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Story Grid has a lot of good advice, mainly unteaching us bad habits that we learned in school, but each writer is unique. What works for some won't work for all. Here's my process, but I can't tell you if it's good because I've never gotten anything published. It's just helped me get words on a page quickly. Brainstorm until you have a one sentence story idea: Create a detailed outline via zero drafting--now that AI's a thing, you have it help you using something called the fractal technique, or you can just use the older version of that--the snowflake method--and do it yourself. Break your outline into a chapter-by-chapter guide and continue to fill in details Go back and continue adding details until you have a first draft. Edit the first draft--go back and add detail, polish, line edit, etc. Get a friend to read it, rinse and repeat.

The Nutcracker Effect is such a great title ❤

Check out the Substack version here: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/what-writers-can-learn-from-a-good

A huge criticism I've ended up circling with a lot of contemporary YA that's popular on booktok is authors with no control or modulation of interiority, and where it is present, the stylistics fail the content. I wrote a whole article for ZeroIndent about Powerless that I never released because it just felt... mean pointing out that Roberts' lack of craft training in this regard makes the work almost impossible to engage with for this reason (I'll use her work because it demonstrates the purpose of this exercise that this snippet refers to). The story opens with close free indirect with an internal voice for the protag that fails to match her dialogue register, *and* the free indirect third person has the protag thinking things she would never think. The specific example stuck in my craw is the first chapter where the protag does the YA equivalent of "I bet you're wondering how i wound up here" and proceeds to summarise the history of the world and her personal situation in like, 3 paragraphs as "naturalistic" context. By contrast, Pat Rothfuss & Ursula K. Le Guin are masters of modulating free indirect third person with stylistics to match the moment. All to say, yes, yes, and yes, we need more accessible craft lessons like this article (also neat that it seems like substack made the vid for you, that's rad as hell), keep it up!

Incredibly insightful, thank you.

Yes, critique are difficult to weigh. Go with your gut.

👏 Good for you, girl. // Is your hair darker?

Yes. Stay enthused and aware. Smart. Good reminder.

You're such a girl 🥲

Getting a better idea of what a nano write is but still not clear. Yes. I'm a bit dense 🙂 Well, enough of youtube. Need to get back to Wizard & Glass. It's 893 pages. Whew!

The 'problems' don't seem that big. Nothing you can't fix easily with a few concentrated days of writing. I've always felt you have to go with your own feelings. Critics are helpful but writers gain their own style by writing a lot and their own way. Read us some excerts sometime and see what kind of feedback you get.

Finish outline to a romantic vampire novel I've had in mind for several years, my goal for this month.

I once wrote 78,000 words in 3 days, about half of my story and lost it all a day later. My computer broke. Cripes!

not novels per say, but I work in comics, and I write comic scripts too, and we have so many folks who want to really write films but decide "comic scripts are basically film scripts right?" without them having any understanding of comics or drawing at all. (like it sounds really dumb but some writers truly don't understand drawings don't move....)

😮 Hi, Niki. Whew! This was short. Took my breath away thinking it was going to be another long one. It was good anyway. 🙂

I've been writing short stories, mainly, for some years and started and still do it because I love to put the nagging ideas down on paper. I love the forming of the story and organizing of all elements. I don't try to get published. For me, it's just a hobby and enjoyable.

nicolewilbur.substack.com/

There is certainly a huge difference between wanting a living, wanting success, and wanting to be famous. It’s important to know the difference so you know you’re working from an honest place.

This is a great video. I’m studying writing and Story Grid really stands out. It’s great to hear the other side / weaknesses / blind spots of it, because it does seem to be quite unique and powerful otherwise

Most people are all talk, so anything that gets you to finish a book is a valid motivation. However, the likelihood that you’ll receive a huge external reward from your first book is minuscule

Seriously save some bucks and make your own movie . Don't let a tom dick and Harry to teach how to write.

I want to be famous without anyone knowing who I am. But also this story is eating me from the inside and demands to be written.

If only we can come up with such a great series like J.K. And get her money too. True aspirations. I think you’re on the way to getting your novel done I’m still outlining 😂

I certainly don't want to be the Rowling, bigotry is simply not my style.

Why are you writing your book? Or why do you want to write one? Check out my author newsletter and say yes to a party in your inbox: nicolewilbur.substack.com/

(Story nerd from the UK, here - old granny writer). I found your channel today, Nicole. I agree with much that you say about Story Grid, and, like some of the commenters, I use it more as an editing tool. The point you made about preferring 'plot archetype' rather than 'genre' - absolutely agree. I cannot stuff my Fantasy/Mystery novel into the 'genre' glass slipper! Story Grid, I think, comes into its own after all the hard work of writing the draft, that tells the story we want to tell, has been done. It allows us to view the story dispassionately, scientifically - like a surgeon. All good wishes to you. Happy Writing!

This was great. Thank you!

Thank you so much for this. This is what I was looking for. I typed "romance book essay". Thanks for doing the work.

“Denouement” is pronounced “dey-new-mah” I think it’s French origin 😊

If you liked this video, check out my Story Grid series: th-cam.com/play/PLte6jZwxpFsXb2UpZIcKnAOw4eROv4TGU.html I went through the ENTIRE Story Grid process with one of my books!

What's YOUR favourite outlining method? Do you use different methods at different times?

This was really interesting, thank you x

The sound on your 'story study announcement' is almost "unhearable."

hi Nicole have you heard of Heiress Takes All. I think you would like it its a heist story.

Great video! Do more!

Great title and concept!

I have an issue with 'Story Grid' although, there are many useful free resources that can be very useful. The main drive of 'Story Grid' is trying to sell you books and courses. My main problem I have with 'Story Grid' is, if you watch the videos on TH-cam, Tim presents himself as an expert in most videos, then a video in March 2024 or so, he goes through the process of writing a scene and getting critical feedback from his 'Editor' (Also, business partner Shawn Coyne) in this video you can see this 'so-called expert' struggle with understanding the concept of POV and how it affects his scene. I think when someone presents themself as an expert, giving advice and especially selling courses, they should understand basic concepts of POV, at least that is what I think. I pointed out this inconsistency to Tim in a comment on the video, and he muted me and deleted my comment. Tim is a very arrogant guy, that likes to wave his 'published' accolades (amazon, for the most part) to anyone that brings up a valid point in the comments. My advice is use the free resources on the website and the TH-cam channel, but don't fall for paying for 'courses' when they are taught by someone whom, shouldn't be teaching a course.

Esp in self-publishing, novellas seem to be a thing. It's not my cup of tea because I don't like short stories sooo much, but it seems to work for self-publishers (you can publish many of them, earn money and you can also put them all together in a bundle for a higher total price, too). Last month, I bought my first novella from an author I just watch here on youtube, never bought a book from her before. Just because I like her and she published a book in june & I wanted to support her. So I went to her Amazon page and saw that she published a novella in January as prequel to said book. So I bought the new book plus the novella, and began reading the novella (haven't had the time yet to begin the other book). Long story short: Novellas are good for attracting customers, for those who want to have a fast "reading success" and if it's part of a world or series, then I guess it's a really good marketing tool, too. I don't know how it is in trad publishing, I guess, it's kind of hard to get a novella published if one is an unknown author, maybe as part of an anthology, but I guess the success rate of getting a contract for a novella may be low.

I'm a physicist. The title of the book got my attention because I thought there would be less rambling. I was truly disappointed when I started reading the book.

Very cool

What a relatable video! Thank you! I've just received a Reedsy newsletter and there's this upcoming prompt for a story done in a script/play style and based on Shakespeare. Antony and Cleopatra comes to mind. I think I'll give it a try. Otherwise, I'm also thinking about getting my works out there gradually, starting this year. Let's do this!

Yes, totally agree about writing every day! It’s not necessary, but it really does help to keep up your consistency and progress. I have an ancient little piece of flash fiction on my website, but that’s it. I don’t know what else I would post since everything I’m writing now are complete novels.

FYI, you can move scenes around easily in Word if you use "Headings" and the Navigation page.

Bulgaria

Congratulations 🎉

Here is the Substack article I mentioned, about the new series! nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/something-borrowed-something-new?r=1odtbd

I prefer the Kishotenketsu, for overall story outline but also for each and every single scene. This generate a wavelike feel to the fiction which I enjoy.

Okay I finally had time to listen and OH MY GOODNESS!!! They were gushing over your pages 😭😭😭 Great feedback on the query too-I have no doubt you’ll be able to rework it so it nabs agents’ attention. I’ve listened to a bunch of this podcast over the years and I rarely hear so much praise during one critique. CONGRATS!!

NICOLE!!! That is so cool! I can’t wait to listen.

Fair point. Stands to reason that not every writer will respond the same to each bit of advice. Personally I find an editor’s insights to be invaluable, though it seems to impede my forward progress as I’m an over-thinker. C’est la vie