Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [introduction]

Questions regarding the beginning of a work, or regarding the meeting of characters for the first time.

48 questions
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How should a big universe be introduced without being boring?

If I have a big universe that I need to set up, with lots of characters, lots of locations, magic rules, technology, government rules, is it okay to introduce and explain all of this at the beginning? How much of can be introduced at the beginning…
SomeBeginner
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How do I get my readers through the early, "hardship" part of my fiction?

A reader of one of my works told me, "It was very interesting, the last two thirds of it anyway." Her fear was that I might lose my readers in the first one-third of the work. The above work was a three act play, with a crisis and hardship in the…
Tom Au
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How should I introduce multiple characters without it being repetitive?

In my story, I have 8 characters I really want to focus on, which is already a pretty large cast to begin with. At the beginning of the book, something important happens to each of the 8 that kicks off the main conflict of the story. The…
Eucaa
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How can I introduce the names of fantasy creatures to the reader?

In the story, these fantasy creatures are everyday animals that most people in the story already know. How can I introduce them in an natural way that instantly makes readers remember their names? The story is in comic book form, so that might open…
M Arif Rahman Winandar
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1 answer

With an introduction by

This was originally a part of my question about partnering with a website, but I think it's separate enough to deserve its own post: Many books are published with an introduction by a better-known author, or academic, or public figure, whose name on…
Chris Sunami
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How do I introduce a character with two identities?

In my story, there is a person with a superhero identity, and I want the character to meet the main character without there being any action involved. I need a way for the two to meet by chance. I need the characters to have some type of…
Khole
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Difference between an 'Abstract' and an 'Introduction' in a feature article?

I have to write a feature article for school. However, I'm confused how an abstract [a summary of my points] is different to an intro [Where you outline the points you're going to be elaborating in the body paragraphs] Original Example: Title:…
user3289740
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Guidance on pacing the introduction of new characters

I'm adding a qualifying question to the end of this question. So I have (let's say) two types of feedback in my beta critiques and real-life writing clubs. One is that I have floating heads syndrome, - conversations without grounding and…
SFWriter
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Writing a PhD thesis. Question about (an informal) introduction

I am preparing scientific thesis for the degree of PhD. It is a mathematical thesis. It is usually very difficult to tell your colleagues and friends what are the things you exactly work on with detail. It is a widely spread opinion that mathematics…
Mark
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Writing a song as the hook

I am at the free-writing stages of writing my high fantasy novel. I am looking at or experimenting with different methods for hooking the reader and driving their attention towards the rest of my story. I am currently considering the idea using a…
Alexander
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Is my writing 'disjointed', and if so how can I fix it?

First page of my fantasy novel. I'm told my writing is disjointed and jerky, but have no idea in what way! And it's driving me crazy that I don't know where the holes in my boat are so I can't really patch them. This was a stupid idea. Heh, like…
Krystal
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When a new character speaks, do you describe them in the same paragraph, or in a new paragraph?

I'm making my own book, but I'm not sure what to do in the following situation: If you were to write a line of dialogue when introducing a new character, then describe the same character, do you describe them within the same paragraph, or start a…
Breeze
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A intro of the story where the main character talking through a microphone

I plan to change my prologue into where the character is talking his story to another dimension's audience. The problem is, I don't know how to write the first step properly. Is it [Recording], [Mic on], or is it just something else? (His…
Artemis Silver
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What's the difference between the abstract and the introduction in academic writing?

I'm really trying to understand the difference between the abstract and the introduction in academic writing. In my opinion, the abstract just talks about the aim of the article and the structure of the article. And the introduction discusses the…
M_L_Sing_Jump_Rap
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Can I have both a prologue and an introduction in my book?

I have a prologue I'm working on right now, however, I want to add an introduction as well. What I mean is that I want to write about why and how I created the story (an introduction), but I want some backstory (the prologue, what the character was…
Typo
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