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1500 questions
23
votes
7 answers
Is there a "right" way to interpret a novel? If so, how do we make sure our novel is interpreted correctly?
Is there a "right" way to interpret a novel? If so, how do we make sure our novel is interpreted correctly? I have been told that there's no way of interpreting the true meaning of a book written by an author, because we don't know the intent they…
user36239
23
votes
7 answers
Using font to highlight a god's speech in dialogue
At one point in my story, the characters are addressed by a god. In the ensuing dialogue, this god has a more archaic way of speaking, but even so, I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to visually distinguish the god's speech from the other…
Llewellyn
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23
votes
11 answers
Don't look at what I did there
This question is about hiding from the reader the fact that I am skipping some steps. Worse, perhaps, I don't want to show them, and I may have no clue or intention of figuring out how these steps should go: I simply want to go from scene A to scene…
NofP
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23
votes
6 answers
Is it uncompelling to continue the story with lower stakes?
A big piece of criticism I've seen directed at the last season of Game of Thrones was the fact that
they killed the Night King before the finale, and the last episodes had Cersei, a mere mortal, as the enemy. Considering the Night King wanted to…
A. Kvåle
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23
votes
2 answers
How should I quote American English speakers in a British English essay?
I am working on a formal essay where I have to quote a few American English speakers, but my essay is written in British English. Should I change terms like color to colour?
gen
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23
votes
8 answers
Referring to different instances of the same character in time travel
I am writing a story that involves time travel, and I have a chapter where a character from the future interacts with his present-day self. This chapter is written from the present-day self's POV.
Early feedback on the chapter indicates that I'm not…
Tempo Mental
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23
votes
10 answers
...and then she held the gun
In the short passage I am writing, the starting point is that one character is being held at gunpoint, and the end point is that she now holds the gun, having disarmed the opponent.
The idea is that this sequence happens very rapidly. She is an…
NofP
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23
votes
7 answers
When should one *not* present events in chronological order?
Some stories tell well from beginning to end, all in a neat little line...and some don't.
When can a story be improved by using a different order in the telling?
Off the top of my head, I'd say flashbacks are great when something doesn't make sense…
HedgeMage
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23
votes
5 answers
When writing an error prompt, should we end the sentence with a exclamation mark or a dot?
When writing an error prompt, should we end the sentence with a exclamation mark or a dot?
I am writing an application for iPhone and I have some error prompt in my application like "Your password must be 8 character long with alphanumeric…
user36239
23
votes
6 answers
Can someone publish a story that happened to you?
Can someone take a story that happened to you, without your knowledge, and publish it? Using your name and specifics, and take the copyright for it?
A person, whose mother lived in our small town, heard a story about our father. This person wrote a…
Juli Ridgway
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23
votes
7 answers
How do I create uniquely male characters?
In How to write strong female characters, Standback says that the best way to write a strong female character is to make her uniquely female, the type of character that can not possibly be male and isn't a stereotype.
Lately I have found the…
TMuffin
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23
votes
8 answers
Dead children in pre-modern setting
The reality of pre-Industrial Revolution times was that about half the children born died before age 5. It would be a mistake to think that parents cared less - we have multiple written records showing that they cared very much. At the same time,…
Galastel supports GoFundMonica
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23
votes
16 answers
Not having any white MC's?
(For reference, I am not white. I've asked another question about race here).
So I'm pretty far into writing my dystopian novel and I was reading over what I had. Something that helps me when I first start a novel is to get a clear picture of my…
user34214
23
votes
12 answers
Need advice about changing character's gender
I had this idea for a story/novel that I was very excited about, but also very worried about. The idea had a plot where the character development plot and themes all grow and go together, something I love, and think makes the best stories and that…
worried writer
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23
votes
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How to research sex for writing?
I'm not writing erotica - I'm writing fantasy and sci-fi. But sometimes my characters make love, sometimes in ways I cannot be familiar with. In one story, it's two guys (I'm a girl). In another story, there's a character who uses a wheelchair.
How…
Galastel supports GoFundMonica
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