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1500 questions
21
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13 answers
For Fantasy Stories, Should You Include a Map At the Beginning of the Book?
If you're writing a fantasy novel, would it be best to include a map of the geography that the story takes place in at the beginning of the book?
I've seen quite a lot of fantasy books (Redwall series, Swordbird, ...) while other fantasy books omit…
JFW
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21
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11 answers
Do 'text walls' scare off readers?
A comment on a recent question of mine claims
Right, so that's [large unformatted text blocks scaring off some readers in certain contexts is] a myth. This is how I know: Harry Potter. Big long books. Lots of text. Lots of readers. People come to…
Please stop being evil
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21
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7 answers
How much detail is too much?
I've read a few amateur stories online and sometimes the author will include so much detail that the reader gets a little bored or distracted and forgets what the actual story is talking about. How do I know whether I am using too much, not enough,…
M. McGarry
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21
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12 answers
Can basic grammar rules be skipped when writing text for machine safety labels?
First of all I'm completely against this idea but a few people who contribute to the technical documentation project constantly suggest that to attain a short, quick, economic, comprehensive message some basic rules can be broken. Things like…
Montag451
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21
votes
7 answers
What are the advantages and disadvantages of writing in first person?
A lot of people are either on the side of first person or the side of third person. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of writing in first person for fiction?
Ralph Gallagher
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21
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4 answers
How does one go about publishing erotica, and how far is too far?
I write erotica, it started out as an amusement to see how far I could go, but it became a real passion after three or four stories. I have even published a few online and those stories have become favorites of many.
A few friends have tried to…
Evil Spork
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21
votes
4 answers
As a non-native English speaker, Is it better to get translated or get copyedited for long texts?
My English level is average. I can write fluently and my vocabulary is not too limited.
With the thought in mind that the end result must be perfect, is it better for me to write my long text (100 pages) in English and then get copyedited by a…
Pierre 303
21
votes
6 answers
Best Way to Develop a Daily Writing Routine?
I would like to go about making a habit of writing to a journal or blog on a daily basis. What techniques or patterns have been the most useful in accomplishing this task?
Urda
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21
votes
6 answers
Are there any places to have community story development?
Are there any places or ways a group (general public or individually invited) of people can individually contribute to a communally developed story?
For example, a website or collaboration tool (besides Word files emailed back and forth).
Reverend Gonzo
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20
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9 answers
Do publishers really need to translate between UK and US English?
Is there really a need for a book to be translated from UK to US English? I'm nearing completion on my own great work, and just want to know if it is truly worth doing a British and an American version, or just release the current version in its UK…
Starkers
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20
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10 answers
Effective techniques for describing pain
I've noticed something in writing: it's difficult to convey pain, and even specific types of pain, to an audience who's comfortably sitting at home in an easy chair.
I can hardly imagine pain until I'm injured myself, in fact. The sting of freezing…
ElizaWy
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20
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4 answers
Do I have legal grounds against a book by an ex which depicts private details of my life, including some false events, without permission?
I recently found out an ex from 6 years ago recently published a book detailing all their past relationships leading up to their present wife. My friend read it and instantly knew when they were writing about me in it.
Half of the book was dragging…
Jynnard
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20
votes
5 answers
How to include deliberate inconsistencies without it seeming like lazy or bad writing?
I'm writing a thriller (scifi/supernatural) and have a race of characters who can bend reality. They've come to earth with the intent of purging humanity. They can do it, but they have limitations. The limitation that's relevant to my question…
aurorajack
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20
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5 answers
Writing a programming book: how to present directory structures
What is good/preferred way of presenting directory trees in programming books?
My main criteria are following:
It should be readable and intuitive
It shouldn't take too much page space
It shouldn't require too much effort from author to create…
Piotr Sobczyk
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20
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7 answers
What makes an ending tragic?
There are questions like, ‘What makes an ending happy?’ Or ‘What is considered a happy ending?’
That’s obviously not what I’m looking for. It’s more the opposite.
Tragic love plots gives me cringes while endings like, ‘They live happily ever after.’…
Artemis Silver
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