The Author's Corner- Writers/readers come to chat it up!

[Guernsey]

I have a question on designing exotic or foreign characters, how do design them without falling into stereotypes? I personally never experienced any other cultures besides some Spanish and Haitian (although it was long time ago and I was in a private school at the time) and I don't know how come with alien sounding names or exotic names. How exactly can I design some foreign characters especially when I am not all that familiar with the culture? I just don't want to stereotype and it can be annoying when I am not familiar with other cultures.

[Rainfire]

Originally Posted by Guernsey

I have a question on designing exotic or foreign characters, how do design them without falling into stereotypes? I personally never experienced any other cultures besides some Spanish and Haitian (although it was long time ago and I was in a private school at the time) and I don't know how come with alien sounding names or exotic names. How exactly can I design some foreign characters especially when I am not all that familiar with the culture? I just don't want to stereotype and it can be annoying when I am not familiar with other cultures.

Hhhmm... it seems to me that your best bet would probably be to look up videos of their cultures and movies with people from those regions acting in them. Also, I'd probably go try to find some literature dealing with those that you wish to emulate or adapt into your own literature. Even go on Wikipedia and look up some things about them. Research is your best friend.

Hope that helps!

[Jub Jub376]

As RainFire said, or you could simply create your own culture, depending on your genre of choice, and so forth.


Fiction has many corridors and towers, but only for those who know the paths they walk.

[Guernsey]

I know writing involves a lot of research but sometimes when I look at other posts or other people’s work, I wonder just what do I need to know to this? I am neither a mathematician, engineer, occultist or any occupation yet I have idea for stories that utilizes these occupations. Where do I go for research? How did previous writers before me found their knowledge on certain topics and are able to develop a story around them? Again, I am in neither of those occupations but I do not know how to write as if I was one in of them and I cannot afford a hands on experience on my budget, what can I do about that?

[Lycanthrope]

I've been trying to write a new story and geet back into writing, but I'm still a bit rusty on writing technique. Can someone possibly give me some advice on organizing my ideas better?

[Katsuno_Hitomi]

My mom is taking a romance writing course(it's the biggest fiction market out there) and one of the pieces of advice it give is to write daily. I was doing pretty well with that most of last month, but I've slipped off the bandwagon, if you will. Practice is the only way to get better at writing. Now if I could just practice what I preach...

[Nevermore]

Originally Posted by Lycanthrope

I've been trying to write a new story and geet back into writing, but I'm still a bit rusty on writing technique. Can someone possibly give me some advice on organizing my ideas better?

There are a few things you could do.

1) Write out character profiles

2) Outline the plot so far

3) Jot down possible ideas to include

4) Draw out the world map for fantasy, or an important parts of the universe for an interstellar sci-fi story

[Lycanthrope]

Originally Posted by Raven

There are a few things you could do.

1) Write out character profiles

2) Outline the plot so far

3) Jot down possible ideas to include

4) Draw out the world map for fantasy, or an important parts of the universe for an interstellar sci-fi story

Thanks raven. I used to be the one to give out advice, but I haven't written much in the past year or so.

[Jub Jub376]

I really just write when the scene pops up in my mind. Never like writing myself into a writing block.

If you have a map, anything you write will be gold, because then people will know where the heck they are. Plus then you can add on from there and increase in background of the story, etc.

[Elphaba_1]

Will anyone check out Falling? I'm actually selling the book around

[Rapidus Procella]

I recently been on a poetry hiatus. I don't know why, it's just the motivation isn't there anymore

[Elphaba_1]

I'm like that too. I start writing poetry while on a writer's block frenzy. And if poetry doesn't work, then there's always drawing. And most of my poems are always depressing. I'm like Tim Burton, happy doesn't work well

[Rapidus Procella]

Oh, well my poetry is across the board, but I am mostly doing emo-themed poems, like break-up's, and suicide, dont ask why, it just works for me

[Elphaba_1]

it's just a lot easier to write suicide poems. Then break ups, write about failures, how the world sucks. Anything negative

[Faith Crest]

God, it's been a while since I last wrote for this site. Shame really, because I haven't got anything that's been completed. Anyway, I'm going to be unleashing a new series of my own soon called The Crimson Chronicles.