Hi everyone! I have always been passionate about writing, but never got the chance to publish my articles. So, I created a website and today I published my first post ever! I wish some people read it and give me some feedback on it!

https://saraperestrelo.com/posts/greenland/

Any Recs?

His everyone,

I understand it's abit late because I have already written a lot of stories but I realized I still don't have much of an understanding of prose and if it's a skill that's learnt or if it's your own personality that transfers to your writing.

I always thought it was like a one sided conversation. You write your book and the prose is the way you are conversating with your reader. Can someone please clarify

Just a simple question because I want to include some characters like Archangel Michael and Jesus Christ in my story

I want to set my story in a fictional city that is still in the real world (or at least a world similar to the real world). But I don't want this city to feel like it is a part of a real world country. The reason I can't just use a real city is that I want this city to have a piece of technology that doesn't exist in reality but is a significant part of its culture and history.

I have come up with a few ways I could handle this but I am not sure which would be the best.

1. The city is hidden from the rest of the world. Kind of like Wakanda from marvel or rapture from bioshock.

2. Just never mention where it exists but other than that treat it like any other place.

3. Alternate history/geography. It was present all along at some place in the real world where there is actually nothing.

4. Set the story in a fictional world that is just similar to the real world.

Hello,

I enjoy writing; albeit in a very basic way, minecraft political policy. Trade agreements, diplomatic stuff etc. I also occasionally return to writing an economic philosophy on a diamond backed monetary system.

I am curious as to how many people also do this, I would very much love to see examples of people's work both ideas/notes and written works for my own inspiration. I usually write in Google Docs but find myself wanting to create in-game libraries with works written in Book&quills so examples of these is also appreciated.

Thanks.

I have attached a link of some examples I found to be more what I like from the Stoneworks Minecraft community.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NS31ZhjKA7bj5_Cr2E4LzzRAgUCh4lGeLr-OGjq4F9o/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.yvkuveyzd9hy

Im really an sucker for tropes that go "Child protagonist exits and the adult antagonist is an messed up man who believes said protagonist to be their own child but are actually very possessive and abusive."

Oh and would appreciate if anyone can name the tag for this trope.

New here to this sub! My question is how did you decide to just go for it and start writing a book? For me I get really bad busy head (especially trying to go to sleep at night) and I thought I’d try focusing on coming up with a story rather than thinking about the days events or all the things I need to get done and I found doing this was actually helping me so it made me want explore the idea of writing a book a bit further. I thought that maybe I could use writing a book as an outlet for me to do something for just ME. I even paid for a yearly subscription for an online software meant to guide new authors in writing their first novel. My primary goal at the moment is to do this for myself as a fun hobby/stress reliever and see what might come of it. I don’t have any background in writing but I do feel like I might have the potential to tell a decent story. My problem is that I’m a bit of a perfectionist and quite shy about the idea of doing this so I worry that even if I manage write something it might (A) not be half bad but I will still think it’s utter crap cause I’m so hard on myself or (B) I might be proud of it but will be too embarrassed to let anyone read in in fear that it might actually be terrible. Do I just need to get over it and go for it? I am trying hard to adopt the saying “you won’t know until you try”…at the very least even if nothing comes out of it if it’s something fun for me that I enjoy doing I’m trying to tell myself that that is all that matters so what’s the harm? I guess I’m just looking for others experience and some positive encouragement.

Not complaining or anything, simply commenting. It's something I'm working on. I do believe it's a reflection of a few personal traits - like anxiety - and some external factors.

Just one of a thousand things I need to improve. Being a writer is such bittersweet pain.

I have a question: I really need a idea to help me write short stories. The problem is that I often can't finish my stories. I tend to write a lot in the middle but struggle to complete the ending.

I focus too much on detail, so I'm looking for advice. I thought about setting a time limit to force myself to finish the story without getting caught up in details or overthinking. However, that approach has always failed for me.

Can you please help me with this?

I'm also wondering if I'm the only one facing these issues.

So, I'm a white author about to get started on my third draft of my fantasy novel and recently got advice back from my sister that I agree with but am having trouble figuring out how to execute. Her suggestion was that there needed to be a bigger plot twist (I agree) and that maybe a betrayal of sorts from one of the main characters would work (I also agree) . My issue is figuring out who does the betraying. From my perspective it makes sense plot-wise for only one of the four main characters to be the betrayer but they are also the only POC main character, being from a country in this world that is inspired by Korea. If I go this route, I do plan for her betrayal to be temporary, so she will eventually have a change of heart but still... Something doesn't quite sit right with me about having the only POC main character betray the rest of them at one point but perhaps I'm thinking too much into it.

Does anyone have any advice? I can't afford sensitivity readers and am looking for advice from people of color. I don't need any white people who are never impacted by misrepresentation telling me "it's not that deep".

Newer writers are often told that they will take some time to find their writing voice, or writing style, and I'm not sure what is meant by that

I know this is very broad, but I feel like I'm struggling with this point in my story. It's a realistic story with a slight fantasy element, and I need my main characters to learn about a specific curse/magical thing. But they don't neccesarily know they need to learn about it. I keep having them find things in a book and overhear information but i just feel like thats so lame, and also its just them stumbling into the information instead of actively seeking it, but i don't know if thats not okay. is there any other way I could have them learn this information?

In the story I’m working on, humanity is basically going to have to build back from zero.

For the purpose of world building, this has me researching SO many different things about how the world works now. There are so many questions.

What determines the fertility of soil? How is the metalwork of our structures made? How is cement made?

And it’s all stuff that I don’t HAVE to harp on, but I want all of the things I’m writing about to ring as true as possible. I’m not gonna ask how much research I should do bc I figure the answer is “However much research you need to do to write the story you want to write,” but I was just curious how common this experience is for writers.

Hi, for a multitude of reasons, i decided to start writing the many stories i have in my head. All influenced by the fantasy games and books that i've played or read. I also like reading the wikis of the games that expand on the lore of the game.

However, when i started writing the first chapters of each draft, introducing the characters and places, i noticed that everything was very generic. Elves from the woods, dwarves from the mountains, etc. While i tried to create something more original, like diverse cosmopolitan city-states, a world in decay and a greedy global organization that has more power than actual kings, it all feels like fanfic of Forgotten Realms, The Witcher (books) or World of Warcraft with some changes.

The thing is, i really like those fantasy worlds, much more than sci fi (even tho Dune is one of my favorite sagas) and i really don't have the time to spend creating a whole new world and legendarium like Tolkien before atempting to write. I'm just doing this as a hobby. But i can't shake the feeling that every story has the same fantasy troupes and clichés. Although i avoided the Dark Lord and the Chosen One kind of stuff, i leaned much more towards dark and gritty fantasy like The Witcher or A Song of Ice and Fire.

Has this happened to you? What did you come up with?

Do you think the third-person omniscient style and tendency to tell rather than show could work in a modern Sci-Fi story?

I tend to be pretty good at harnessing my word vomit fits and turning them into something.. not.. like word vomit 😆 however I've come to notice when it comes to writing things related to character building or exploring their depths, I draw blanks. Lots of blanks. Like so many that I'm making an untouched canvas jealous.

Has anyone else ever been into this boat before? Being able to write really fun and unique stories, but your characters are stuck being flat as my ass? Do tell 👀

518 Publishing Company is looking for submissions of short stories (max 5,000 words) and poetry (max three poems submitted) for our next anthology!

The anthology is titled Catskill Chaos and all submissions must be set in New York's Catskill region.

We do not accept re-prints, erotica, or children's stories.

Submissions must be formatted as follows: .docx, doubled spaced, 1" margins, Times New Roman, and 12-point font. They should be emailed as an attachment to 518pub@gmail.com by March 31st.

If your story is accepted we will retain the rights for 1 year from publication (anticipated for Fall 2025) and you will paid $5.

Personally for me its the ending of the beggining. I just lose ideas then and idk what to do...

I have a problem with my opening lines where I want them to establish many ideas in the story at the same time.

1-establish the description of colors, since colors is part of the title.

2-establish that the tone will not be set in stone and is everchanging.

3-establish the scene, themes, and setting.

Should only focus on one of these three things or should I focus on just one or a few?

As a mother to four boys (ages 16, 13, 7, 19m), I find it extremely difficult to find time to write, despite having the inspiration to do so. Usually I only have "me" time when the littles (7 & 19m) go to sleep between 7pm-8pm and try to write anytime between 9pm and bed time. Daytime is me ususally chasing the littlest around while doing the usual daily chorae. And I'm always writing mobile cause my laptop broke (joy!). So my question to parents who write, when do ya'll find the time to do so?

My husband middle/last name is Kim, he is half korean, half swedish. Born in sweden.

He keeps insisting on me getting Kim officially which I have refused as I don’t want to change my legal name.

However, I would be open to the idea of using it as my pen name. I’m white from southern europe, would it then be considered cultural appropriation?

His mom (swedish) changed her legal name to Kim too cause of his dad (korean) when they married.

Thoughts?

Does anyone have a list or a website of archaic/medieval addresses someone could use. Such as 'Good Sir' 'Sire' 'Milady' 'pray you'. That sort of thing, and some examples of medieval speak. Thanks.

So, there’s plot A, plot B, then plot C. Book starts at plot A. Okay, seems normal. Then all of a sudden, I kinda push plot B when plot A starts picking up a lot of traction in the story. Plot A becomes sidelined where I’m currently at in the story. Plot B has kinda occupied them, but they’re still affected by plot A’s actions. Now, the question is do I continue with this story, or do I redo it?

I honestly don’t know if I like what I’ve written so far. I mean, the lore is fantastic. It’s just, I’ve only written 15 chapters and I already introduced a character and brought up one specific character’s background that would make the reader look at him in a completely different light. I’m pretty much stumped.

One of my favorite aspects of Sci-Fi is the shocking moments where a reader is exposed to grand, incomprehensible information about the universe. I am thinking the first appearance of the Turing Police in Neuromancer or the many spice agony moments in the Dune series.

I am writing a Space Western, and want to have a moment like that, where a reader is slowly fed hints to a greater problem before having a giant revelation about the universe there. However, I'm having difficult thinking about how this can be done in regards to tense and perspective. As of now it's first person present tense, but this writing style is a bit jarring and annoying to write. However, the restriction of information in third person seems less natural than first person where you follow a single person and learn as they learn.

What are the thoughts on this? How can Sci-Fi be done best in regards to perspective and tense while simultaneously doing worldbuilding AND hiding information from the reader, while portraying a main character growing and changing.

A lighthearted, silly post. I'm literally punching the air at how in love my two main characters are. They're too effing cute. I can't get over how happy I am for them as if I didnt make them up myself lol.

Tell me the times you were over the moon by something sweet/loving/cute that your characters did!

Edit: you're all making me so happy. This will be a good post for me to go back to when I need some feel goods

I have been writing a lot as of lately, i am planning a LOT of content to write on too so i was planning to make the series into volumes thought im not sure if its a good idea

I'm working on a manuscript that I'm certain I'll put out for the world to read eventually. However, when I was researching for potential literary agents and publishers, I stumbled up on this discussion about building a social media presence to have a good shot at being "successful". My manuscript isn't complete and I don't want to share anything about it till it gets close to publishing. What exactly are we supposed to post on Instagram, etc. to build a following? Is it the content similar to Rupi Kaur? I'm very unsure about this and I hate it! What am i supposed to post?

Also, does only 1 social media platform other than the website work? I hate to maintain these pages. I need some guidance. Thanks.

Hey y'all,I might need some help with my characters. I always imagine them white, and like once the picture is put in my brain I can't imagine anything else. I'm from the middle east, so not white. I have trouble with having a diverse cast, and since the theme of my story isn't about race/ethnicity, I don't know if I'm in the wrong. I have thought about just leaving it out of the book and let it up to the readers imagination, but I don't know if that's a good idea. Sorry for my bad english.

Any recommendations for online writing courses which help with more prose writing skills, as opposed to plot/character/story development?

Also is there any online writing groups that focus on this kind of thing? Maybe with weekly writing prompts?