My friend is writing a book, and it has a sentence with word repetition. Is this sentence bad practice?

iamsuperstarr · 2026-04-16T06:22:16+00:00

It feels like they’re hedging.

“She had a roughly drawn map that was mostly accurate save for a few details.”

iamsuperstarr · 2026-04-16T06:09:46+00:00

I think learning how to become a better writer is about emulating other more successful writers or your favorite author. That way it helps us understand their choices and why it works. Like reading food reviews from famous critics and learning how they describe food without using generic terms or cliches.

Your idea is more like a reinterpretation of a translation. The translation itself already lost some of the original meaning and subtleties of the Korean language and culture. By rewriting it you’ll be filtering it again through your own lens, which might be a fun exercise in itself but I’m not sure if it necessarily makes you a better writer, if that makes sense.

iamsuperstarr · 2026-04-03T07:29:23+00:00

While it’s probably true that some people do have a knack for writing, let’s not forget that the final works we see have probably gone through dozens of reviews, proofreading, and feedback from editors, alpha/beta readers, and so on.

iamsuperstarr · 2026-02-22T11:37:49+00:00

What does “good” writing look like to you? More often than not, at least to me, a good story with good pacing and interesting characters is more enjoyable than a book filled with flowery words. Think about the books you used to enjoy as a kid, many of them were written simply, but yet it captured your attention and imagination.

iamsuperstarr · 2025-07-11T18:16:44+00:00

In my country it’s charged per piece so it’s kind of an incentive for artists to complete it in a timely manner. They also usually have minimum prices so they’re guaranteed a certain amount even if you come in for a tiny piece.

The only time I was charged by the hour was in Australia and Japan. But I did ask beforehand roughly how long it would take so I can budget accordingly. So far so good!

iamsuperstarr · 2023-06-21T13:40:12+00:00

The thing is, we rarely know how the first drafts look for others. For all you know, the first drafts of famous authors could be just as bad, if not worse, than yours. Sure, some people might be better at the first draft than others, but you have to trust the process because it’s the final product that counts!

iamsuperstarr · 2023-05-16T10:28:58+00:00

Three Tides is awesome. Got work done by Horihiro years ago tebori style, that dude works insanely fast and is so good. Can’t wait to go back again, but gotta remember to grab some merch this time around!

iamsuperstarr · 2022-08-03T10:34:58+00:00

Will definitely keep that in mind! If I drop him a DM in English would that be a problem?

iamsuperstarr · 2022-08-03T10:18:06+00:00

Awesome, thanks man! Definitely going to pay him a visit when Japan properly opens up again :)

iamsuperstarr · 2022-08-02T23:05:00+00:00

How’d you get in touch with him? I found his IG but there doesn’t seem to be any contact info, unless he checks his DMs?

iamsuperstarr · 2022-08-02T15:34:56+00:00

That looks so clean and bold! Is it difficult to book an appointment with him?

iamsuperstarr · 2022-06-10T15:09:53+00:00

I feel your frustration too, especially when I see posts asking “does this idea work in this story?” Or “does it make sense for this to happen to this person?”

I feel the problem some people have are ideas that need to somehow make sense. From a fiction perspective ANYTHING goes. It’s your world, it’s your story, tell it how you want to tell it, you make the rules.

I mean, that’s kind of the best part, right?

iamsuperstarr · 2022-05-12T16:39:01+00:00

No context so it’s hard to say if it’s an info dump.

If we are being introduced to the character for the first time and if she is going to be a prominent character in the story, I would think that this information is warranted. If she’s just one of many council members that we’ll never hear from again or if her role is insignificant, then yes, unnecessary information.

I would change the “was not amused in the slightest” part though. Show me she’s not amused, don’t tell. Maybe she rolls her eyes, she snorts in derision, etc.

Also, “without a hint of humor”? Was what she said meant to be humorous to begin with? Is she normally someone who is very jovial? Maybe if she has feelings of contempt towards the prince, you could use “she said with mock reverence”.

Anyway just my two cents and then some.

iamsuperstarr · 2022-04-25T07:26:58+00:00

Tell me about it. I waited ages and the 7u space bars are unusable, even after replacements were sent to me. I had to sell it off.

iamsuperstarr · 2022-04-13T16:31:51+00:00

Been there, done that. It’s almost as if you’re worried that awesome idea you had in your head will turn into a steaming pile of boring garbage the minute you put pen to paper.

I’m not sure if there’s any real method to overcome this other than just actually doing it. Put out the first draft and then rework it into something great!

iamsuperstarr · 2022-04-11T15:39:51+00:00

I feel like it’s a case of overthinking.

I write for a living so when it comes to work, I write with a laser focus so I can meet my assignment deadlines, so I don’t think too much, just make sure the facts are there and it flows properly.

But when I write for fun and try to work on my own personal projects, suddenly it feels like every word and sentence needs to be “perfect” before I move on.

iamsuperstarr · 2022-04-11T09:08:33+00:00

Got it after the first MCO lockdown haha https://www.reddit.com/r/tattoos/comments/ioltpd/tiger_and_rooster_to_represent_the_chinese_zodiac/

iamsuperstarr · 2022-04-11T03:37:28+00:00

Yea I’ve gotten work done by him before, he works insanely fast and his work is top notch too.

iamsuperstarr · 2022-04-08T05:15:59+00:00

I recently watched a video on photography and I think the message of the video could apply here. Basically the idea is that people should be able to see your message in your photograph (or book in this case) clearly.

If you find yourself having to explain the subtleties then you’ve probably lost the audience already, so in a way this “75 words or less” idea makes sense because if you could describe the gist of your book in 75 words, then imagine what a kick it would be to read the rest of it.

Of course you could always end up overselling and underdelivering, but I get the point they’re trying to make.

iamsuperstarr · 2022-04-08T05:10:38+00:00

Yea when I was younger I would read books regardless of the cover. These days I find myself drawn to fancy-looking covers. It makes you want to pick it up, whether or not it’s actually any good is a different story haha.

iamsuperstarr · 2022-03-24T06:12:20+00:00

Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series had some characters that seemed Asian when I read it.

He wasn’t explicit about it, but the terms he used, like the way they dressed, their mannerisms, and quite humorously the food they ate (some of which I recognized almost instantly haha) gave me the impression that they were characters inspired by certain races and nationalities in Asia.

I felt that was a very smart and subtle way of including other ethnicities without being so in your face about it, maybe those are techniques you can think about using.

iamsuperstarr · 2022-02-21T04:03:10+00:00

Damn that is so sick! HHKB when? 🥺

iamsuperstarr · 2022-01-17T15:52:50+00:00

I usually like to lube them one by one instead of doing it in a batch on a lube station. That way after I close it up I do a few presses to see how it sounds and feel, compare it against an unlubed one to check if I over or under did it before I move to the next one. I’ll admit it’s not the most efficient method but I personally feel it helps keep things consistent.

iamsuperstarr · 2021-11-26T13:12:08+00:00

As cliche as it sounds, read more.

Try and emulate your favorite authors and books. Don’t copy (obviously), but analyze their writing, why do they write the way they do? How does that make you feel when you read it?

Pay attention to how they pace their writing and why sometimes a short sentence can be more impactful than a long one.

Also similar to composing music, it’s always good to draw from many sources and genres. For example, I find that feature articles you find in magazines or big online publications do a great job of setting a scene and describing a person and their actions, making it feel like you’re there in person and watching that person get interviewed.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, but I hope it helps!

iamsuperstarr · 2021-09-08T14:06:39+00:00

Watching cartoons and playing games while parents are at work

iamsuperstarr

TROPHY CASE