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How to write a scene where the villain meets the protagonist? The villain was, like the protagonist, a child soldier/mercenary, who served with him. The villain was captured, tortured, and snapped. He feels a burning hatred for the protagonist, believing that he left him behind. The protagonist however feels heavy guil...	The villain does something stupid so the protagonist has no choice but to kill him, in self-defense of defense of an innocent. Do what is real for your characters. A third party intervening as a Judge deciding who should live, but that's probably been done to the point of cliche.
Should I worry that my storyline is very similar to another? I've written a story about anthropomorphic animals in a noirish setting solving murders. I came up with the concept and wrote the first draft about a year ago and am planning on releasing it soon. However, I recently saw a trailer for the movie Zootopia and r...	If you came up with your story AFTER you found a different idea that is similar, you want to be careful not to base your plot in the same way. The publishers can still accuse you, of course, but no matter what they think, you aren't copying. It is very common for writers to come up with similar ideas—sometimes extraord...
Is it a good idea to start each chapter with a snippet from a fictional book? I am writing a fantasy story in a medieval-like time. There is a lot of information I want to share with my readers, but I feel if I incorporate it all in the main story it will make it to long and tedious to read. So the idea I'm having now ...	This is a fairly well-known practice, and if you keep it short, so the intro doesn't detract from the actual story, it works quite well. If you end a chapter in a cliffhanger, and then begin the next chapter with a five paragraph essay on the boll weevil and its habitat, you'll probably find that people will skip it.
How to portray a likable terrorist? The protagonist of my new story is a young cyberterrorist, who mainly attacks corrupt governments and uses his hacking skills to harm corrupt leaders and high nobles in his country. How do I write about (and what should I avoid when writing about) a terrorist who's supposed to be li...	In conclusion, I'd make a likeable terrorist by giving them different themes to their character, making sure they are not entirely one-sided, and also using humour. You are describing a dark hero and the best way to make a dark hero palatable to the a non-sympathetic reader is to draw a line in the sand, across which y...
Trying to avoid being cliché Has opening a story with something like "I hurtled to my death", "I had destroyed the earth", or other outlandish statements like these become cliché? And if so, what are some alternative methods to hook readers? <Q> Depending on the tone of your book, you can make that work for you by maki...	But it will hook or not hook depending on its effectiveness in establishing character, story, or setting, not merely by being outlandish. Just listen to your heart, write and complete it.
Is it foolish to pursue a writing career while desiring complete anonymity? I am writing my first novel. When I finish, I'd like to try publishing it. I've read other questions regarding the publishing process and they suggest that an aspiring author must do things like book tours, interviews, etc. While I'm not oppose...	I think that you might try to write under pseudonym, but if you will be successful, someone will do research and will find your true identity anyway.
Struggling to define a character without giving him viewpoint status I am a novice working on a historical novel with four viewpoint characters. Three of them will be involved in subplots connected to the main plot, and each character will have a character arc and will undergo change. The fourth will be the title chara...	I think it's perfectly fine to have a character's POV even if it's just in one or two chapters.
How to convey (screaming) hysterics in dialogue It happens to most if not all of us. Something extremely emotional happens to us and we're just hysterical. Logic doesn't work. You contemplate punching a wall because that will help . . . somehow. Perhaps you just had your big idea stolen at work, your partner is trying ...	Make a note of things people do during such emotional aggravation. Using CAPS just seems a bit childish in my opinion.
Should a villain have redeeming qualities I know it is important for main characters to have flaws to make them believable and real. But should an antagonist have redeeming or good qualities, to make him more real? <Q> Everybody has redeeming qualities and everybody has flaws. <S> Any character that doesn’t have both ...	So if you are creating some sort of anti-hero or just want a likeable bad guy then give him some redeeming qualities.
Describing a Traumatic Silence I am finishing a short story by describing how the silence of a deceased character is more unnerving than that character's cries before he died. Is there a simile to describe a traumatic or gut-wrenching scene? <Q> Silence itself can be unnerving. <S> A ghostly slice or emptiness can be ...	There's something conclusive about dead silence.
Different ways to say "I looked"? I find myself overusing phrases like "his eyes flickered to (object/person)" and "he shifted his gaze to (object/person)". I use the words 'eyes' and 'gaze' a lot to describe what the character is staring at (ie. his eyes locked onto (object), or his eyes wouldn't move from (object), ...	You can notice something, or become aware of something. Unless you explicitly want to focus on the way a character is looking, its best not to bring up looking at all.
A character who teaches how to build wealth I am looking for a character name to design a personality of a guy who teaches how to build wealth. In the real world, they are financial advisors. <Q> I'd advise against giving your character a name that is blatantly related to his character, unless you are writing a comedy....	Or, just have their nickname be something related to money. And one more thing - don't make two character names too similar Just call him "Fred Miller" or "Bob Dalton" or some such ordinary sounding name. If all of your characters are from India, then having someone named Bob will be kind of strange unless he's spent a...
Using country names in my book I wanna start to write my first book. My problem is if I could use real country names in my book. For example, can I say that the action takes place in USA, California, Los Angeles or in China or in Iraq? What if my book is a fiction and I transform the story into a conspiracy theory like...	If you are writing a work of fiction, you can write what you want.
Using profanities in novels I've recently read two quite "hard core" novels, both by famous authors. One was erotic fiction and one was a thriller which was very violent and gory. At the end I realized something: the F*** word was never used once in either book. Then, I realized that I don't actually see it a lot in ...	Third person exposition will almost never use any form of profanity. Be true to the moment, if the scene requires swearing, then swear. You really just need to make the language usage fit in with the book.
Describing a Character Traveling: Too much narrative? I am new to writing and I am trying to a write a novel. In the first chapter, my main character travels from her hometown to a different town far away. I want to use this time to give the reader a view of the kind of place she lives in and also hint at some things ...	I agree with the other posts that if there is no story, there isn't much point in described the travel. You should consider just writing and writing the story that you have without stopping to edit until your first draft is done.
Do most e-book writers just self publish on Kindle to start with? On a lot of writers forums and in articles, it seems like Kindle is the main platform most self-publishing writers use just because that one is the one that is referenced all the time. I was wondering if many writers ONLY publish on Kindle? Or do the...	It's not so much a question of whether you should publish on Kindle as whether you should publish exclusively on Kindle (which gives you some bonuses, like a larger royalty, and distribution on Kindle Unlimited) or whether you should publish on a number of platforms.
Efficiency or correctness in communication? The language industry has a long tradition in the pursuit of correctness, based on manually drafted rules. However, the end goal has always been communicative efficiency, which is something that can now be addressed directly using empirical methods. Since there are systematic...	Correctness should reduce the effort required to decypher the meaning of a text. There is no single correct way of doing anything.
Where to find a place to publish a specific kind of work? I've written some stories about my adventures in the wars. I don't think they're Hemingway caliber, but I don't think they're bad. They're non-fiction and I am careful not to embellish for the sake of entertainment, so maybe mostly people with a similar backgr...	Probably the easiest place to submit your work would be Kindle Direct Publishing , where you can make your work available in e-book format.
How do I show a long amount of time has passed? How do I write the passing of a few years in a story? I have two separate character timelines and I want to show the characters aging throughout the story. Should I divide it up into parts? You can read what I have of my story here to see what different segments I'm wor...	Also consider just naming the time and date between each timeline.
Can an essay have a preface? I'm writing a multi-faceted essay that will fill multiple pages (I suppose that it could be considered a collage of essays that build on each other to support one larger theme). This is something I've undertaken for pleasure, with the intent of eventual circulation if peer review is positiv...	If you are submitting it for publication or review, then you have to follow whatever the rules are about such submissions.
How to know whether to write in 3rd person or 1st person? How do I know, when I'm writing, which perspective I should write in? I almost always write with a 1st person narrative because it makes it easy to get great immersion in with the characters. Is it always okay to write in 1st person? In a piece of fiction wr...	Use whatever you think will work best for your story.
What to do if your story seems too similar to another? My story involves a government run program for the paranormal and the main protagonist is a demon. My problem is that I don't want people to think "Hey , you stole that from Hellboy". <Q> This may seem somewhat cliché, but here's what I think <S> : You don't have t...	Unless you're incredibly brilliant and creative, any story you write will be similar to other stories in some ways.
Would a government care if my novel mentioned their controversial / questionable practices? I am writing a story about fictional events in several nations all over the world. Much of the plot is influenced by ongoing practices of many nations. (e.g. - torture, extra-judicial killings, big nations bullying smaller ones ...	Don't worry about what other governments will say; all they can do it ban your book. You are protected by Constitutional Rights to say whatever you want about the US without being arrested or whatever. You are living in the United States (along with me), so you are fine. That depends a great deal on the country you are...
Explanatory narrative in fiction For a little homework, I have a good story, but its not a story that can be told by letting it unfold and writing the events that happened. What I want to do, is tell a story of events in the past that changed the future to what it is now. I would like to have a narrator telling the st...	You are "allowed" to share your story using whatever technique or method you choose.
What is the best practice for writing a character that speaks with a whistle lisp? For a character that whistles when pronouncing the "s" sound, how can I write in the lisp effectively? I tried using multiple "S"s, but it reads as a snake-like sound, which I don't want since there are elements of the character being s...	Have the character speak normally, and tag his lisp as needed. you might consider changing the lisp to something easier to write, like if S's turned into Th's, or Sh's, or something; or, as this can be hard to read, just remove the lisp altogether.
How do I keep from plagiarizing others? I would like to start writing blog articles online as a guest writer. Most blogs have guidelines that have to be loosely followed; like what the niche should be, if it needs to be a list, and a bunch of other ideas of what they're looking for. Let me give you a for instance of my...	If you can write new copy about how to do handyman work based on what you have read about handyman work you are not violating copyright or committing plagiarism. One of the most important maxims in writing is “write what you know.” Generally speaking, when people blog about something, it is the thing they either know b...
Is it possible to publish a single copy of a book? When I finish a novel, I'd like to get just one copy printed to give to my parents. Would a publisher do this? How would I get a publisher to do this? Note that I am not going through any people to edit it, I literally just want one copy published when I finish it (I ...	I don't think you could get a traditional publisher to do it, but plenty of print-on-demand companies will do it for you.
Using the name of fictional characters/series in a different context I was wondering about if I could use the name of the fictional character Magneto in the scifi book I'm writing. There is no direct connection between the Marvel/DC universe and my book. Instead, I was going to have a character be genetically modifie...	But not if you're going to use the term/item/name repeatedly.
Length of a scene? Really, just how long should a solid scene in a chapter be? And what about when characters move setting but the topic is still relevant to the scene? How long would that be? Currently my scenes in chapters are only about 2 pages long and it still feels way too short. Is there a rule of thumb? <Q> ...	Scene lengths naturally vary based on their content, and it's better to not have all scenes be the same approximate length, as that can get monotonous. Think about what your scene is meant to show.
how to write an essay in less wordy way This is an essay I excerpted from a writing course material.I need to omit uncessary words which make the essay wordy and longer than they should be.. The following is the original passage. Every single time I had to do a writing assignment, I was always really unhappy and m...	I'd cut down on 'my's and 'I's, and consider using simpler terms (if you like how it sounds.
Why end sentences with commas instead of periods when the sentence is in a quote? I've seen styles where writers end sentences with commas if it is inside double quotes and styles where writers end sentences with periods. For example: "She's late again." mumbled Jason. versus: "She's late again," mumbled Jason...	A comma is required when the tag refers to the act of speaking.
Voices of young children, how to write? I am currently writing a narrative featuring many young children. Some of the children are under the age of five, and I'm wondering what the best way to write dialogue for their age group would be. I know that when they're young, they have trouble pronouncing certain consonants a...	Tell them a child is speaking, use uncomplicated language, and they’ll read your dialogue in a child-like voice automatically.
How to write about what you don't know? I am a strong believer in writing what you know. Everything I write is at least partially based on something that I have experienced. My problem is that for plot reasons, I need one of my characters to grow up in a culture and environment I am not familiar with. I need at least...	If you don't have any experience about something, you will always get interested about different aspect of it, or present it in a different light.
Should I use different fonts in my manuscript? My novel contains emails, titles of news articles, parts of technical journals, and snippets of computer output in addition to regular dialogue and action. Is it common/acceptable to use one font for computer output and emails, another for news articles, and something els...	If you're planning on submitting to a traditional publishing house (i.e. print media), then you're probably going to want to avoid using different fonts.
Border between fantasy and space opera Fantasy is often fitted to medieval age. Space opera is often fitted to far future and all those futuristic is only background that says it is science-fiction. Also, in space opera can be present various things that cannot be (or rather should not be) present in classical science-...	If the fantastical elements dominate, then I'd call it fantasy.
How to refer to myself in a research paper? Okay so I have collected personal spending data of myself and significant other over a period of 6 months. I'm quite happy with the data and would like to present it and write it up as a research paper. I'm not going to be publishing it but would like to do it for fun (and a ...	I have considered making a small statement that states that myself will be referred to as "participant A" and my significant other will be referred to as "participant B", but this might add unnecessary confusion.
How can a writer efficiently manage many text snippets? I have a large amount (a couple thousand) of rather small text files with short notes or stories. I use them to generate ideas on topics I'm writing about. My problem is that these are just text files on my computer; there is no index and no database. Every time I...	In Evernote, you are able to create tags for all of your work that makes it easier to search and catalogue everything also.
How do I write from a non-person point of view? I am writing a novel with an ensemble cast. Each chapter is told from a different person's point of view. Some of the chapters are about a non-sentient machine that communicates with the human characters. It's not a sentient android like R2D2 from Star Wars or the killer ...	If you want to show the machine's limitations, it can be done with a POV human struggling to get the machine to understand.
Is it okay to have a character who doesn't actually have a name? The character in my book doesn't have a name. I mean, he probably does, but its not used by any other character in the book, including the character himself. He has a generic name, kind of like the The Dark Lord or something along those lines. I'v...	He's never given a name at all. There's no rule about it one way or the other.
Making a big deal out of revealing a character's name Does there always have to be a big, showy production about the revelation of a character's name? I was thinking that I'd just slide the name in quietly, in an off-hand manner. Probably the reader might not even realise that they're even reading the protagonist's nam...	The only time you'd have a "big showy production" would be if the writer had built up some big mystery about the person's name.
How do I organize my writing process? Let's say there are elements of good writing such as: Characters, Conflict, Dialogue, Ideas, Mood, Plot, Scene, Style and World You want to start focusing on one of them. Which do you think is the most effective order? Do you invent a universe to place the character in, or do you...	True, there are elements of good writing: character, conflict, dialogue, idea, mood, plot, scene, style and world; but when I'm in the mood to start a story I will generally begin with nothing at all.
Can I use an abbreviated two-digit format for year in a resume? Can I use '14, '15, '16, etc., instead of the full four digits? <Q> Why? <S> Is that extra bit of space needed for something? <S> My advice is to stick with the generally accepted four digit year. <S> While resume styles evolve, this is not the place for...	According to this source the correct symbol to abbreviate year using two digits is an apostrophe :
How to express character thoughts in the third person without using dialogue? I am writing a third person story that focuses on a main character. Sometimes I want to express the internal thoughts of the character, but I don't want to use internal dialogue in italics. What's the best way of doing that? This is what I h...	If you don't want to use any special formatting and you’re writing in third person, you can just tell the reader what your characters are thinking.
Types of characters for three protagonist I have noticed that (in fiction) when the protagonists are three children, they normally follow these stereotypes: one is the hero (whose parent is famous), another is a nerd girl (best student in the class) and the last one is a freaky/weird kid (best friend of the hero)...	A sidekick can be eccentric and unattractive, he can be fat, skinny, cowardly, forgetful, superstitious, foolish, really anything, because he is mostly comic relief. I think the trope is less of a conscious choice than the result of a series of decisions by the author. I am not sure there is a certain origin for this s...
Should I use contractions in a technical tutorial? In a technical tutorial which fits better: In this tutorial you'll learn or In this tutorial you will learn or in general does it make no difference? <Q> It depends on how formal the context is. <S> If you're writing a short blog post about getting started wi...	"you will" is more formal (but not stuffy).
Naming fictional races with original names vs with words from other languages My novels contain several fictional races, but I have been trying to decide how to name them. Therefore, I must ask: is it more common for science fiction/fantasy writers to completely make up the names of races or to use words from other lan...	Overall, I believe that maybe taking some words from different languages and changing them slightly might work, as it is easier to write, but it might be more interesting to make a whole new language and really catch your readers off guard.
Do I need to make use of paragraphs when writing a novel and if so, how? This might be a stupid question but I am trying to write a small novel, and my structure just doesn't seem right. The text just flows continuously until the end of the chapter (with dialog being typed on their own lines). Do I need to make use of...	If you don't use paragraphs, what you're writing is just stream-of-consciousness. I'm sure you know, conventionally novels have some form of paragraph structure.
Length of segments in rotating POV When rotating POV between multiple characters, how long should a segment in one POV be? I'm writing ensemble 3rd person and tend to like to let the story dictate its own pace. However, I'm concerned that as the chapters are relatively short, the POV changes — usually 3 POVs per chapt...	It depends on how the section fits into the overall work and what its purpose is: to advance the plot, to develop one or more characters, to set up a situation that will be resolved later, to resolve a situation set up earlier, to drop a hint about something. There's no one right answer.
What is the best way to set a dark tone to a story? I want to write a short horror story. What are the best ways to set a dark tone or mood to the story? Just in a short introduction, if I want to introduce a character or place as a place I would not like or a person I would not like, what is the best way to do so? T...	There are many ways to do this, but perhaps the easiest and a quite effective one is defamiliarization Be ambiguous when you describe time or setting. A protagonist that follows a negative character arc has the potential to leave your readers with a sense of doom and gloom To learn writing a specific tone; read books t...
How to create a title I am at a dilemma, as I cannot title my novel. So I created these questions. What creates a good title for a novel? What should I include/not include in my title? At the moment, I have come up with 'The Day Before', however I believe that that's quite generic. On the other hand, it does fit t...	Pick a phrase from your novel that is significant.
PhD thesis: how to visually separate the "general conclusion" chapter from the last part Suppose the outline of my PhD thesis looks like this: Acronyms Preface Introduction Part I: some topic Chapter 1: ... Chapter 2: ... Part II: another topic Chapter 3: ... Chapter 4: ... Conclusion Recommendations and ...	The conclusion would be the last, before any appendixes (that's where your acronyms, bibliography, etc should be)
How do you believably write a moron? I've heard a lot of people ask how to properly depict intelligence in a written work, but I'd like to go in the opposite direction. I want to know how to write a moron/fool without having them be the over-the-top, in-your-face "Patrick Star" type character who spews non-sequiturs a...	It is essential that the character comes to life. I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but just on top of my head use decision making based on your childhood, and adult moments when you where drunk, sick, or half-asleep.
Describe person attempting but failing to suppress a laugh There is a scene where a character is trying to be level-headed and professional. However, something happens that is funny to him. He lets out a satisfied chuckle but tries with partial success to hold it in as it is not entirely appropriate. The whole process ...	Then you could write his reaction to that realization.
How do you force a turning point in a narrative that is supposed to be precisely about the lack of such devices? Please, before flagging this question as subjective or generic, take a moment to read it through. IMO this is a valid, specific question, albeit a bit complex. To try and unpack the admittedly obscure title...	I think you need to present an alternative explanation of why things happen, and provide your character reason to believe the alternative.
What to avoid when writing the death of the protagonist? Just a question in general. Let's say the protagonist has succeed in his goals, but has lost everything, then he gets badly wounded and slowly dies. What is to avoid when writing his death? Just asking in general. <Q> If giving him a slow death in no way furthers...	The death of the protagonist and the events surrounding it should further the plot or character development Even when done well, there's a marketability issue if the one character everyone cares about bites it.
Is it good to hate a character? I have a character that I want to give a huge slap across the face to. If I absolutely hate this character, does that mean my reader will hate him too? Is it good to purposely include a character in your writing which the reader is designed to hate? <Q> Well, "good" is subjective. <S> Y...	I think if you try hard to make a character hateable, most readers will hate him. And yes, it's good to have such characters in stories.
Hosting my writing on Github - public or private repository? I'm a developer and a writer. I use Github version control for some of my writing, to keep track of changes. I've got one ebook about Cycle touring that I have in a public repository on Github. I've got a new one I'm working on about Investing. It's rather m...	If you want to share your work while you write it, github is an okay way to do that.
Is protagonist identification/empathy influenced by the reader's gender? I had a discussion with someone who claimed she'd once read (though she couldn't remember the source) that men can identify and empathize with male as well as female protagonists, while women identify better with female protagonists (the claim bei...	In the end, my wife and I concluded together that the protagonist's gender is really only a small part of what makes a reader identify or empathize with the protagonist.
How do I delete a scene in Scrivener? I purchased Scrivener a few weeks ago. As I was messing around with it trying to get a hang of how to use it I accidentally added too many scenes in one chapter. How do I delete these scenes? <Q> Right click on Windows, or two fingered click on a Mac. <S> From there, select Move to...	Go down to the final scene you want to delete hit shift and click this will highlight all the selected scenes.
How find an appropriate vocabulary I'm a newbie reader and often find myself needing to open the dictionary at least once every few pages. Although I'm a newbie, my vocabulary is at least of an average proficiency so I wonder what it's like for the majority of readers, how much does the average reader care about vocabu...	your choice of vocabulary depends a lot on your targeted audience.
How to stop repeating the same idea The story I'm writing is based in a post apocalyptic world. In the first few chapters, when I'm introducing the characters jump starting the threads, I find myself repeating several ideas again and again. For e.g. since it is a post apocalyptic scenario, I have to describe that the ...	If the characters notice different things, and have different opinions of things, that will keep their descriptions fresh and distinct. If there are more instances (small side notes, rather than big paragraphs) of destroyed things than things that have survived, the latter will stand out much better.
How do i describe a vampire from the perspective of someone who has no idea what they are? The concept of my story is that i would rewrite the story of the first ever vampire in a medieval setting, and from two perspectives, one from the vampire's friend and brothers in arms, and the other from the vampire itself. The...	Think of it like acting, if that helps: you're the actor, and the vampire's friend is the character you're playing.
My premise suggests a LOT more history than I want in my book I'm writing a fantasy story in which there is a contemporary earth (our earth) and a secondary world. Due to certain reasons all earthlings who are able to reach the second world have great magical powers which can cause great ruckus. My problem is that I...	You are allowed to simply chose one reason to start the story and then, via dialog, flashback and similar tell the rest of your backstory as it is needed .
Writing a non-lucid dream In a third-person novel I am writing, one of the characters has a very significant dream that I would like to transcribe. The problem is, I would like to focus on the character's reaction to the events in the dream, but do not know whether it is realistic to have her reacting as the dream is h...	I think your best option may be to describe what she is seeing and her reaction as if it is a normal scene and either her reaction within the dream that helps her realize she is dreaming
How many characters can I introduce in the first chapter before the reader gets overwhelmed? Assuming that all of the characters are unique, interesting, and stand out from the rest of the cast, is there a limit to how many characters I can introduce in the first chapter before my reader starts struggling to remember w...	Introducing people who don't fit just because you want to establish them for later may overwhelm the reader, not because readers have a fixed maximum for character introductions, but because outside the story arc of the chapter, they don't know what to do with them. In the first chapter, you need to introduce the prota...
For trilogies, is there any order of time periods the story should follow that is considered more appropriate? Like totally chronological (starting in the beginning of the world's story events and going on to the future), or in the present-past-future order, or another? Is there any specific time order better or more...	If you are depicting same people throughout the series then it should be chronological. It depends entirely on your story and what you are trying to achieve.
Term for a collection of novels divided into several series I'm writing my first series of novels, which will contain four books. As often happens, about half way through developing the books, I opened up the possibility for an entirely new series set in the same world with the same characters, but several years later....	Apart from this I'd think calling entire project as a Saga/Series/Project with each series being called as 'Act' and each book as chapter.
Do people still read blogs? I am under the impression they do but I have colleagues who believe nobody reads blogs anymore, and that if you must blog, video blogs are better. Any thoughts on this? Is writing becoming redundant? <Q> But as blogs have become a popular form of content marketing, it is inevitable that fewe...	My blog is still being read, and at about the same level it always was.
Are these dual plots or a plot plus a big subplot? This is an extension to an earlier post. Below are some summaries for a novel outline using the Snowflake Method. I am looking for clarification if sections A and B are dual plots, of if section B is a subplot of section A (with the two tied together by the character...	As novels, they essentially carry two separate stories. Although there is some attempt to vaguely connect the two stories in the epilog nevertheless it is basically two plots in parallel.
How to move back to main section after finishing a sub-section I am writing a paper but I don't know how to move back to the main section after I'm done writing a sub-section, like this: 1.1 Main section1.1.1 subsection 11.1.2 subsection 2 As I write long subsections I don't how can I make readers understand that we ...	This might depend on your field (or department/school/institution guidelines), but at least I simply insert the epilogue (because that's what it is) at the end of the last subsection.
should I use predictable plot elements? I see many similarities in films to the point where I can often guess what will happen next,even if the part was intended to be suspenseful. is that bad writing?should "plot twists" always be surprising or do viewers/readers expect a level of predictability? <Q> There's an easy a...	If we can enjoy a story even when we know exactly what is going to happen, then predictability of plot is not a problem in itself.
Learning about hand-to-hand combat? I am writing heroic fantasy. Plot demands hand-to-hand combat, about whichI know little. What is the best/quickest way to learn enough about pre-firearmsdefense to write convincingly about it? <Q> If you are contemplating about mediaeval warfare with longsword type weapons, try reen...	A history museum with exhibits about warrior cultures could provide information you're looking.
Writing a novel largely composed of question-answer sessions I am a novice writer, just starting on a mini novel in the Science Fiction genre. The crux of the novel is about 4 or 5 discussions between protagonist and a set of particular individuals with their own motives, and trying to convince them to do something. T...	Get the reader to ask himself these questions through the dialogue/narrative, and you will have high tension. As for whether or not the novel you are describing would be an interesting read: It's hard to gauge the general interest, as we are all individuals and have our own opinions, and the format you are describing i...
Advice on portraying my protagonist's anger without making her insufferable Background Info: My main character starts out the story with kind of a sad back story, it's not in a tragic way, just the normal kind of misfortune; losing family members, having to drop out of college (with a lot of debt) to take responsibili...	Beyond building empathy, you can postpone most readers' judgement of your character by making her aware that this anger and regret are personal faults which need to be healed. Whoever the audience is, have the character say out loud the things she's thinking and feeling, with occasional asides of things Finally, consid...
How much detail should I go into for a character taking advantage of physics expertise? Let's imagine a book where my character holds the power of light. Reason being, everyone in his country is born with telekinesis. He however, is the only one with enough grasp of the (maybe a little unrealistic) physics of that worl...	If you have a detailed, fully internally consistent process worked out, then you can probably just allude to it in very general terms if the in world population wouldn't understand it (and perhaps the character himself doesn't have the scientific vocabulary to articulate it if he is the only one with this capability).
Can you make multiple prologues in one book? I am writing a World War 3 Novel, and I want to write the backstories of the main characters as prologues. It's really short, so I can't make another book. Is it even possible to make multiple prologues? <Q> Is it possible? <S> sure. <S> It is your novel, so structure it ...	In summary: a prologue is useful for setting up a story, and including any relevant information that cannot be worked into chapter 1 without an exposition dump. Lots of novels have multiple parts, often with gaps in time between them.
Maintaining consistent style in a translation When translating something, how do you maintain a consistent style throughout? I'm concerned about starting off in my own style, then gradually slipping into a style more influenced by the original. I'm not trying to be faithful to the original style because I'm changing ...	When the first draft is complete, read it as a whole and revise it for consistency.
Can I change scene and characters in the next chapter? So I have been questioning myself about this: when I'm writing and done with a chapter and I am about to start the next one, can I start with a different scene and others characters like in another place? I am writing in third person omniscient. Do I need to have a...	Yes, you can change the character and setting on a different chapter Be careful with how many points of view you use throughout your book, as you can end up overwhelming your readers.
How to write dream sequences? I'm trying to write a sequence where the main protagonist is taken in their dreams to an archangel. However, I kind of think it sounds a bit childish, as I'm unsure how to structure such a sequence. Maria’s dreams began to drift into a realm of their own, rapidly changing in front of he...	Personally, I like using contrast between the style I'm writing the rest of the story and how I write a dream sequence.
How to become a master at creating wordplays? Puns introduced by authors make a text look witty to a reader. Professional writers skillfully manipulate words and phrases to demonstrate their smartness and, most important, gain the affection of the audience. Personally, I see no other way to create a pun, except by acci...	If you want to practice at wordplay, you need to think about the meanings of words, and how they can be looked at obliquely. However, in the end, you just have to keep practising.
I'm having an issue committing to my novels So, obviously, I'm a writer. I have pretty bad ADD/ADHD and though it's never bothered me before, it's really affecting my writing as of late. I don't really think this is a medical question, as doctors can't really give me advice with this. Before I got off my meds (It was a...	The subject (or treatment) simply isn't enough to build a story around and by the time you've written some you lose interest. It's possible you just haven't found the story for you yet. ADHD makes it impossible to proceed with anything unless extreme interest breaks through the barrier and produces an immense ability t...
Would employing the use of philosophical ideas in fiction without citing the sources be considered plagiarism? I am working on a fictional book which would be similar to that of Winnie-the-Pooh in terms of its format and ability to be read, but I want there to be philosophical meaning to what goes on in the book. My pr...	In most cases, if you just follow the idea but express it in your own way, this just falls under drawing inspiration which is an entirely legal, common and perfectly acceptable practice. If you were caught you might lose academic standing, maybe even lose your job at the university. Fiction writers routinely incorporat...
Need help with a tragic love story I need help for a idea I've got a bit of a start but need help on continuing it it's about two teenagers who fall in love in love with each other. I just want it not to be like a normal love story but it to be tragic. I want it to be different. <Q> Keep in mind cliche isn't necessaril...	There's a lot you can do to make it original. Anything can be whittled down to a cliche if you dissect it enough.
Can a scene be written to be disorienting and not be too confusing to readers? I've written a scene in a short story where the character and her party are suddenly attacked in the night. It's written in first-person and the character had just been shaken awake from a nightmare; so I had purposefully written it to be di...	So it should be enough to tell your reader that the character is disoriented, without trying to reproduce that disorientation. Since it's written in first person, that's just realistic. The reader who reads about a character being hit on the head does not want to actually experience their headache.
Interwoven story arcs (for video) - guidelines so viewers will not get lost? I am trying to create a documentary about the history of a sports team, and have identified some compelling story arcs. However, as we know in reality, stories do not begin and end one at a time: story 1 expositionstory 1 rising action story ...	Whichever approach you choose, the key is to remember that stories are always artificial imposition of order on the chaos of events, and as such the logic and continuity of the story trumps all other threads, including linear time.
Overusing "with the aim of..." in a scientific paper I'm currently writing a scientific report and repeatedly found myself sneaking sentences like "with the aim of..." or "with the purpose of" in my text. Despite how trivial this problem may seem, it isn’t. The scientific process is repetitive in essence. We customar...	I find that pared-down technical writing alleviates some of the repetition.
How do I gain experience in editing? After years of critiquing fiction as a hobby, I feel like I've gained some skill at editing. I'm now wondering how I can try my hand at actually editing fiction. While I've got a decent sense of how one starts out as a writer, I have no idea how one starts out as an editor. Editing...	Scribophile.com is more for writers and mutual critiquing, but there are forums where you might mention that you are looking to do edits.
Switching perspectives for a single chapter in a first person POV novel, to do or not to do? Allow me to explain what prompted the question before you immediately say that it's not okay and it would confuse the readers. The protagonist of the novel - also the narrator - has the ability to see the memories of others, s...	If your character's magic/superpower/special abilities allow her to experience the world from someone else's point of view, it is unavoidable that she will eventually see herself, when inhabiting a friend's or even lover's mind.
Pitfalls for writing a talkative character? I wouldn't say he's bland by any means, but this character is definitely talkative, and he's supposed to be. He's not the main character but does show up quite a bit. He tends to lecture and ramble on about things that don't really matter to the main character. What are the...	That said, it is possible to present a garrulous character who is highly amusing to the reader while clearly tedious to his audience.
Suggestions for ways to say "I'll come back to this later ..." I'm looking for several suggestions for techniques to handle 2 similar cases ... While writing my current non-fiction book, there are a few times where a section ends with somewhat of a teaser of a statement, or is completing a thought - but I want to say ...	It depends a bit on the topic (or any possible guidelines you have to adhere to), but the best way is to have a specific section/chapter you can refer to.
How to write ages and dates in a newspaper article inside a work of fiction I'm trying to write a newspaper article inside my work of fiction. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to write ages and dates in this article. I took journalism in college, and I know that if I am submitting an article to a newspaper, I would nee...	There is actually quite a variety in the way dates are depicted in a newspaper article.
How do I convey messages that are clear, but unspoken? So much of communication is nonverbal - facial expressions, body language. Often, it's entirely clear what somebody is thinking and conveying even if they aren't saying a word. How can I portray this in fiction? These can be such powerful moments (and, in TV and ...	In other words tell the story from your point of view(1st person) thus "saying" nothing but what is on people's minds. A novelist should master and use the tools of their own trade: storytelling with words.
How do I write what I don't know? I wanted to write a short story about a man who visits China. I have never been to China; I have never even been to Asia. The story is meant to be realistic and accurate so just imagining what it would be like to be in the place and getting it completely wrong is not an option.I am a...	Readers have a great imagination, and they know lots of things, so use that. Research Chinese culture and history in the specific area you want to place your story. If the story can take place elswhere, take the man some place you know. Sometimes the fresh minds with no experience offer the best points of view as exper...
Help! I accidentally gave my fictional character the same name as a fictional character on a TV show. Do I have to change it? I've been writing a YA mystery book in which one of the three main characters is a detective—who now seems to share his name with another fictional character on TV. I was pretty young when I c...	I prefer to change either the first name or the surname of characters I discover too similar. Another aspect not mentioned by the other answers is that you might not want readers be reminded of that tv show. In a nutshell, you can safely write about an alien bounty hunter called Harry Potter who has no magical powers a...
Using real a car logo or gun in crime fiction - can I be sued for it? If I use a real car company in telling a story about a bank heist, can I be sued for it? What could happen if I do use the company in that way? Say if I say the men drove to the bank in a Ford van, could Ford sue me for using their company name in t...	If you refer to any product in a negative way, then the company that owns the trademark could take action if they feel that you have tarnished or defamed their trademark in any way. In this case I'm pretty sure you should have no problem thanks to what's called "Artistic License".
Writer's Block: How to Stop World-building and Start Writing? This is a question that doesn't directly apply to me, though I can easily see myself having this problem. I thought I'd run writer's block for a loop and find the answer before the problem arose. :) I like designing stuff. No, scratch that. I love design...	Getting past the designing stage without a clear goal in mind as to what should be the story can be hard, and not necessarily something you can satisfactorily solve.
How long should it take for a writer to publish his/her book? (The whole process) I'm a beginner so naturally I'm a little bit curious towards the whole procedure on writing. Outline, plotting, drafting, editing, and then publishing (minus marketing). So my question is, how long does it take for a writer to fully publ...	Traditional publishers can take a year or more from accepted draft to published book, while self-publishing can take a matter of weeks.
Use of Separating Fiction into "Parts?" I was wondering about the use of separating fiction into "parts", similar to chapters but larger and spanning more text and using these to divide up books within a series. If I am unclear, refer to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Book 2, Hollow City . In this series...	Breaking a book into parts is very common, in series books and in standalone books. If you'd rather give the reader a more subtle or continuous experience of the flow of the book, rather than announcing transitions so blatantly, don't break it into parts.
Should I read fantasy novels for a better mindset on the topic? Lately I have been getting low on fantasy inspiration for a series I'm writing.I think this may be due to reading into realistic-genre books for a long period of time.Is reading fantasy novels to imagine more my best option? <Q> There's no doubt about it: ...	If you want to create something very much within the confines of the fantasy genre and its tropes (or perhaps contrary to them) then it would make sense to keep reading similar things.
What's the benefit of inventing a fictional region, if it's based on a real one? Sometimes authors invent regions, which are very similar to real ones, e.g. Gabriel García Márquez's Macondo (which is similar to real city of Aracataca ) or William Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha County (similar to Lafayette County )....	I think the main advantage of using a fictional place is what you perhaps allude to in your comment about "adaptability".

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