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Translation

Chinese

Creative Writing Craft

创意写作技巧

Transform ideas into compelling prose.
将想法转化为引人入胜的文字。

Story Architecture

故事架构

Three-Act Structure

三幕式结构

ACT I (25%)     │  ACT II (50%)              │  ACT III (25%)
Setup           │  Confrontation             │  Resolution
────────────────┼────────────────────────────┼─────────────────
Hook            │  Rising Action             │  Climax
Inciting Event  │  Midpoint Shift            │  Falling Action
First Plot Point│  Second Plot Point         │  Resolution
第一幕(25%)     │  第二幕(50%)              │  第三幕(25%)
铺垫           │  冲突对抗             │  结局收尾
────────────────┼────────────────────────────┼─────────────────
钩子            │  情节升级             │  高潮
触发事件  │  中点转折            │  情节回落
第一个情节点│  第二个情节点         │  最终结局

Scene Structure

场景结构

Goal → Conflict → Disaster → Reaction → Dilemma → Decision
Each scene should have:
  • POV character with a clear goal
  • Obstacle preventing the goal
  • Stakes if they fail
  • Outcome (usually not what they wanted)
目标 → 冲突 → 危机 → 反应 → 困境 → 决策
每个场景应包含：
  • 视角人物，拥有明确目标
  • 阻碍，阻止目标达成
  • 代价，失败后的后果
  • 结果（通常与预期不符）

Story Beats

故事节拍

BeatPercentageFunction
Opening Image0-1%Establish world/tone
Theme Stated~5%Hint at meaning
Setup1-10%Ordinary world
Catalyst~10%Inciting incident
Debate10-20%Hesitation
Break into Two~25%Commits to journey
B Story~30%Subplot, often thematic
Fun and Games30-50%Promise of premise
Midpoint~50%False victory/defeat, stakes rise
Bad Guys Close In50-75%Increasing pressure
All Is Lost~75%Lowest point
Dark Night of Soul75-80%Despair
Break into Three~80%New plan/revelation
Finale80-99%Climax, resolution
Final Image99-100%Echo opening, show change
节拍占比作用
开篇画面0-1%建立世界观与基调
主题点明~5%暗示核心意义
背景铺垫1-10%展现日常世界
催化剂~10%触发核心事件
内心挣扎10-20%主角的犹豫阶段
进入第二幕~25%主角承诺踏上旅程
B故事~30%副线情节，通常承载主题
趣味环节30-50%兑现核心设定的吸引力
中点~50%虚假胜利/失败，提升 stakes
反派施压50-75%压力持续增大
全盘皆输~75%故事最低点
灵魂暗夜75-80%绝望阶段
进入第三幕~80%新计划/真相浮现
终局80-99%高潮与结局
最终画面99-100%呼应开篇，展现变化

Character Development

人物塑造

Character Dimensions

人物维度

LayerQuestionExample
SurfaceWhat do they show?Confident, funny
BehaviorWhat do they do?Helps strangers, avoids calls
MotiveWhat do they want?Success, approval
NeedWhat do they actually need?Self-acceptance
GhostWhat wound drives them?Abandoned as child
层次问题示例
表面他们展现出什么？自信、风趣
行为他们会做什么？帮助陌生人、回避电话
动机他们想要什么？成功、他人认可
需求他们真正需要什么？自我接纳
心结什么创伤驱动他们？童年被遗弃

Character Arc Pattern

人物弧光模式

Lie they believe → Want (conscious goal) → Need (unconscious)
     ↓                    ↓                      ↓
Truth they learn ← Confrontation ← Cost of lie
他们信奉的谎言 → 欲望（有意识的目标） → 需求（无意识的）
     ↓                    ↓                      ↓
他们学到的真相 ← 冲突对抗 ← 谎言的代价

Voice Development

叙事声音塑造

To develop distinct character voice, vary:
  • Sentence length and complexity
  • Vocabulary level and specificity
  • Speech patterns (fragments, run-ons)
  • Topics they notice/mention
  • What they omit or avoid
  • Metaphor domains (what do they compare things to?)
要打造独特的人物声音，可从以下方面变化：
  • 句子长度与复杂度
  • 词汇水平与具体性
  • 说话模式（碎片句、流水句）
  • 他们关注/提及的话题
  • 他们省略或回避的内容
  • 隐喻领域（他们习惯用什么做类比？）

Point of View

叙事视角

First Person

第一人称

I walked into the room and immediately regretted it.
Pros: Intimacy, voice, unreliable narrator potential Cons: Limited perspective, "I" fatigue
我走进房间，立刻就后悔了。
优点：亲密感强、突出声音、可塑造不可靠叙述者 缺点：视角受限、容易产生“我”疲劳

Third Person Limited

第三人称有限视角

She walked into the room and immediately regretted it.
Pros: Flexibility, intimacy without "I" Cons: Can drift into head-hopping
她走进房间，立刻就后悔了。
优点：灵活性强、无需“我”也能营造亲密感 缺点：容易出现视角跳脱

Third Person Omniscient

第三人称全知视角

Sarah walked into the room, unaware that three people 
were already watching her from the shadows.
Pros: God's-eye view, irony Cons: Distance, harder to master
萨拉走进房间，浑然不知阴影里已经有三个人在盯着她。
优点：上帝视角、可制造讽刺效果 缺点：距离感强、难以驾驭

Second Person

第二人称

You walk into the room. You immediately regret it.
Pros: Immediacy, unusual Cons: Can feel gimmicky, reader resistance
你走进房间。你立刻就后悔了。
优点：代入感强、形式新颖 缺点：可能显得刻意、读者易产生抵触

POV Rules

视角规则

  1. Stay in one head per scene (for limited)
  2. Only show what POV character perceives
  3. Filter through their psychology
  4. Match POV to story needs
  1. 每个场景保持单一视角（有限视角下）
  2. 仅展现视角人物能感知到的内容
  3. 通过人物心理过滤信息
  4. 根据故事需求选择视角

Prose Style

散文风格

Sentence Craft

句子技巧

Vary length:
Short sentences punch. They create urgency. Impact.

But longer sentences, with their flowing clauses and 
subordinate phrases, can lull the reader into a rhythm, 
carrying them forward on a wave of prose that builds 
and builds until—
Strong verbs over adverbs:
❌ She walked quickly across the room.
✅ She darted across the room.
✅ She bolted across the room.
Concrete over abstract:
❌ He felt sad.
✅ His chest ached. He couldn't swallow.
长短句结合:
短句有力。制造紧迫感。冲击感。

而长句，凭借流畅的从句和
附属短语，能让读者沉浸在节奏里，
带着他们在文字的浪潮中前行，不断推进直到——
用强动词替代副词:
❌ 她快步穿过房间。
✅ 她冲过房间。
✅ 她奔过房间。
用具体替代抽象:
❌ 他感到悲伤。
✅ 他胸口发紧。咽不下东西。

Show vs Tell

展示而非告知

Telling (has its place):
She was angry.
Showing:
Her jaw tightened. She set down her fork—carefully, 
deliberately—and folded her hands in her lap.
When to tell:
  • Transitions
  • Unimportant information
  • Pacing through slow periods
  • Emotional summary after intense scene
告知（有其适用场景）:
她很生气。
展示:
她的下巴绷紧了。她小心翼翼地——刻意地——放下叉子，双手交叠放在膝上。
何时使用告知：
  • 过渡环节
  • 无关紧要的信息
  • 放缓节奏度过平淡期
  • 激烈场景后的情绪总结

Dialogue

对话

Subtext: Characters rarely say what they mean.
"Nice weather," she said.      (Text)
[I don't want to talk about it] (Subtext)
Attribution:
✅ "I'm leaving," she said.
✅ "I'm leaving." She grabbed her coat.
⚠️ "I'm leaving," she exclaimed angrily.
"Said" is invisible. Use it.
Beats over tags:
"I'm leaving." She grabbed her coat. "Don't wait up."
潜台词: 人物很少直接说出真实想法。
“天气真好，”她说。      （字面意思）
[我不想谈这个] （潜台词）
对话标识:
✅ “我要走了，”她说。
✅ “我要走了。”她抓起外套。
⚠️ “我要走了，”她愤怒地喊道。
“说”这个词是隐形的。多用它。
用动作替代标识:
“我要走了。”她抓起外套。“别等我。”

Description

描写

Sensory Writing

感官写作

SenseOften UsedUnderused
SightVery common-
SoundCommon-
TouchUncommonTemperature, texture
SmellRareMemory trigger
TasteRareAtmosphere
Layer senses:
The bar smelled like spilled beer and regret. Neon 
buzzed overhead, painting everyone the same shade of 
desperate pink. Someone fed the jukebox, and Patsy 
Cline started breaking hearts again.
感官常用少用
视觉非常普遍-
听觉普遍-
触觉不常见温度、质地
嗅觉罕见记忆触发点
味觉罕见氛围营造
多感官叠加:
酒吧里弥漫着泼洒的啤酒和悔恨的味道。头顶的霓虹灯嗡嗡作响，把每个人都染成了同款绝望的粉色。有人往点唱机里投了币，佩茜·克莱恩又开始唱碎人心了。

Meaningful Detail

有意义的细节

Choose details that do double duty:
❌ The room had a desk, a chair, and a filing cabinet.
   [Inventory]

✅ Dust furred the family photos on his desk—all 
   turned to face the wall.
   [Character revelation + atmosphere]
选择能承担双重作用的细节:
❌ 房间里有一张书桌、一把椅子和一个文件柜。
   [清单式罗列]

✅ 他书桌上的家庭照片积满了灰尘——所有照片都面朝墙壁。
   [人物揭露 + 氛围营造]

Revision Framework

修改框架

Levels of Revision

修改层级

LevelFocusQuestions
StructuralStory architectureDoes the plot work? Are scenes in right order?
SceneIndividual scenesDoes each scene have conflict? Purpose?
ParagraphFlow and pacingTransitions smooth? Rhythm varied?
SentenceProse qualityVerbs strong? Sentences varied?
WordPrecisionRight word? Unnecessary words?
层级重点问题
结构层故事架构情节是否合理？场景顺序是否正确？
场景层单个场景每个场景都有冲突吗？有明确目的吗？
段落层流畅度与节奏过渡自然吗？节奏有变化吗？
句子层散文质量动词有力吗？句子结构多样吗？
词语层精准度用词恰当吗？有无冗余词汇？

Revision Passes

修改步骤

Pass 1: Story
  • Does the beginning hook?
  • Is the ending earned?
  • Does the middle sag?
  • Are stakes clear?
Pass 2: Character
  • Distinct voices?
  • Consistent motivation?
  • Arc completed?
  • Relationships clear?
Pass 3: Scene
  • Each scene has purpose?
  • Conflict present?
  • Sensory grounding?
  • POV consistent?
Pass 4: Line
  • Cut filler words (just, really, very)
  • Strengthen verbs
  • Vary sentence structure
  • Check dialogue tags
Pass 5: Polish
  • Read aloud
  • Check spelling/grammar
  • Format consistency
  • Final typo sweep
第一步：故事层面
  • 开篇有吸引力吗？
  • 结局是否令人信服？
  • 中段是否拖沓？
  • stakes是否清晰？
第二步：人物层面
  • 声音独特吗？
  • 动机一致吗？
  • 弧光完整吗？
  • 人物关系清晰吗？
第三步：场景层面
  • 每个场景都有目的吗？
  • 存在冲突吗？
  • 有感官铺垫吗？
  • 视角一致吗？
第四步：语句层面
  • 删除填充词（just、really、very等）
  • 强化动词
  • 变换句子结构
  • 检查对话标识
第五步：润色
  • 大声朗读
  • 检查拼写/语法
  • 格式统一
  • 最终错别字排查

Common Problems

常见问题

Pacing Issues

节奏问题

SymptomCauseFix
DragsToo much descriptionCut, add conflict
RushedNot enough sceneSlow down, add beats
ConfusingTime jumpsAdd transitions
BoringNo stakesRaise consequences
症状原因解决方法
拖沓描写过多删减内容，增加冲突
仓促场景不足放慢节奏，增加情节节拍
混乱时间跳跃添加过渡
无聊无 stakes提升后果严重性

Dialogue Issues

对话问题

ProblemExampleFix
On-the-nose"I'm angry at you!"Subtext
Talking headsDialogue without actionAdd beats
Info dumpExplaining plotConflict over info
Same voiceAll characters sameDifferentiate
问题示例解决方法
直白“我对你很生气！”加入潜台词
对话脱离场景无动作的纯对话添加动作细节
信息堆砌解释情节用冲突传递信息
声音雷同所有人物说话方式一致区分人物声音

Description Issues

描写问题

ProblemFix
Purple proseSimplify, cut adjectives
No settingGround in physical space
Floating headsAdd action, gesture
Info dumpDistribute, dramatize
问题解决方法
华丽辞藻堆砌简化，删减形容词
无场景设定锚定物理空间
悬浮人物添加动作、手势
信息堆砌分散信息，戏剧化呈现

Forms

体裁

Short Story

短篇小说

  • 1,000-7,500 words typical
  • Single effect/impression
  • Limited scope
  • Often one POV
  • 通常1000-7500字
  • 单一效果/印象
  • 范围有限
  • 通常采用单一视角

Flash Fiction

闪小说

  • Under 1,000 words
  • Implication over exposition
  • Often twist or resonance
  • Every word counts
  • 不足1000字
  • 以暗示替代说明
  • 常有反转或共鸣点
  • 每一个字都至关重要

Novel Chapter

小说章节

  • 2,000-5,000 words typical
  • Mini-arc or cliffhanger
  • Advances plot AND character
  • Varies with genre
  • 通常2000-5000字
  • 包含小弧光或悬念
  • 同时推进情节与人物发展
  • 字数随体裁变化

Personal Essay

个人散文

  • First person reflection
  • Particular to universal
  • Scene + reflection
  • "So what?" answered
  • 第一人称反思
  • 从个体到普遍
  • 场景 + 反思
  • 需回答“那又怎样？”

References

参考资料

  • references/story-structures.md
    - Alternative structures
  • references/genre-conventions.md
    - Genre expectations
  • references/revision-checklist.md
    - Detailed checklist
  • references/story-structures.md
    - 替代结构
  • references/genre-conventions.md
    - 体裁规范
  • references/revision-checklist.md
    - 详细检查清单