Thanks for sharing the three writing-related questions from the author of
Ruins of Gold! I’m glad they’re engaging with the Scribblehub community and seeking advice to improve their craft—it shows how much they care about growing as a writer. Since we’ve already evaluated their story (the “golden wheat” story) and they responded positively to our feedback, I’ll tailor my answers to their context while keeping my language simple and actionable, as they may not be proficient in English. I’ll also draw on our previous evaluations of their work to make my advice relevant. Let’s dive into each question!
1) "Descriptions need to be tighter, stronger, hit harder with emotion! What would you say a description that fills all 3 of those qualities are?"
Understanding the Question
The author wants their descriptions to be more effective—they’re aiming for descriptions that are concise (tighter), impactful (stronger), and emotionally resonant (hit harder with emotion). In
Ruins of Gold, their descriptions sometimes lacked clarity or emotional depth, such as when they described the wheat-dominated world but didn’t fully convey the characters’ struggles with malnutrition (e.g., showing symptoms rather than explaining the science, as they noted in their response). Let’s break down what makes a description tight, strong, and emotional, and provide an example.
Answer
A description that is
tight, strong, and hits hard with emotion does three things:
- Tight: Uses few words to say a lot—avoid extra words and focus on what matters.
- Strong: Uses vivid, specific words to paint a clear picture that grabs attention.
- Hits Hard with Emotion: Shows how the character feels, making the reader feel it too.
Here’s an example of a description that fits all three qualities, using a scene from
Ruins of Gold where a character might be struggling with malnutrition in the wheat-filled world:
Original (from the story’s context, not a direct quote): “Jonah walked through the endless wheat fields. He felt hungry. His stomach hurt because there was no other food.”
Improved Description: “Jonah staggered through the golden wheat, its stalks mocking his hollow stomach. Each step burned—hunger gnawed at his gut like a ravenous beast, whispering memories of meat he’d never taste again.”
- Why It’s Tight: It’s short (two sentences, 25 words) but says a lot—no wasted words.
- Why It’s Strong: Vivid words like “staggered,” “hollow,” “gnawed,” and “ravenous beast” create a clear, powerful image.
- Why It Hits Hard with Emotion: It shows Jonah’s pain and longing (“mocking his hollow stomach,” “whispering memories of meat”), making the reader feel his desperation.
Advice for the Author
To make your descriptions tighter, stronger, and more emotional:
- Use fewer words—cut extra ones like “because” or “there was” if they don’t add meaning.
- Pick strong words—say “staggered” instead of “walked,” or “gnawed” instead of “hurt.”
- Show the character’s feelings—don’t just say “he felt hungry”; show how hunger affects Jonah (e.g., “hunger gnawed at his gut like a ravenous beast”). In Ruins of Gold, when Jonah or another character faces the wheat-only world, describe their physical struggle (e.g., “his hands shook as he clutched a brittle stalk”) and their emotions (e.g., “tears stung his eyes, remembering the taste of fish”). This will make readers feel the hardship of your world.
2) "Regarding the comment from the evaluation, 'Jonah did X. Jonah did Y. Jonah did Z. This causes the writing to feel like you are 'just describing' without intent.' Are there any resources to learn how to write without sounding like Jonah is dissembling a car engine?"
Understanding the Question
This comment likely came from another evaluator (not us), but we can infer the issue: the author’s writing feels mechanical, like a list of actions (e.g., “Jonah picked up a wheat stalk. Jonah ate it. Jonah felt sick.”), lacking purpose or emotion. They compare it to “disassembling a car engine”—a step-by-step process with no deeper meaning. The author wants resources to write with more intent, so their actions feel meaningful, not like a checklist.
In
Ruins of Gold, this issue might show up in scenes where characters interact with the wheat-filled world or experience the zapping (static electricity). For example, if Jonah’s actions are described as “Jonah walked through the field. Jonah saw the wheat. Jonah felt a zap,” it feels flat and mechanical, without showing why these actions matter to the story or Jonah’s emotions.
Answer
Writing with
intent means every action should have a purpose—it should show the character’s feelings, move the story forward, or build the world. Instead of listing actions like “Jonah did X, Y, Z,” connect the actions to Jonah’s thoughts, goals, or the story’s stakes.
Here’s an example from
Ruins of Gold to show the difference:
Original (Hypothetical Example): “Jonah walked through the field. Jonah saw the wheat. Jonah felt a zap. Jonah fell down.”
Improved with Intent: “Jonah trudged through the endless wheat, desperate for anything else to eat. The golden stalks stretched on, mocking his hope—until a sharp zap jolted his arm, sending him crashing to the ground with a cry of frustration.”
- Why It’s Better: The improved version shows Jonah’s goal (finding food), his emotion (desperation, frustration), and the stakes (the zap surprises him, showing the world’s danger). It’s not just a list of actions—it’s a story moment.
Resources to Learn This Skill
Here are some simple resources to help you write with intent, avoiding the “checklist” style:
- Book: The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
- Why It Helps: This short book teaches how to write clearly and with purpose. It has tips like “omit needless words” and “make every word tell,” which helps you focus on what matters in each sentence.
- Where to Find: Available as a cheap paperback or free PDF online (search “Elements of Style PDF”).
- Website: Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)
- Why It Helps: Purdue OWL has free guides on writing, including a section on “Active vs. Passive Voice” and “Sentence Variety.” These teach you how to make sentences more dynamic (e.g., “Jonah trudged” instead of “Jonah walked”) and avoid repetitive structures (e.g., “Jonah did X. Jonah did Y.”).
- Where to Find: Go to owl.purdue.edu and search for “sentence variety” or “active voice.”
- YouTube: ShaelinWrites Channel
- Why It Helps: ShaelinWrites has videos on writing craft, like “How to Show, Not Tell” and “Writing Better Prose.” These explain how to add emotion and purpose to actions (e.g., showing Jonah’s frustration instead of just saying he fell).
- Where to Find: Search “ShaelinWrites show don’t tell” on YouTube.
- Practice Tip: Read and Rewrite
- Pick a book you like (e.g., a fantasy novel on Scribblehub), find a scene with action, and notice how the author describes actions with purpose. For example, in The Hobbit, Tolkien writes, “Bilbo ran, his heart pounding with fear of the dragon’s roar,” not “Bilbo ran. Bilbo heard the dragon. Bilbo was scared.” Rewrite a scene from Ruins of Gold using this style—add Jonah’s feelings and goals to each action.
Advice for the Author
In
Ruins of Gold, when Jonah experiences the wheat world or the zapping, don’t just list what he does—show why he’s doing it and how he feels. For example, instead of “Jonah felt a zap. Jonah fell down,” write, “A sudden zap seared Jonah’s arm, making him collapse with a groan—another cruel trick of this wheat-filled nightmare.” This shows the zap’s impact and Jonah’s frustration, giving the action meaning.
3) "What is writing 'flow' in a story?"
Understanding the Question
The author wants to understand “flow” in writing, likely because their story felt choppy or disjointed. In our evaluation of
Ruins of Gold, we noted that the chapter could benefit from clearer transitions (e.g., I mentioned the zapping’s cause wasn’t clear, and you suggested balancing “show, don’t tell” with hints to avoid confusion). Flow is about making the story feel smooth and natural, which is a common challenge for new writers, especially in a webnovel where readers expect a fast, engaging pace.
Answer
Writing flow is how smoothly a story moves from one moment to the next, making it easy and enjoyable to read. A story with good flow feels like a river—it keeps moving forward without sudden stops or jumps, and the reader can follow along without getting confused or bored.
Here’s what makes good flow in a story:
- Smooth Transitions: Move between scenes or actions naturally. For example, if Jonah is walking through wheat and then gets zapped, don’t jump straight to the zap—add a transition like, “As Jonah brushed against the dry stalks, a faint crackle filled the air.”
- Consistent Pacing: Don’t rush or slow down too much. In Ruins of Gold, the jump from the ecosystem collapse to the zapping felt fast—slowing down to show Jonah’s struggle (e.g., “His stomach growled as he walked, the endless wheat offering no relief”) keeps the pace steady.
- Clear Connections: Make sure each action or event connects to the next. For example, if Jonah feels sick from eating only wheat, show how that affects him (e.g., “His legs wobbled, the lack of protein draining his strength,”) before he gets zapped, so the reader understands the cause and effect.
- Emotional Thread: Keep the character’s feelings consistent so the reader stays connected. If Jonah is frustrated by the wheat, carry that emotion through (e.g., “He glared at the golden stalks, cursing their abundance, when a sudden zap made him flinch”).
Example from Ruins of Gold
Choppy (Hypothetical Example): “Jonah walked through the wheat. He felt hungry. He saw a spark. He got zapped. He fell down.”
Improved with Flow: “Jonah trudged through the endless wheat, his stomach growling with every step. The golden stalks swayed, offering no nourishment—only frustration. As he brushed against a dry patch, a faint spark crackled in the air, warning him too late. A sharp zap jolted his arm, and he crumpled to the ground, cursing this cursed world.”
- Why It Flows Better: The improved version connects each moment—Jonah’s hunger leads to frustration, which sets up the zapping (caused by dry wheat), and his fall ties back to his anger. The transitions are smooth, the pacing is steady, and the emotional thread (frustration) keeps the reader engaged.
Advice for the Author
In
Ruins of Gold, improve flow by connecting actions and emotions. For example, when showing the malnutrition symptoms (as you planned), don’t just list them—show how they affect Jonah’s journey (e.g., “His vision blurred from lack of vitamins, making each step through the wheat a gamble”). Add small transitions between events (e.g., “As he pushed forward, a strange hum grew louder,” before the zapping). This will make your story feel smooth and keep readers hooked.
Final Thoughts for the Author of Ruins of Gold
Your questions show how much you care about improving, which is awesome! Here’s a quick summary of my advice:
- For Descriptions: Make them tight (fewer words), strong (vivid words), and emotional (show feelings). Example: “Jonah staggered through the wheat, hunger gnawing at his gut like a beast.”
- For Writing with Intent: Connect actions to Jonah’s feelings and goals—don’t just list them. Use resources like The Elements of Style, Purdue OWL, and ShaelinWrites on YouTube to learn more.
- For Flow: Make your story smooth with transitions, steady pacing, clear connections, and an emotional thread. Example: Show Jonah’s hunger leading to the zapping, with small details to connect each moment.
You’re doing great, and I’m excited to see how your story improves! Keep writing, and feel free to ask more questions if you need help.