I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

How can I change my story so it sounds less like Harry Potter?

Asked by: Stephanie Waters

Is my story too similar to Harry Potter?

TL;DR: Your story will inevitably be compared to Harry Potter purely because of how iconic and influential it is within the “magical school” genre, but I definitely wouldn’t say it’s too similar. The story takes place in a fictional country I created.

How do you make a less bland story?

This is how to keep your story fresh and exciting in every scene:

  1. If You Can, Trash It. Your first choice should always be to get rid of any in-betweens that don’t advance your plot. …
  2. Introduce Personality: Make It about Character. …
  3. Introduce Action: Make It about Drama. …
  4. Introduce Questions: Make It about Suspense.


How can I make my story sound better?

Contents

  1. Give your story strong dramatic content.
  2. Vary rhythm and structure in your prose.
  3. Create believable, memorable characters.
  4. Make the important story sections effective.
  5. Deepen your plot with subplots.
  6. Make every line of dialogue count.
  7. Add what makes a good story (immersive setting)
  8. Create conflict and tension.

What do you do when your story is too similar to another?

Just don’t write something based off of another author’s plot. If you came up with your story BEFORE you found another idea that is similar(like your problem), you know yourself that you aren’t plagiarizing, since you didn’t know. It was YOUR idea.

How do you write like a wizard?

Make every word count this is the story of why you're going to be able to bring great skills from other jobs to this job you want to make it as concise.

How do you write like Harry Potter?

The way characters speak not only reveal how characters perceive those around them but their own personalities.

How do you fix a boring character?

Impact way this is the way that most people think where they have their characters. They go through something. And then their characters come out differently. This is what we see a lot in movies.

What make a story boring?

Many writers spend too much time developing characters that get killed off early in the story. They also show good luck charms, objects, or places we never see again. These factors, along with an interesting but ultimately irrelevant history, all make appearances in boring stories.

How do you stop dry writing?

Keep your text lean, use flavorful language, and express yourself confidently.

  1. 1 Begin with lean writing. …
  2. 2 But don’t make it too lean. …
  3. 3 Write with confidence. …
  4. 4 Use powerful words and imagery . . . …
  5. 5 . . . but keep your language simple. …
  6. 6 Emulate other writers you admire. …
  7. 7 Try creative formats. …
  8. 8 Be a storyteller.

Is it okay to write a book inspired by another book?

Getting inspired by another author’s work is nothing bad. Just don’t end up writing the exact same book as the one that inspired you, because at that point it isn’t “being inspired by” anymore but plagiarism.



Can you plagiarize a plot?

Ideas, plots, scenes, and characters can be plagiarized too. If there is wholesale copying of another’s creative expressions and presentations without crediting the original author, then there is plagiarism.

Can you copy story ideas?

It’s pretty generic. You may borrow it. However, though you may copy the theme, plot, or ideas from an original work, you may not copy the “expression” of those ideas. The U.S. Copyright Act protects the mode of expression employed by an author within her original work.

What is copying a story called?

Copying and Pasting Plagiarism



Anytime you copy and paste verbatim from a source and do not give the source credit it is plagiarism. If you do copy and paste a passage word for word, you must put the information in quotations (i.e. ” “) marks and give credit to the author. This is called a direct quote.

How do you know if you are plagiarizing?

10 Signs Of Plagiarism Every Teacher Should Know

  • Sudden changes in diction. …
  • More than one font. …
  • Uncalled for hyperlinks. …
  • Odd intrusions of first-person or shifts in tense. …
  • Outdated information. …
  • Apparent quotes with quotation marks. …
  • Incorrect or mixed citation systems. …
  • Missing references.

How do you write amazing copy?

A Short Guide to Writing Good Copy



  1. Clear communication is the key to effective copy. …
  2. A copywriter comes to the rescue. …
  3. Make every word tell. …
  4. Headline Writing 101. …
  5. Use common spelling. …
  6. Avoid hyperbole and fancy words. …
  7. Put the reader first. …
  8. Write in a natural way.

Is it hard to write copy?

Copywriting is absolutely no harder a career to break into than any other one. But very, very, very few people are going to be able to successfully build a career if they don’t actually know how to write copy!

What is a creative copy?

Creative copy is inspiring to read and has a voice that makes a brand stand up and stand out. But it’s about more than having a way with words. It’s about being original with an idea and tapping into people’s hearts and heads.

How do I start just writing?

8 Great Ways to Start the Writing Process

  1. Start in the Middle. If you don’t know where to start, don’t bother deciding right now. …
  2. Start Small and Build Up. …
  3. Incentivize the Reader. …
  4. Commit to a Title Up Front. …
  5. Create a Synopsis. …
  6. Allow Yourself to Write Badly. …
  7. Make Up the Story as You Go. …
  8. Do the Opposite.


How do I know if I am a writer?

If you write for life, you’ll work hard; you’ll do what’s honest, not what pays. You know you are a writer when you write because you are compelled, driven and unable to to do otherwise.



What are the 5 types of writing?

there are only five main kinds of writing: expository, descriptive, persuasive, narrative, and journal or letter writing. Each writing genre has its own unique purpose and requires different skills.

What app should I use to write stories?

Apps We Recommend

Product Availability Use For
Grammarly Browser, web and desktop apps Grammar checking, self-editing, plagiarism reports
ProWritingAid Desktop app Grammar checking, self-editing, plagiarism reports
Scrivener Desktop & iOS app Long form writing projects
Living Writer Web and mobile Story outlines, novels


Do you get paid on Wattpad?

Writers Can Earn Cash With In-Story Ads on Wattpad



The program helps writers earn money by inserting ads between chapters of their Wattpad story. Every time a reader views an ad, the writer earns money.



Where is the best place to write a book?

Here are some places to write you might want to try.

  1. Your local library. Every writer loves being surrounded by endless shelves of inspiration. …
  2. Coffee shop. Coffee shops are classic writers’ haunts for a reason. …
  3. Public park. …
  4. Your own porch. …
  5. Coworking space. …
  6. Museum. …
  7. Aquarium. …
  8. Shopping mall.

Is wattpad good for writers?

Finally, Wattpad is brilliant for writers because it’s a great place to discover and read new books — often before they’re published. Sure, not every book published on Wattpad is a must-read, but there are tons of books worth reading on the site.

Is Wattpad good for 12 year olds?

We do not recommend Wattpad for users under 17. Honestly, you do not even have to look to find inappropriate content. Some parents have a joint account with their child, but they will still be exposed to explicit book descriptions and cover art.

Do guys read Wattpad?

Wattpad can be used by any gender. It’s just that girls often used the wattpad app because they prefer reading novels and such. In fact there are some authors in wattpad that are males like ,knightinblack. Some of my male classmates used to use that app too.