Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [novel]

Novels are long-form prose fiction, typically over 40,000 words. Questions that use this tag can relate to writing, editing, publishing, formatting or technique as applied specifically to novels. If the question applies to more than just novels, it should probably use the Fiction tag instead.

Novels are long-form prose , typically over 40,000 words. Questions that use this tag can relate to writing, , , or s as applied specifically to novels. If the question applies to more than just novels, it should probably use the tag instead and if the goal is to have an even broader scope you may wish to use the tag.

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Can I be a writer, with a mental illness?

I want to be a writer, but I have struggled with Schizoaffective Disorder for quite some time. Some of the symptoms of the disorder are amotivation and trouble with initiation (Getting things started). I have written many, many incomplete short…
Jared Eli Walsh
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Should I start writing my novel or first learn on short stories?

As a new writer, Is it okay to dive on my idea of a long story (a novel) or to first try short stories? I am very excited to start on my concept but am not sure if it is better to first try smaller projects to gain confidence.
Dev
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How do I translate the uncertainty and suspense of a dice-based RPG into a story adaptation?

In a dice-based role-playing game, any action you take can either succeed or fail based entirely on the luck of the dice. This is part of what makes the story that is woven during a role-playing game so interesting - you have twists and turns that…
Mithical
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How do I create the rest of the story when I only know the ending?

I know the ending of the first book I want to write but, I'm not sure how to start it or what will happen in the middle. I know I am completely working backwards on writing a story but, every time I sit down to brainstorm ideas I either find my mind…
Cameron Suchy
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When writing a novel where do you start?

I have many abstract ideas for a novel, including characters, storyline etc.. I have found that writing my ideas down helps make them more real and concrete.The problem I am having is that I will write a scene for the story, then I will work on…
Virginia
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Sign language in books

If you have a character who is mute and uses sign language, how would you write what they’re saying? I don’t know if it’s literary appropriate to use quotes or narrate. Example. Jon looked at the group of people in front of him and began to sign.…
WitchCuddles
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I have too much dialogue, how do I add more description?

I was looking at the last book I wrote. In it, I failed to meet the word count I had set for myself by a big margin, like 40,000 words instead of 60-70,000. Doing a post mortem, I found that most of my work has a lot of dialogue, and very little…
Shantnu Tiwari
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When writing a novel set in Colombia, do you use Spanish for the dialogue?

The title says it all. I'm unsure whether to go for the realism of the language or the ease of the reader by using English .
user32114
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Are more or less details better for details that do not play a role in the story but describe where part of the story takes place?

I'm testreading a novel for somebody I know. It's an adventure novel targeted at teens, with ~60k words. At one point in the first quarter, one of our protagonists comes across some huts. The huts aren't given a discription. These huts are later in…
Mithical
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Writing a novel that is set (semi-)inside an established universe

How free are we to write a story that is set inside another universe, that doesn’t necessarily mention anyone or anything specifically about said universe? For example, let’s say that I want to write a story set inside the Harry Potter universe…
Tetris Boy
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Is it okay to keep my drafts unread by others?

I got the idea of writing a novel, I'm just afraid to show it to other since It's not yet done. Is that okay? thanks
Frederick
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How do I Make a Fictional Journal Interesting Yet Believable?

I am currently working on a novel, temporarily titled "Broken Collections." It's a collection of different writings this girl suffering with Bipolar disorder has made. Most of this being her journal, but also interspersed are letters to her distant…
Lunar Eclyptica
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Do I quote this, italicize, or something else?

The sentence is: “Where do you want these?” Jon’s publisher asked, bobbling a box with the word books scrawled across the side. What do I do with the word, "books"? Do I quote it (as above)? Should I italicize it? Is there a rule here or is it…
user249705
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How long can a first novel be?

I am writing my first novel, which has gathered about 150000 words. I guess it will be around 170-180k words when it is finished. Assuming that it will loose 20% after the first draft, it will have around 150k words when it is finished. Is this too…
Alex
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Are there any contests for teenage writers?

Are there writing competitions/awards for novel length works by authors under 18? There are certainly prizes for professional novelists, and amateur novelists, but I'm looking for something for under 18s or under 16s...
Joe
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