Writing Stack Exchange
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1500 questions
14
votes
7 answers

Would a paid-for review from Kirkus give me real insight into quality of my manuscript?

As an amateur writer who has just finished my first manuscript, I want a qualified, non-biased, and thorough opinion on whether what I've written is any good. I recently heard about a service offered by Kirkus where I can pay about $400 or $500 to…
Shane F.
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4 answers

How to create varying, yet realistic, speech patterns

Different characters speak differently. If someone reads me a letter written by an immediate relative, I can tell right away who wrote it. I believe --and correct me if I'm wrong-- that giving each major character a subtly unique way of speaking can…
Yehuda Shapira
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14
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3 answers

Shifting tenses in the middle of narration

I am writing a short story where the narrator is recording a message to his daughter about some tragic event and in between the narration, the narrator sometimes tries to address directly his daughter. Basically, the narrator recounts his story in…
Jerard Dela Victoria
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4 answers

Author changing name

Let us suppose an unmarried female author. She publishes something. Then she gets married, and chooses to change her surname to her husband's. Obviously, she can choose not to change her surname. And she can choose to publish under her maiden name,…
Galastel supports GoFundMonica
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14
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6 answers

Subverting the essence of fictional and/or religious entities; is it acceptable?

I talked to a critique partner not too long ago about an angel in my book. I said, he was a subversive character, in the way that he wasn't 100 % pure and good, like angels in theory are supposed to be. This angel was a cynical, harsh, capable of…
A. Kvåle
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14
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3 answers

Can we have too many dialogue tags and follow up actions?

Can we have too many dialogue tags and follow up actions? I am trying to think of a situation where it might make sense to describe everything the people do while talking, but it also feels overkill, because there are too many actions being…
user36239
14
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4 answers

Has anyone ever written a novel or short story composed of only dialogue?

The participants describe everything needed for the story to continue, within the conversation. The environment, the emotions, everything. The reader gets to "see" it all through their words. Has it been done before? EDIT: I have written 5 chapters…
Daydah
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6 answers

How important are the author's mood and feelings for writing a story?

How important are the author's mood and emotions while writing a story or describing a scene? For example, while writing an erotic scene, is it important for the author to feel the same way as they expect the readers to feel when describing the…
srini
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3 answers

I gave my characters names that are exactly like another book. Is it a problem?

Ok, so, I am currently writing a book and 3 of my characters have the same name as in another novel. I didn't realize it until someone pointed it out to me. The names I picked are fairly common and used frequently in the real world. Is it a problem?…
WidePen
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2 answers

Preferred word for "preferred", "target", "chosen" in end user support documentation

I'm having trouble finding and sticking to one word to indicate whatever value the user intends to use with my instructions. For example: Select your preferred printer. I'm wondering what synonyms for "preferred" you would use in such a…
Pierce Devol
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4 answers

Should I include an appendix for inessential, yet related worldbuilding to my story?

I'm of the opinion that a story should stand on its own; any worldbuilding that is necessary for the plot and story to function should be part of the story. However, at the same time, the world I write in is an extensive, fully-realised world which…
Matthew Dave
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4 answers

How much web presence should I have?

I am getting ready to release my first fictional novel. At the moment I have zero web presence (besides E-mail accounts). I am considering using Amazon's Kindle Direct. Before releasing should I create a Facebook account, and/or any other type of…
Igor
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6 answers

Is it ok to put a subplot to a story that is never meant to contribute to the development of the main plot?

Is it ok to put a subplot to a story that is never meant to contribute to the development of the main plot? In Game of Thrones season 8, a lot of the subplots that were explored in previous seasons were completely dismissed or ignored. While this is…
user36239
14
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4 answers

What matters more when it comes to book covers? Is it ‘professional quality’ or relevancy?

This is a sort of follow up to my previous question. It is generally understood that covers matter a great deal in terms of getting people to click on a fiction eBook and check out its blurb and contents, and covers are the main marketing tool of an…
user394536
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8 answers

Mortal danger in mid-grade literature

In a comment to my post here, Cyn mentions wishing to avoid implying that the characters might all die, because she's writing for a mid-grade audience. Which made me wonder. I remember reading The Hobbit when I was nine or ten - in the mid-grade…
Galastel supports GoFundMonica
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