Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [flow]

This tag should be used for questions about the so-called flow of a literary work. This includes the flow of sentences because of difficult words and the flow of the overall plot because of interruptions, like chapters that are mainly for exposition than advancing the story.

This tag should be used for questions about the so-called flow of a literary work. This includes the flow of sentences because of difficult s and the flow of the overall because of interruptions, like that are mainly for than advancing the . You may also be interested in expanding your to find ways to make your sentences flow better and require assistance in finding , or that support your current quest of .

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Is it wrong to use the same word multiple times within a few sentences?

I have been told before that when describing things in writing I should use different words, and not to repeat myself so it doesn't become redundant, but sometimes there are no other words that work as well. For example, I've written things before…
EmmieCG
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How can I make a character who isn't a jerk seem like one?

I have an MC who, because of certain circumstances, everyone sees him as harsh and cruel at first. As they get to know him through the first few chapters, they eventually see he's nicer than they thought. How do I describe that in a novel? (If you…
Kale Slade
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Pretty flowers with clunky Latin names

I am writing a fantasy novel set in the Middle East. For multiple reasons related to both plot and atmosphere, I'm using flowers and flowering trees a lot in both descriptions and dialogue. Trouble is, many plants that are very common in the Middle…
Galastel supports GoFundMonica
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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
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Should a long flashback be written in first or third person?

In my novel there will be a chapter-length flashback as one character relates a story from his past. The rest of the novel is written in limited third-person, seeing into one person's mind at a time. Does it make sense to switch to first-person for…
Travis
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Secondary characters in character-study fiction

How would a story flow if I made the secondary characters solely for the purpose of showing the reader how the main character has grown though the years? I'm thinking a 10 year span right now. They would serve as "learning tools" if you will,…
Big Sky
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Cutting down story length without leaving out locations

I'd like to write a story and I have plenty of elements for it, up to and including a set of locations, characters and events, as well as some loose sequence for those. This is still a planning phase, though, and I can already see it would span…
Zoltán Schmidt
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Getting Prose to Flow

I've heard some advice on writing, which says that writers should read their drafts aloud, in order to hear any flaws in the sound of their writing. But after I've done this, how should I change my draft? As many books suggest, writing should not…
user25421
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4 answers

Rules of Harmony

When writing prose, I noticed that certain words flow smoothly when placed next to others, while other words do not, but I can never be too sure exactly how smoothly they flow, or whether my cadence is rich enough. Right now my words do not flow too…
user25421
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2 answers

How do I include translations without ruining the flow of the text?

A character speaks two languages throughout the whole plot. How to insert the translation of the other language without ruining the layout of the story or text? For example: "Guten tag, Herr X," they said. How do I insert a translation without…
J. Roberts
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My writing often does not flow

I want to write in lyrical styles, not only in conversational styles, but often when I attempt that, in a rush to be done, my writing does not flow. Am I a bad writer, or am I just not editing enough?
user25421
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2 answers

Any suggestions to improve these three introductory paragraphs of a novel I'm writing (e.g. writing style, description and flow)?

These are the paragraphs: Someone had called me at half past eleven. The phone rang six times breaking the silence and darkness of the room for about ten or twelve seconds. I didn’t pick up. Just left it ringing on the nightstand. My body…
wyc
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How do I make a concluding sentence flow from the previous sentence?

This question was flagged as being similar to another question of mine, so I have to clarify that this question pertains to how I should introduce the concluding sentence, whereas the other one pertains to which position a bridge sentence should…
user3776022
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Is history best left untold?

I am working on a fantasy novel and have built my world leading up to the 'main story'. Much of the context of the story has to do with religions created by past civilizations and references to "the Kings of Old". I have started from the beginning…
Acumen Simulator
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Is it a bad idea to have all the action in the beginning and all the dialogue in the end?

I wrote a short story. All the action happens mainly at the beginning of the story. You can see part of the beginning in this question, and the full story here). This is the dialogue and ending (just edited it once): "Excuse me," he said, after…
wyc
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