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Writer’s Toolbox

Ask The Writer

All Categories

Your most pressing and perplexing questions about writing answered here by Gotham teacher Brandi Reissenweber.

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  • Adaptation
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Style

When writing dialogue, do I always have to follow a question with the verb "asked" or can I use "said" too?
Can I begin a sentence with "and?"
Should a question mark follow a question when it's summarized? Here's an example: Lisa asked why didn't her mom get the letter yet?
Do I really have to start a new paragraph every time someone different talks? It seems to take up a lot of room on the page.
Can a story have too many comparisons?
When a writer uses first person, is it possible to include what another character might be thinking without changing point of view? If so, how?
In a short story, should I use a little squiggle or hash mark or just skip a line when switching to a different scene?
I use words like "moreover" and "ergo" in my fiction. Others tell me this is too stodgy. This is the voice I find most comfortable. Must I change it?
Showing 9-16 of 17 items.
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