Remember guys: It took J.K. Rowling 6 years to publish the first Harry Potter book. She came up with the first idea in 1991, and she decided to plan out her world for so long, and take so much time to finish the book and make it perfect. Even she, who was homeless during most of this period, had a lot of time to think, but still needed most to all of it to make her world-renowned perfection'!
I am so glad to read your comment. I had no idea she worked on HP for 6 years. She only got 12 rejections before the book was accepted for publication.
I have too many ideas running through my head and every time I come up with everything I either lose interest or run into a huge road block. sometimes I make a plot but can't figure out anything else.
I'm not here when I come up with an idea I write it down then I decide which ideas will go into my book also maybe you could get ideas from your dreams or from something inspirational but I'm writing a fantasy book so I try coming up with ideas through some of my art work
I suggest you write everything down, every idea running through your head, then try to plan everything out. Like how every single chapter is gonna turn out, without actually writing anything. After your ideas are in order, you can start writing chapter by chapter, but you won't have writer's block because you'll know exactly what you have to write.
"Don't expect to wake up and your book has sold a thousand copies overnight." * (spit-take laugh engaged) * Shaaa, I would honestly do a happy touchdown dance (probably the electric slide) if my book sold 100 copies overnight. I would go full-on Nicholas Cage if It sold a thousand. :P
FYI - You can't just go from 1st to 3rd by changing tenses. The entire structure of your writing would have to change to properly reflect the new prospective. So I agree with Kristen, you better figure that out before you start.
Harule Stokes what do you mean? Could you explain this to me because I'm having a bit of a struggle trying to understand this I did exactly that, I went from 3rd to 1st and back again throughout the book. And I'm. Regretting it
The problem with trying to go from 1st to 3rd or to any other perspective is the sentences are not transferable directly. Sure, you could just change a few words: Sam walked down the dark street, unaware his foe was poised to drop a brick on his head. To I was walking down a dark street. Then a brick feel from the sky. But that does not utilize first-person in the best way. 1st person is best when we are looking through the eyes of the character fully. The street was dark and wet, like the concrete itself was sweating from the muggy night air. "Oh sh*t!" With a crash, a brick hit the pavement. Shards of red stone was everywhere. Did someone try to hit me with a brick? Can you do it? Sure, but the work will suffer if you don't leverage the tense appropriately.
My name is Joey.. I don't think this is a coincidence as, I'm writing my first story now(A mini series for television). I'm going to use this video as a guide for this journey. I Thank you, And I pray for blessings to come over you and your life.
Another tip I recommend is after you finish writing, forget about it and come back to it like months later. Then, you'll have a fresh pair of eyes. Also ask a friend to read it to see if the plot twists are good, descriptives are not too dragged out and the overall story is captivating in some way.
"Repetition... pet phrases." One pf my own that I could not seem to get away from for a while was "...for what seemed like a brief eternity." Now I just cringe whenever I see it or catch myself typing it. Thank you, Kristen, for what you are doing in your videos. A lot of it really hits home.
K.M., thank you so much! I watch your video at least once a day to remind myself of what my foundation should be as a writer. I'm working on romance, fantasy, and historical fiction stories on Wattpad. You rock!
Outlining is so important. If you know exactly what is happening, you can concentrate a lot more on the actual writing, which I find very helpful. Great video :)
You see, I switch point of views but stick to first person. I was a little shocked when you said First person is more difficult- I have so much trouble writing in third. Halfway through my novels I'll end up absentmindedly switching back to first.
A. I read this in L's english voice B. Yeah, I find first person much easier to write in. with first person you can add character to all the things your MC notices, all the tidbits they choose to think about etc..
Thanks so much for all the tips, Kristen!! I've been trying to write my first book for a long time now but my problem is that I'm someone who gives up very easily and when I feel the chapter looks bad or cheesy, I quit writing it for a while until I get my energy spike back and start again. It's been a journey and I know it takes loads of time to write a book and publish it but it's my dream too and even if I write only one book and I only sell one copy it wouldn't matter to me because I would accomplish my dream and that is to write a book period! Maybe one day my dream will come true
This helped me with what I'm doing wrong. I feel like my books seem cheesy and sometimes I facepalm myself every time I show too much description. I'm glad to know that I now know what I'm doing wrong. Thank you for this video!
Repetition can be so tricky. I find that reading my work out loud during the editing process helps me to catch those words and phrases that are used too much. I find that when I hear the words I catch this and other errors as well.
My first story I ever wrote was skipping from third person to second person to first person and many peoples point of view and it’s soooo confusing! Boy I’m glad I got some advice!!
I'm a newbie writer. I started to become serious about it two years ago when I was thirteen. I started to write a book last year and half way through the book, I realized that my book cannot be a stand-alone and I had way too many ideas with my characters. Now, I'm planning a five to six book series. I'm fourteen and I already feel as if I got a job. It's an awesome feeling! Your videos are really helping me. Thank you!
I'm writing my first book and this video was helpful. Especially when you said "it takes time." No matter how long it takes, I won't rush it or be impatient. I will also do the outline that you suggested. Thank you. Also you're gorgeous and your hair is beautiful!
These are great tips! I started to write the first couple of pages without any type of outline, and I very quickly found out that I was getting stuck at thinking what to write next, so I wrote up quickly a broad outline with only the main events, and it got so much easier to write, the process was smoother. I have a question, however: If a character wants to explain another person's back story, would it be better to show or tell, or is it variable?
I would say it can be a little bit of both. Perhaps the two characters can be talking about the history together, in a dialogue. That way you can both show and tell :)
That's a pretty neat idea, I'll write that down somewhere. But what if the main chararacter is almost directly telling the reader the backstory of another character (ex., why they do what they do, what made them wealthier than their society, etc.)? Sorry, I have way too many questions, I absolutely love my story idea/plot(?) and would love that others agree by executing them properly, heehee.
Four years ago I pantsed my way through 50 pages of story, until my friend accidentally got hold of it and asked me what would happen next. I was so embarrassed that I erased the whole thing from my mind. (She actually liked it though, and it got to the point where we had fights because I didn't want to give her more.) A year ago I decided to try writing again, but do it right this time, with lots of planning. It took me about half a year of thinking through the story, before I finally started writing. After I wrote the first 10 pages, TH-cam started recommending these "how-to" videos to me, and I decided to try applying all the tips. Just to practice, outlining, I pulled out the story from 4 years ago and did an outline for it. While doing that, I realized that it was actually a much better story than the new one. So now I'm using the new outline for the old story to completely rewrite the story, while getting rid of the problems that already bothered me when I was writing it 4 years ago. For example, I had a character whose personality I'd put a lot of thought into, but never got a chance to show it, since he just spent all his time being thrust into situations he had no control over and was never able to make any decisions himself. (In the original from 4 years ago, it turned into a severe case of telling, rather than showing what his personality was like.) This time, I started the whole story with him driving the plot along. I'm confident this second attempt will be way better than the first one, and I've thrown the newer idea away for now (it's not bad per se, but will require a lot more practice to execute properly).
Such Great advice! Your Awesome!!! :D I just started my book on doing a revenge mystery plot. I was super excited about it, but then the outlining make me loose faith :\ And plotting the mystery points are just a difficult. Ugh!! I thought about quitting on the forth chapter or sixth chapter, but I JUST couldn't put it down. This story Needs to be told! Hopefully I get the mojo soon. *Praying on it*
Thank you! And don't think your outline is anything that's set in stone. It really should just be a guideline to get you going. You may be more of a panster, so if you have a general idea of where you want your story to go, just start writing :) You can always reference your outline if you get stuck, but I'm sure the ideas will come to you in one form or another. You can do it!
I write for improving my language (French) and I am member of FanFiction-net and FictionPress, which I can send my texts. Most of my works has many BETA and I tend to improve it to make it better. Writing is serious business. However, if I want to put idea, I has to be my voice printed on paper. I tend to be a perfectionist. Can I suggest you them: -Riding Purple Prose (especially in Romance) -Difference between Litteracy and Commercial writing? -When we can tell instead of showing? -Poetry is beneficial in writing roman? -Spotting clichés
One of the best videos for newbies like me. Short and concise. Brilliant explanation on editing. Thank you for the inspiration (I have the feeling I am going to watch it time and time again) :-))
Love your channel. I think this is so beneficial for newbies because I wasted a ton of time before really getting anywhere in my writing and publishing ventures. Thanks so much for this video.
The first time I ever saw repetition in a novel was in The Mortal Instruments first book, by Cassandra Clare. Whenever a character was leaning against a wall, she would make them move with the phrase "unhitched him/herself from the wall", and as a book full of too-cool-for-you teenagers who loved to lean against walls looking aloof like they were paid to, this appeared a lot. Reading this series is great because not only is the storyline pretty interesting, but you can see how Clare developed as a writer throughout the process. Where the analogies, similies, metaphors and so on often didn't sit right or didn't feel right in the first books (like using comparisons that didn't match the mood of a scene or gave it an ill-fitting mental image), over time the writing became more cohesive and compelling. It's a really good series for a reader to witness what development looks like over a series of books. The last book by all accounts is amazing.
There was always this one mistake I make. I kind of forget telling descriptive action. It's like I write, "Joey went outside" instead of "Joey stood up from his couch, walked to the door, and went outside. Writing descriptive action will be really helpful especially for those Wattpad authors whose chapters should be 750-800 long. This technique adds up more words for the reader to read and for the reader to understand what action the characters are doing.
with the out line thing I do this thing where I would just write like tell a mini story just to get an idea of where I am going with the story and then I will take that piece of writing and break it up and make that my out line it is not super detailed but I know where I am going ( still somewhat of a newbie just fyi) have a super day sorry for the long post :)
Hi Kristen! Love your videos - I draw a great deal of inspiration from your words of advice! Would love to hear your childhood stories! I used to the same when I was around 9 or 10 and would complie little books, much like yours. Lol I always enjoyed writing and believed I'd make it as a writer one day! Here's hoping! Xx
Excellent video! You are spot on and oh so wise :) I look up to you as a writer (and as a person because you're truly awesome and so inspiring) and this video was very helpful in pinpointing some of the problems I've been running into in my own writing journey. It's comforting to know that these are mistakes other people make too, it gives me hope! Thank you! And yes, please make a video sharing your stories!! The titles made me giggle :)
Aww, thank you, what a nice thing to say!! And yep, we're all human - I hate when people pretend like they never make mistakes, especially when it comes to writing. Not realistic at all! :)
Oh yeah --- had to take out a lot of I said crap that was in The House On Elm. It slowed me down majorly. Now, I stick with first person. In addition, the first person perspective for me was difficult, and I still have issues with it. Some words would have to be reworded so there's no repetitiveness. Who the hell wants to read: I woke up on a sunny day; shining through my bedroom window. I scratched my head and I stretched out my arms; before I yawned. I slowly got up from my bed and I walked to my bedroom door. Talk about wanting to stab your own eyes out, right? lol! Great video Kristen and I subbed. :)
Sounds like you're a pantser! :) We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I always try to have at least some semblance of an idea as to where my scenes and plot is going at all times. Outlining isn't for everyone, but I think it prevents a huge headache down the road!
I get an idea in my head, what if... etc and start writing. I have no idea where it’s going or what is happening next but I have no trouble getting through thousands of words a day. It’s exciting for me in the same way as the reader as I get as surprised with the twists as everyone else.
Hey Kristen! Can you please do a video on italics, character thoughts, etc. ? I'm really struggling with it, and a video would really help. Thanks, you are such in inspiration and an awesome person in general! :) :) :)
The mistake I make, and still struggle with is being a perfectionist in the first draft. My brain can have the whole thing plotted out, but the moment I try to type it, I agonize over each word, I correct typos and grammar on the way and it takes FOREVER to get a draft done. I have to force myself not to edit as I go and just focus on writing. I have to constantly remind myself that "It's OK, I can fix it later, just keep going."
Thanks for a another helpful video. I may have a mix of dialogue that shows but also tells. 🙄🙄 I'll just have to fix it in the during stage. I'll never finish if I go back now lol!
You're welcome! Yes, finish your MS first and then go back! I know if I start editing in the middle, it takes me so much longer to finish writing the darn thing ;)
im a newbie writer, on my third chapter of my first fiction novel, but im educated in english language and literature so im somewhat prepared and i dont find myself doing any of these mistakes you mention, so thats good
I really want to be a writer but I can't come up with an idea! I get an idea, I try to write it down and then I lose interest and get bored of writing and get down heartened. Do you have any tips on how to get ideas and not lose interest, thanks! Nice video by the way
I think this probably happens to a lot of writers. Sometimes it takes a while for a storyline to develop into something that really interests you. I always try to keep a pen and paper with me, and I always have my idea floating in the back of my head. It's crazy how you'll be running errands and look at something and suddenly the plot bunnies attack. I do have a video called Coming Up With Story Ideas that may help you. You can find it here: th-cam.com/video/zAUn1QsJbUY/w-d-xo.html
Im currently working on a historical fiction based on a German point of view i've done all the research needed to have the right time and events on it and since my mom is a historian she helped me alot and before starting the actual story i wrote a short story about it to have a basic idea for the actual book and opinions. Do you think its a good idea for a way to start? Ive written short stories before and friends and teachers seemed to enjoy them thanks in advance!
Hey Kristen, I have a personal story i want to tell, which is pretty criminal so i was thinking of whether it should be a Thriller or mystery/crime. I had this urge for years now and i never get to do it actually. I always have this fear that it will end up being the next Criminal/love story on the market. I was even thinking whether i should write a script for a movie or a book...i'm really perplexed.
I love you so much. Your tips are great! :O Hopefully, I won't fall into any of these traps...although I'm sure I have a lot of "catchphrases" I use a lot. Your childhood stories sound adorable, by the way! I wish I still had some of the little stories I wrote as a kid...
Thank you! :) :) I'm happy you find them helpful! I was so thrilled when my dad told me he found my childhood stories. I thought they had been lost forever!
For point of view I change it during the story. I write fanfic. But I make a character putting it into the story. And I don't make it sound like fanfic. I do say "DC is not mine." Or "I don't own Dan Howell" "Harry potter is not mine" but I CHange things Ect. The story I'm making at the moment is called "crazy huh?" And it is a DC universe book. My character is Kathyne. Let's say she is talking to the joker. If a part I feel as if her talking would be more important I would let her point of view be wrote. If it's better for the joker I will Change it. And I say "JOKERS POINT OF VEIW" or kathynes.
You won't get in trouble for writing fanfiction as long as you don't try to sell it. Writing fanfiction is perfectly fine and can even help with sticking to character personalities and testing out world building.
I am going to begin off with my current book do just starters and getting in the habit of writing and etc. I'm just going to wait after my current book and start doing this. I do already have my plot for now and I already can make sure there are not errors :S. Beware my story is cringe :P
Great videos! I am in the middle of writing my first book. And I have no history with creative writing beside a few DnD sessions. Hell I am in the military with a complete opposite specialty. But every day I come home from work. I jump into my writing like a fish to water. I love it, but I know I have so much to learn. Do you have any suggestions for some one who does not have much experience in creative writing?
I dreamed I was sitting with a certain literary agent who said my book sold 200 copies the first day. I kept insisting she pinch me because it must be a dream but she kept saying it wasn't a dream. It was so real I can remember the texture of the desk. The color was black and the wall behind the agent was red. I am a lucid dreamer who always knows when I'm dreaming. This time I really felt it was real. Then I woke up. So very disappointing, but still empowering.
I'm a fairly new writer and try to mimic the authors I read work. I only do wattpad stories and one of my favorite authors is having a short story contest. I started to try to write my story and can't find a way to get it off its feet. It's about a girl who is going to be crowned queen of a kingdom she never wanted but I have no idea how to start it. The deadline is March 15 any tips please?
Here's a video idea for you.. could you make a video about writing in third person, 1st person..etc.? it would be like killing two birds with one stone.. you get a lot of views and I can get some knowledge :)
Remember guys: It took J.K. Rowling 6 years to publish the first Harry Potter book. She came up with the first idea in 1991, and she decided to plan out her world for so long, and take so much time to finish the book and make it perfect. Even she, who was homeless during most of this period, had a lot of time to think, but still needed most to all of it to make her world-renowned perfection'!
Such a great reminder!
I am so glad to read your comment. I had no idea she worked on HP for 6 years. She only got 12 rejections before the book was accepted for publication.
oh yeah ? and i thought why it was so shitty
Most people who can appreciate literature think the harry potter books are shit
Harry Potter was always trash and so is JK Rowling.
I have too many ideas running through my head and every time I come up with everything I either lose interest or run into a huge road block. sometimes I make a plot but can't figure out anything else.
I'm not here SAME! Except that I don't have many ideas in my mind to use..
Me too!
I'm not here when I come up with an idea I write it down then I decide which ideas will go into my book also maybe you could get ideas from your dreams or from something inspirational but I'm writing a fantasy book so I try coming up with ideas through some of my art work
I'm not here I'm exactly the same!
I suggest you write everything down, every idea running through your head, then try to plan everything out. Like how every single chapter is gonna turn out, without actually writing anything. After your ideas are in order, you can start writing chapter by chapter, but you won't have writer's block because you'll know exactly what you have to write.
"Don't expect to wake up and your book has sold a thousand copies overnight." * (spit-take laugh engaged) * Shaaa, I would honestly do a happy touchdown dance (probably the electric slide) if my book sold 100 copies overnight. I would go full-on Nicholas Cage if It sold a thousand. :P
I'm 100% with you on that one! Hahaha :)
I would if it were 10, tbh lol :P
Is your book online Lily? Share a link to it here. Perhaaaaaaps a good neighbor somewhere will buy 10 copies lickidity split...you never know ;)
I would if it sold one :D
True statement right there Sir James from Davenport! :D
FYI - You can't just go from 1st to 3rd by changing tenses. The entire structure of your writing would have to change to properly reflect the new prospective. So I agree with Kristen, you better figure that out before you start.
Yes, so important to figure POV ahead of time!
Harule Stokes what do you mean? Could you explain this to me because I'm having a bit of a struggle trying to understand this I did exactly that, I went from 3rd to 1st and back again throughout the book. And I'm. Regretting it
The problem with trying to go from 1st to 3rd or to any other perspective is the sentences are not transferable directly. Sure, you could just change a few words:
Sam walked down the dark street, unaware his foe was poised to drop a brick on his head.
To
I was walking down a dark street. Then a brick feel from the sky.
But that does not utilize first-person in the best way. 1st person is best when we are looking through the eyes of the character fully.
The street was dark and wet, like the concrete itself was sweating from the muggy night air.
"Oh sh*t!"
With a crash, a brick hit the pavement. Shards of red stone was everywhere. Did someone try to hit me with a brick?
Can you do it? Sure, but the work will suffer if you don't leverage the tense appropriately.
Harule Stokes i definitly agree,
Indeed, sir Harule! Else the poor reader's mind would explode.
My name is Joey.. I don't think this is a coincidence as, I'm writing my first story now(A mini series for television). I'm going to use this video as a guide for this journey. I Thank you, And I pray for blessings to come over you and your life.
Thank you, I wish you the best in your writing journey!
Another tip I recommend is after you finish writing, forget about it and come back to it like months later. Then, you'll have a fresh pair of eyes. Also ask a friend to read it to see if the plot twists are good, descriptives are not too dragged out and the overall story is captivating in some way.
Yes, I will put down my project for a while, then come back to it. It makes it much easier to refine and polish
This is very helpful. I am trying to write a book on Wattpad and am very glad I found this.
So happy to hear that! Thanks for watching!
"Repetition... pet phrases." One pf my own that I could not seem to get away from for a while was "...for what seemed like a brief eternity." Now I just cringe whenever I see it or catch myself typing it. Thank you, Kristen, for what you are doing in your videos. A lot of it really hits home.
I have phrases like that, too! It's hard to believe I used to type certain phrases :-/ I'm happy you're enjoying the videos!
ugh! "an almost eerie subtlety" is one I hate, also "more than life itself"...
K.M., thank you so much! I watch your video at least once a day to remind myself of what my foundation should be as a writer. I'm working on romance, fantasy, and historical fiction stories on Wattpad. You rock!
Aw, thanks, Cameron! So nice of you to say!
Outlining is so important. If you know exactly what is happening, you can concentrate a lot more on the actual writing, which I find very helpful. Great video :)
Agreed! And thank you. Happy you enjoyed it!
You see, I switch point of views but stick to first person. I was a little shocked when you said First person is more difficult- I have so much trouble writing in third. Halfway through my novels I'll end up absentmindedly switching back to first.
Same!
Writing in first person is very limiting
Joy Brautigam i disagree. I think 3rd person is way more limiting
First person is only as limited as you let it become. The same with third person. You can keep momentum going in both tensesz
A. I read this in L's english voice
B. Yeah, I find first person much easier to write in. with first person you can add character to all the things your MC notices, all the tidbits they choose to think about etc..
Thanks so much for all the tips, Kristen!! I've been trying to write my first book for a long time now but my problem is that I'm someone who gives up very easily and when I feel the chapter looks bad or cheesy, I quit writing it for a while until I get my energy spike back and start again. It's been a journey and I know it takes loads of time to write a book and publish it but it's my dream too and even if I write only one book and I only sell one copy it wouldn't matter to me because I would accomplish my dream and that is to write a book period! Maybe one day my dream will come true
Yeah, I only just last week started doing chapter outlines and it immediately helped me solidify what I wanted to have done.
This helped me with what I'm doing wrong. I feel like my books seem cheesy and sometimes I facepalm myself every time I show too much description. I'm glad to know that I now know what I'm doing wrong. Thank you for this video!
My errors will NOT literally leap off the page! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
instagram.com/p/B-ePiuUl9t9/?igshid=pgoahgmguu1d. See this if you like writing books
Repetition can be so tricky. I find that reading my work out loud during the editing process helps me to catch those words and phrases that are used too much. I find that when I hear the words I catch this and other errors as well.
I love her hair and the way she does her eye makeup. She always looks so amazing.
One thing that REALLY gets my brain juices flowing is *roleplay.* If you play it for a while, soon enough you'll get a pretty creative story!
Thank you for the wonderfully succinct and clear advice. I wish you the best & look forward to seeing & hearing more of your glib wisdom.
I'm so glad you're taking the time to make these! They're very helpful, thank you!
My first story I ever wrote was skipping from third person to second person to first person and many peoples point of view and it’s soooo confusing! Boy I’m glad I got some advice!!
I'm a newbie writer. I started to become serious about it two years ago when I was thirteen. I started to write a book last year and half way through the book, I realized that my book cannot be a stand-alone and I had way too many ideas with my characters. Now, I'm planning a five to six book series. I'm fourteen and I already feel as if I got a job. It's an awesome feeling! Your videos are really helping me. Thank you!
That's great! I am a teen writer as well, and I can definitely relate to how amazing it feels :)
what about mistakes self-publish *authors* make, like after it's written and you have or are about to publish?
Great video idea, thank you!
I'm writing my first book and this video was helpful. Especially when you said "it takes time." No matter how long it takes, I won't rush it or be impatient. I will also do the outline that you suggested. Thank you. Also you're gorgeous and your hair is beautiful!
These are great tips! I started to write the first couple of pages without any type of outline, and I very quickly found out that I was getting stuck at thinking what to write next, so I wrote up quickly a broad outline with only the main events, and it got so much easier to write, the process was smoother. I have a question, however: If a character wants to explain another person's back story, would it be better to show or tell, or is it variable?
I would say it can be a little bit of both. Perhaps the two characters can be talking about the history together, in a dialogue. That way you can both show and tell :)
That's a pretty neat idea, I'll write that down somewhere. But what if the main chararacter is almost directly telling the reader the backstory of another character (ex., why they do what they do, what made them wealthier than their society, etc.)? Sorry, I have way too many questions, I absolutely love my story idea/plot(?) and would love that others agree by executing them properly, heehee.
this helped me so much!!!
hey love your views
l'm also a new writer and to be honest writing my first(maybe) novel
I truly needed a Chanel like this !!
subscribed !!
Thank you! I appreciate you subscribing. It means a lot!
Four years ago I pantsed my way through 50 pages of story, until my friend accidentally got hold of it and asked me what would happen next. I was so embarrassed that I erased the whole thing from my mind. (She actually liked it though, and it got to the point where we had fights because I didn't want to give her more.)
A year ago I decided to try writing again, but do it right this time, with lots of planning. It took me about half a year of thinking through the story, before I finally started writing. After I wrote the first 10 pages, TH-cam started recommending these "how-to" videos to me, and I decided to try applying all the tips. Just to practice, outlining, I pulled out the story from 4 years ago and did an outline for it. While doing that, I realized that it was actually a much better story than the new one.
So now I'm using the new outline for the old story to completely rewrite the story, while getting rid of the problems that already bothered me when I was writing it 4 years ago. For example, I had a character whose personality I'd put a lot of thought into, but never got a chance to show it, since he just spent all his time being thrust into situations he had no control over and was never able to make any decisions himself. (In the original from 4 years ago, it turned into a severe case of telling, rather than showing what his personality was like.) This time, I started the whole story with him driving the plot along.
I'm confident this second attempt will be way better than the first one, and I've thrown the newer idea away for now (it's not bad per se, but will require a lot more practice to execute properly).
Yes!!! This will be my first NaNo, I'm so excited. Looking foward for all colabs
Ahh first NaNo is so fun!! I hope you like it!
Awesome mentioning of Jenna Moreci! You both are great! I'm finishing off my first novel with all your advice.
Awww thank you :) :)
you are so helpful as a fellow writer...i'm trying to finish my book and get everything lined up for it so you're awesome
Thank you! I really appreciate that :)
Such Great advice! Your Awesome!!! :D
I just started my book on doing a revenge mystery plot. I was super excited about it, but then the outlining make me loose faith :\
And plotting the mystery points are just a difficult. Ugh!! I thought about quitting on the forth chapter or sixth chapter, but I JUST couldn't put it down. This story Needs to be told! Hopefully I get the mojo soon.
*Praying on it*
Thank you! And don't think your outline is anything that's set in stone. It really should just be a guideline to get you going. You may be more of a panster, so if you have a general idea of where you want your story to go, just start writing :) You can always reference your outline if you get stuck, but I'm sure the ideas will come to you in one form or another. You can do it!
I write for improving my language (French) and I am member of FanFiction-net and FictionPress, which I can send my texts.
Most of my works has many BETA and I tend to improve it to make it better. Writing is serious business. However, if I want to put idea, I has to be my voice printed on paper. I tend to be a perfectionist.
Can I suggest you them:
-Riding Purple Prose (especially in Romance)
-Difference between Litteracy and Commercial writing?
-When we can tell instead of showing?
-Poetry is beneficial in writing roman?
-Spotting clichés
One of the best videos for newbies like me. Short and concise. Brilliant explanation on editing. Thank you for the inspiration (I have the feeling I am going to watch it time and time again) :-))
Love your channel. I think this is so beneficial for newbies because I wasted a ton of time before really getting anywhere in my writing and publishing ventures. Thanks so much for this video.
The first time I ever saw repetition in a novel was in The Mortal Instruments first book, by Cassandra Clare. Whenever a character was leaning against a wall, she would make them move with the phrase "unhitched him/herself from the wall", and as a book full of too-cool-for-you teenagers who loved to lean against walls looking aloof like they were paid to, this appeared a lot. Reading this series is great because not only is the storyline pretty interesting, but you can see how Clare developed as a writer throughout the process. Where the analogies, similies, metaphors and so on often didn't sit right or didn't feel right in the first books (like using comparisons that didn't match the mood of a scene or gave it an ill-fitting mental image), over time the writing became more cohesive and compelling. It's a really good series for a reader to witness what development looks like over a series of books. The last book by all accounts is amazing.
What a great example! I have yet to read The Mortal Instruments series, but I love seeing how writers develop and grow :)
There was always this one mistake I make. I kind of forget telling descriptive action. It's like I write, "Joey went outside" instead of "Joey stood up from his couch, walked to the door, and went outside.
Writing descriptive action will be really helpful especially for those Wattpad authors whose chapters should be 750-800 long. This technique adds up more words for the reader to read and for the reader to understand what action the characters are doing.
Thank you so much for your advice :)
Really help me a lot, i now have a bit of courage to start doing what I truly love :D thanks Kristen!!!
Your bangs are so pretty! 😍💋💕🦄🐥👑👠👗🍭🍩🍿🍫🍬🍧🏵🏖🎆🎁🎀🔮🎉❤️💛💚💙💜🖤❇️
with the out line thing I do this thing where I would just write like tell a mini story just to get an idea of where I am going with the story and then I will take that piece of writing and break it up and make that my out line it is not super detailed but I know where I am going ( still somewhat of a newbie just fyi)
have a super day sorry for the long post :)
Guilty of all charges. But working on all of this mistakes and feeling much better already. Very helpful for newbies.
Thank you for watching!
I have learned a lot from your videos. Thank you.
thank you so much!! hope you have a great week!
Hi Kristen!
Love your videos - I draw a great deal of inspiration from your words of advice!
Would love to hear your childhood stories!
I used to the same when I was around 9 or 10 and would complie little books, much like yours. Lol
I always enjoyed writing and believed I'd make it as a writer one day!
Here's hoping!
Xx
Excellent video! You are spot on and oh so wise :) I look up to you as a writer (and as a person because you're truly awesome and so inspiring) and this video was very helpful in pinpointing some of the problems I've been running into in my own writing journey. It's comforting to know that these are mistakes other people make too, it gives me hope! Thank you! And yes, please make a video sharing your stories!! The titles made me giggle :)
Aww, thank you, what a nice thing to say!! And yep, we're all human - I hate when people pretend like they never make mistakes, especially when it comes to writing. Not realistic at all! :)
Oh yeah --- had to take out a lot of I said crap that was in The House On Elm. It slowed me down majorly. Now, I stick with first person. In addition, the first person perspective for me was difficult, and I still have issues with it. Some words would have to be reworded so there's no repetitiveness. Who the hell wants to read: I woke up on a sunny day; shining through my bedroom window. I scratched my head and I stretched out my arms; before I yawned. I slowly got up from my bed and I walked to my bedroom door. Talk about wanting to stab your own eyes out, right? lol! Great video Kristen and I subbed. :)
my outlining ability SUCKS! I don't develop ideas until i start writing the story. My creative juices flow best when i freestyle it.
Sounds like you're a pantser! :) We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I always try to have at least some semblance of an idea as to where my scenes and plot is going at all times. Outlining isn't for everyone, but I think it prevents a huge headache down the road!
I just write a complete synopsis. Then I work from it. It changes a lot but it's a good guide. For me, this works best.
I get an idea in my head, what if... etc and start writing. I have no idea where it’s going or what is happening next but I have no trouble getting through thousands of words a day. It’s exciting for me in the same way as the reader as I get as surprised with the twists as everyone else.
Kristen Martin I might be a pantser I do not know I have not written anything yet but i am the type that usually doesn't plan ahead
Hey Kristen! Can you please do a video on italics, character thoughts, etc. ? I'm really struggling with it, and a video would really help. Thanks, you are such in inspiration and an awesome person in general! :) :) :)
I am a first person writer, it is so much easier than third person. I like to capture the emotions and thoughts
I'm a newbie writer and some of these I did not do but I did get some tips
Happy to hear that!
Totally agree with the outlining part. I never understand people who “pants” their first story ever.
The mistake I make, and still struggle with is being a perfectionist in the first draft. My brain can have the whole thing plotted out, but the moment I try to type it, I agonize over each word, I correct typos and grammar on the way and it takes FOREVER to get a draft done. I have to force myself not to edit as I go and just focus on writing. I have to constantly remind myself that "It's OK, I can fix it later, just keep going."
Thanks for a another helpful video. I may have a mix of dialogue that shows but also tells. 🙄🙄 I'll just have to fix it in the during stage. I'll never finish if I go back now lol!
You're welcome! Yes, finish your MS first and then go back! I know if I start editing in the middle, it takes me so much longer to finish writing the darn thing ;)
More great info! Thank you for the great tips.
Thank you for providing great information.
im a newbie writer, on my third chapter of my first fiction novel, but im educated in english language and literature so im somewhat prepared and i dont find myself doing any of these mistakes you mention, so thats good
That's great! Keep going! :)
Invaluable points shared. I can listen to you 24/7/365 days non-stop..lol
Thank you! That really means a lot 😊
"me when each mistake was brought up*
"Girl lemme tell ya..."😂😂
i'm a planster. I've always hated more of my story the more I outline because it just makes me feel like it's not mine anymore.
Love to hear your childhood stories Kristen you rock.
Thank you! Alot of what you said proved true.
You always give such inspirational advice. Thanks!
And you always leave the most heartwarming comments :-D Thank you!
A thing I find very interesting is switching perspective when you switch characters
I had to share this on fb. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing! I truly appreciate it!
Nicely done, Kristen! Couldn't agree more!
Thank you!
This was really encouraging. Thanks!
This was so helpful!!!! Thank you
😊😊
This helped a lot. Thank you!
I really want to be a writer but I can't come up with an idea! I get an idea, I try to write it down and then I lose interest and get bored of writing and get down heartened. Do you have any tips on how to get ideas and not lose interest, thanks! Nice video by the way
I think this probably happens to a lot of writers. Sometimes it takes a while for a storyline to develop into something that really interests you. I always try to keep a pen and paper with me, and I always have my idea floating in the back of my head. It's crazy how you'll be running errands and look at something and suddenly the plot bunnies attack. I do have a video called Coming Up With Story Ideas that may help you. You can find it here: th-cam.com/video/zAUn1QsJbUY/w-d-xo.html
I have the show or tell thing to work on!!
Thanks for all the info. I did thumbs up and suscribed. Ur a great inspiration. ❤😘
Im currently working on a historical fiction based on a German point of view i've done all the research needed to have the right time and events on it and since my mom is a historian she helped me alot and before starting the actual story i wrote a short story about it to have a basic idea for the actual book and opinions. Do you think its a good idea for a way to start? Ive written short stories before and friends and teachers seemed to enjoy them thanks in advance!
Good reminders.
U made me feel so much better... thank you.
I needed this video my life- Thank you!
Hey Kristen, I have a personal story i want to tell, which is pretty criminal so i was thinking of whether it should be a Thriller or mystery/crime. I had this urge for years now and i never get to do it actually. I always have this fear that it will end up being the next Criminal/love story on the market. I was even thinking whether i should write a script for a movie or a book...i'm really perplexed.
I love you so much. Your tips are great! :O
Hopefully, I won't fall into any of these traps...although I'm sure I have a lot of "catchphrases" I use a lot.
Your childhood stories sound adorable, by the way! I wish I still had some of the little stories I wrote as a kid...
Thank you! :) :) I'm happy you find them helpful!
I was so thrilled when my dad told me he found my childhood stories. I thought they had been lost forever!
i have 1 project due on Monday, 4 math assignments but im doing this
I'm a newbie!!! Thx for this. 🙏🏻
Thanks for sharing amazing and useful information.
I appreciate the feedback :) Thank you for watching!
You are a good teacher! Thank you
For point of view I change it during the story. I write fanfic. But I make a character putting it into the story. And I don't make it sound like fanfic. I do say "DC is not mine." Or "I don't own Dan Howell" "Harry potter is not mine" but I CHange things Ect. The story I'm making at the moment is called "crazy huh?" And it is a DC universe book. My character is Kathyne. Let's say she is talking to the joker. If a part I feel as if her talking would be more important I would let her point of view be wrote. If it's better for the joker I will Change it. And I say "JOKERS POINT OF VEIW" or kathynes.
I have read a book like that and i am writing my first book
THE WHISKERS COME FROM WITHIN BOIIIII
The characters are copy writed. Dont do this. Youll get in trouble
You won't get in trouble for writing fanfiction as long as you don't try to sell it. Writing fanfiction is perfectly fine and can even help with sticking to character personalities and testing out world building.
The Darkness Beckons Nah, she won't. Some people actually like reading their own fan fiction (say, the Dan Howell she mentioned)
I am going to begin off with my current book do just starters and getting in the habit of writing and etc. I'm just going to wait after my current book and start doing this. I do already have my plot for now and I already can make sure there are not errors :S. Beware my story is cringe :P
omgosh your eyes are so pretty!!!
Watching this video helped so much !!
This was helpful for me , thanks :)
i have been writing since i was four but sometimes write two stories/genres in one
Ok. I'm in love with this girl. Subscribed
wow you are good as always very informative thanks for sharing
Happy you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!
Great videos! I am in the middle of writing my first book. And I have no history with creative writing beside a few DnD sessions. Hell I am in the military with a complete opposite specialty. But every day I come home from work. I jump into my writing like a fish to water. I love it, but I know I have so much to learn. Do you have any suggestions for some one who does not have much experience in creative writing?
yes.. 😂😂😂 definitely have to see those old school reads
😊😊
I really never used 1st person when I started writing, only 3rd person.
I feel like there’s a bit of a feud between the pantsers and the plotters.
I dreamed I was sitting with a certain literary agent who said my book sold 200 copies the first day. I kept insisting she pinch me because it must be a dream but she kept saying it wasn't a dream. It was so real I can remember the texture of the desk. The color was black and the wall behind the agent was red. I am a lucid dreamer who always knows when I'm dreaming. This time I really felt it was real. Then I woke up. So very disappointing, but still empowering.
I'm a fairly new writer and try to mimic the authors I read work. I only do wattpad stories and one of my favorite authors is having a short story contest. I started to try to write my story and can't find a way to get it off its feet. It's about a girl who is going to be crowned queen of a kingdom she never wanted but I have no idea how to start it. The deadline is March 15 any tips please?
All great advice for any writer.
Thank you! I appreciate that.
if you change your style from 3rd limited to Omniscience does that turn your piece into a less character driven story later?
Nice one. Now am motivated.
Love hearing that!
Here's a video idea for you.. could you make a video about writing in third person, 1st person..etc.? it would be like killing two birds with one stone.. you get a lot of views and I can get some knowledge :)
I will add it to my queue of video ideas. Thanks!