Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Most Popular

more tags
1500 questions
30
votes
11 answers

Is it wrong to use the same word multiple times within a few sentences?

I have been told before that when describing things in writing I should use different words, and not to repeat myself so it doesn't become redundant, but sometimes there are no other words that work as well. For example, I've written things before…
EmmieCG
  • 589
  • 1
  • 5
  • 11
30
votes
7 answers

How do I promote a self-published book?

I am in the process of writing a book and I'm considering setting up my own publishing agency to get it published, or else publish solely through the internet, but there is the obvious problem of distribution that arises. If and when I actually…
Tom Dacre
  • 512
  • 4
  • 10
30
votes
7 answers

Do most novels not get published?

If a person writes a novel, grammar alright, decent story, word count, etc. everything okay, Is it a crap shoot for that person to get published? Is it just like the lottery or maybe better chances? Is it like a band hoping to get discovered or a…
johnny
  • 1,343
  • 2
  • 14
  • 22
29
votes
15 answers

I feel like people would mock me for trying to become an author at 12, what should I do?

So, I'm writing a few books at the moment. I really want to become an author when I'm older, but I'm much too shy to email a proper author about what to do or show it to many people. I really feel like people would mock me for aspiring to be an…
user47159
29
votes
20 answers

How can I handle a powerful mentor character without killing them off?

I'm writing a book series that involves people with various superpowers. One of these characters and is more or less the mentor of the protagonists. This character is the leader of the "good guy" superhuman faction, have a great deal of experience…
user2352714
  • 4,685
  • 18
  • 45
29
votes
9 answers

Are there jobs that involve creative writing in the software industry?

I've been a developer for some years now, but I've realized that I need a job where I can be more creative (and hopefully work more with people (except dba's)). Since I love writing, but at the same time have both an education and experience in the…
erikric
  • 2,504
  • 18
  • 30
29
votes
13 answers

Should I avoid "big words" when writing to a younger audience?

I was writing the other day and I used the word "ubiquitous". While I don't think "ubiquitous" is the most egregious example of "Using Big Words To Sound Intelligent", and would be perfectly acceptable in most novels, it's just, my novel's…
klippy
  • 2,041
  • 2
  • 14
  • 22
29
votes
13 answers

How to tell readers that I know my story is factually incorrect?

Sometimes, it so happens that I do some research for a story and find that a major plot point could never work in real life. At this stage, I can either continue with my impossible (for a non-fantasy, non-scifi setting) idea, or scrap it…
tryin
  • 2,468
  • 12
  • 23
29
votes
8 answers

Is it ok to use "aluminium" in an otherwise American English text?

I am not an American English native (I'm actually a German native speaker) but, when I write, I use the American style of words predominantly. However, I always use aluminium instead of aluminum, following the nomenclature that is used by all the…
Trish
  • 1,078
  • 10
  • 15
29
votes
13 answers

Painting ritualistic murder in a "good-guy" light?

My good guys murder people. They slowly carve runes onto them to help defeat the bad guys. Sure they try to use "society's worst" people for the rituals, but realistically that doesn't always happen. This is revealed to the main character and when…
scohe001
  • 1,354
  • 10
  • 19
29
votes
15 answers

Creating an incompetent antagonist

I'm in the early stages of developing a fantasy story. At a high level, it involves the tried-and-true, if cliched, plot line of "Scrappy group of rebels fights for liberation against the oppressive Evil Emperor". Here's the catch: The Empire…
Belgabad
  • 885
  • 1
  • 9
  • 9
29
votes
7 answers

What is a subtle way of mentioning a man became physically aroused?

In my novel, I'm currently writing from a male's perspective and I need a bit of help. It's not an erotic book, but I'm writing a flashback from his teenage years which involves a bosom hug and I think it's realistic and fitting to mention something…
Margaret Belt
  • 561
  • 1
  • 4
  • 9
29
votes
14 answers

Are reactive protagonists inherently a bad thing?

I'm just getting into writing and while reading about it I've found a lot of topics which claim that reactive protagonists are generally frowned upon. Reactive: Acting in response to a situation rather than creating or controlling it. I'm having…
Valrog
  • 886
  • 1
  • 10
  • 16
29
votes
10 answers

Mixing humour with horror in fiction

I got into trouble last year for submitting an assignment (Masters in Creative Writing) that included a story that sprinkled elements of humour (think Despicable Me) into a gritty and frankly disturbing tale of a homeless man swapping bodies/minds…
robertcday
  • 7,743
  • 25
  • 75
29
votes
7 answers

Where can I find resources for bedtime story plots?

For past ten months, my wife and I have been telling bedtime stories of our own making to our older daughter (who recently turned 4). We do it on alternate evenings. The stories have a nearly-constant set of characters who face various situations…
Boris Bukh
  • 371
  • 3
  • 7
1 2 3
…
99 100