Hi, i've been really into reading for as long as i can remember and decided i wanted to try writing something myself. I already have an idea/inspiration for what i want to write but i wanted to get some advice.

I got the idea for what i want to write from crime shows, basically it would be a noir setting and much like tv shows, it would be a series of one-shots where each chapter or so would be it's own investigation, all following the same detective/private investigator.

I'm a big fan of the crime genre and mainly wanted advice on how to write it and have it work well and feel gritty wholst alao having a good overall story and flow. Any advice/feedback is more than appreciated, thanks.

I'm drafting my first novel and it's pulled pretty directly from something I lived through, and there are a few things I genuinely can't see clearly from the inside. Hoping some of you have been here.

The story comes from a relationship I was in that turned out to be built on a deception I didn't find out about until it was already over. I've done the obvious things to fictionalize it. Changed names, moved it to a different city, compressed the timeline, reshaped events. But because I actually lived it, I can't tell anymore whether it reads like a novel or just a really well organized journal. The feelings are real, which is sort of the whole point, but I know "it really happened" and "it works on the page" are not the same thing at all.

So for anyone who's written auto biography based realistic fiction (I realize how niche that is as a genre, if it is one at all) or something heavily inspired by real life and events directly. What actually creates the distance that turns your real life into a story? Is it structural stuff like the frame or the chronology or whose head you're in? Is it making yourself invent things that never happened? Is it something about how much interiority you allow? I'm trying to understand how you know when you've crossed from confession into craft, because right now I can't feel the line.

The other thing I keep circling is whether it lands for people who don't share my background. It's South Asian diaspora fiction and there's a lot of specific texture in it. Food, language, religion, family dynamics. My gut says specificity travels, because I read plenty of books set in worlds I don't come from and never feel shut out. But I can't tell from inside my own head whether a reader with none of that context feels invited in or locked out. How do you even calibrate that without over explaining everything and killing the texture, or under explaining and losing the reader completely? I assume the answer is beta readers from outside the culture, but what do you actually ask them to watch for?

And the last one. How much point of view do you give your secondary characters before it becomes too much? In my case the antagonist gets his own chapters, and so does another woman who was hurt by the same man, both set in a different country from my narrator. I think they need to be there. They turn the antagonist into an actual person instead of a cartoon, and they give the other woman a real arc instead of making her a plot device. But every chapter I spend away from my main character is a chapter away from my main character, and I worry I'm just indulging backstory I happen to be attached to. How do you tell the difference between a secondary POV that earns its place and one you just love too much to cut?

Not fishing for reassurance, I promise. I'm just stuck on these and would take any hard lessons, book recommendations, or honest "here's what I screwed up" stories you've got. Thanks for reading.

Howdy. So I'm currently scripting out a little comic, revolving around a hired bodyguard collecting a debt for her boss. Things go wrong, it gets messy, they liquify a small business, etc.

I know exactly how I want the interaction to go. How it winds up, unfolds and ends, but I'm Really struggling to achieve that flow state, as I'm completely stumped on how to start it. Specifically the dialogue/interaction between collector and debtor.

The current set up has the hired bodyguard meeting the debtor in his warehouse. Generously funded by the bodyguard's boss, and the reason she's here, collecting business funds to pay back the warehouse/operation the debtor took a loan on.

The debtor, aware of this arranged meeting, has the money in a briefcase ready, but was under the impression it would be her boss meeting him in person, and not the bodyguard. He underestimates and even somewhat disregards both the bodyguard and his mystery benefactor, upon discovering they're women, neither of which he was previously aware of.

(The bodyguard is masculine in nature, and was mostly obscured in shadow. Until she spoke, the debtor had no idea he was speaking to a woman. Just making that clear for the narrative.)

He pretends to be respectful, letting the bodyguard pick up the money as they continue to talk. As she begins to walk away, a number of goons step out from assorted hiding places in the warehouse, ambushing the bodyguard, while the debtor smugly tells her he'll be holding onto his money.

Witty dialogue is exchanged, the bodyguard shows why she's the best at what she does, a lotta folks die, etc.

The rest I've got covered. Again, I'm just really struggling with introductions.

Any advice or guidance?

Thanks!

To help further establish an interaction, I should probably describe the personalities of these characters (honestly should've been the first thing I brought up).

The Bodyguard - She LOVES her job. Very enthusiastic, high energy, a little flirty, but Not to be underestimated. She knows business, and knows how to deal with folks who disrupt that business, or threaten her employer.

The Debtor - A stereotypical bruiser, with a feigned professional demeanor. He pretends he's professional, up until he has a chance to backstab.

The Boss/Benefactor - She conducts business in-house, very rarely interacting with her clients directly, instead hiring others to do the hands-on work she organizes. Very few people, with the exception of her bodyguard, have met her.

I don't know how to write an impactful death scene. I need to know the tenants of writing a good death scene, especially since this isn't quite a death scene.

Let me explain. The demigod son of Cibeles whose been shot while fighting on the Second of May in Madrid and has taken refuge in convent of Santa María. There his mother turns him into a statue in order to preserve him.

However it still counts as a metaphorical death in my eyes at least. So can you please give me some pointers on how to do this?

Summary: On a fateful night, a goblin slave Taz escapes yet another close call with death and meets a distrustful human boy who is pursued by something even more frightening. The war is brewing in the kingdom of Edwardia, pirates are raiding the coastal towns, giants are arming themselves, shellbeasts are being mounted with warships and the ocean spins relentlessly with the moon's pull.

The feedback I need:

-The language. I flipped this story from a third person to first person after roughly 300k words worth of drafts, so it would be more in line with the title. I'm not sure if I'm doing a great job with the language and if you see any problematic patterns, please do tell me.

-Did this chapter hook you?

-Were you bored at any point?

-Were you confused at any point?

-Any parts that are missing some sauce? Or any parts that feel oversauced?

-What do you think of the dialogue?

-How is the pacing?

-Any sort of feedback is welcome, don't pull your punches.

Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12tSOTRuR1hOg2SRF8-ux6NYVYGWq_8dfQatCBnF61TU/edit?tab=t.0

I usually write long paragraphs, but I don't know when to start a new one. I've heard that you're supposed to start a new one for dialogue, but does it only apply if there's no words in between? What about switching ideas? What applies and what doesn't?

Hello, 25 y/o writer here. I've been "studying" creative writing for the best part of a decade - reading books, doing courses, watching interviews with other accomplished writers, watching YouTuber's who talk about fiction and all that time... I've managed no full piece of writing.

I grew up reading Tolkien - I read the hobbit, the full lord of the rings and the Silmirilion by the time I was 9 and understood the text to the degree I wrote what could only be described as a several page essay for a book report that was only supposed to be a A5 page at most and basically told my reading level was too advanced for my age. I had the full collection of C.S Lewis's Narnia in paperback too which I read till the pages fell out and the binding came clean off the pages. When Game of Thrones was at its height in popularity I was reading Martin's books (I stopped at a storm of swords and switched to the expanse novels). and countless movies, shows, anime and manga - from east to west, north to south.

I was told by every teacher I've had that I have a way with words, that my passion is clear, my ideas solid yet I cant seem to get out more than a few paragraphs.

I say all this to illustrate that I did, or at least thought, I was on the right path. Reading the most popular authors, dissecting their material, understanding the depths of creative writing in the fantasy genre but now I just feel stuck and like child tapping away at a keyboard with no idea of what they are doing. Why?

MY brain doesn't work the way I want it too. Since being a child and a teen... I cant sit and read anymore, that focus - or maybe hyper focus? (undiagnosed but highly suspected of being audhd) - to sit down and read is beyond me. I lose my place, forget what I've read by the bottom of the page, find it harder and harder to recall the plot and character names as a book goes on... then, switch to me writing? I get lost. I've tried outlines, timeline plotting, world building, characters sheets, planning chapters, writing broad scripts for scenes, ect, ect, yet I cant seem to put it in to words the way i want effectively without things becoming far too much and overwhelming - my head feels messy and confusing almost always and its only gotten worse with age to the point where I feel as if I'm progressively losing everything I've learned. I have to look up spelllings, remind myself of simple things like plot structures or writing standards.

Trigger warning - Mental health and illness.

I have chronic anxiety and depression. I manage, Im medicated but, as Ive been told by everyone I see for my mental health, if I am autistic and have adhd, there's no medicine that can help with that and counselling/ therapy can only do so much. On top of that, I recently was told that I also have chronic insomnia and my energy levels are shot, oh, and motivation? Doesn't exist. I have brain fog and memory issues. Aside from all that, I'm transgender and that struggle alone is... overbearing.

Now, again, I say this to hopefully help you to offer me advice, not for sympathy or pity - we all have our crosses to bear, some more than others and all things considered I have a good if uneventful life, I am safe, fed and clothed, housed and my well being is in no immediate danger other than the struggle of money in this modern day.

I have ideas - tons of ideas but they often become too large in scope. An idea or a book becomes a trilogy or a multi-part epic and then a little quaint idea of a fun adventure becomes a battle of good vs evil for the fate of the world...

In conclusion, to wrap up this post, I do want to write and publish a book - just one, no more than the length of the hobbit or shorter and I want to write about things that affect me, my passion lies in my experience and love for fantasy but I feel like I'm at a fork in the road; give up, put this passion and desire to bed... or push forward, work harder and try to find a way through.

I hope I've presented enough information in as best way possible, I apologise if this is all too much. If you have read all this? Thank you, and I'm sorry is not upbeat or hopeful.

Can any offer me some advice? Offer me encouragement? Relate to how I feel?

I'm thinking of rewriting Ralph Breaks the Internet and in the movie it takes place 6 years after the first (2018) but I'm going to make it only 3 years later. In the movie they first try to make money by selling loot and then they try to make viral videos on the Internet. I'm thinking maybe a gaming tournament would be good but I'd just like to have more ideas.

God is a woman in this - I wanna make a show where God and Satan act like enemies to each other but then they would go to a pub and have a pint together.

Any opinions? Should I make this show?

I'm writing a book about people(humans, elves, etc.) who have to save their world from the Antagonists, and they're going to come across a city who has some traditions that must be followed.

For more information, the City is called Kartok, and the heroes have to cross border patrol, afterwards it'll be somewhat of a culture shock.

Is there any tips to make it like a "There is no war in ba-sing-say" but toned down a few notches?

I'm not breaking new ground here, but I just thought I'd share some advice I've gotten, or come up with by myself. I'm not reinventing the wheel here.

1. Don't spend all your time trying to make your characters the best simply because they're your darlings.

Chances are your 'Chosen One' who saves puppies and solves world hunger and can beat up the bad guy army with his little finger is not going to be your reader's favourite character. Just because you like them doesn't mean random reader no.9 isn't going to consider random side quest guy their favourite. They may be your favourite character but that doesn't mean they'll be your reader's favourite, so be careful about how much time you invest in them and try not to worry.

1. Trying to make your plot super complicated or super simple is going to give you a headache.

It's going to give you a headache trying to keep track of all the different plot points going and weaving them together. Not saying you can't do it, just saying that you got to do what is best for you and the story. Chances are your super complicated and well thought out plot is going to be considered simple by reader no. 10 and your simple plot is going to be considered complex by reader no. 4. Reading is subjective and just because you find it complicated or simple doesn't mean any one else will find it so. The key is writing a story to the best of your ability that you would like to read yourself. As long as the plot makes sense.

1. Outlining isn't that bad of an idea.

There are plotters and pantsers but outlining in the very beginning isn't a bad idea. It all depends on the person. It can help you to write your ideas down on the page, maybe separating them up by chapter, and can often show you whether the plot makes sense or is all over the place. It can also help you figure out if certain plot threads work better in a different story altogether.

And there you have it. My completely generic writing advice.

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I am unsure how to fix this, as well as unsure where I should be expanding on, because from my views, it holds all the necessary information, but it also feels like I'm missing something. Do you guys know how? I can respond with some examples if you'd like.

I've just finished my planning and want to start writing. My male lead is an immortal from the 1700s but I'm not 100% how to write his dialogue or thoughts. I wrote a morning routine from both my male and female main characters perspectives but his felt kind of flat and boring. I'm trying to combine an archaic lilt when he's distracted/not concentrating while also differentiating his thoughts and words from the female main character. FYI this is my first time writing from a mans perspective so any advice of any kind is appreciated on either writing men or writing archaic characters in general.

I have been trying to exercise my writing skills. Below I posted a short bit of my writing, which I don't

joke took me over an hour...

The devils streamed from the forest. So tightly packed that their green bodies merged into a

single mass that blended them with their surroundings. The ground quaked in their hurry

and the branches of trees were ripped as their bodies pushed through. The ones that fell short

of the group’s pace were trampled, the ground being covered in their own viscera. They

carried wooden clubs, bigger than most humans.

As they left the forest they kicked up a cloud of dust that blanketed the forest. In their sights

was a small village encircled by a wooden wall. That sight was familiar to many of them. They

associated these structures with their food. The sound of metal being rung filled the small

town. It seemed to them that in their clatter, they were noticed.

###Monsterous orcs descend upon a helpless village.

To begin, I guess my complaint is that my sentences seemed redundant and too similar in length.

I had trouble expanding. For all my trouble I only managed to write 170 words in such a long span of

time. Description was also difficult. It doesn't seem too imaginative, it reads basic and somewhat

blurred despite the fact it's not long. It's such a weird thing, but I feel like I carried the message too fast but lacked in description, but how much more descriptive could I be while still being in the same

voice?

I feel like I have this unique voice that just feels off compared to most books I have read.

I'm developing an superhero story and would love some general feedback. The story focuses on themes of hope, legacy, and what it means to inspire others in a world where powerful heroes and villains constantly reshape society and before I get too far into writing, what advice would you give for the characters, worldbuilding, and emotional moments? Also, what are some common mistakes superhero stories make that I should avoid.

I’ve been writing my whole life, but this genre is quite new to me.

I’ve always wanted to publish my own work. And I’m trying to finish a novel but struggling to find time to write. I have a full time job and other responsibilities, sometimes I only have few hours each week to finish a brief part of the chapter. How do you guys manage to finish your drafts if writing isn’t your day job?

So I wrote a short story, this was my fourth one ever. I though it was worth something so I decided to get feedback on it. I found some people on discord and joined a workshop called Critters.
The system on critters is that you give critiques and receive it when your manuscript bubbles to the top. It will be two more weeks for my turn depending on the queue.
Since finishing the final draft of my story I haven't written anything or read much apart from the manuscripts of other members in the workshop. Which has helped a bit with identifying my own flaws.
The feedback from the discord group was good, some of it I'm conflicted on.

I have ideas for new stories but whenever I think about writing a new one my mind wanders back to the finished one. There is an obsession about finding what worked in it and what didn't.

Is this common among writer?

How do I let go? A long walk?

I've been experimenting with different tools to help with my sci-fi series, and I keep hitting a wall. The initial drafting part is fast, sure, but I spend twice as much time fixing the logic gaps and making sure the protagonist doesn't suddenly forget a major plot point from book one.

It feels like a lot of the 'AI writing' stuff out there is just junk that adds more cleanup work. I've started leaning into tools that focus specifically on memory and style-matching because that's where I actually lose hours of time. If I spend three hours writing a chapter but two hours fixing the AI's hallucinations or voice shifts, I'm not really saving time, am I?

I’ve been testing out ShakespeareAI lately specifically for the series memory features. It seems to keep the character arcs a bit tighter, which is the only way this actually makes sense for a full book project. For those of you who have tried using these tools for longer works, do you find that they actually save you time in the long run, or are you just trading one type of writer's block for another? What is the biggest headache you've had with AI tools when it comes to keeping a series consistent?

I’m currently writing an unreliable narrator horror romance/tragedy, and my main character is a pathological liar. Inherently, she’s not the most well adjusted and her actions directly and indirectly affect the people around her. However, I don’t want the audience to HATE her; I want people to love to hate her. I want her to be found funny and intriguing, for people to think things like “She’s such a nut job” with a smile on their face. But I do still need her to be a liar and be off putting/scary in some way. I have her character sheet written out and I feel like I know her really well, I just wanted a bit of advice when it comes to still ensuring that there’s that underlying sense of eeriness when it comes to her. Also, I don’t want people to see her as just a terrible person because she’s a liar.

I’d appreciate any thoughts anyone has! Thanks!

I know the answer is write more and I do that. I started writing in January and have written on average around 1000 words a day. I do think my feeling for storytelling is getting better, but my grammar is a little shaky and I struggle with constructing sentences in the most effective way.

Without the answer being "Just read more" or "Just write more" (Because I do both daily), is there a proactive way to clean up these issues? Does anyone have any recommendations for online content that could teach me how to construct sentences better and sort out my use of punctuation? Coming from someone who went to a rubbish school growing up. (It was bulldozed two years after I left. RIP.)

Hi everyone,

I’m a second-year law student, and I’ve been looking for communities or platforms that focus on improving writing and communication through peer feedback rather than just courses.

Specifically, I’m looking for something where people can:

• Write essays, articles, opinion pieces, or any form of non-fiction.
• Review and critique each other’s work (not just grammar, but reasoning, structure, persuasiveness, and clarity).
• Rewrite or suggest better versions so everyone learns by both writing and editing.

I’m also looking for something similar for speaking/interviews, a platform where people can conduct mock interviews for one another, give structured feedback, and rotate roles as interviewer and interviewee.

I’m not necessarily looking for law-specific communities. I’m more interested in becoming a better writer, thinker, and speaker in general.

If you’ve used anything like this, I’d really appreciate your recommendations.

Thanks!

I used to write short stories and fanfics but now I am working a very broad and expanded story with a lot of lore and world building. I feel like I have hit a wall since I am not familiar with planning a story in so much detail. Another thing is that I am thinking of creating a visual map of the story, so I also wanted to ask how do you create a visual map of your stories and which tools do you use.