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[ "overused adjectives and I keep adverbs to a minimum but -- I hear", "keep adverbs to a minimum but -- I hear this phrase a lot", "adverbs to a minimum but -- I hear this phrase a lot and", "a minimum but -- I hear this phrase a lot and I'm not", "hear this phrase a lot and I'm not even sure what it means?"...
[ "makes me shudder a bit. What do you think? Are composite characters in", "of this type of writing -- it's still non-fiction. She seemed to think", "of writing -- it's still non-fiction. She seemed to think that composite characters", "composite characters are the norm and expected which just makes me shudder...
[ "Or are there other accepted conventions in flash fiction? If it's just the", "by its short word count? Or are there other accepted conventions in flash", "it simply defined by its short word count? Or are there other accepted", "short word count? Or are there other accepted conventions in flash fiction? If",...
[ "can target a publication or radio show or whatnot once I've got it,", "or whatnot once I've got it, but I'm just not good at coming", "often at a dearth of ideas. I can target a publication or radio", "a dearth of ideas. I can target a publication or radio show or", "got it, but I'm just not good at coming...
[ "What are some good newsletters writers can sign up for? I signed up", "writers and fiction writers. What would be other newsletters along these lines that", "I signed up for [Funds for Writers](http://www.fundsforwriters.com/) and [Worldwide Freelance Writers](http://www.worldwidefreelance.com/) because they",...
[ "very limited experience. Should you write about yourself in the third or first", "put in the letter? What if you have no experience, or only very", "limited experience. Should you write about yourself in the third or first person", "Should you write about yourself in the third or first person when explaining...
[ "do you do this? What are some tips to enlivening a character and", "do this? What are some tips to enlivening a character and making them", "this? What are some tips to enlivening a character and making them memorable?", "embody their traits without becoming cliched or cartoony. How do you do this?", "a ch...
[ "story ideas. I'm looking for good sites that have a lot of good", "have a lot of good writing prompts. One that updates fairly often would", "for good sites that have a lot of good writing prompts. One that", "that have a lot of good writing prompts. One that updates fairly often", "lot of good writing pro...
[ "paragraph after paragraph of description along the lines of: > > Aqinno dropped", "epic battle that doesn't have people skipping to the post-match report? EDIT: The", "of the narrative.It's not 100% but certainly something had changed. I just don't", "Aqinno's head. Pain exploded in the smaller man's ear dru...
[ "storage sites have little details in their TOS that gives them the right", "of the most important things for writers to do is to back up", "example, in the ToS for Google Docs is \"By submitting, posting or displaying", "to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and ...
[ "chapters with songs or quotes. In many cases, these lyrics or quotes are", "the purchase of these rights, or is it the responsibility of the author?", "novels will include song lyrics in the story, or start out chapters with", "materials and would presumably require royalties be paid to the original author. ...
[ "who's trying out nudism and an experience nudist. Does my opening paragraph succeed", "naked as well. My heart skipped a beat as I walked past one", "we got nervous. It was her no-fail technique for over coming your nerves.", "signs proclaiming the beach clothing-optional. It sent both a thrill and a jolt", ...
[ "main character is referred to as \"he\" right the way through - the", "that this character is very guarded and mysterious. My plan was to not", "plan was to not reveal the name of the character because that would", "he was slowly roused from his light slumber, he knew he had work", "never seen nor heard. S...
[ "this question for a while now. What is the proper way to write", "to this question for a while now. What is the proper way to", "I haven't been able to find an answer to this question for a", "now. What is the proper way to write time in a manuscript? I'm", "write time in a manuscript? I'm referring mostly...
[ "critique is good for my characters and plot, but I am told that", "I write fiction. The critique is good for my characters and plot, but", "develop a strong writing style for fiction? When I posed this question to", "writing style is stiff, awkward and amateurish. When I wrote academic papers for", "but ap...
[ "of style. There's Chicago Manual of Style, Elements of Style etc. Do you", "Manual of Style, Elements of Style etc. Do you know any such resource", "of Style, Elements of Style etc. Do you know any such resource for", "language has a number of popular manuals of style. There's Chicago Manual of", "of popul...
[ "(\"Well . . . gosh . . .\") and without spaces (\"Well...gosh...\") between", "ellipses written out both with (\"Well . . . gosh . . .\")", "sites, and found no consensus. Which way do editors of fiction prefer? Or", "way do editors of fiction prefer? Or is it more a matter of", "found no consensus. Which ...
[ "the heads of their bosses, co-workers, siblings, parents, friends, spouses, lovers, etc. and", "siblings, parents, friends, spouses, lovers, etc. and pluck out real reasoning, real fears,", "one that I feel that I myself haven't quite graduated from, is always", "alien to themselves. How would I go about doi...
[ "my creative boundaries, and teach me how to be a better write of", "me how to be a better write of my own original creative writing?", "of my own original creative writing? Will having this kind of work under", "I've been offered work translating some creative works into English. Is this kind", "work likel...
[ "mind set lend themselves to writing fiction well, and which ones are a", "as a result of laborious study and training(professional/self), or did you employ some", "do not see software engineers that write fiction all that often. Heck, I", "set lend themselves to writing fiction well, and which ones are a hin...
[ "of translations. Long texts (such as reports, offers, books, etc.) that have been", "(such as reports, offers, books, etc.) that have been translated into French from", "is average. I can write fluently and my vocabulary is not too limited.", "it better for me to write my long text (100 pages) in English", ...
[ "nuances of the scenes while always keeping every detail relevant and crucial to", "is write around them, describing the situation and the outcome without ever delving", "always keeping every detail relevant and crucial to the overarching story. Overall though", "Dune. I liked it because it did a good job a...
[ "a virtually unknown personal blog about videogames, I like the idea of writing", "interesting. Are there any other really big blogs where I could have a", "general audience. Recently a Facebook friend of mine started blogging for [huffingtonpost.com](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/) which", "which seems to be...
[ "question is inspired by the following quote from the article [America's Top Parent](http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2011/01/31/110131crbo_books_kolbert?currentPage=3):", "formula, what would the formula be? This question is inspired by the following", "one were to distill memoir writing to a formul...
[ "a rank in a foreign military - say, Feldwebel Hans. That's the equivalent", "berates him. How would you handle this? I rather use the original names", "relationship to, say, an Oberst (Colonel) who berates him. How would you handle", "Hans. That's the equivalent of a Sergeant. On one hand, having people call...
[ "to go to in order to get help in promoting his work? Are", "would you recommend a new author of technical books (operating systems, programming, networking,", "go to in order to get help in promoting his work? Are there", "a new author of technical books (operating systems, programming, networking, etc) to g...
[]
[]
[ "write a prompt email? Ideally I would like it to be: * Respectful", "too formal In particular I am thinking in terms of business, and communication", "would like it to be: * Respectful * Not too formal In particular", "language should be used to write a prompt email? Ideally I would like", "I would like it...
[ "interview to shore up the details and make sure I get the facts", "for a series of science articles, but I don't have a strong background", "who I could interview to shore up the details and make sure I", "background in the particular field. What's a good way to identify experts who", "the particular field...
[ "I'm at the very start where I need to write a draft story", "traditional short story and then adapt that into a screenplay or, since this", "screenplay or, since this is for a movie, go straight into writing a", "start where I need to write a draft story for others to provide", "I'm planning to shoot and d...
[ "I see a cluster of nouns sitting together in a sentence. I usually", "strategies for breaking up these nouns while still keeping the language specific and", "exclusively. Here is a particularly bad example I received this morning: > >", "were thinking it.) Edit #2: I thought of a few more examples that",...
[ "spaces after a period. But it would seem there is an argument against", "two spaces after a period. But it would seem there is an argument", "use two spaces after a period. But it would seem there is an", "is an argument against it. However, I do not understand what the issue", "period. But it would seem t...
[ "be one of the few magazines I read (I only read the online", "The New Yorker is held in high regard for their editorial process and", "them as inspiration for writing. The New Yorker also happens to be one", "everyone here probably knows, The New Yorker is held in high regard for", "The New Yorker ...
[ "the biography of James Herriot, where they showed part of the first story", "defined by rules, and an example is needed to illustrate how things can", "once read the biography of James Herriot, where they showed part of the", "this website just a moment ago too - the original example paragraph was", "very ...
[ "interpretations\" direction rather than the \"leave as much out as possible\" direction. Is", "between the two extremes: either write not enough and follow up with the", "go too much in the \"explain all possible interpretations\" direction rather than the", "both? Write about complex matters simply and enga...
[ "ever seen readings of a last will and testament in movies, what kind", "legalese generated from that, or something more elaborate? 2. In movies the structure", "more elaborate? 2. In movies the structure is usually very straightforward, with \"If", "and then legalese generated from that, or something more el...
[ "but it became a real passion after three or four stories. I have", "stories have become favorites of many. A few friends have tried to convince", "have become favorites of many. A few friends have tried to convince me", "have the slightest idea how one would go about it. I am also", "go, but it became a re...
[ "scores of testimonials from students. It is very difficult to understand whether these", "these really are students or paid testimonials. So, do online writing classes really", "are students or paid testimonials. So, do online writing classes really help improve", "websites have scores of testimonials from s...
[ "can I learn to condense my writing without making it inaccessible? Are there", "style in scientific papers in the natural sciences, e.g. chemistry and biology, seems", "learn to condense my writing without making it inaccessible? Are there specific rules", "efficient writing style. How can I learn to condens...
[ "off this information from the rest of the sentence. Three ways I have", "table was broken. > > > When Balyo sat down for a meal,", "broken. > > > When Balyo sat down for a meal, his third", "rest of the sentence. Three ways I have seen are dashes, commas, and", "he noticed the table was broken. > > > Which...
[ "Are there any techniques you can use while brainstorming to find humor to", "techniques you can use while brainstorming to find humor to include in an", "there any techniques you can use while brainstorming to find humor to include", "you can use while brainstorming to find humor to include in an article?", ...
[ "of my biggest issues is staying focused on a single novel. My imagination", "a single novel. My imagination is always creating new and wonderful ideas. I", "creating new and wonderful ideas. I write a few chapters on this story,", "a few chapters on this story, a few on that story, but never", "but never f...
[ "or the USA). I wonder if the same percentage of QUALITY scripts get", "it seem as though it's \"easier\" to get published if you live in", "that is not the UK or the USA). I wonder if the same", "you live in the States. *Is where I live going to have a", "place, but that in the big places, like the UK an...
[ "seems to me that plotting out mysteries is a very distinct, specialized form", "any lexicon/taxonomy-type articles, of the sort that try to identify common tropes and", "genre (although a resource that has both is obviously fine). If there exist", "a very distinct, specialized form of plotting, with its own ...
[ "pages in the site and some of the marketing marketing material. I am", "will need some copy written for various pages in the site and some", "site and some of the marketing marketing material. I am contemplating hiring a", "What is the best way to find one? Also, since I am a", "marketing marketing materia...
[ "reading normal books too (where the content is that much more engaging than", "papers - some dry stuff but not excessively so. The problem is that,", "and waste valuable minutes over the course of reading several papers every week.", "on-topic - couldn't find anywhere else in Stack Exchange more suitable...)...
[ "we have selected and how to evaluate them. Then we discuss the optimisation", "and how to evaluate them. Then we discuss the optimisation method we use", "paragraph, and I ended up repeating \"then\" twice, which reads very boring -", "at least for me. What are the methods to avoid repetitions in general?", ...
[ "to the point. Knowing myself, even they might be pushing the boundaries of", "also in general. I'm considering these two books because I've heard good things", "Why might one be better for me than the other? I'm a graduate", "better for me than the other? I'm a graduate student in engineering, but", "and G...
[ "nearly impossible. BookScan is a subscriber service run by Nailsep. \"Above the Treeline\"", "run by Nailsep. \"Above the Treeline\" is a subscriber service that collects sales", "on a non-fiction book proposal. Finding public, free sales numbers for comparable titles", "a non-fiction book proposal. Finding ...
[ "read books and more books and pay close attention to thedetails of the", "character(likes/dislikes/hobbies/way of conduct) that would really bring alive the qualities of this archetype.", "character development, the author describes basic male archetypes that are found in a", "attention to thedetails of the ...
[ "How important is it for a writer to be fast when using a", "important is it for a writer to be fast when using a keyboard?" ]
[ "that writers can use to find beta readers that have a reputation for", "use to find beta readers that have a reputation for having skilled beta", "read a book and offer their opinions, but a good beta reader knows", "a book and offer their opinions, but a good beta reader knows the", "but a good beta reade...
[ "for good lists of vocabulary words. Here's what constitutes a \"good vocabulary list\"", "Words](http://www.virtualsalt.com/vocablst.htm) list, which is the best I've found looking around online. However, I", "school graduate should know I've been using the [1062 Vocabulary Words](http://www.virtualsalt.com/...
[ "Database\", ...) * Any other ideas? Which would be best for title names?", "and wondered what is the best verb tense for title names. My ideas", "\"Create a Database\", ...) * Any other ideas? Which would be best for", "writing a technical manual about creating database systems, and wondered what is the", ...
[ "> > In order to achieve this I [created my own blog](http://www.matthewedmondson.info). My", "came here from [Jeff Atwood's blog](http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2011/02/index.html) where he mentions that writing a blog", "no > matter what you choose to do. > > > In order", "over where I can improve? I supp...
[ "Are there any good companies out there that will help me get my", "to get a limited number of copies (100-200) printed up for family and", "of copies (100-200) printed up for family and friends. Are there any good", "have looked at Lulu.com and infinitypublishing.com but don't know whether either of these", ...
[ "them is a must. There may be a little amount of formulas. I", "as images or use special markup? I don't want to learn something complex", "will be short listings of source code in several programming languages and syntax", "tables, images. However, there will be short listings of source code in several", "...
[ "husband left. It had been only a year > since their daughter had", "below. He sighed and scooped up his Beretta .45 and swiftly walked out", "in tacit exasperation, her lover > took her in his arms and assured", "> Across the street, Mrs. Jonpun watched > through the bedroom window as", "been only a year >...
[ "might plague myself and other writers without trait stealing. My mom thought my", "time was modeled on her when I hadn't thought of her at all", "used the shamelessly stealing personality traits approach. Unfortunately when I let friends read", "suggested to [shamelessly steal personality traits from others]...
[ "he thinks he is a good guy\". I want my character to be", "idea of using the \"but he thinks he is a good guy\". I", "of the evil antagonist (think from Sauron's perspective). So my bad guy will", "the perspective of the evil antagonist (think from Sauron's perspective). So my bad", "would be a fallen ange...
[ "entertainment. Not saying I want to be an author someday -- Programmin' is", "not interested in either of those alternatives -- I'd like to write something", "be helpful in writing entertainment. Not saying I want to be an author", "helpful in writing entertainment. Not saying I want to be an author someday"...
[ "how I got to the ideas; and in working to support and develop", "professional goal - I want to write a thesis, build a system, change", "is there for a technical researcher/writer that can't edit? How can I get", "is, what help is there for a technical researcher/writer that can't edit? How", "for at least...
[ "feeling positive at the end of a story. Something good has to continue", "such as the protagonist sacrificing themselves for the good of those around them.", "not everything went right, such as the protagonist sacrificing themselves for the good", "end of a story. Something good has to continue on or else it...
[ "use of an iPad would be note-taking, as well as writing. Having a", "useless. One of the things that I have narrowed down on the use", "the things that I have narrowed down on the use of an iPad", "really feasible, and that it would be better off working on a computer.", "when inspiration strikes would be ...
[ "be possible that we are subconsciously and unaware that we are crafting a", "are crafting a story that bears similar resemblance to a story that we", "cliches in storylines that you are writing? Obviously, there are external sources of", "and more. It would be possible that we are subconsciously and unaware ...
[ "and broader themes. Essentially, I'd like to build a definition of the genre", "by identifying its basic components. Please provide examples to back up your claims.", "setting, characteristics of plot or pacing, and broader themes. Essentially, I'd like to", "broader themes. Essentially, I'd like to build a ...
[ "the accessible. Weirdly The Da Vinci Code, for all its bad points, made", "made some very dry theorising in the politics and history of religion into", "this the case in my stories is to \"be careful\" and I have", "The best way I have ever managed to come up with of making", "of religion into a bestseller...
[ "The last paper I've received back had a comment saying that it was", "How can I make my writing have more emotion? How can I \"inject\"", "a superb technical writer, but terrible at eliciting emotional response in something like", "terrible at eliciting emotional response in something like a story or an argu...
[ "their movie script, or screen play, into the hands of top level Hollywood", "Hollywood producers?** * Does one need a literary agent? * If so where", "does one go about successfully getting their movie script, or screen play, into", "a literary agent? * If so where does one find one that will", "movie scri...
[ "I'm not familiar with these abbreviations from prior experience I always end up", "since it is an extremely common practice I figured I'd ask if this", "made up) example: > > So when we're dealing with Anachronistic Meta Mechanics", "same data set... > > > Since I'm not familiar with these abbreviations", ...
[ "my computer now for about 3 hours and have re-written my introduction about", "about 3 hours and have re-written my introduction about 25 times now. I", "just have nothing in my brain to get started, my cork board is", "about a programming topic and needs to be instructional and informative. My problem", "...
[ "[Amazon lists](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1557427283) 12 different paperback formats, plus a half dozen or more other", "to make sure I'm getting the actual Strunk & White, and not some", "I don't need anything fancy. I just want to make sure I'm getting", "of Style. Unfortunately I'm a little ...
[ "but am concerned that maybe I shouldn't waste my time; I have no", "about writing a screenplay but am concerned that maybe I shouldn't waste my", "my time; I have no formal training in writing screenplays. Is it harder", "a screenplay you write? I am thinking about writing a screenplay but am", "in writing...
[ "toxic when combined with... * [B Foster] Adrenaline. * [J Statham] So on", "you with a shot of epinephrine... * [J Statham] Which is toxic when", "who's having a bad year. Draft: ------ Excerpt from The Mechanic In the", "chance our adrenaline shot doesn’t kill him... * [B Foster] The EMTs will.", "epineph...
[ "other works). I was having a discussion with someone (not an editor) who", "as though I were reading it for pleasure rather than as an editor,", "was trying to create with the book. I really think that it's important", "I get to the end, I then go back and briefly review my", "give her that feedback. So ...
[ "need for an editor, so frame your answer in such a way as", "needs an editor, and that editor better not be yourself.\" But recently I", "in the camp of \"your novel needs an editor, and that editor better", "frame your answer in such a way as to convince one of them.", "asked why that was, and I couldn't ...
[ "to edit and correct my own writing. What are some techniques I can", "my own writing. What are some techniques I can use to help me", "and correct my own writing. What are some techniques I can use to", "ability to edit and correct my own writing. What are some techniques I", "improve my ability to edit an...
[ "pattern? If so, what are the details, and why does such a structure", "to study the technical details of its structure, and see if I can", "of its structure, and see if I can take advantage of them in", "its structure, and see if I can take advantage of them in my", "I wonder, are the episodes written acco...
[ "could help few of my goals: * To learn English better: the grammar,", "When I do a post or two, and share it with my Facebook", "share it with my Facebook account, they're often comment the pictures, but not", "my goals: * To learn English better: the grammar, the rules, words-construction and", "start doi...
[ "a character speaking a foreign language in a fiction manuscript? Should the foreign", "it just be included in the sentence and try and make sure the", "make sure the reader can guess at the meaning by using the surrounding", "reader can guess at the meaning by using the surrounding sentences and words?", "...
[ "an assignment that says: Exposition and Ammunition – back story. I have been", "got an assignment that says: Exposition and Ammunition – back story. I have", "online but I don't get it. Can someone explain it for me please?", "writing class and I got an assignment that says: Exposition and Ammunition –", "...
[ "I'd welcome more specific examples of any unchallengeable taboos. Thanks.) > > Edited:", "trying to publish -> social suicide (loss of friends, literary agent - if", "> The question is: how to deal with the following dilemma > >", "> Edited: > > > The question is: how to deal with the", "while displaying...
[ "in parallel, so I detail those plots each in a separate document. But", "to make sure all those \"threads\" are woven together nicely because I have", "together? I usually run 2 or 3 plot-lines in parallel, so I detail", "not to rely on memory alone, because I tend to forget things I", "all those \"threads...
[ "mainly just a series of examples, with a short theoretical introduction to each", "Algebra, (freshman course). This is mainly just a series of examples, with a", "just a series of examples, with a short theoretical introduction to each chapter", "there any good tips about what a reader might prefer: * Should...
[ "of editors such as copy editor, line editor and development editor. I'd like", "editor, line editor and development editor. I'd like to know the different categories", "development editor. I'd like to know the different categories of editors and their", "different kinds of editors such as copy editor, line e...
[ "book that the original author (me) is mentioned somewhere. Under which license should", "I just want two things: 1. I am the only person who can", "others). 2. If anybody uses the material from the book that the original", "if the book is copied, translated, printed, shared, ... I just want two", "for free...
[ "the key things I have to focus on or I have to keep", "what are the key things I have to focus on or I have", "to focus on or I have to keep in my mind, when I", "very much, so I want you to share your thoughts, what are the", "my mind, when I write poems. When I wrote short love poems, five", "then peop...
[ "emails), I often find that I end up talking about my life in", "rather than intellectualises. Also, when someone writes such a mundane letter, how would", "not met. This is something that used to be popular before online dating", "a question regarding the art of letter writing. I believe in the old-fashioned...
[ "great lengths to convey emotion and detail. I am often proud of my", "with a beginning, climax, and resolution. I would very much like to put", "given unique abilities (think Heroes). But when attempting to devise challenges for them", "unique narrative. To pose this question in a single summary sentence: ...
[ "and describe the speaker point to some building during the word \"this\". How", "For example, I want to build a sentence like: \"Look Jones, this will", "sentence? 1. \"Look Jones,\" Dan pointed at the castle, \"this will be yours", "see, I have problems with comma placement, quote placement and general fo...
[ "novel, but no one really says what else their job entails. What else", "publisher for your novel, but no one really says what else their job", "else their job entails. What else does an agent do that makes them", "lot more than just finding a publisher for your novel, but no one", "one really says what els...
[ "a little out of my reach. Namely the structure of the sentences and", "just the easy to grasp problems. I've tried to find a style guide,", "the easy to grasp problems. I've tried to find a style guide, or", "such as manners and etiquette yielded little to nothing. **So how does one", "Namely the structure...
[ "write well without first constructing a detailed (10-20 page) outline. Are there any", "and find that I cannot write well without first constructing a detailed (10-20", "first constructing a detailed (10-20 page) outline. Are there any good outlining solutions", "outline. Are there any good outlining solutio...
[ "discussed [here](https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/41/what-is-a-normal-length-for-a-chapter)). I'm interested to know when should I end my chapters conceptually.", "[here](https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/41/what-is-a-normal-length-for-a-chapter)). I'm interested to know when should I end my...
[ "OmniWriter and DarkRoom and I'm interested in using them, but I'm skeptical as", "out about full-screen writing applications like OmniWriter and DarkRoom and I'm interested in", "Based on experiences, do these applications really help one towards writing? Why or", "useful for improving productivity. Based on...
[ "powerful tools in both explaining and misrepresenting a complex topic. What methodology works", "complex topic. What methodology works well for finding good analogies and how does", "methodology works well for finding good analogies and how does one figure out", "and misrepresenting a complex topic. What met...
[ "I'm wondering what processes you might go through in order to develop a", "unique 'voice' for a character? I'm concerned specifically with applying this to stage", "character voice development for novels or other I would also be interested in", "development for novels or other I would also be interested in h...
[ "track of who I've submitted to, when, if they've replied, and preferably tell", "of who I've submitted to, when, if they've replied, and preferably tell me", "if they've replied, and preferably tell me how long it's been out. Any", "suggestions? Preferably something that I don't need an internet connection t...
[ "turn it into something different than originally intended. What do you say? Should", "when getting too emotional or should I use that emotional response somehow? If", "which a father plays with his child can get some strong emotional responses", "stop writing when getting too emotional or should I use that e...