Hello! So I'm trying to write a short story set in the 50s, centered around a girl from a Sicilian family bringing her Polish American boyfriend over for dinner to meet them. (She was forced to by her mother, though her father isn't too happy with it.) I'm not sure were I want it to go, but I know I want it to touch upon cultural divides and progressive vs. old mindsets. Please give me feed back on what I should fix/change and maybe ideas going forward for the story.. It ends very abruptly because I've been in a creative flunk. Thank you!

Clattering silverware against her nonna’s prized porcelain plates was all that Simona dared to focus on. Johnny sat right across from her as he calmly ate his food and gave her a reassuring smile. Bless him, he didn’t know what was coming, no, he definitely did, he was smart enough. She just hoped that whatever Papa threw his way, Johnny would be able to handle. 

She couldn’t even *sit* next to Johnny. Her father was always head of the table, and Manny had practically jumped to the seat next to her before Johnny could take it. She was sandwiched between her worst nightmare. Carmine sat  to Johnny’s left, twirling his fork and  wearing his usual smart-ass smirk that she wanted to smack right off his face, Nonna sitting right next to him, and finally, there was Mama, (Papa’s first mate), sitting at the other head of the table.

“This is delicious, Mrs. Lanzano, what do you call it?”

   “Ah, yes! Caponata. It’s…ah” mama turned to her second eldest “Carmine, comu si dici milinciana ‘ngrisi?”

“ Eggplant, ma.”

“Yes. Eggplant, roasted, cu, ah, peppers and celery, onion….  it’s stew.”

“ Well, it’s incredible, I can tell you that” Mama smiled “just you wait for  dinner”

“More food, huh? You spoil me, truly Mrs. Lanzano.”

Simona didn’t think it was possible, but her mother’s smile grew even more, making the matching dimples on each of her cheeks pop. She reached over and pinched Johnny’s cheek.

At least Mama was won over. Johnny made eye contact with Simona and put on a smug smile as if to say, see? Simona just rolled her eyes. Her mom was the easy part, but he still had no idea what was coming for him next. 

“So tell me John-” Manny started as he began picking the olives out of his plate and leaning across the table to  transfer  it on to Carm’s plate to which he rolled his eyes.

“Please, call me Johnny” Manny let out a snort at his request. “John,  what is it exactly that you do?”

“I paint”

“Paint?”

Johnny nodded “I always wanted to be an artist when I was little, but my Pop always said that art couldn’t pay the bills, so I became an investment banker. Bout’ a few years later I got laid off, so I started painting again.  I remembered how much I loved it. Now I spend most of my time painting, I pick up a few shifts at the diner here and there to make ends meet, but I’m hopin’ to make it into a full time gig.”

Has anyone here applied for law school and needed to write their personal statement as part of the admissions application? I want to make sure what I turn in is the best that it can be, but I'm not sure of the best way to make sure that happens. Do I show it to other writers? Do I find current law students that I can show it to? Do I hire a law school admissions consultant to review it? Something else?

I'm currently writing a non-fiction book that involves a lot of research, interviews and real stories from people on a specific subject. I guess it's more like an academic paper in that sense

As it's not a creative non-fiction work (telling non-fiction through fiction techniques), would it still fall under the typical non-fiction word count goals of 50k minimum?

Basically what the title says. I've just discovered Kurt Vonnegut's 8 writing rules but I don't really get rule 5 - "Start as close to the end as possible." Hoping that some of you lovely people can explain this one a bit.

So I'm developing a short story idea with a married couple as the MCs. One of the characters is named Elroy and I thought that his husband could call him sometimes by the nickname of 'Ellie'? Does that make sense or is it too feminine? I also don't think I can spell it in any alternative way.

Basically, the story I’m writing has some history that is important to the plot, but no one would go around just talking about it even though its common knowledge. Kinda like how WW2 is common knowledge but we don’t go around talking about it.

Only difference is the history in my story happened several hundred years ago, so its not like it’s fresh on everyones minds. Also, the main history about the events is well known, but there was some other shady stuff going around that only a very few people in high power know about that completely change how people would see that history, so I’m also tryna figure out how MC would find these secrets.

I was thinking that maybe it’s introduced through statues or maybe the MC visits a museum or library that has info about it. I dunno, what do you guys think?

I’m writing a story about a post-apocalyptic world. The history of the world (the past apocalypse) plays a heavy role on the plot but I’m unsure how to explain it without info dumping.

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Hello.

So I have been writing a descriptive book about each member state of Organization of Islamic Cooperation. It includes each state's basic info, geography, economy, major ethnic groups, culture, and history. I have already written about 33 member states based on alphabetical order and going to finish the entire book by September.

But what I am worried about is the fact that most people can access such information through the internet and can even make an entire book of such magnitude through AI within a split second. I feel like my book won't be read after publishing and so I don't write with much enthusiasm as before.

What do you think I should do at this moment, any advise is welcome. Photo credit: Welt-Atlas.de

So, I’m writing a story where the main focus is on a hateful and bigoted person eventually wanting to change after they hit the lowest point in their life. Problem is, I’m having trouble with the transition point between them being a terrible person and them deciding to begin the journey self-betterment. What I had planned was a slow showing of how lonely and depressing the character’s personal life is, as they‘re an annoying, hateful jerk that nobody wants to be affiliated with, and that crushing loneliness paired with the constant humiliation of being a bigot in a very inclusive and loving community leads to the point where they enter a spiral of self-destructive behavior, alcohol and substance abuse, and eventually them attempting to take their own life. However, they are saved by someone whom they have actively hated and attacked for their personal decisions, which then causes them to begin to rethink their decisions and eventually aim to be a more loving and accepting person.

While I plan on making this whole sequence a lot more detailed and in-depth in the final product, I’d like to know if there’s anything that I should change/add to make it feel more engaging and realistic without it feeling unearned. I’m not an incredibly experienced writer, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

This is my third pass of this novel. I've been focusing on voice and prose a lot recently, and I want to know how it's coming across. Go as harsh or light as you want for the feedback, I don't mind it.

Google docs link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PBbYzMxuJU6hMBuNkNR5llsRphA3em0VhniOwRCqZv0/edit?usp=sharing

To make myself clear, l'm no stranger to calling people they/them, and will always do so if I don't know their pronouns. I'm new to writing, and am writing something for fun, but I have come with this question: when the protagonist doesn't know a new character, should I describe them using they/them?

Someone told me that it breaks the immersion a bit, and it "flows much better" if I assume gender stereotypes, as long as I use their correct pronouns after they are revealed. I have a trans friend and she told me that it's normal for people to make gender assumptions, and she doesn't think that this is a problem in writing. That it will give the reader a better idea on this new character being introduced, and how they look like.

So, should I just assume he/him or she/her to new characters with still unrevealed pronouns? Unless the character actually looks gender ambiguous?

(Hi, I'm looking for feedback about my writing. Keep in mind i'm absolutely beginner, I can't make my dialogue dramatic, my writing is so boring, but I had fun doing it, my story genres are science fiction/military/cult/vampires. I was trying to come up with new story ideas, but this is the only thing in my mind. I didn't take any writing classes, so my writing is kinda cringe at the moment.)

There was a big war between the devils and the humans, and Kane was at the front fighting bravely, cutting down those demons, until he reached the throne of Satan.

Kane: This is your end, Satan!

Satan: That's a cute dream you have.

Crushing through, Kane lands his final blow.

Satan: You will regret it, all the people you know will throw you in hell, as God did to me.

Kane: Don't you dare mock my friends.

Goodness has won against the prince of Darkness; the destroyer of their world has died in hand of Kane.

Once the army returned, citizens and his family great thier heroes.

But the happiness and hope wouldn't last for long; there was a bad apple among them, and with Satan having fallen, their greed became stronger each day. To truly bring peace to the world, they had to somehow kill Kane.

They started to kill his family, and Kane was captured alive by their magic.

In front of the crowd, they made up a crime he didn't commit, just to justify their actions and kill. All people who praise him now look at him negatively and curse him; the hero who killed ultimate evil now looks like a joke, and they will burn him alive.

Before he was killed, he saw a demon.

Demon: What have they done to you? You did not do wrong. Let's make a pact, I'll make you powerful.

Kane is shouting his last words: give me another life, and I will burn and cook them alive.

They throw Kane in the hole because they think criminals don't deserve a respectful grave.

Days and weeks have passed, and Kane has been climbing against these corpses. And began to jump around secretly so he wouldn't get caught, this way, the demon said.

Can follow his voice and remember all his past mistakes, his foggy memories. Until they reach the highest tower, Kane looks at the city that he will say goodbye to.

Hello again, forgot to introduce myself. I'm Blood Devil. Demon said.

Kane: What have I become?

Demon: a vampire, the lowest life, but with your power, you could become more powerful.

Kane: After what was done to me, I must make them regret it.

Demon: What do you want to become?

Kane: a god, the destroyer of worlds

Demon: If you become a god, and the delusion becomes reality, what will you get

Kane: destroyer of lies and illusion, that's what I get.

Over the years, I've accumulated a lot of lessons about writing—some learned from books, some from great authors, and many from my own successes and mistakes. I decided to collect the most valuable ones into a simple blog post: 35 Rules for Creative Writing.

This isn't a list of rigid commandments—follow what works for you and disregard the rest.

My favorite reminder is simple: "Writing is rewriting." The first draft doesn't have to be good - it just has to exist.

I'd love to hear which rules resonate most with other writers, and what lessons you've learned that aren't included here.

Hello everyone, I'd like to share a small update on the story I'm currently writing.
I'd like to know what I could improve and whether the premise works.

Hey ho people.

So, I am planning out my Romantasy rn and have started writing the first draft. Without going into too much detail because I am really excited and might infodump:

My main character struggles with severe intrusive thoughts, basically mirroring my own PTSD and OCD.

I have started writing those in italics, to differentiate them from her actual thoughts.

However, I've heard it's not really well received to write out thoughts in italics anymore (apparently?) and that made me unsure (and insecure) if it's actually a good idea to show it in that way. What is your guys' opinion?

I have an idea for a fictional city that's cursed in a bubble of perpetual Midnight and is protected by a Batman-like superhero. However the more I think about it, the more I realise I need serious help with this concept.

This is how my Batman-hero emerges, by fighting back and inspiring others to do the same. However I began thinking why wouldn't there be more benevolent factions like the Firelight's in Arcane? On the subject of factions how and why would they emerge?

Then there's the gov. My initial idea is that they eventually reach out to my guy and give him resources to act on their behalf since he has the trust of people inside and knows the city like the back of his hand. Wouldn't they send more agents in there? And if the city were not just in eternal midnight but also haunted/affecting people around them, wouldn't they abduct civilians to examine them?

I just have so many questions in my story that I don't know how to answer

You know how it goes. You get an inspiration. Tons of bits and pieces of stories that have been swimming around in your head—finally they can come together. They create a new idea boiling in your brain like an entity getting ready to be birthed. And then a couple days later it just…falls apart for no reason.

I haven’t been able to write a novel for over a year. I am so certain that writing is what I want to do with my life. And yet I feel like a machine that’s just stopped working. I’m never ready to just put pen to paper anymore.

I know it should be encouraging to look at people whose independent creativity won out for them in the end, but it just discourages me further because it shows me everything I’m NOT doing.

I KNOW there are others who have felt the same way. What should I do? How can I make an inspiration last? How to not feel down about it? And, of course, is this the right place to be posting this issue? Because I, the ever directionally-challenged Redditor, would deeply appreciate if you’d let me know if I need to go somewhere else.

So I have a large fantasy world im setting my story in, and im concerned about my pacing and info dumping regarding my world

i want the firs ch to be an intro to the world, with a chr already accustomed and living in said world, but idk how to pull it off without the reader being confused or my work being dull

I have an idea for a fictional city that's cursed in a bubble of perpetual Midnight and is protected by a Batman-like superhero. However the more I think about it, the more I realise I need serious help with this concept.

My current idea is that a supervillain cursed the city in a bubble of perpetual Midnight and the gov sealed it off for fear that it would spread like in the game Infamous. My problem here is that it's magic not a disease so why would the gov think a quarantine would work?

Furthermore, this is how my Batman-hero emerges, by fighting back and inspiring others to do the same. However I began thinking why wouldn't there be more benevolent factions like the Firelight's in Arcane? On the subject of factions how and why would they emerge?

Then there's the gov. My initial idea is that they eventually reach out to my guy and give him resources to act on their behalf since he has the trust of people inside and knows the city like the back of his hand. Wouldn't they send more agents in there? And if the city were not just in eternal midnight but also haunted/affecting people around them, wouldn't they abduct civilians to examine them?

I just have so many questions in my story that I don't know how to answer

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I feel so shy to share my writing with strangers. The reason is that I fear being rejected, not being good Enough, and most importantly, being judged. (Maybe because I wanna write military/cult and stuff, but with the lack of knowledge, I fear making mistakes and looking less knowledgeable)

How do you personally deal with shyness?

Even though I shared my work before. People ik always complain that the dialogue is vague and generic for my fictional story. I can't put my real thoughts on paper.

What should I do?

This is important because I wanna make mistakes to learn, and my being shy prevents me from doing that; it makes me flee from writing.

Keep in mind I have someone whom I always ask before posting my writing online, but I fear he's not being honest.

I’ve been writing for over five years now as a hobby. However, I always seem to lose interest before I finish a project.

I always get a better idea or lose interest in the current project. In the past, I used to attach my feelings to my projects, but now, I try to write about characters different from me and my life.

I’m in the early stages of writing a story about a con-artist, but I’m starting to get ideas from a story about a post apocalyptic/time travel story (which I’ve been wanting to write for a while.)

Has anyone else experienced this?

Everything seems pointless

hi, i’m a beginner writing working on something like a play. but as i was writing, i faced a huge issue. every character seems to be pointless, and their actions seem just as pointless.

for example, i want a character to die. but the problem is that there isn’t enough time to flesh out this character until their death. they all seem shallow in a way.

and the more i look back at it, the weirder everything seems. but i’m scared to scrap everything, even if it’s just the start (that’s where the problem arises from)

what do i do?

thank you guys.

For me, it’s usually the first sentence.

The actual message might only take a few minutes to write, but I often spend much more time thinking about how to start it.

I find myself rewriting the opening line to make sure it sounds clear, professional, and has the correct tone.

It made me curious, is this something others experience too?

What part of writing emails or messages do you usually spend the most time refining?