i always see people say to read more to become a better writer. i have been trying to read more and read diversely (books similar to my wips and some that aren't, different genres, etc) but whenever i read something i enjoy i don't think about it much because i get immersed in the story.

does anyone have tips to get around this? what kinds of things should i ask myself / pay attention to when i'm reading something?

Vote

6 comments

404

Posted by20 hours ago

Discussion

“Show don’t tell.” Is there a formula?

I know I may sound stupid writing a question like this, but hear me out. I’m a new writer who has just finished the first draft of a 400 page science fiction novel. I know I should now be revising over the plot holes, but whenever I share my writing, it seems like a lot of what I’m doing is telling, not showing. I want to know I’m on the write track when revising now, so my life will be somewhat easier in the later drafts. I’m not looking for a straight up formula, but are there some strategies you guys use when ‘showing’ something.

404

107 comments

36

Posted by11 hours ago

How do I avoid a YA classification?

I’m writing a book series where my main character is a teenager, but I want to try and keep it out of a YA classification so the story can appeal to adults. What themes and perspectives should I keep in mind when doing this if I’m even able to?

36

30 comments

24

Posted by10 hours ago

Advice

Having trouble coming up with things to write besides dialogue

I feel like when I write, it's always just,

(dialogue between two characters) (short description) (dialogue between two characters) (even shorter description) (dialogue between two characters) (end of chapter)

You get the point. I want to add more descriptions or like anything else besides dialogues so that it's more of a novel and less of a script. What I'm having trouble with is what to describe when it's just two characters talking in a random setting. Does that mean some action has to happen if it's just all been dialogues? Would lots of description save it or make it more interesting to read? Any advice helps, thanks.

24

13 comments

6

Posted by3 hours ago

Advice

How to not overly describe details

I recently started writing an original sci-fi/ fantasy story and i’m really enjoying what i’m creating. However I keep coming across a hurdle i’m not quite sure how to leap over.

How can you properly describe something such as an emotion or an action, or describe the environment someone is in without overly describing it and bogging it down with unnecessary details? I don’t think anybody wants to read a page and a half about what the environment looks like and how a character reacts to it, if that makes sense. Thank you in advance for the feedback and help

6

8 comments