular location in the city that's private. Can I talk about the Denver Convention Center and use the actual building layout in a novel? Can...	As long as the portrayal is innocuous, and brand names are capitalized and not "genericized," there is no harm and no need for any kind of acknowledgment.
Why is "It was a dark and stormy night.." not a good opening? Also, why has it spawned an award for bad writing? <Q> It's an unsubtle cheat. <S> (That doesn't necessarily mean it's not good. <S> Bear with me.) <S> The author wants to get across that Really Important Things are Happening. <S> He wants to hook you wi...	It's both a cliche (because a stormy night is an effective image) and a useless one (as opposed to cliches which have true power because their core idea is so significant).
"multiple personalities" for character development in writing? How can I train myself to think in "multiple personalities" so I can use these personalities for character development in writing? <Q> Quick side note: <S> Role Playing Games such as Dungeons and Dragons helped me out with this. <S> Playing make believe, to...	I've sometimes taken online personality tests, answering the questions as my characters would.
Little did he know In the movie "Stranger Than Fiction" the professor of literature makes quite a big deal about the phrase "little did he know." I've written papers on "Little did he know." I've taught classes on "Little did he know." I once gave an entire seminar based upon "Little did he know." Is this phrase a...	The phrase is being used here to refer to what is commonly called either Sophoclean irony or Dramatic irony, a literary device in which the reader knows something that the character does not -- something which is going to have a material effect on the character's future.
Put text between section and subsection headings? Are there rules about whether or not to put text between section and subsection headings (in scholarly works)? 1 section heading text / no text here? 1.1 subsection heading more text 1.2 subsection heading ... <Q> If it makes sense, by all means put text there. <...	If you feel like the section needs an introduction, go ahead and put a little text there. A quick check of a dozen nonfiction books from my bookshelf suggests that it's unusual to start a section with a subsection.
How could this paragraph of writing be improved I wrote this but it really doesn't read nicely. How could the following paragraph be improved? With the increasing green movement, subsidies for energy produced by solar panels installed on households and the possibility of a carbon tax will mean that a wider range of h...	First, I'd break it into more sentences.
What's your favorite keyboard? After using a Logitech Internet Pro keyboard for the past several years, as well as an Acer OEM keyboard occasionally, I'm seriously thinking about getting a new keyboard. I write upwards of 7,000 words a week, and I'd like something that just feels really good to type on. I typically pre...	I use a Microsoft ComfortCurve keyboard at work.
"...and the fire from the stove engulfed him" or "jumped on him" or "covered him" or "devoured him" or what? Which verb should I use here? He opened the stove and the fire from the stove [engulfed/jumped on/covered/devoured] him. "Help! Help!" - he shouted at once. "I'm on fire!" <Q> How big is this stove? <S> I'm...	"Engulfed" implies the fire completely surrounded him.
What is a good OCR program? I keep a writing journal that I enjoy writing in. I also have a lot of old journal with writing that I'd love to digitize but am too lazy to retype. What is a good, accurate, OCR program that would let me scan my writings and would then convert it to a word document? <Q> If you're using a PC...	If you have printed output ABBY Finereader does a good job but will require clean-up/editing.
Trying to indicate that the frequency is annoying I am trying to state that a particular question is not annoying, but its frequency is. I have come up with the below sentence, but I feel like it could be worded better. It is an annoying question only in the frequency in which it is asked. <Q> The question itself i...	It's an annoying question only because of how often it is asked.
When should I use passive voice? Is there ever a good time to use passive voice in nonfiction? <Q> You can effectively use passive voice when the action is more important than the actor. <S> For example, if you were writing about the effect of pollutants on a river, you might introduce the facts in the passive voic...	I agree with Kate , it is best used when you are trying to illustrate something where the actors are less important than the action being performed.
Where can I find paying markets for flash fiction? I've written a great deal of flash fiction, < 1000 word stories. I know I can send them out to literary journals and online literary journals, but are there paying markets for this sort of thing? <Q> There are very few, if any, paying markets for Flash Fiction. <S> The...	There are quite a few paying markets for speculative flash fiction.
Should I write an abstract for a formal essay? Should I write an abstract for a formal essay? I've heard from different sources that I should, although my instructor didn't specify. And if I should, where are some resources that I could use to write an abstract correctly? Edit: I am writing in MLA format <Q> I would...	The abstract should have an opening that identifies that particular subject matter and how the research that you have done will provide a solution.
How many pages would my manuscript be in paperback? Say I have a 100 page manuscript in Courier, 11pt, double-spaced. How many paperback pages is this roughly equivalent to? Is there a better font/spacing to use? <Q> The standard font that I've seen in my experience has been Times New Roman 12pt with 1.5 spacing. <...	That's really hard to say, books are usually measured by word count and not page count. Different books and publishers have different layouts for their pages. The software I use, Scrivener, offers "Project Statistics" which list words, characters, and estimates how many paperback pages (and printed pages) the manuscrip...
Books to improve writing skills Could you Please recommend me interesting non-technical books i could read which will help me improve my writing skills? <Q> The best writers are also avid readers. <S> Reading helps you learn grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, world building, characterization, and so much more. <S...	The easiest way to improve your writing skills is to read, and read a lot. If you are looking at how-to books, both Stephen King and Orson Scott Card have some excellent books on the subject.
How credible is wikipedia? I understand that this question relates more to wikipedia than it does writing but... If I was going to use wikipedia for a source for a research project (for example) would the information be correct? I know that anyone can go on there and edit it, but the Internet has other invalid inform...	yes, Wikipedia is credible, but like with the scientific literature don't take one source for granted and look for alternatives
What's a clear way to simulate web text in a story? My novel includes excerpts of things like text from websites, tweets, and internet chats. I'm using Courier for the main novel font. Does switching to a san serif font make sense to represent the web stuff? It doesn't look good. Can you think of better ways to handle ...	I'd be inclined to just do a block indent for the web text.
What's the best practice for displaying a personal website url in a resume? Like most veteran coders in the IT industry, I have an out-of-date website that I use to link to different activities I'm involved with online, like Twitter and Stack Overflow. Up until now, I haven't gotten around to working the address into m...	If it is a "here's more info about me" site, I'd say put it with your name, address, and email.
Write a resume objective that expresses my desire to hone and sharpen my skills I wish to convey to prospective employers that I not only want to use my skills, but hone and sharpen them as well. Does the below paragraph do justice to it? Do you have any suggestions? Does the paragraph sound boastful? To obtai...	I recommend leaving the "objective" off the resume, and saving it for your cover letter. Its common (though not always used) to start with a summary paragraph that highlights how amazing you are and your accomplishments and a few highlight reel bullets below that before then going into the traditional Chronological or ...
What makes a good action scene? Action, in any storytelling medium, is the relationship between build up and pay off. While cinema may emphasize the payoff (pyrotechnics play well to theater-going crowds) it seems that the written word has the best potential for getting the most from the build-up, especially because a...	I think another aspect of a good action scene is to not overload the reader/viewer with too much at once.
What is the Priority in an Action/Adventure Novel: Dialogues or Conflict? I am currently working on a novel and I was having some trouble finding the best solution for this question. I understand that both dialogues and conflicts are needed in a good proportion to cook a bestseller. But I would like to experiment on my...	You need a mixture of both, whether it's a dialog scene, an action scene, or an action scene with intermittent dialog to keep the character's "in the scene".
How could I share my lyrics? I've been writing lyrics for quite sometime now (at-least five years). Although there have been several of those moments when I've thought I'd have an act for music making.. I'm just not sure I'll ever get around to it, or be good enough.. I'd like to know how I could share my lyrics I've w...	I'd release my best work under a Creative Commons by-sa or by-sa-nc license. Selling lyrics is never done in the legitimate music business.
An alternative to saying 'users' when describing features I'm creating some copy describing new web-app features for a number of different audiences (users, managers of sections of the site, owners of sub-sites which use our platform etc.). I'm finding myself using 'users' constantly: "Users will now be able to..." ...	Consider using "partners" as the term you use for the audiences you mention. I came across some advice on technical writing that said you should talk about users - that is, real people by using "you".
How can I create my own deadline? I'm very responsible when I'm writing a tech book or article under contract. I have a deadline, my editor is expecting my work, and I turn it in on time. Sometimes I put it off a bit, but I pride myself on making deadlines, and I will do whatever is necessary to do so. But without thi...	Find writing competitions on-line and write towards meeting that deadline. Tell your friends, family, spouse that you will finish your novel in October, 15th (or whatever).
Is a novel less credible if the dialogues are too perfect? I always find myself trying to make dialogues perfect. For example, the perfect advice, the perfect punch line, the perfect joke or irony. OR maybe if the characters talk continuously without stopping, without making coherent phrases or having breaks. I wonder...	If the dialogue is the perfect thing for the character - in other words, if that character was a living, breathing person, and this is 100% exactly what they would say - then you've achieved something most writers would kill for.
New digital ways of presenting a novel in 2011? The traditional way of presenting a novel is in a book. I know about e-books too. Do you know another digital ways of presenting a novel? For instance, a blog, a twitter novel or something like the mixture of a website and a novel. Having links and images in some place...	Blogs can also be used to create interactive books that allow individuals to comment on individual sections, chapters, sentences etc. My opinion is that the best way of digitally presenting a novel is through the browser - browsers these days are becoming very competent, and one can create an entire site (with a little...
Can I ePublish my out-of-print history book? Can I assume that the rights to my history book Frontier Theatre (Sono Nis 1983) reverted wholly back to me when the book went out of print around 1992? The contract was a standard pre-digital royalty book contract. People can access my book piecemeal via Amazon and Goog...	If you can't get hold of your contract (you lost your copy, for instance), then you might have to go back to the original publisher (or better, your agent if you had one) to ask for a copy.
Will my readers feel like they are reading a children's storybook if there are illustrations in my novel? I'm writing a novel. I also have good drawing skills. I would like to add illustrations of the setting, locations, and characters. I may include 8 or 10 illustrations (the novel is approximately 200 pages long). I ...	If they are a positive part of the novel, then use them - it makes it slightly unusual, but in apositive way, and not a childish way. I don't think you need to worry about "seeming like a kid's book," I think you need to worry about making a professional submission.
How to attract the average reader to an "intellectual" novel? For instance, If I write a novel which has the following: “The universe goes through a gradual transition from one condition, to a different condition, without any abrupt changes.” After reading the inscription, Maru closed her eyes, and tried to ima...	Tell the story in the best way you can, using the words that work best for you, and THEN worry about who's going to be reading it. Like a good ad that's selling something, your goal should be to give the reader a reason to read the next line. You're in no danger of losing people intellectually, at least not with that p...
What are the ingredients for a good book review? I've recently started writing book reviews. I am doing this for numerous reasons, most importantly perhaps is to be able to express in a clear and concise manner. English is not my first language and I do feel that I often struggle to convey my meaning. Writing reviews t...	A successful review is one that demonstrates to me that the writer is an authority that I should pay attention to and, perhaps more importantly, someone I can identify with in terms of likes and dislikes.
Does this feel like natural English? Although I'm pretty confident in my English, I'm not a native English speaker. I need to write a short introduction for a symposium; I'd like to know if you think this paragraph feels like 'natural' English: The following paper showcases the various ways through which modern infor...	It feels like natural academic English to me.
What Types of Jobs can a Writer find? as you all realize the term 'Writer' is very broad and general. So my quick question is: I'm trying to help my young aspiring writer friend find a job in PA, but the term writer is really general. What kind of jobs can a writer apply to, really? There are jobs in journalism, sure, ...	For those who want to work with writing there are plenty of job opportunities out there. They could write on any subject that interests them - birds, hiking, fishing, cars, sports, etc. It makes sense to find a job that involves things you enjoy.
How to explain something mid sentence I'm writing a review for a fiction book and I'm using a lot of terminology that is specific to the book and I feel that it has to be given some context and explanation. Otherwise any reader would be left in the dark. I have so far tried this: Laurent and Phil had to go see the Po...	If you DO need it all, I'd suggest mixing the structure up with a few sentences that are just background information, and also including a bit more information in your main clauses.
Which goes first: summary, background or justification? I am trying to write a long expository piece and cannot figure out which information should come first. Here are three candidates: A summary /abstract lists the main points, without necessarily explaining what they mean. Pros: gets the main information out ra...	You need to capture the reader's attention, summarize why this had to be written, and give them a reason to keep reading.
What's a good title to a presentations' table of contents? This is a professional presentation, I'm looking for a good title for the ToC page (some humor allowed). What I have so far is "What am I going to talk about", which frankly kind of sucks.Your suggestions? <Q> Off the top of my head: <S> Why You Might Want ...	I'm Going To Talk About The Following
Can I use "We" to refer to me and the reader? I am writing my thesis and in many cases I want to take the reader through an example. For example: Besides the advanced composition rules, it is also important to have a set of basic rules to help in controlling some of the elements of the frame. For example, I may wan...	"We" can also be acceptable in informal problem solving, e.g. it's frequently used during academic lectures while explaining an example, as I expect you're mirroring in the writing. The answer is going to depend on context, and the consistency of your usage.
Is it a Good or Bad thing to use 'I' Regularly in Magazine Articles? Do readers want to read articles where the author refers to themselves and their experiences, or would they prefer the author to leave themselves out of the article? When I say 'readers' I'm specifically talking about women reading high end magazines...	If the article is an editorial or column in which writers are expected to express their opinion, I'd expect "I".
Quoting text from a country with different internationalization I'm writing my doctoral dissertation here in the United States, and quoting some text from an English-language paper written in Germany. In Germany, the convention for writing numbers is to use a comma as the decimal separator ( 3,5 meters ), but in the Un...	If the original paper is in English but uses the German convention for decimals, and you are going to hold to that convention in the quoted material, I would put a footnote by the first use to explain you are doing so, then simply quote as is.
Is P.S. (Post Script) still useful in the age of email? "Post script is usually written when a writer forgets to write something on the main body of the letter and wants to add on to what he had written on the letter." But in this age of email and word processors, why would anyone want to use P.S.? Is its usage still r...	I find that with emails, I insert additional thoughts in parenthesis or in between dashes just as in letter writing, but because of the shorter nature of my emails, I rarely use post scripts. P.S., It also might be useful if one is mimicking an old-style letter format.
What are some strategies for developing basic writing skills? Beginning Writing (again) I have a friend who is going back to college after a decade, and is quickly finding out that his/her writing skills are not up to snuff. He/she writes in a style suited more for Facebook than business or academia. What are some st...	Instead of worrying about your friend's writing per se, offer to act as a sounding board to help by reading what your friend has written and offering suggested edits. Write about what you read.
Do I need to write a bibliography? I made a program and wrote a paper on how it works. I do not quote anything, I just talk about my program. Do I still need to write a bibliography? <Q> I don't understand the question. <S> How COULD you write a bibliography if you didn't read anything? <S> Or...did you read someth...	If you realized a process in a new, efficient way, then it would be good to mention some of the background in a citation.
Does this convey that I recommend the anthology I'm reviewing? Here's a snipped-up version of a review of an anthology I wrote a while back ( full original review here ). Most of the stories were pretty good, a few were superb, and there were a few poor ones. For an anthology, I consider that to be nothing short of spe...	Almost every story in the anthology is , at very least, an enjoyable read.
Least possible editing effort if a text is for multiple media? I want to write a text with some basic styles and images. I plan to use it on a blog, maybe later in a wiki. And there should be a pdf version. I am writing about a software. So there will be screenshots, code blocks and some inline styling. I want to hav...	You'd need an editor that understands Markdown and can convert it to other things (HTML/PDF), and I use Scrivener .
how many books by new authors get published every year? I have heard figures like 100,000 - 250,000 books are published every year, but this probably includes already established authors. Are there any numbers for how many 1st time authors books are published every year (not including self publishing) ? Edit: 1st tim...	I have not seen any statistics on how many new authors enter the market each year.
How Do you Stave Off Boredom While Writing? I have about 20 half-finish novels sitting on my computer, in my filing cabinet, or under my bed. The story with each is the same - I start out with a full head of steam and great ideas, but about midway through I get bored. I've told the story about a million times in my h...	When that happens, I turn to another story. I think the writer's group idea is solid, but unless you find one that meets a LOT, it might not be quick enough for you. Begin writing the story before you know what happens. Buy a tape recorder, or Dragon Dictation (for PC, Mac, or iGadget). Take the stuff under your bed an...
Is this description of my small productivity application clear enough? I wrote a small productivity application, Tomate . Since I'm not a native English speaker, I'm afraid the description of the project may not be clear enough for potential users. Can you help me improve it? Like many of us, I suffer from attention...	Start with one or two sentences about why the person reading this right now needs to stop and download and try your application immediately.
How to cite an entire paragraph? How to cite an entire paragraph taken from a book? Is it just writing the paragraph as a separate one and adding (Author, Year) in the end? Will it not imply that only the last sentence in the paragraph is written by that reference? <Q> When citing large blocks of text like a paragrap...	When writing an entire paragraph about a single study, introduce that paragraph by stating that you will refer to the same study throughout the paragraph, then cite the reference.
Do books have to be written in sequence? So can we write the interesting action bits first, then add in the in between stuff, that maybe needed to understand the story or characters, but isnt so exciting by itself? For example the interesting scene maybe a scene where the hero fights ninjas and sharks(or ninjas on sha...	It's often the case that the best ideas for what happens next unfold as you write, and if you've already "written ahead", you may well be boxing in your creativity.
Do you have to be good at grammar to get published? I am not very good at grammar. Is there someone who would go through and correct your grammatical mistakes, even if you are not good at grammar? Who would this person be? <Q> The problem is that there are so many people out there trying to get published who ARE good a...	Forgot to add that, obviously, you yourself could pay someone to edit the work for you, but you definitely need your manuscript at a reasonable standard to expect to get published.
Does this microfiction provide a slightly surreal sense when describing an ordinary scene? In this short story I'm trying to describe an unexceptional scene in an exciting and compelling way. I want to make a common ritual seem strange and a bit surreal. Does this paragraph accomplish these goals? What could be done to...	To give a sense of the surreal cut out most of your adjectives and adverbs.
Is it easy to change genre? I read somewhere that one should choose ones genre carefully, as it is hard to change later. Although there are exceptions, most writers, even established ones, find it hard to change genre, and have to use a pen name if they want to. Is this really true? Does one really get stuck in whatev...	Once you become "established", it is possible to use your status to explore other avenues.
Mixing topics in a blog I was reading this Jakob Nielsen Alertbox about the top 10 weblog design mistakes. Mistake #8 was: Mixing Topics If you publish on many different topics, you're less likely to attract a loyal audience of high-value users. Busy people might visit a blog to read an entry about a topic tha...	It depends a lot on the goals the blog aims to achieve. Andrew Sullivan's Dish (fka The Daily Dish) is about as mixed-topic a professional blog as I can imagine, and it does staggeringly well.
How to write a 1st person story with a 3rd person narrator without confusing the reader? I am writing a story in the 3rd person and I would like to switch the narrator for one of the main characters half way through so that the reader can read how he perceives the story. Does anybody have any suggestions on how this ...	Another option you could try is to use some trait/feature of the character to immediately indicate who is speaking in the first person.

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