r/writingadvice

Okay, so in my mind, the correct thing to do is separate multiple adjectives with commas, as in:

"the big, red, noisy truck"

But I was just working on something and had to say:

"ruched white summer dress"

And, I can't explain why, but I don't want to put those commas in it, like "ruched, white, summer dress".

Grammarly is not even flagging it as a problem when I leave out the commas.

What gives? How is that okay to not use the commas, and why do I not even want to use the commas???

Hey everyone, I have started writing my romantasy book and I really can’t write. I have no writing experience and courses are expensive and idk what to do. If I don’t at least try to do this (it’s my dream and I’ve ignore it for ages), I will regret it.

Can anyone give me tips or stories about authors with no prior writing experience pls cos I feel so deflated idk how to stretch my plot and story out especially into 3 book sigh😔

Hi there, I'm sure this has been asked before but I couldn't find anything from the search bar. My question is: does anyone have some good, creative ideas on how to write two characters saying two different things at the same time? It's a classic comedy trope of visual media that I quite like, and I generally enjoy playing with formatting, so I was thinking maybe having the two lines on the same line of text, side by side. Or maybe overlaying the text, but this seems confusing and rather ugly.

Has anyone here done this or seen this done well, and if so, how?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: clarification, and also I mean this in the context of written fiction (novel or short story)

Hey!

English is my second language but I've been learning it ever since I was a kid. I largely prefer to read, and consume any sort of content for that matter, in English. Thing is, every once in a while (let's say every third page of any given novel) I stumble upon a word that I don't understand. It doesn't take away any enjoyment out of reading for me, because those particular words that I don't understand are somewhat easily understandable from the context, but it takes away my hopes and motivations of ever being a writer. I started writing about a year ago, and am close to finishing my first draft. Thing is, even though I don't possess the smallest vocabulary out there, I feel like I don't have enough to use at any given time. It feels like I know many words, but struggle to recall them when I need them. Would the second draft resolve that for me? Should I simply keep on keeping on and focus on flowery prose once I'm done laying down the story?

What I mean is that I want my story to shift and change based on my characters. I have some good ideas for the four main characters, but I’ve always struggled to really connect with them. I can plan some general knowledge about them but when I write them it doesn't feel like I really know them, and I want to. How do I get to the point where I let them control the story? Any advice on how to plan them?

Currently planning an absurd satirical fantasy story where the main party of protagonists embody cringeworthy and slightly problematic tropes in fiction. (Example: blind character who is conveniently un-disabled by some power that allows them to see).

What character tropes annoy you the most in fiction? Should be a little more complex than “the blonde is dumb and the nerd wears glasses”. Tropes that are oddly specific yet unanimous enough that most people have definitely encountered them before. Bring on the cringe.

Okay. Essentially, I am someone who learns by example and I have been trying to make my writing follow a more formal process so I can start to do it consistently.

The main issue I am having is that while there are a lot of videos out there with advice, none of them have actual examples. Its all somewhat vague advice imo.

Is there any video or book or anything out there that shows someone sort of explaining their way through a short story? Like going from vague idea, showing how they outlined, how they built the plot, etc?

It could also be a novel too?

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In my novel, the main character is an amateur ghost hunter who messes with the wrong spirit and is paying the price for it. I want him to seem like a realistically amateur ghost hunter without taking it too far or not far enough and I don't know how to do it. Can someone give me advice on how to write this character so the reader gets them fully?

I have been writing a passion project in third-person past tense. I have found myself reading more first-person present recently and while I could never bring myself to write in that particular style, there is something about the present tense I do enjoy. I know that third present isn’t popular, but I wanted to see what some general thoughts were on it? Would it be a bit much of a risk to write in this style as compared to sticking with the traditional third past?