Frequent Questions
1,966 questions
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Help! I've got Writer's Block
I really want to write, but as soon as I sit down and set pen to paper, my mind goes blank.
I can't think of anything to write. Sometimes I stare at my screen for hours; doesn't help.
If I do think of ...
- 461
44
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15
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What are good places to post your work where it will be read by others?
Seeing this site and reading some of my ridiculous stories that I wrote a while ago makes me want to start writing again. I know I'll be more enthusiastic if I have people reading my work and ...
- 801
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Is it okay to publish a book at a young age?
I am writing a novel. The only big problem I have is that I am 12. I want to know if I am too young to write a novel, or get it published. My family (most of them, anyway) support me, but I don't ...
user14862
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4
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Is my story too similar to an existing published work?
This is meant to be a canonical question, to which particular cases can be referred. We've had several particular instances of this question in the past - "is my story too similar to specific story X"....
26
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11
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What's the best way to show a foreign language in a manuscript?
What's the best way to show a character speaking a foreign language in a fiction manuscript? Should the foreign words be italicized and include a translation? Should it just be included in the ...
- 8,736
43
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14
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What is a normal length for a chapter?
I've always had trouble determining whether my chapters are within the same size realm as chapters in standard books. Since it isn't exactly feasible to count the number of words in a chapter of ...
- 5,983
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12
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How does the 10,000 hour rule apply to writing?
The 10,000 hour rule, popularised by Malcolm Gladwell, says that:
the key to success in any field is, to a large extent, a matter of practicing a specific task for a total of around 10,000 hours
Now,...
- 6,933
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Writing a novel, can I do [this or that]?
I want to write a novel about [something or other] and now I wonder if it is possible to do [this or that].
user5645
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Are there any websites where you can find skilled beta readers?
Beta readers are important to perfecting a novel/novella/short story. They give you a fresh set of eyes, offer opinions, and can be a great moral boost. But where can you find good beta readers? Are ...
- 8,736
224
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The "Rules" of Writing
There are a lot of axioms that get tossed around in creative writing courses, books on writing, and of course, the Internet. Often, these little gems are explained to new writers as though they were ...
58
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41
answers
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What are good reads about writing?
What do you recommend as reading material to improve writing for beginners? If one recommendation is put per answer and can be voted separately a good list of resources should build up.
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Using the real world in writing
To what extent can you use locations, businesses, etc. from the real world in fiction? I know someone cannot copyright a city, but what about a particular location in the city that's private. Can I ...
- 1,285
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The psychology of starting a piece of writing
I have a problem when it comes to writing (blog posts, stories and novels). It might just be me, but maybe other people have experienced it too? When I come to start writing, my ideas before I sit ...
- 7,793
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I'm getting tired of "he said" "she said" in dialogue; how do I get around it?
I get tired of "he said", "she said", "they replied". Is there a better, but still reasonable way, to indicate dialogue?
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When do I explain my created world scenario in a prologue vs. letting it unfold in the story?
Let's say I'm creating a unique world for my book. New planet, maybe new species, complex society with complex rules, history, government, and so on. Some of these details are absolutely necessary to ...
