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Are there tools that can aid an author in writing a branching storyline? I would like to know whether there are any tools that would help an author write a branching storyline. Usecases may for example be: campaigns for Pen and Paper games visual novels Choose Your Own Adventure -style books The common thing is...	I can say that you could make a flowchart similar to Fate Ink has evolved over a few versions, and was used on the game 80 Days which is the best branching narrative game I've seen. First, ARCHIVOS helps Storytellers document the characters, places, and events of their stories, detailing the basic framework for the tal...
How do I remove Nikkud (vowel marks) from a Word 2016 document? I am working on a commentary on Ethics of the Fathers and I want readers to be able to read sources I'm quoting in their original Hebrew. I am getting most of my sources from sefaria.org and unfortunately many of the sources have Nekudos (vowel marks) wh...	Did some more reading and discovered the key is to run a find and replace, searching for the vowel characters in the Hebrew Unicode block.
How to write a reminder on the day before a meeting? Me and my professor will meet tomorrow. Since it's been a long time after we last talked about the meeting,I'm thinking about sending her an email reminder. But I'm not sure about how to write this email. Is it okay to say "Shall I meet you tomorrow at ..."? or shou...	"Shall I meet you..." is fine, but you would try and make it sound pleasant.
Points to keep in mind while writing a romantic novel So I'm currently working on a story that kinda is a romantic novel. But I need some starters, like what exactly to keep in mind while writing a romantic novel? (From the reader's point of view) the basic psychology of a reader when reading a romantic novel. I...	Consider what makes a compelling couple. The plot should be true to the characters, not necessarily to a cliché ending. A sad but beautiful loving-till-the-end ending will work too.
How many pages make a chapter in a chapter book? I am writing my first chapter books for an older audience around 18+ and I need a little help with knowing when one characters point of view should end and the next begin. Can anyone help me? <Q> If I understand the question correctly, we are being asked when POV should ...	The chapter ends when you need to "shift gears", a break to something else, when you can't write any more useful things for the reader to have in THIS narrative, and you wish to start another. 15 pages per chapter, is my answer.
In first person narrative, is it acceptable to end rhetorical questions with a period? In first person narrative, would it be acceptable to use a period in place of a question mark when the narrator is asking a rhetorical question? example: My car broke down again. Why does this always seem to happen when I'm broke a...	The period should be used when stating a statement.
How can a main character learn about a secret event that will take place? I am writing a story for a comic book and at this point I am stuck. I want my protagonist to learn that a delivery of a key item by the bad guys will occur. I already thought about the possibility of interrogating a bad guy, but I find this a li...	Your protagonist has a secret friend in the bad guys organization who sends him cryptic hints and clues. He's off chasing an unrelated (or seemingly unrelated) lead or clue, and just happens to stumble across evidence of the impending delivery: financial records, an overheard mook conversation, or even the actual deliv...
Which is the correct way to punctuate this dialogue with ellipses? Below are four alternate dialogues that I am confused between. I'd like to know which is the correctly punctuated one. Also please explain how to use ellipses in a dialogue which is interrupted by a dialogue tag. The tag has to come between the trailing...	An ellipsis indicates that the speaker is trailing off at the end, or gradually building up to speaking at the beginning.
Capitalization after use of colon? This is a sentence from a current writing project detailing how people in jail feel about reading. It provides an escape from the reality of what lies before them: time. Should "time" be capitalized? I've seen published examples of both upper and lower case instances during a brief ...	You don't capitalize the word following a colon, unless it's a proper name.
What tips would you give to someone about to write a stage play? This is a broad and subjective question. However, I think it can be answered with advice such as: Don't include car chases, train accidents or other things that require special effects that can't be created using lights and sound. <Q> My advice is to try ...	If you want your play to be performed, write with a particular theatre or acting troupe in mind, or a particular type of venue/ensemble.
How to come up with good titles? Can you help me find a suitable title for my book? I'll tell you the main idea so that you guys can help. It is a romance highschool story that revolves around a vampire boy and a human girl. Due to an incident the vampire has to live with the girl. At first their relationship is awkwa...	Make a list of the theme, topic, premise etc. Given that your story is about a vampire and love, I'd say " Infanguation " comes close to being an appropriate book title.
Where to find examples of real life situations and counter-arguments to support your arguments in an essay? I'm currently writing an essay for a school assignment. My teacher's—and Google's—answers as to where to find examples of real life situations and counter-arguments to support my arguments in an essay has not bee...	The first thing to try is just google your main keywords, and see if any reputable research comes up.
What Genre Category for a Semi-Fictional Memoir? What genre do these types of Memoirs fall under? "Inspired by true events?" ... Is Semi-Fictional Memoir a "thing"? I definitely don't feel that "fictional autobiography" fits. I have been writing a lot of short stories that are Memoir-ish, that are based on true...	This is an autobiographical novel , a novel based loosely on your own autobiography, but without guarantees of fidelity to actual events.
Using software with my writing? I am looking for a good writing software. I'm not talking about something to perform just grammar/spelling checks, like word, which is great, but not what I'm looking for. I'm looking for something more designed for writing a novel. I'd like it to be free. <Q> This is definitely a touchi...	Scrivener doesn't have the best editing tools, but it is made for writing I currently use OneNote (also part of Office).
How can we make reviewing HTML documentation easier? Summary: I'm looking for a way for reviewers to comment collaboratively as close to "inline" as possible on a large HTML project. The problem in detail I work on a team that documents a large product. The HTML documentation set has hundreds of individual pages (wi...	Simple solution: Commenters must refer to code by line number.
Where should I put my tl;dr? By definition TL;DR, short for "too long; didn't read", is Internet slang to say that some text being replied to has been ignored because of its length. In slang it can also stand for "Too lazy; didn't read". It is also used as a signifier for a summary of an online post or news article. ...	It could be placed in the top of the post, but I think the purpose (whether stated or not) is there to summarize what the author posted. For example, someone sharing a story might include the tl;dr at the end to avoid spoiling anything for someone reading the whole thing.
How do I write and describe a room full of panic? How do I write about a room full of panic? I have searched for the answer but all I get is how to write a panic attack. I am trying to write a scene where there is a party. The party is to celebrate the end of a fictional war. War heroes and important figures are invit...	In terms of an action scene, I usually write using short sentences to create a quick pace.
What is the best description for this particular kind of building (and apartment arrangement - Central European style of building)? I'm looking for the word to describe of a particular type of apartment building. I attached a picture to illustrate it. It is a building that has several apartments on each story with an...	I would call that a "motel-style apartment block".
Formatting of Text in Technical Writing (Procedure Writing) In a procedure, when describing a UI component, we use the bold font to represent UI components. We also match the text with the letter case of the UI component. But do we need to match the font style too? For example, if the UI component is in italic formatti...	Best practice would be to create a style guide that includes how you are going to indicate a UI element, and adhere to that in all cases.
Is it acceptable to use synonyms to achieve rhythm? There are some works that have a certain kind of voice, which is due to their rhythm. But is this due only to word order and like things, or do their authors actually choose synonyms to achieve rhythm? When I read certain things, I find it hard to see how a more com...	Authors often look to synonym dictionaries to find words different than what first occurs to them, but this is generally NOT to achieve rhythm, but to find a more accurate or evocative word for what they really mean.
Details: How do you describe a character's clothing in a story? I'm writing a story and I need to describe the character's appearance. My character is wearing a football jersey and running on the field, so how can I describe this better? This is what I came up with: Aiden watched the player with number ten written bo...	To expand, if you want something better than the neutral "watched", try "admired" or some other word for observation that conveys some kind of intent or emotion.
Can I split a long scene up by switching the camera from one arguing couple to a different couple? If I have a long scene in a cafe with a couple arguing (comedy) can I split the scene up by changing the camera angle to a couple in another corner? It is technically the same scene, but it could be broken up like this. ...	If the scene cannot be shorter, then it is up to the director to break it up somehow, and that can include changing the camera angle, focusing on something else (stage business in the background, like dropped plates or something ignored by your arguing couple, or just glanced at by them).
Is inner monologue a bad way to show character traits? Is directly showing a characters inner thoughts and conversations with themselves too telly or cheesy? <Q> Not necessarily, but the propensity to indulge in internal monologue is itself a character trait. <S> Fundamentally, the way we assess the character of someon...	Inner monologue is used quite frequently, and it can reveal character traits that may not be revealed any other way: Film: I would use this very rarely. It's not inherently bad
A mix of the Medieval Age and the 21st century period Just a short question, but is there a term for eras or ages being mixed together in a story? To be more specific, I'm writing a story which is primarily set during the Middle Age. However, some of their technology belongs to the 21st century. For example, some of ...	cyberpunk : started the trend; future dystopia; humanity and technology become one steampunk : past (victorian era)
Should the narrator use pseudonyms in writing? I have characters who have to use false names. Should the narrator use their real name or false name? For example, if person A was being called Adam when their real name was Archie, person B would call them Adam, but should the narrator say "Adam walked over" or "Archie wa...	The narrator should normally use the real name and be consistent with the usage.
Printing a book in word - double sided, multiple pages on one sheet I want to print a mini book, of about 8 pages, one one sheet. It should be something along the lines of this , which I have tried. But this is not double sided, so when you are done, you see blank sides in between each page. I have a double sided prin...	If you are lucky enough to have access to adobe indesign, there is also a file>print booklet 2-up perfect bound option that works like a charm. If printing from word I would use the dropdown 4 pages per sheet at the bottom of the print dialogue.
Do you have to write in the tone of ordinary speech? Must writing always be done in the tone/style of ordinary contemporary speech? For example, some people might say that the conjunction "for" is archaic and should not be used in modern prose, but it seems to be a part of modern English according to grammar guides an...	This depends on the message you are trying to convey If you are writing fiction you may use archaic speech to make a character unique, or you may have everyone speak that way to show how the society acts. The conjunction 'for' has fallen out of favor, what modern people say is "because".
Descriptive words to slow down the pace of the story? Is it true that to slow down a story, you add descriptive words in place of an action? I feel like the pace my story is going at, I'll finish it in less than 200 pages. It just doesn't feel right to end it so short. I just made the MC meet the MV and I feel like t...	Although descriptive words can slow down a story, you do not add them with that specific purpose. : If you feel like your novel is incomplete try developing your villain and supporting characters throughout subplots or POVS. If what doesn't feel right is the rhythm, then I'd suggest going over the structure and revisin...
How can I introduce languages that will be spoken in the long term? My story is a little bit weird because it starts in a Spanish speaking country and then moves to Japan where everybody speaks japanese and I don't know how to introduce this new language that will be spoken for almost the rest of the book. Extra ...	Show don't tell... Since your character is familiar with Japanese, have one of the Japanese comment on the MC's mastery of the language, or correct their grammar.
Is it okay to publish a fan-fiction book from a TV series? I'm 13 years old and I'm writing a story called 'Destiny'. This book is a fanfiction of the TV-Show "Merlin" (the TV series 2008) and I've added a character into it. There currently is no book of Merlin, so would it be okay to publish this book or would I hav...	Fan fiction is a legal gray area, but in general these days, most shows will ignore it UNLESS you are trying to make money from it in some way --in which case they will definitely come after you (lawyers always follow the money!). Only if the creators allow that.
How should I document a product release with an inherently flawed design? The deadline is looming and someone realizes the product can't be shipped without documentation. Once the product leaves the remit of the software engineers (who obviously only ever write wonderful code) and is passed on to a more objective audie...	Show it to your supervisor for a final decision, along with some form of the reasoning above. Write your documentation; you can describe the flaw without calling it a flaw or mistake, it is just the way the product is done.
How to write long extracts in a foreign language? In my writing there are eight groups of people, each with their own language that they speak. Do I put large amounts of writing into their language or english? Do I write it first in theirs, then in english, or do I just write it in english and forget about the original...	So, my advice, is avoid putting in the 'other language' if you can (and I can't think of one reason why you can't).
Which free text analysis tools do authors use? I'm looking for free tools to perform some text analysis. I don't want just simple Flesch-Kinvaid or Coleman-Liau score, I was hoping for a tool that identifies problem sentences, overused words, etc. There is a plugin for Google Docs called "ProWritingAid", but every re...	Markov sentence correction : a Python script using a Hidden Markov model (i.e. machine learning) to correct sentences based on a vocabulary list.
Presenting unrelated or vaguely-related stories in a setting in backwards chronological order by epoch? I'm thinking of a science-fiction or science-fantasy setting wherein modern humanity colonizes a new homeworld in a classical star system, bombs themselves back to a Neolithic technology level, and progresses back to...	Making each group of stories stand on its own frees you up - You can not feel too bogged down by any of the details of the other time settings.
What is the best way to collect comments on a draft document that is out for review by stakeholders? Draft technical documents can be reviewed by stakeholders. Stakeholders can be fellow practitioners, industry specialists, senior managers, regulators, and so on. The purpose of a stakeholder review is usually to recei...	GitHub provides an inline comment feature which is pretty neat to facilitate reviews, as well as promote discussion among developers about the content and the comments.
How can I ensure that my documentation is understandable both for native and non-native speakers? In short: When writing documentation that will be read both by Anglophones and non-native speakers of English who have various levels of language proficiency, how do I make sure that both these recipient groups find the t...	Maybe you decide to minimize contractions (for example, "it's" and "don't" may be straightforward enough for your non-native audience) and generally keep the word choice and sentence structure simple and consistent. I'd say a major factor is to avoid idioms or local terms/phrases.
Why do many manuals and technical documents seem to prefer passive voice? It seems like many manuals and technical documents prefer passive voice over active voice. Is this true, or is it just my perception? If so, why? <Q> In academic writing, scientific papers and similar, it is normal practice to avoid writing in th...	People often feel that because documentation is a "business document" it must be formal, and they often feel that the passive voice sounds more formal than the active voice.
Instruction manuals: should the end-user be addressed directly (passive vs imperative)? Manuals come with virtually any appliance, and they typically target the end-user.Among other things (legal specifications, part numbers…), these documents contain specific instructions on what to do and what not to do with the appl...	The authors must clearly indicate who should do what, and refer to the reader either as "us" (at the instructional phase) or "you" (at the exercise-"do-it-yourself" phase). I advocate passive voice in API documentation to be clear about the actor.
Is it better to repeat steps listed elsewhere in a manual, or to refer the reader to where the steps are listed elsewhere in the manual? We have a tool that we cannot replace that does not support single sourcing. As a result, with instructions that involve the same node, we either repeat the same dozen steps over and ...	In your case, as much as I don't want to say this - referring might turn out better in the long run. If you are writing for people who will be doing admin tasks frequently, you use the reference format because they will quickly learn how to log on to the admin interface and will not need those instructions each time.
How to effectively document a product composed of complex microservices? I have a highly flexible software product consisting of a series of loosely coupled microservices . Each component is effective at a single job, but may be dependent on inputs from other services. It is expected that additional services will be...	I documented each functional area independently, but cross-linked topics where appropriate. If users can mix and match, you need to document each microservice separately, but include “meta” information for the user to combine the chutes and ladders (to mix game analogies) together.
Should IKEA assembly instructions be used as positive examples to train technical writers? Often, assembly instructions are bad (example via Adafruit ): But they don’t have to be: writing assembly instructions is a skill that can be learnt, and there are institutions which teach it. IKEA is the world's largest fur...	So, though they are oft-maligned, I think Ikea style manuals are an excellent exemplar of technical communications.
Problems with getting meaningful and actionable feedback from readers As someone who doesn't get paid to write stuff nobody reads :), I'm always on the lookout for the best ways to collect meaningful and actionable feedback from my readers so I can improve the quality of the docs I write.What kind of strategies/tools/e...	Feedback forms (be it a way to send email or a rating form or even a discussion board). Another way would be to use your customer success management people to reach out to customers and facilitate docs interviews with them. Perhaps a questionnaire distributed along the docs (not likely to be very successful).
Does DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) Apply to Documentation? In programming, it's usually accepted that DRY code is better code in most situations. Does this principle also apply to documentation? I'm asking about the documentation output , not necessarily the source material (there are tools for keeping the source co...	If your output is a print book and is meant to be consumed as a book (as a whole, rather than piece by piece), DRY applies.
What are standard techniques that indicate to the documentation reader that they are to substitute their own appropriate text (e.g. username, domain)? When reading manuals or guides, I can easily get confused between what is meant to be example text, and what is actually meant to be used. For example, sometimes the us...	If the user input string contains placeholder text, use italic for that text. Many folks are suggesting using % signs to document user input in documentation, That would be incorrect in Microsoft Documentation.
Terminology question - "if-else" or "if/else"? Are they "if-else statements" or are they "if/else statements"?I'm partial to the latter, but I can see the logic of the former - both "if" and "else" are acting as a unit modifier for the noun "statements" (and so a hyphen is appropriate), whereas a slash (usually) indica...	Your logic makes sense -- the hyphen seems to join them together (a unit of if-else statements), the slash often means "or".
How to make documentation accessible to vision-impaired audiences? Nowadays, governments and corporations alike are putting an ever-increasing number of accessibility laws in place to ensure that disabled audiences are not put at a disadvantage. How can technical documents best be styled in order to be accessible to lo...	So, you want to have your titles, section titles, tables, figures, and everything else really well-tagged so that information can be conveyed to the end-user and they can understand the relevance of each part of the documentation as it's read to them. Fonts designed for dyslexics, like Dyslexie Font are particularly go...
How to Document Systems with Different Versions? Scenario I need to create and maintain a user documentation for a system of which there are different instances in use by different target groups. There are several levels of integration with other systems, several development stages, several regional production deplo...	You can use the same features to create docs for multiple variations of an individual release.
Should technical writers illustrate their own documents? In my opinion, visual material is of crucial importance in technical documents, especially in procedures, but paradoxically, technical illustrations seem to be a dying art. Is it better for a technical writer to also do technical illustration, or is it better to...	For the documents that I write, I prepare most of the illustrations myself.
Where would I specify which user is required to run an administration command? I work with a software product that has over 10 major components. The administration of most of these is done with the root user with one notable exception where they use a less privileged user for such purposes. In most places, the instruct...	If you are writing task-style topics with a prerequisites section, that is a good place to tell the reader which user to use.
Should beta functionality be mentioned in a training manual? I write training manuals for a software product. When that product is next released one of the tools in it will be marked "in beta". i.e. that functionality is is included only as a technical preview. Product documentation will surely include that functional...	If you are regularly updating your training materials, so that any changes to the beta feature come with an updated manual, and your users use the updated manuals, then there is little harm in pointing users towards features that are helpful, provided that it is made extremely clear that the feature is currently in bet...
Is it acceptable to have the theme of a story remain hidden to its characters? I am trying to expand the depth of my writing beyond simple storytelling. Although my previous novel was an action/adventure, I realized it has a deeper point than entertainment. Dean Koontz offers this definition of a theme: “Theme is a s...	So if the author doesn't know what the theme is, there's no need for the characters to know. A good story will have theme.
Words we may believe are neutral yet have restricted connotations Edit: Perhaps a list of words prone to mis-use would serve the need, here. Is anyone aware of a resource that lists words with emotional baggage? Example: I use the expression 'enormity of x' (as in, the enormity of time since the big bang.) Someo...	If you Google for "trigger words" you will find lots of lists, though they seem to focus on the ones to use rather than the ones to avoid.
Is there a tool for determining the number of on in a word for the purpose of writing haiku? In America at least, Haiku are commonly taught to students as poems having 5, 7, then 5 syllables , when in actuality, they have a structure of 5, 7, then 5 on . The NaHaiWriMo site explains what an on is, but I'm having tr...	You can try Japanese Transliteration which will take English words and
How to evoke wonder in the reader, when there isn't an incredulous character? A "fish out of water" character can serve as a reader proxy: whether it is a wondrous view, an unusual custom, or what have you, the character experiences and responds to them, and through him - the reader. But what do I do if there's no "fi...	For first person narration by one of the characters, the idea that they find nothing special in what they're seeing or doing can be used as effectively as specifically mentioning it to give the reader the impression they are in a different place to the world they know. Or just let your character watch a little child th...
Should I capitalise the first letter of a title that an unnamed character has? I'm writing from a third person viewpoint. I have a character who does not have a name. He is simply known as "The Sentinel". In fact, that is the only introduction he gives for himself. So when I'm writing a scene where he interacts with ot...	This depends on how the character sees himself (or if it's close third-person from someone else's POV, how that character sees him).
How to write a character who recently gained emotions I have an android character who, ever since the near-death experience of his very young childhood, he has lacked emotions of any kind. But recently, another one of my characters has put forth a very large effort to help my android character gain emotions. If she ...	Emerging emotions can be a wonderful opportunity for a writer, especially if you plot out that it is going to happen before you actually start putting words down on paper.
Problem writing on a keyboard properly I have a problem. For many years of playing games, I've developed a strange habit; I write with all the fingers on my left hand, which is very nice. however, I only write with two fingers on my right hand. All this is from playing games where I constantly had to move my right hand...	The best way to do that is to start a touch typing tutorial / software of some type which forces you to type while you look at the screen. You do need to practice a new habit You may find it necessary to hide your hands and keyboard underneath something so you absolutely cannot cheat. You need to distract or disallow y...
How do you write an attack scene for a story using the technique "Show, don't tell"? I'm writing a story and I need to describe a hidden young girl watching an attack on her village. How can I best show this instead of just telling it? <Q> This is easy to do. <S> Since she's a young girl, only able to see a portion...	If you want to add more drama, give her a baby brother/sister to talk to and try to sooth while having all these imaginings which might be worse than the actual attack. Just imagine yourself in her position, seeing and hearing what she is, and then write her inner dialog. The little girl is hidden away in her house. Sh...
Is shaking of the head positive or negative? When you say a character shook their head, does that mean they nodded, as in "yes", or they shook it sideways, signifying the answer is "no?" <Q> But looking through English. <S> SE: <S> When moving one's head to answer a question does “nod” mean <S> yes and “shake” mean ...	From personal experience (central Europe) I would say that shaking your head is normally a "No" and nodding your head is normally a "Yes". A shake is primarily a signal of negative empathy. Head movements vary in their meaning depending on the culture in question.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to changing the POV in the second and third books of a trilogy? Consider placing the second book of a SF/F trilogy into the point of view of a secondary character from the first book. Good? Bad? This seems like a workable idea to me, interesting, expand the world, fresh new id...	If your POV's character arc is completed, it makes sense for them to pass the torch onto another character, so the readers can follow this new character and watch as they develop. On the other hand, if your POV's arc is not completed, then switching over to watch it be completed in third person will probably not win yo...
Is it a deus ex machina if the alternative is illogical? Background: I know to avoid Deus Ex Machinas - meaning to me a sudden and unexpected solution arriving out of nowhere to save an otherwise unsolvable problem. They are often indicative of a writer who has written himself into a corner, and has to rely on a DXM t...	Endings do not have to be logical or probable, but they do have to be merited. Complete resolution of a crisis would be a DXM.
Is it a good idea to make the protagonist unlikable while making the supporting characters more likable? My protagonist is a very shitty person that makes bad decisions for the wrong reasons. They do eventually redeem themselves, not because of their own decisions, but because the supporting characters push the protago...	In summary, I think it can definitely work, but give the character reasons for his flaws and try to have an captivating story to make up for the lack of a likeable character.
Intentionally lying to the reader Similar to this question, but more specifically about outright lies. I am thinking of having a title that misleads or lies about the end of the novel. Something along the lines of “They Don’t Get Together in The End” so that the reader knows not to expect a typical boy meets girl st...	You have to frame things such that the reader feels in on the joke.
A question on the ambiguity of the Alternate History genre Say I am writing a (mostly) realistic fiction book. The entirety of said work is mostly what a person would expect from realistic fiction with the world being almost entirely similar to our own, politically and what-not. But then say I interjected a few minute ...	If you put in a detail that is obviously and deliberately contrary to history (as opposed to an accidental anachronism, which you will find in many books if you look hard enough) then it is alternate history. It's completely up to you what those details are and to what extent you exactly want to change reality.
Is it okay if I wrote a story based on true historical events? I had a story in mind that basically came from a true historical event in the 1930's. I won't be using real people for the characters but the main storyline is somewhat based on what actually happened. I'll try making it a little different, a little modern,...	Historical fiction based on real events is a huge part of the genre of historical fiction. If you go and imply that nobody in fact died in the ugly period you base your story on, or if you go "it's great that they died", people might get upset. Yes, people do this all the time. In science fiction, especially I think, t...
How to get started as a freelancer? I'm a fairly prolific writer and have been published by several free publications and journals, and I want to try my hand at freelancing. The only problem is that none of the freelance platforms I have tried seem to be anything but "Facebook for con artists." Up-work, freelancer.com,...	To make money as a freelance writer you have to have expertise in something other than writing.
How to describe a character with changing features? I’m writing the pilot for a Crime/Mystery/Thriller. When we first meet the lead detective character - he is depressed about not being able to work. Not at his best, but that is about to change for him - sort of. I want to describe that (normally) he’s a calm/confi...	A narrator can briefly mention a change in character, just as the narrator in a novel would, if you want to have a voiceover narrator, but if you don't, the easiest method would be to have another character say something like: Do not describe his general demeanor.
Explain something being written out I am working on a story where a character is witnessing something being written out but I don't know the correct way to write that. It will write out death I wrote out I witnessed something being scratched into the floor, There was a D then an E, then an A then a T and H But I...	If you're describing letters being scratched out on the floor, you need to actually describe the process of them being scratched out, and reactions as it occurs.
Is it acceptable to break the story up into POVs to show how the characters' stories all tie together? I'm writing a novel. At 56k words, I've become a little nervous about how I've been building the story. BACKGROUND: I started this book with the introduction of the main character, Jules and a brief introduction to ...	What you are describing is quite acceptable.
Is it okay to switch protagonists between books, if the main protagonist is a hidden "actor"? On my research I stumbled upon this question and it matches somehow with my question, that lingers in my head for a long time. In the mentioned question I read the common thinking is: Switching protagonists between books c...	Terry Pratchett, in his Discworld series, switches protagonists between books a lot. Some do this when they want to explore a new part of a world.
How long should a memoir be? I am writing my first memoir about my life as a christian and how affected I was by it as an empath and how I came to desire leaving it. Is there a minimum length for memoirs? I cannot estimate at his point how long it will turn out but I have a feeling it's going to be much less than 650...	If you are looking for something more numeric, this article recommends 65,000 on the low side and 90,000 on the high side. The same length as any other piece of prose: exactly as long as it needs to be to tell the story you want to tell .
Should I defer introducing the name of the eponymous character/object? In my short-story/novella, the title was "Hypnos Wakes" where "Hypnos" is the name of an alien/monster thing that possesses the protagonist. The possession, as well as the protagonist's reference to Hypnos as a semi-sapient entity begins immediately...	Basically, if you have an interesting story about the discovery of the name tell it and reveal the name at its end, if you don't just let the character and by extension readers have the name from the beginning. It would be hard to give a blurb on the story that doesn't involve the possession-based-story, and your reade...
What editor can I use for world building that has a tree-like structure for my files? I'm looking for a simple editor to start getting into world building and story writing which is working out fine in Microsoft Word. However, I'm finding it difficult to continue without any structure. So after some looking on Reddit a...	I remembered there was an Scrivener template for RPGs. I would recommend checking out Realm Works as you say you have already tried different wiki solutions.
Where can I find resources about writing a litRPG book? Where can I find (preferably free) online resources, such as How-To-Write or styleguide articles and blogs, about writing a litRPG book? LitRPG , or Literary Role Playing Game , books combine elements that you would find in RPGs with science-fiction or fantasy...	The best advice is probably to read a lot of LitRPG and understand what works in the genre and why.
What are some tropes associated with social acceptance or rejection of infants with supernatural abilities? Are there any tropes regarding how societies react to children with supernatural abilities, besides abandoning in the woods or, for the complete opposite, considering them gods? Is there anything between those t...	People might (rightly) be fearful of the children (or even fetuses) and consider them to have the Face of an Angel, Mind of a Demon .
What can motivate people to write and share their personal stories? I want to motivate people, who do not already write, to write about their lives and publish their stories on my new web site. What would motivate someone to write and share their personal stories? <Q> A pitch An editor of the resource writes an articl...	If you have stories of your own, or stories other people have told you (and are willing for you to circulate), others are more likely to participate.
How can you make "evil vs evil" interesting? Let's say you have two sides who are basically no better than the other. Both are criminals with no redeeming qualities, and both are at war. Think COBRA and HYDRA going to war. They both have plans for world domination and are ruthless in their pursuit of it, willing to k...	Also, you can take advantage of tropes to be a little more serious, but keep enough humor to distract the reader from dwelling too much on the thought of how bad they are. Focus on what makes them different. If the conflict is compelling enough, readers will be enjoying it enough that they won't worry about what might ...
No time to deal with emotional trauma In my story, one of the main characters finds out that a loved one (parent, lover, friend, doesn't matter) died. Worse still: they find out about it when they find the severed head of that person. Obviously that would mess up that character pretty badly (to put it mildly), and it ...	And as you have rightly pointed out, if the story takes place over a month, he isn't going to come to terms with it through the period of your story. It is, therefore, psychologically reasonable for your hero to do this. You should stay true to the situation and to the character and have it play out the way your initia...
How are descriptions and character thoughts handled in a screenplay (versus a novel) I wonder if you write descriptions in a screenplay the same way you write in a novel. For example, I see writers describe the physical effects of the emotion of anger rather than just saying 'angry', do we do the same thing in a screen...	A screenplay is told ONLY through dialogue, setting, and action.
I am searching for a word/name that fits a person that has the ability to swap bodies with another human Not to be confused with a person who can morph themselves into someone else or a creature by will, but someone who has an ability to body swap - without necessarily having control over it. I am writing a short ficti...	Body swapping does not (yet) exist, so there cannot be, as you ask for, a scientific term for it. I chose swapper over a number of alternatives. There is one Latin book from 1670s, Speculum carmelitanum, that calls this "corporislatro", thief-of-the-body.
Help with my story - elements of a scene I’m writing a story where a vampire pulls a girl into a room so he can feed off her without anyone knowing. What are the things I should consider when I describe her being pulled into a room by him, and she tries to escape but he’s too strong for her? <Q> I had to write a fairl...	One thing you want to consider is how you want the scene to read: She should fight to the end. If possible, make it cost your vampire some pain. In a situation like this I'm presuming the girl would be afraid, and things would happen very fast for her, so I would consider those emotions when laying out your sentences.
Do I have to show my characters making up after an argument, or can it be implied when we see them on good terms again? Is it okay to have two characters who had an argument to patch things up offscreen, or do readers explicitly need to see how they made up? None of the two characters in question are the protagonist, ...	It's not a big issue, it might as well get resolved off-screen. There is no general rule that says such and such a thing always advances the story or such and such a thing never advances the story.
Is it possible for "weakness" to be a "virtue" in context? I'm working on a teen romance. The event is the high school play, the "Sound of Music," in which there are two main contestants for the role of Liesl. They are designated "A" and "B," because those are the grades they received in drama class. A, a very worldly...	Strength and weakness will often (possibly always) need to be judged in context, so something that appears weak out of context may be a strength and vice versa - the person who uses a sledgehammer to crack a nut will not eat many nuts.
Any software for video game non-linear story design? Is there any software for making non-linear story or dialogues?I tried MS Word/Google Docs but that's not good for dialogues.In one complicated dialogue I wrote in Google Drawings, it looks like this (Ignore those ticks; I think it's not final version - I see some p...	A free open-source tool for telling non-linear / interactive storylines is Twine
When is 'enough', enough? So, I've been going through advice for aspiring writers, and naturally, that includes quotes from famous authors, interviews, their top tips etc. One thing I've noticed is that a lot of them say things along the line of 'Good writing is essentially rewriting' (quoted roughly from Roald Dahl),...	If you plan to self publish, it is good enough when you are happy with it. When your experience tells you.
Do I need to repeat character descriptions of main characters from one book to the next? In the second book of my trilogy, do I need to repeat everything about the main characters' appearance from the last book, or can I just mention a few key things? <Q> You don't need to describe your main characters in detail as you...	Yes, sequels will generally be related to the plot of the previous book, but they shouldn't be heavily dependent; they should be able to be enjoyed, to a satisfactory extent, by themselves.
Should I copyright my material before sending to my publisher? Should I copyright my material before sending to my publisher? Can they steal my content? <Q> By law, everything you write is copyrighted the instant you write it. <S> This registration can be used as evidence that you did indeed write it, and gives you cer...	The best form of defense is to only submit physical copies of your work until a publisher agrees to buy it from you to publish. Technically, your question is meaningless. You can REGISTER your copyright with the Library of Congress.
Is it okay to write a story where the protagonist is a Terrorist? I am writing a side story called, The Afterglow of Jovian , which mainly takes place sometime during the final stages of the main story. Here's a brief gist of the main story to give some context, The main story takes place in the future, 566 E.A.E. ...	Whether the characters will be acceptable to your readers will depend on what you do with them.
What does the death of a fictional character mean? When should a writer kill their protagonist off? Inspired by a question about character lifetime and another about what makes the death of a character satisfying for the reader, I have begun to wonder whether there are clues inherent to a story I might be writing ...	If the reader is identifying with the protagonist, it can still be a happy ending if they feel like the protagonist died a heroic and honorable death to achieve their goal, if the protagonist died to uphold a high moral principle.
Are readers tolerant of unique and bizarre character Names? I'm trying to refine a name for my main character and characters in general but I will be focusing on my MC for the example of this question. My question is: What criteria would make a name hard for readers to read? I'm thinking of using roman and latin, and...	Weird names are fine and tolerated, my personal rule is to ensure there is no ambiguity in how the reader should pronounce them; and "Nyuna" does have that problem, it is not certain whether to try and pronounce the "Y". So, unique names are completely fine in a word so long as everyone has them or if there is a valid ...
How Many Tropes Are Allowed In a Short Story? I am trying to add some dramatic ‘zombie-virus’ suspense to a short-story about boy-meets-girl young love, which already has an unlikely (but not the first sort of) antagonist The boy named Ethan is acting out in anger in front of Debbie, the girl, because his father is aw...	The number of tropes used does not make a story good nor bad, but it gives the reader something to relate to - and can make a story less innovative. Think about the story you want to tell.
How to execute a change of the POV in a first person novel POV? I am writing a novel and I am about 1/3 into it. It is in first person, past-tense. I am at a scene where the main character (the narrator) goes unconscious. The second main character has only ever been described and integrated through the narrators poin...	The only thing you need to do is let the reader know that they have switched viewpoints. A famous novel that is told from three first person viewpoints (and one third person) is William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury , if you need evidence from the literary canon.
How to write a good cover letter? As I am applying for an internship in research labs writing a cover letter is the most important part while applying. I have gone through many websites regarding this, but I can't find the perfect way to write it. Can you explain to me how to write a good cover letter? Is it manda...	Academic results and extracurricular activities should be shown in your resume/CV or on an application form if provided.
What is the "Proposal" Part of a Query Letter? I'm trying to follow query guidelines that include a query letter, proposal, outline, author bio, and sample chapters. What is the 'proposal' part of the query letter? I have not been able to find an answer in the references I've examined so far. <Q> Query letters and boo...	You write a book proposal when you intend to write a book and propose that book to the publisher.
Can I change tenses in my first person YA novel? I'm half way through a YA science fiction novel that is told in 1st person, past tense. Currently there are two chapters in different tenses. One is 2nd person, present tense - the p.o.v. of an AI. The other is 1st person, present tense - a dream sequence. My questio...	With the tenses being through the P. O. V. of other characters it will be fine so long as you use a proper transition.
How do I handle English speaking where the language used isn't English but is translated in it? I'm kind of having trouble with portraying one of my main character's English speaking foreign friend. My character and the country he is in don't really use English as the language they communicate in, but they can speak it...	If you want to avoid foreign phrased, for example if there would be too many of them you make clear who says what in what language and who understands it and who doesn't in the narrative: "Good day!"
Can I include Acknowledgement page in a novel? I am a new author and I want to mention names of people who helped during my writing. Can I include Acknowledgement page in a novel? I looked in many novels by famous authors and they don't seem to add Acknowledgement. (I am not talking about dedications.) Additionally, ...	Acknowledgments, dedications and author's notes are not a part of the main text of a book, and they are entirely up to you (with some caveats). Yes, I've seen acknowledgements in novels, it's not uncommon. You don't need to match any particular standard, or do them the way anyone else does them, and you don't need anyo...
How to write about characters and places you aren't personally familiar with? What do I need to do, as an Indian writer, if I want to make British or Americans the main characters in my book, and make the whole story revolve around them in any other country? In general, is it a good idea for a writer to write about pe...	You can research places, slang, and to some extent the culture of Americans, or British, in order to write your story. Add a minor Indian character to the crew, and tell the story through their POV.
Would it confuse my readers to give two siblings nicknames that can be abbreviations of the same name? In my book, there's two brothers, who are named Nick and Cole . Now, I've always thought that Nick and Cole are cool names, so therefore I named the two brothers "Nick and Cole". But then I found out that both ...	You might do this deliberately if an important plot point is that people regularly get the two confused, or that at one crucial time someone gets the name confused. I don't think this will be a problem for several reasons. I don't think this is a problem unless you say "This is Nicholas and we call him Nick.
Should structuring an academic text with the help of questions be avoided? In an academic writing course some years ago I remember being told that when writing, for instance, a journal article in English, one should usually avoid structuring one's text with the help of explicit questions, something like: In the previ...	Speaking as a professor and author of several academic papers; I would avoid it.

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