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1500 questions
27
votes
9 answers
Plot twist where the antagonist wins
I’m putting together this story and its formative stages are almost complete. However, I am genuinely interested as to how the ending would appear to the reader.
My protagonist is a skilled character whose powerful traits allow him to succeed…
Jesticulator
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27
votes
13 answers
The unknown and unexplained in science fiction
Science fiction has been defined as a genre where the "incredible" elements are "recognizable as not-true, but also as not-unlike-true, not-flatly- (and in the current state of knowledge) impossible" (According to Darko Suvin, from Wikipedia link).…
Liquid
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27
votes
14 answers
Non-trope happy ending?
This is in the idea stage, but I was wondering...
In stories involving multiple protagonists (4 or more) that make and end relationships, date each other, etc. during the course of the story, the typical happy ending happens when everyone has found…
Tom
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27
votes
15 answers
Is a lawful good "antagonist" effective?
In my post-apocalyptic novel, my protagonist is not necessarily "good", and although the antagonist is an honest and kind person, my protagonist perceives her as "evil". My antagonist is the leader of a group of survivors, and cares deeply for her…
user34214
27
votes
14 answers
How to write a chaotic neutral protagonist and prevent my readers from thinking they are evil?
I've come across a problem with one of the main characters in my book. The "heroine" of my story starts out as an apathetic self-absorbed hacker, who seeks adrenaline thrills to find meaning in her life. With that in mind, I tried to show this kind…
Joe-You-Know
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27
votes
8 answers
Best tool to create ebooks?
What is a recommended tool for turning a completed manuscript (a Word document) into an ebook (specifically, an EPUB file or Kindle-compatible Mobipocket file)?
I would prefer something that:
recognizes chapters and generates a table of contents…
Cliff Hangerson Page
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27
votes
8 answers
I feel like my book is too small and I’m kind of just throwing all my ideas out too quick. Does this mean filler might be necessary?
My book seems like it’s going to be way too short. My goal was 300 pages but it seems like it’s barely gonna make 100. What should I do?
Angel
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27
votes
6 answers
Writing discipline
In today's frenetic, fast-paced lifestyle (especially if writing is not currently your career or means of earning an income), it can be extremely difficult to "make" or find the time that can be set aside and dedicated to writing. Not only that,…
Zayne S Halsall
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27
votes
10 answers
Does everything have to be accurate?
Do I have to make everything apply to logic, physics, science, etc?
The Harry Potter series has been a major hit, and it is nowhere near to being scientifically possible. But I've noticed that I can't seem to just "let things be" in my writing, as…
A curious writer
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27
votes
6 answers
Is it Ok to make up places if I want the reader to think it’s set in the real world?
What I’m doing is making a story in the medieval times and I wanted to make up a village and have my characters be there and travel around there but do I have to make everything around there in the book like how it was in real life? For example if…
Angel
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27
votes
22 answers
Can a book be written without an antagonist?
I have had this thought running through my head and wondered what your thoughts were on it. Can a book, a story I should say, be written without an antagonist or antagonistic theme? I have an idea to write a story which takes place in the…
Michael
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27
votes
12 answers
What does Show don't Tell actually mean
I am asking this question because I think we need a precise definition of what Show Don't Tell means if we are to decide if it is good advice or bad, or if it is a valid suggestion for certain passages but not a general rule for a whole book.
Orson…
user16226
27
votes
1 answer
Pantsing a story?
I heard a writer talking about pantsing a story. What does that mean?
Elizabeth Schechter
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27
votes
1 answer
What are those "countdown" numbers on the copyright page?
On the copyright pages in many books I find the following "countdown" numbers and I am wondering what the significance of this is?
In a non-fiction book I have, "The Call of the Mild" it looks like:
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
But in a fiction book,…
Cyberherbalist
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26
votes
4 answers
From Markdown to .odt and vice-versa: a possible distraction-free writing workflow?
I'm writing a master thesis (Sociology) and I'm really penalized by distractions. I would happily shift to a markdown full-screen environment but I wrote an half of the thesis in .odt via LibreOffice, so I would like to know if it's possible to…
Kropot
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