Highest scored questions
13,316 questions
224
votes
26
answers
33k
views
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 ...
189
votes
9
answers
20k
views
"Dear Stack Exchange, I am very disappointed in you" - How to construct a strong opening line in a letter?
In light of recent events, I intended to write a simple letter of complaint to StackExchange. The obvious thing to do would be to write an opening with the fact such as
It came to my knowledge that ...
- 10.7k
147
votes
20
answers
15k
views
How do you write a Stack Exchange answer?
Over my years on StackExchange I've come to view answering SE questions as its own, highly specialized writing subgenre, with its own demands, and its own ideal format. By trial and error, and ...
- 56.7k
102
votes
12
answers
18k
views
How can I write about historical realities that readers mistakenly believe are unrealistic?
Readers have certain expectations about locations and time periods, things they "know". For example, people "know" that everybody in the Persian Empire was brown-skinned, that houses in Ancient Rome ...
101
votes
12
answers
3.4m
views
How to write a prompt email?
What guidelines and language should be used to write a prompt email? Ideally I would like it to be:
Respectful
Not too formal
In particular I am thinking in terms of business, and communication ...
- 1,135
97
votes
17
answers
11k
views
What's the modern way to handle gender in tech writing?
Back in my day, I was taught to use masculine pronouns.
The user chooses a password, and then
he types it in the text box.
I'm fine with that. but a male coworker insists on using he/she, which I ...
- 3,209
93
votes
9
answers
17k
views
Using real words from a foreign culture feels like 'Calling a rabbit a "smeerp"'
I'm working on a novel, that's set in pre-Islamic Persia, in the same general way that The Lord of the Rings is set in Britain. (Meaning, it's set in a world all its own, but there's this source of ...
87
votes
21
answers
10k
views
Do You Use Any Version Controlling Software/Methods As Writers? [closed]
As writers, do you use any version controlling software to track and monitor what you write? For example, if you accidentally deleted or overwritten a paragraph that you'd like to have it back?
...
- 3,435
87
votes
10
answers
36k
views
Should an emoji come before or after a full-stop? 🤔
When I make a hilarious joke on social media it's easy to put an emoji/emoticon/smiley on the end. 😀
But sometimes I want to set the context and make a more reasoned argument over a paragraph or so. ...
- 849
80
votes
12
answers
16k
views
How do I translate into a gendered language where the gender would be a spoiler?
I'm (amateurly) writing the subtitles for an English TV show.
I'll illustrate my question using a small example, but I'm hoping to receive answers as general as possible.
One episode has a sentence ...
Veridian
77
votes
10
answers
17k
views
The Good, the Bad, and the Semicolon
I completed my novel and an editor friend graciously offered to assist me with formatting. As a former scientist, I am more familiar with technical or academic writing, so formatting fiction can be a ...
- 2,660
75
votes
25
answers
30k
views
The protagonist can't defeat the antagonist without the antagonist being stupid
What should I do if my story's plot is built around the antagonist being extremely strong, and by the end it's clear that the protagonist cannot possibly defeat the antagonist, unless the antagonist ...
- 1,105
74
votes
21
answers
6k
views
How to overcome the fact that I can't write?
My problem is that I basically suck at writing. Especially prose.
Part of it is basically because I don't practice as much as I could.
Part of it is because I'm just not talented in that way.
...
- 1,006
73
votes
24
answers
23k
views
How do I know if a concept is sexist or not?
In my story's world, witchcraft is a respected institution, with the most powerful practitioners being at the top echelons of society. Due to this, society traces its lineage through matrilineal lines....
- 1,991
73
votes
13
answers
21k
views
A critic made a comment that my female character sounds like she was written by a man
I'm a man. Working on my sci-fi novel. It's meant to be a light-hearted heist caper. My main character is a woman. She's a strong and sassy character based on the women in my life, and the story ...
- 741