Writers Can't Translate a Mental Scene Into Words on the Page
19 posts in the last 60 days, all from r/writers.
“Title says it all! I've been working on a novel for two years now and still can't figure out what to call it. I'm looking for inspiration 😅”
“I hardly ever see writers doing this, but I see it a lot in light novels. That's the only thing I like about light novels because they show the characters' visuals. I want to do the same for my novel. I'm not saying it's impossible to create a clear image through prose. I just…”
“I posted this yesterday at 1 A.M., but still need some more advice on how to accomplish this. I am writing a series with intersecting timelines. Book 1 takes place when the FMC Seelia is 18-32. The problem I’n having is with the intersection between books 3-4. Book 2 takes place…”
Many writers are grappling with fundamental challenges: feeling ownership of their work, translating ideas from other media into original stories, dealing with self-doubt, and navigating the subjective nature of 'good' writing. There's also a recurring theme of struggling to translate internal visions into effective text.
SOURCES (60)
“Im writing my fantasy book that has a very large world with almost 3-4 leading characters in it (the fourth is on debate). Im just wondering how authors find a balance of the two. If there any examples would be appreciated. plus is there fantasy…”
“Title says it all! I've been working on a novel for two years now and still can't figure out what to call it. I'm looking for inspiration 😅 submitted by /u/Autumnal-Flowers09 [link] [comments]”
“So far I have this for my medieval space fantasy book’s back cover description: — Welcome to Star Warrior Academy! In this Vast Sea of Space, Lives a Wild, Medieval Place — and a PRESTIGIOUS TEEN named TUSKIN, who is about to take his first MAGIC TRIAL. Tuskin may be talented with magic, but he is also absolutely arrogant. And with everyone already expecting him to succeed… HE STILL HASN’T ACTUALLY STUDIED YET! And his TRIAL is only in A COUPLE DAYS! Tuskin must risk it all or he may become IRRE”
“I joined to turn my fanfics into original novels any tips? submitted by /u/UsedOven768 [link] [comments]”
“I’m fresh out of ideas. Everyone has a completed name except her and nothing feels right. First name is Renna. This is a gothic fantasy romance. She has magic attuned to death, however she was raised believing herself a normal mortal girl. She is emotionally guarded, stubborn, sharp tongued, and untrusting, if that helps you at all. There is no rhyme or reason to my character naming. I just choose what “feels right” for them and literally nothing feels right for this girl. I think I’d prefer som”
“Treat her like a blank slate and give your thoughts let your imagination shine , from what little you see! submitted by /u/FitPitch6025 [link] [comments]”
“Hi my name is Jax. I'm sorta new to writing. Mostly little stories when I was younger. Anyway I want to write a story featuring my characters. It takes place in Medieval Times when humans first discovered a new world and stole the land from the Beast Folk. It's inspired by TwoKinds, Spice And Wolf, and The Settlers vs Natives. I guess similar to Avatar aswell. Any help will he appreciated. Thank u! submitted by /u/DiskFrisk [link] [comments]”
View Poll submitted by /u/Victoria_Character [link] [comments]
“Hello all. I got started on my very first book. It's a fantasy novel based on dwarven tribes and shamanism divided into different elements (Fire, Earth and Water). I got the entire landscape detailed down in description. But Im wondering, if it would be ideal to reveal the landscape vaguely in the beginning of the book? Or should I start the story right away, and the readers know of the landscape via dialogue? submitted by /u/Duke_Harazo [link] [comments]”
“● This is my favorite of my original characters, because she has a beautiful design, is a fully realized character, and is charismatic; plus, I put a lot of effort and care into her development. My character: She is an 18-year-old young ENTP woman who is sharp, creative, and socially magnetic. She reads body language easily, perceives what is not said, and uses quick thinking and wit to navigate problems while remaining calm and good-humored. Although she usually comes out on top, she can be man”
“Hiiii, I don't know if this is the right r/ to use but I'm a writer who is thinking about adding in chronic pain syndrome to the mc in my story. The characters in question is Furina de Fontaine who is an ex-goddess from Genshin Impact and I'm thinking of making her have chronic pains in her head, her muscles and so on, throughout the story. Basically my explanation for why she would have it is because in the story, she separated herself from her divine soul and her ordinary soul just”
“I'm an aspiring (rather) young author. I've been working on a little story since I was 16 for almost two years now. Initially, I gave all of my characters names with cultural significance, appearances, and a nationality. But, midway, I was lost, I didn't know where my story was taking place, and since I am not familiar with other countries most stories I've read take place in and I didn't want to have my own country as an example and basis. I know, I simply could educate myse”
“I want to write 15~16 year old girl going to magic school. Should I switch to witch and wizard to some different supernatural being? Plus, I'm curious—was the market not like this when Nevermoor came out? (2017) Wasn't the magic-school genre already oversaturated at the time? submitted by /u/ffff111222333 [link] [comments]”
“Hey, so I'm a big fan of media in general and always dreamed of telling my own story someday. Lately, for the past few years, I've been really into DnD, making it basically a monthly or sometimes even weekly hobby where I can write down my ideas and bounce them off other people to create a great story. But I've been having some ideas that wouldn't work that well with the format or the chaotic input of a whole party of players, so writing was the next logical step, but I'm rea”
“I spent half an hour scouring Google, only to resort to the classic 'keep it simple'. submitted by /u/Yeomanticore [link] [comments]”
“This is a snippet from my multi POV sci-fi romance. My writing style is simple, but for my character Zunleon, I have to make it more alien. So obviously it's not as warm as the other characters, but does it seem boring? This is a four-book series; the first two are drafted. Right now I am in the middle of revisions for this book, so excuse any mistakes. I asked for sci-fi fans because I know that sometimes if you're interested in certain genres, it can affect how you view others. I'm”
“Soooo I’m writing a new book and need a little help deciding on the name of a major character. I wont give much info about her. I mostly want to know which name sounds best just based on hearing it repeatedly throughout an epic fantasy duology/trilogy. Which sounds best? Sneha, Senya or Karisyen? If you have other names that would be nice :) submitted by /u/Adriellovesu2 [link] [comments]”
“Hello, I just wanted some feedback on my prose, pacing, and overall flow. If there was something that made you stop or felt off I am open to hearing why. I already feel like some parts are too script-like or tell-y so I wanted to hear others thoughts on that as well. As a first draft there is some bumps so beware lol. Thank you! submitted by /u/EnvironmentalBoat772 [link] [comments]”
“I have two names for my main character, similar in length and they both start with the same letter. I can’t decide which one to use! I’ve only started outlining so no writing has taken place yet and maybe I should start and see what sticks? One name I’ve had picked out and was set for a few weeks but then another name came to mind that felt like a really strong contender too, so in my notes I just have “name1/name2” listed instead lol submitted by /u/PenVegetable4065 [link] [co”
The first three comments are the different versions of the blurb. Please upvote the one you like best, and feel free to share any thoughts or suggestions! This blurb has honestly been…
“Started a new fantasy story about a rural refugee trying to make a living in a more developed, cosmopolitan city-state as a housemaid to an upperclass local family where ideas of "proper" ways of speech might be more pronounced than otherwise. She's only been in the new city for a year or two so her skill with the language (effectively English) isn't perfect. She's the protagonist so I'm a little nervous about just making her speak with very simply constructed sentences”
“I am testing out a new drafting of the blurb for the first book in a series, would this interest you? Tia is a clay mage who hides her secrets beneath her half mask and practiced smile. Endido is a being made of shadow, daughter of the Goddess of the Sun and ruler of the world of Pedra, her very nature makes Endido anathema to her mother's church; her existence a secret from the mortals of the world. When strange occurrences, unknown visitors and revelations of lies within the doctrine of th”
“Hey yall question... im creating three religions for my book series (Its planned for 9 books) And im trying to find a way to show all 3 at some point.. my question is for those who read more than me- How is the fantasy religions you read about introduced and shown? submitted by /u/Infinite_Bug_7258 [link] [comments]”
“I hardly ever see writers doing this, but I see it a lot in light novels. That's the only thing I like about light novels because they show the characters' visuals. I want to do the same for my novel. I'm not saying it's impossible to create a clear image through prose. I just personally would like having a visual reference as well, which is why I'm considering this. I want to show the main characters' visuals on the cover. No reader is going to want to read 200 words des”
“It’s a book but I’m really just curious bout your thoughts submitted by /u/naomi_espiii [link] [comments]”
“This was like... five years ago? Having my cousin call my MC generic. For context, my book saga starts with a nine year old, first book being 38 chapters long, and one of my biggest fears was having my MC behave like a small adult instead of a child. And yet! My cousin, a 14-year-old at the time, told me that the way my MC talks and acts FELT like a nine year old. I was never SO PROUD as a graphic designer and as a writer to be called generic. submitted by /u/Arcana18 [link] [c”
“basically what it says in the title, Im new to trying to write a novel but any time I try to write, name or create a charecter it just feels like Im doing it wrong and Im really stuggling to name them in a way that isnt either a real person or feels like something 10 year old me wrote on wattpad in 2019 submitted by /u/FirstFewHundredTimes [link] [comments]”
“I posted this yesterday at 1 A.M., but still need some more advice on how to accomplish this. I am writing a series with intersecting timelines. Book 1 takes place when the FMC Seelia is 18-32. The problem I’n having is with the intersection between books 3-4. Book 2 takes place in the spring of the 4th year, and book 3 takes place in late July of that same year all with different fmc’s and mmc’s and the FMC’s with the exception of the third book are all friends, so they’re all in each other’s l”
“I'm thinking about publishing my fantasy book series on Amazon. It will consist of four books. The thing I can't decide is what kind of cover would attract more attention. I wrote my book from the perspectives of several different characters, with each chapter rotating between those characters. My question is, would it be better for the covers to feature the characters themselves, or would it be better if each book featured an illustration of a magical item from my world along with its a”
“How complicated do you go when using vocabulary? I write fantasy fiction. This series has been my lifelong goal and my truest work. I chose these names and such when I was quite young. Today, I can't help but wonder if this isn't breaking the ease of the world building. Everything flows, and then I just picture people getting stumped and stopping to figure out how to pronounce too many names. Not that people can't figure it out, but I don't want readers to lose immersion. It'”
“I’m currently working on a fantasy novel draft and one of the main critiques that I get is to add more interiority as well as digging deeper with my general descriptions. This tends to be a struggle of mine and I’ve spent months researching the subject but I mostly find surface level advice. Once I finish this draft and have more time on my hands I plan on diving into a lot more reading for better ideas on how to go about it, but what are some really good tips for elevating descriptive prose in”
“I want to write a book in a fantasy political setting. Is that something peopel would read? It would be a romance too. If yes, are there any tips you'd want to give me? submitted by /u/XxSpacegirlxX [link] [comments]”
“I am looking for a writing group in the fantasy/sci-fi space but open to other genres of people as well and other time zones. I have just recently started to really write and trying to improve, looking for similar people who are obsessed at getting better. submitted by /u/LouKingsHub [link] [comments]”
“Is it a mistake to give characters names when they play no part in the story other than adding texture to the lives of your main characters thoughts and anecdotes? submitted by /u/justinu1475 [link] [comments]”
“I’m curious if more writers have been doing this. I find that fantasy elements help look into characters psyche. Like weapons, that’s something a character chooses, alters for their needs, that’s an excellent element of fantasy to incorporate! Or old stories, ichorous, Midas, countless fairy tales, if one character connects what’s going on to these, we get to see how they interpret them, showing their values. Horror is the best to do this with, as your already breaking the rules. Like, this terr”
“Question: Have you ever written the TITLE of your work into the work itself? Bonus Points--- did you use it in dialogue? --- Just finished a chapter today. The final exchange was : "Who will aid us in this war?" "TITLE." 🤣🫡 submitted by /u/Fit_Kaleidoscope4493 [link] [comments]”
“Im writing a novel that takes place in a fictional universe. I have an intro and wanted to know of it is an effective hook and wanted to know some tips on how to make it better. I laid in my bed, staring at the wooden ceiling above me and listening to the planks slapping against each other. The thought of finally achieving sleep was in itself euphoric. I even grinned at the thought of it. I shifted my view to the half cracked window to stare at the pale moon, covered faintly by a vale of smoky c”
“Hear me out, what's your opinion on the main character being quite similar to yourself and the story being a scenario that you'd love to be in? Most of the time, I see lots of critics over authors who self-insert themselves in their story. Yet, it doesn't really change anything does it's as long as you make it thorough character. And by the way, Stephanie Meyer made millions out of Twilight even if she was very oddly similar to Bella. Thought? And this is obviously not because in”
“I have never wrote anything before, I am on a Game of Thrones kick right now and I'm obsessed with it. I love history, I love dragons and I want to write something with that but I cant without it being just a blatant copy. How do you be inspired without copying? submitted by /u/Alternative_Arm_4233 [link] [comments]”
“I wanted to get some critiques and tips on my query letter for my novel Lelouch Paulizox. I've been writing it for six years now and I'm FINALLY ready to start querying, so I would really appreciate any insights into how I can improve it (especially on whether it sounded intriguing, if there was too much exposition and whether my comps would work). I appreciate any and all thoughts! Dear David, Given your track record for representing highly inventive, propulsive commercial fiction with”
“My ranking of some of our books. Definitely prefer books where the writer has made the words flow nicely. submitted by /u/scottienl [link] [comments]”
“This is chapter one of my book, "Thorns". A dystopian fantasy Book. This chapter is obviously just the start, and the translation may be a bit off since I wrote it in German originally, and only used English to get a quick international feedback: "Screams for screams, blood for blood, murder for murder, soul for soul. The screams faded as the sun forced my eyelids open. The alarm clock rang with a shrill, high-pitched tone — just like in the movies. I threw the blanket off my bo”
“I am currently writing a novel in that sub genre. I felt like normal fantasy was missing something. Many people probably know the quote. "Any sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic." (Not sure from who it was. If anyone knows let me know.) I like to add to that with "Every sufficiently understood magic is indistinguishable from science.' And that's what I build my word and my book on. A word where magic is such an everyday thing that it isn't rea”
“Hi! I want to write my first story/book, I'm not looking to be a professional or anything, just any tips on how I can even begin. How have you guys planned a story? how do you plan out world building? do you make a bunch of different docs, like for characters and stuff? I want to start writing but I don't even know where to begin and stuff. Sorry if I'm not asking the right questions, so if there's extra stuff I need to know first feel free to lemme know! submitted by”
“I accidentally called my dog by my love interest's name. "C'mon Mikayla!- I mean, Emma!" submitted by /u/ZombieApocAuthor [link] [comments]”
“I have so many ideas that range from fantasy, to dark romance books but I have no idea how to start any of it. Do I plan out the entire book then write it? Or do I just write and see what happens? Any advice is more than welcome and I just need help with starting. submitted by /u/NoseLongjumping5881 [link] [comments]”
“Hey everyone! I'm the sort of "writer" who tends to overthink every detail & don't write out as much as I should lol I guess maybe storyboarding. Planning. Etc is more what I tend to do. I have so many ideas that tend to just be everywhere without an exact plotline in mind yet. Bits & pieces here & there. Scenarios. Like years worth of ideas & characters I've been sitting on cuz idk how to write. But basically I was speaking with a friend about my story &”
“I have been for a while writing a series of Fiction Books that I eventually want to publish. The problem is I work 2 jobs and a 50 hour workweek is short for me. I wanted to see if anyone had any advice of any sort for a guy attempting a fiction series with not a lot of spare time. submitted by /u/Loud-Respect2637 [link] [comments]”
“(Its a chapter in the current novel I'm working at, ignoring all the gramatical mistakes, I hope to get some reviews on it, Note here is Norah's actually a Bio-engineer and Thana, the character which is describing is from a very wealthy family, I hope my story is easy to understand and the setting doesn't seem rushed. Enjoy~, Honestly, idk what am I doing here, its my first time asking for reviews.) The Star First Meet It just hurts. Hurts so damn much. how could he do this to me, al”
“Hi everyone! I am a writer, have been most of my life, and I am very busy with tweaking my family saga trilogy (have finished book 1, currently translating book 2). I am looking for a creative writing buddy who loves to share ideas, get excited about little in-world details and our characters. I love to think along, share ideas or just chat. I don't expect anyone to be available all the time (we all have a life!) but if you have time, it would be great to discuss our stories and things we”
“Just wondering. Just finished another draft of a novel and I'm kind of reverse outlining now. Def see some repetition I need to take out, some timelines that are all out of wack, and characters that appear, disappear, or never really do anything. Does anyone else work this way? Has anyone ever done this and also outlined from the beginning, pros and cons? I'm guessing this is a horribly inefficient way to write, huh? submitted by /u/Awkward-Painter-2024 [link] [comments”
“Drew the main characters of the story I'm writing to motivate me to write. I wonder if this would actually work. submitted by /u/ResidentWhole1898 [link] [comments]”
“I’m a French writer and I can’t write a scene in one of my fanfictions. It just seems awkward :/ I have the main idea and some of the points each character can make but I don’t really know how to put everything together. Could someone help me somehow ? submitted by /u/Dragonneloulou [link] [comments]”
“I've been writing since I was 12. I'm 20 now. So why the heck does my writing still sound like it was written by a 16 year old?? Any tips on how to fix this? I rarely even read YA, yet somehow my writing still sounds YA-ish, which isn't what I'm aiming for in my writing journey. I suppose doing the equivalent to "art tracing" in writing for practice is a good idea, but perhaps you guys have a better method in mind. submitted by /u/yawannaknowmehuh [link] ”
“Many beginner writers like to focus on their characters' hair and eye color, and, no shade, those are fine things to focus on. But if you keep doing it repeatedly or that's all you focus on, it starts to lack individuality. Even if your character has objectively rare features like red hair and blue eyes. More often than not, someone's hair and eye color are not the most memorable or unique parts of them. So I came up with an exercise. Imagine that you are casting a movie, and have pu”
“Idk if this is the right place to post this but i'm a girl and i'm writing my first story i want other girls to be able relate to it and i need some tips from writers and authors to help me become better and more confident i'm on page 145 submitted by /u/Background-Pea3717 [link] [comments]”