Most Popular
1500 questions
11
votes
8 answers
Fiction Writing - has it all been done before?
It's a simple fact the there are more fiction books in existence now than one person could possibly read in a lifetime. Add to this the supposition that all plots, themes and genres have been thoroughly explored, and I arrive at the conclusion that…
robertcday
- 7,743
- 25
- 75
11
votes
9 answers
Should I start work on a sequel before I have sold my book?
I finished the 1st draft of my book, and have put it in the freezer(as I asked about in this question). I was planning to start work on a sequel of the book in the meantime.
But I was told by someone that I should not work on a sequel till I have…
Shantnu Tiwari
- 6,913
- 3
- 27
- 57
11
votes
4 answers
How do you deal with Chapter 2 when Chapter 1 is a volcano opening?
I know the logic behind volcano openings and why they’re problematic (they set the expectation that that level of action and excitement will continue; they’re a hard act to follow; they make a promise you can’t possibly fulfil; etc.) but it is the…
GGx
- 9,923
- 1
- 26
- 51
11
votes
4 answers
How much can I trust my players to remember previous states of the story and not get confused?
In my game, the player may run into deadends in the story, which causes the game to end prematurely. This can range from the player simply getting killed, another important character in the story getting killed or an important event happening or not…
user23083
11
votes
6 answers
Do my characters need to have different mannerisms in order to be perceived as different?
My editor returned to me with her initial critique of my novel, saying some characters were too similar, and that they had the same likes and dislikes and flaws.
The characters she mentioned were exactly the characters whose personalities were more…
Klara Raškaj
- 2,404
- 1
- 16
- 33
11
votes
4 answers
How do I write a deep conversation scene?
So two brothers are having a conversation about one wanting not to be a vampire anymore, and asks him if there is a way he can change to human. How do I make the conversation interesting and wanting the readers to read more?
Alison Smith
- 329
- 2
- 3
11
votes
6 answers
What are the advantages and disadvantages of digital rights management for self-published authors?
DRM (digital rights management) is being used in just about every electronic format, including files used in electronic readers. My question is whether this is a good thing or a bad thing for writers, or does it really matter?
Since an author with…
Steven Drennon
- 10,565
- 3
- 35
- 75
11
votes
7 answers
Intentionally leaving out a part of the story, for a more interesting reveal?
In the story I am writing, I have a character who is working on a project and will present it to a group of judges who will mark it in a sort of examination. The project is a source of stress for the character, and also provides a sort of paradigm…
Erdrik Ironrose
- 1,793
- 9
- 22
11
votes
2 answers
Structure for software documentation: long vs short pages
For online, developer-centered documentation for a complex software product, which structure is going to be more usable: a smaller number of long, comprehensive pages, or a larger number of more granular pages? Which organization should I choose to…
user23425
11
votes
4 answers
How long should it take to Revise/Edit to get to Good Enough?
Editing, to focus my question a bit. My goal is to turn a book around from concept to publishable in a 2 year time period. Currently the plan is to write a draft in a year and revise the following, starting the next draft while the first is in…
Kirk
- 7,600
- 1
- 14
- 45
11
votes
5 answers
Why do ebooks often mimic the layout of the printed page?
I was recently editing a novel destined to be published primarily in e-book form, and made a list of pre-press instructions, to be followed when the final text is agreed upon. Some of these instructions were only needed because the text mimics the…
Goodbye Stack Exchange
- 9,396
- 6
- 32
- 74
11
votes
6 answers
Should important events that happen a long time before the rest of the story be in a prologue or in chapter 1?
Context: I’m currently writing a novel that has a built in prologue. I’m unsure if I should use the prologue as the first chapter. It involves the main character being sent away by his parents for his own protection. The rest of the book doesn’t…
user629
- 181
- 6
11
votes
4 answers
Can I keep my characters in my book or should I just give up with them?
My OCs (Original Characters) were stolen by an older person. She may or may not have copyrighted them. A few years ago I was like 13 and I posted some characters I made up and I really love them. One day I got on and saw someone posted the character…
Bree
- 111
- 2
11
votes
7 answers
What are the things that only Stories can do?
I've once heard in a youtube channel that only games could do things such as: getting the player into a flux state (something like getting into a meditation while doing something) and when that happens, you have reflexes and movements that you…
Hanilucas
- 1,225
- 9
- 23
11
votes
5 answers
What does "juvenile tone" mean?
I often hear the word thrown around, but I don't have any idea of what it is, or how can it be avoided.
So, what does "juvenile tone" mean and how can I prevent it?
Mephistopheles
- 3,341
- 17
- 45