February 2012
4 posts
Anonymous asked: I've always been confused between "Alright" and "All right" Can you clarify which one is actually correct? And what the right meaning/use is in a sentence.
For those of you who sent your work to Deidre to...
Everything in my inbox and sent folder got wiped and I didn’t realize until today when I was searching for a letter from my prof. I can only take this to mean that none of you got my responses! I am soooo sorry.
For those of you who want something critiqued: please, feel free to send them to me, too! To make up for this hassle, I will read and respond to /every/ submission tonight before...
Anonymous asked: Are any of you actually dedicated to a story that you're writing right now?
January 2012
24 posts
Anonymous asked: This is kind of related to that question about prophecies — if I'm writing historical fiction, is there a method or "test" to determine what a character could or could not have known in a given time period? Or should I just be careful and do lots of research? Thanks! :)
4 tags
skinheadnamedrandybutternubs asked: All of my writings seem to lack something, and I think it's dialogue. It never seems REAL. Could you give me some basic tips for using dialogue in stories?
Anonymous asked: um... Hey! I was wondering if you guys critique pieces of writing...? Because I have the feeling I'll really need it, haha...
themysterywhichbindsmestill asked: Can I be involved in writer leopard being a screenwriter, not a novelist? Cause I still totally relate :)
cornellnotetakingsystem asked: Are there any blogs that are like creative writing classes? Like a blog of story ideas and writing prompts and whatnot?
Anonymous asked: Do the anon who wants to edit, I suggest googling Holly Lisle's One-Pass Revision. I do more than one pass, but editing is so much more than grammar and mistakes, it's often rewriting large chunks of the story and replotting/cutting, etc etc.
Practice never makes perfect.
write-me-a-novel:
Because there’s no such thing as “perfection” in writing. And being a perfectionist doesn’t help when it comes to words and thoughts, abstract concepts that don’t just have one answer or final solution.
Practice makes progress.
And progress is what you need.
Anonymous asked: How do I edit a book? Sorry for the silly question (and for asking it in the wrong blog), but I really need to know.
4 tags
Detail Oriented for Great Justice →
I’m not sure if this has been submitted before, but little_details is a wonderful livejournal community full of resources for a writer who wants to get the facts straight. An extensive tags list contains posts with information on everything from soporific sponges (used in the late middle ages as anesthesia, inducing unconsciousness) to the fate of farming on earth after an asteroid strike.
...
jcatgrl asked: I often hear people say to aspiring writers that they should keep a consistent schedule for writing, but as a high school student, my workload can vary wildly from day to day, both in terms of homework and in chores that my mom assigns me. How can I keep a steady writing schedule when I have no idea how much free time I'll have on any given day?
25 Things Writers Should Stop Doing (Right Fucking... →
4 tags
Seventh Sanctum has lots of good generators for... →
Anonymous asked: I'd like to say thanks for an answer you said a while ago on a reason to get supernatural powers. It really helped my book, and now I'm done with it, and I'm getting a proof copy soon! Thank you so much!
cyber-slum asked: There are a lot of gender-neutral pronouns out there, like ze, zhe, ne, etc. The Wikipedia page on gender-neutral pronouns lists many.
starsinthegutter asked: there are gender neutral pronouns for genderless characters. see- zie zir zim.
starrypeaches asked: I'm thinking of writing a story in which one of the characters has no gender. What pronoun should I use? Is "they" okay?
perrinian asked: Do you have any sources for thinking up a plot to a story? Because I have these characters that I really want to write, but no idea what situation to put them in. This is new for me, as usually the character and story come hand in hand, but now I just have a crap-load of characters and no plot.
Anonymous asked: I've been writer's blocked (that's an expression, right?) for about half a year now, any idea how to shake it off? I tried forcing myself to write but everything I put down is just plain rubbish...
Anonymous asked: I am stuck on multiple ideas for stories and I can't decide! I'll start working on one and then I decide I want to do the other and I never get one finished. Help?
2 tags
alwaysanduntiltheveryend asked: Hi! Sorry if someone has already asked this but I'll go ahead. I had a great idea for a novel. I've been planning it for about a week so far but I feel like I'm over analysing everything, I've created huge lists of major to minor protagonists and antagonists, etc. I feel like I'm over planning every thing and I'm worried that when I get down to the actual writing,...
December 2011
4 posts
gentlemantown asked: I really hate to be a bother, but you guys have given out some absolutely fabulous advice. <3 Do you have any tips on analytical essays? Maybe some things you have done yourself/yourselves? I guess that's not related to original stories, but.. yeah. Thanks in advance! You obviously don't have to respond right away. Feel free to take your time, I know you guys are busy. :) ❤
vulpesinculta:
102 Resources for Fiction Writers
Are you still stuck for ideas for National Novel Writing Month? Or are you working on a novel at a more leisurely pace? Here are 102 resources on Character, Point of View, Dialogue, Plot, Conflict, Structure, Outlining, Setting, and World Building, plus some links to generate Ideas and Inspiration.
CHARACTER, POINT OF VIEW, DIALOGUE
10 Days of...
November 2011
14 posts
Anonymous asked: how do you write a novel about a topic no one knows anything about? like area 51, for example.
Anonymous asked: What do you do when a plot of a novel you love is too similar to a TV show and a popular series of books?
3 tags
Maps!
Autorealm is designed for making RPG maps but it works well for general cartography, too.
adventuresofmegatron asked: I've laid out a map for the world portrayed in my novel-in-progress, but I'm not exactly an artist. Are there any programs online that you would recommend for constructing a fake map? Am I better off just using basic shapes in Photoshop?
Anonymous asked: Sorry if someone already asked something like this but, how do you plan out a story? I started writing and had a couple pages written when I realized I had no idea what was going to happen next. I created the main characters and setting but really didn't think of a plot. Is there any way to try and get my story organized?
Anonymous asked: My fellow anon (the one who asked about a nameless character) could try reading Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison if that helps. ♥
Anonymous asked: I'm writing a story where the main character doesn't have a name. Later in the story the character will get a name but till then, how can I write about him without using "him" and "he all the time?
lungs-and-livers asked: Hey there, I love your blog and I just have a small question. Do you think it's alright to start in the middle of a story or after the beginning? My muse is slowly dying as I write the beginning and I'm so excited to reach the middle bit with the action. Also, do you use anything to help you develop characters or such?
Anonymous asked: I have an accquatience that takes characters I've made and steals them, changes them a little, then calls them her own. Today I saw one of her new characters that she had just made and it was an exact copy of one of mine (who she knows exsists and has seen drawn many times), the only difference being that she added a tattoo on the characters face, just below her eye. She's told me that I...
“Wicked people never have time for reading. It’s one of the reasons for their...”
– Lemony Snicket (via thebookishdark)
Anonymous asked: I love reading and writing, but, the thing is, lately I don't have much time for it. And that worries me, because everyone keeps saying if you're serious about it, you should make time, make sacrifices, etc, but the truth is I'm so swamped with schoolwork and chores that even when I have a few free hours, I'm too tired. I still have the urge to read/write, but oftentimes...
wevegotplanstomakeplans asked: What do you think of using the word "yesterday" when writing past-tense descriptions? I've seen it used before but can't bring myself to write it, opting for "the previous day" or something to that effect. An example: "He looked at the newspaper, which advertised a clinic that had taken place yesterday."
October 2011
37 posts
icanwritelikeyou asked: My writing is very to the point. I still describe things and paint a picture but I don't ramble about it. I feel that it gives the reader a bit more reign with how they picture things. However, as comfortable as I am with this style other people seem to like pointing out that I should expand my descriptions. People are different I understand that but I want to be a published author after...
neo-ttaemune asked: Hi there, love your blog! I'm currently writing a story that's set around 3000 years ago in Ancient Egypt. The story is in English, but I'm having a bit of a stylistic issue. So far I've written everything in relatively modern English (kind of like this message), but since the setting is historical, I feel it might be better to write in a more old-fashioned style (similar to...
4 tags
Fifteen Ways to Write a Novel (Max Barry) →
I don’t know if this has been submitted yet, but I found it helpful. Also topic with NaNoWriMo coming up.
(Via primarysourcebook)
mylifewouldsuckwithoutchocolate asked: so one problem i'm having is related to characters. I'm having difficulty making them unique, in their appearence and their personality. :/ how do i make them more exciting to read about? i've tried character profiles but i just end up with brown hair/green eyes/quiet/rude/clumsy/blahblahblah. i need to make them more interesting :(