《How to Write Stories People Will Love》Question 1: Writing outside the box
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asks: "What if the reader likes the way the story is going, but feels that there's nothing new? Because so far this guide tells us only how to write the way others will like. What if the reader expects mind-bending content? Like they feel that, in order to make the story likable, the author has played safe and there's nothing challenging for an avid reader."
Leave it to this guy to start off our question/answer session with a tough one, haha! So basically, he's asking how we can cater to those readers who want something outside the norm. Or, how would you, as an author, break these rules and still write a successful story?
This guidebook was created for the writers out there just starting their journey. Their "toolbox" of writing tips is pretty empty, so I'm hoping to give them some tidbits to start with. Before we can take off into the stratosphere with our writing, we first need to understand the basics of what makes stories good.
What "good" is can be debated for days. I'm defining it here as what makes a reader want to keep reading a story and finish it. And this varies greatly from reader to reader. With some exceptions, the tips I presented here form the basic foundation for all successful stories. Once we understand how they work, and why they work, then we can look for ways to surpass the expected. We can't do this if we don't know what's expected in the first place.
Those of us who don't write for a living are free to experiment. We can try weird, unexpected things. We can take one of my guidelines and throw it out the window in order to do the opposite. Think about what most readers might expect to happen next in a story, and then do something else. Some readers may like it a lot. Others may not. You never know until you try.
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But remember: I didn't make up these guidelines. They are proven tips that are often circulated and taught because they work. They are the elements that maintain reader interest across most genres. I can't really teach how to write mind-bending stories because I don't write them myself. I'm still trying to perfect the basic good story.
This answer may be kind of long and meandering, and I'm not even sure I answered the question, but the bottom line I want to convey is this: You are not bending or confining yourself in order to please readers by following these guidelines. They are to help you finesse your writing into the best version of itself. Where you go from there is up to you.
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How the Stars Turned Red
Announcement as of 05 July 2022: I've been diagnosed with some pretty severe nerve damage in my left arm, rendering me unable to write effectively, and as such this story is on hold until it is healed. I am so sorry, and I promise to get back to writing as soon as possible. In the latter half of the 3rd millennium CE, humanity has spread across the stars, inhabiting close to five-hundred worlds across the Orion Arm. Earth has become irrelevant, a historical has-been. The galactic map is dominated by two mega-factions, both controlling vast amounts of territories either through direct control or through their many allies and treaty signatories. The Kingdom of Aurora is the political and economic hegemon despite consisting of only seven inhabited worlds; their strength lies in the Royal Union, an interstellar commonwealth composing an internal market and a common defence pact. These member worlds are myriad and varied, culturally as well as politically, but they all flock to the same banner. The Independent Systems Alliance, spearheaded by the Republic of Elysium, is the ascendant challenger to Aurora and the Union. A pseudo-federal multi-system polity, the Alliance economy and military is rapidly expanding, but at the cost of effective democratic and meritocratic involvement by its people. However, with two superpowers as this, chafing along a common border, and with a constant clamour of polemics, both sides have become convinced the other is constantly preparing for war and are on the look-out for any perceived weakness in their opponent. The predictable result is a huge arms race and a cold war spreading across the stars, requiring only a spark to set the galaxy aflame. Drawn into this game of high stakes are ordinary men and women, their peaceful lives, hopes, and aspirations swallowed by the vortex of conflict and distrust. This is their story. Cover art by Rhodex Designs (FB). Hope you like long chapters and adjectives. Note: English is not my first language. Another story set in the same universe, written by a good friend
8 95R.A.M.
The strange magician Rosetta has grown tired of searching. His job has been preparing and sending select humans into 'the other world'. This fated person is the last one. The most important one. However, enemies who were once comrades are hunting him across the world to harvest his power. With many powerful inidividuals after him, Rosetta had no choice but to carry out his job in secrecy. With his large reserves of magic and his alliances both new and old, Rosetta sets out to find the fated person to be sent over to 'the ‘other world' like many fated humans have. Chapters posted here will lag behind the main site Rosetta Archive. Please visit the site to read latest released chapters.
8 133A Collision of Two Worlds : Prologue
Please be advised...This story isn’t intended for young or sensitive readers. Readers who are on the lookout for trigger warnings are advised to give this novel a pass. DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental. A collision cntypEinor of two worlds is a portrayal of normal day to day society, itiaIendt outlining the mundane atmosphere of what we qcenSeeu consider everyday life. However, what-if tSe everything we were lead to believe was a lie? The rtmePeara countless wars, disputes and power struggles between countries and governments are part of something much bigger... Something more sinister.... COTW (acronym) explores the possibility of an underground organization tasked with what they regard as morally cleansing and correcting the world from countless vices and forces of evil.
8 148A Comprehensive Guide for Alchemy
A guidebook designed for alchemists of every tier to help refine their craft and provide direction. Formed of countless recipes and techniques, developed over the ages by the collective knowledge of our study, this is a definite supplement material for any aspiring alchemist. This discusses not only the recipe itself, giving you instructions for each one, but directs you to things not to do in the recipe. It isn’t uncommon for starting alchemists to unknowingly make a small change, and before they know it… BOOM! For a relatively minor price you too purchase this guidebook and start working towards building up a proper base of knowledge in alchemy. Even those with considerable ability may learn a thing or two from this! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is purely a guidebook for alchemy in a magical world, and as such contains no story elements. The cultivation (and alchemical) tiers are not at all necessary to understand the book, but exist because in the context of the book it would be important. I'm more than happy to write up any alchemical ideas you've ever had, totally not using this as an excuse to reduce my creative thinking hours... Just PM the idea or post it as a comment in any chapter, with a bit of balancing there's pretty much no idea that can't be done! Hiatus while I focus on shorter stories for competitions
8 279SIN [yoonmin]
"bring me the holy water, park jimin""oh daddy, so aggressive"In which Park Jiimin has a tendency of fucking with the wrong people. Until he met Yoongi, a priest who made it all even worse.priest!Yoongi + fuckboy!Jimin[big age gap]It becomes angsty in the last few chapters, especially the 'Finale' chapter can be triggering! Read with care[currently editing any mistakes]Spanish translation: @eyesvaccHighest ranking:#58 yoonmin [19/10/18]#27 yoonmin [13/11/18]#264 fanfiction [02/11/18]#10 parkjimin [17/11/18]#1 parkjimin [22/11/18]#21 yoonmin [22/12/18]#3 yoonmin [23/2/19]#123 fanfiction [20/4/20]#3 fanfiction [11/8/20]
8 227Leading Love [boyxboy]
Quentin Collister.One of the six sons of the popular Collister family is the youngest son Quentin. And that family he grew up in is everything but normal which Quentin was forced to deal with at a very young age.Growing up, the eighteen year old experiences too many memories he rather prefers keeping to himself and which made him to the person he is now.And if Quentin is known for something other than being a famous Collister, then it is for his outstanding character.As if his life was not already out of hand as it is now, it's about to get even more crazy when he happen to get involved with a gang...and especially their leader._____Still sucking at descriptions O.o Promise it's better than it sounds ^^~Action! That should be the theme in this book and other than my first work;[Book 1: "Suppressed" ; Go read it if you haven't ;)]This book will contain more love action cuz... everyone loves intimate stuff ^^I'll give it my best to write it as thrilling as possible.Started: Sep.01.2018Published: Jan.13.2019Finished: April 2019
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