Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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2 answers

Overuse of bullet points

I collaborate with someone who insists on making every sentence (or two) in a business document into a bullet point, by prefacing it with a bullet. This is typically done across a multi-page document, which is divided into sections with section…
Conor
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PDF e-book page size and fonts

I am self-publishing a free e-book which I will make available in several formats: EPUB, online HTML, PDF. What characteristics should the PDF e-book file have? What should the page size, font size, margins, and so on be?
porton
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6 answers

Ways to improve your writing skills

As a CS major I've learned that knowing how to write is critically important, but, I'm not really sure how to improve my writing skills. I'm currently trying to write a tech blog in English, but, whenever I sit down to write, it just reminds me of…
Wilbeibi
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4 answers

How can I translate my poems in English that it doesn't sound odd/non poetic for English speaker audiences?

There are many translated Persian/Farsi poems in English like The Rubaiyat, by Omar Khayyam, the famous Iranian poet, philosopher, and mathematician, translated by Edward FitzGerald. Unfortunately these kinds of translations were shallow and…
Persian Cat
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6 answers

How can I convey dates (with ordering) for events happening under different dating systems, e.g. a Sci-Fi story spread over the galaxy?

So I want to write a Sci-Fi where humans have spread across the solar system and into the galaxy. There are multiple stories going across at several different times. E.g.: Aliens attack Pluto 3 weeks later, aliens arrive at Mars Flashback scene to…
Shantnu Tiwari
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11
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8 answers

Very simple markup language for writing fiction

I'm using a plain text editor (Vim) to write a fiction piece (chapter book), and I'm wondering what markup languages others use for such a task? I'm looking for something exceedingly simple, it does not have to be powerful at all. Minimum…
brianmearns
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7 answers

Is it better for me to add more advanced words into my book, or is it better to use easy words that any average English-speaker can understand?

To be completely honest, my English vocabulary isn’t that advanced. Currently, my writing-style is very simple and easy to understand. It doesn’t use extremely advanced wording to express things. I’m afraid that because of this my writing my seem…
Nabi
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5 answers

How many short stories make a collection

I would like to know, from someone who has marketed a collection of short stories (or is otherwise knowledgeable in these affairs), about how many short stories a publisher is looking for to constitute a collection. Let's assume all the short…
tylerharms
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Is it morally wrong to use tragic historical events as character background/development?

I'm writing crime fiction. The current scenario is that I have a main character (late 20's) who is Algerian but the story is set in Chicago. He lives in the United States because, as a baby, he fled Algeria with his Uncle after his parents were…
MikeS
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6 answers

Why is it generally important to be consistent with the tone and style of writing?

I was thinking of writing a story that starts out as a serious drama, but suddenly shifts to a comedic tone without any clear reason or transition. I thought it would subvert expectation and make the whole story more funny, but I am not sure if this…
Sayaman
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11
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4 answers

Issues to avoid when writing military sci-fi?

As I plan to write a war story, I'm considering issues I should try to avoid. Few that come to my mind already: Glorification of violence, meaning depiction of violence in a positive way, ignoring ethical issues involved and ugly side effects on…
Krišjānis Liepiņš
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11
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9 answers

Is it OK to have a main character without a goal?

Is it OK to have a main character without a goal? I was told that a good protagonist needs to have a strong goal. It's considered to be a common mistake among aspiring writers. This seems to happen when a character is part of a larger group, which…
Sayaman
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11
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7 answers

Spiritual elements in a science-fiction novel

Does using unexplained spiritual elements (soul, "spiritual"/non-physical beings, afterlife, God, etc.) in a story with a futuristic setting make it science fantasy rather than science fiction?
Jonas Arcangel
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2 answers

Do I always need a comma after a person's name?

This is a big issue between my husband and me. He says always put a comma after a name, I say only when a break is needed. Example: A review of the complaint filed by Andrew, shows that Linnea, and John, did in fact violate state laws when they…
A. McGowan
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How do you merge two comics panels into one?

I thought about it, and I am wondering if there's a way to put 5 seconds of action in 1 single comic frame, or you need to make 5 frames or 1 for each action. Consider the following fictional excerpt. He smashed his shield against the guard, and…
Sayaman
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