I’m currently writing a surf story about a girl with ADHD and Rejection Sensitivity, who confronts the challenges of being discouraged and bullied at school. I wanted there to be more books on how to handle and navigate the issues and effects of bullying.
I usually delete whatever i wrote and try to come out of a new way to write it. And it usually helps with the writer blocks. If in terms of the plot itself, i try to get my friend to guess whats going to happen next and see whatever it comes.
Omg, you don't know how much I needed this. I have so many story ideas that I wanna write about but I just can't stick with one. I finished my very first book, but I have so many ideas for another one.
I'm so close to finishing my first draft of a story I've been working on for more than five years. Thanks to you, Abbie, I've been cranking out 4-5k words a week. I know the 2nd draft will take a while (the first is 100k words), but I am excited to get at it since I've learned so much since I started writing it.
Kinda same... I'm 10. I'm looking to make connections with young aspiring authors or published authors, crafting my reader magnet and also writing my novel alongside it. Abbie has helped me a LOT, too!
I am currently overwhelmed with my WIP ... like, I keep looking at the big picture of all the stuff I still have yet to get done and it's paralyzing...which is why I'm here... lol
The title definitely attracted me to this video. I've been brainstorming a bunch of stories to flesh out the backstory of my main fantasy world and have been struggling with which one to start with, all while also getting more ideas for a different fantasy world as well. It's hard because they all basically build upon each other.
Great advice, Abbie!! I especially loved what you said about insecurities while writing! Imagine if Hunger Games or Pride and Prejudice never got written because of the author's insecurities about them at one point or another. Thats a great way to think about it! Thanks girl!
I’ve written books and towards the middle I just immediately give up. As a person who gets bored with a repetitive story (most of mine) this is very helpful thank you
i love your videos so much because you really sit down and TEACH us. The structure, organization, and good presentation of the information really sets you apart from so many other writing channels on youtube. I feel like I'm always getting something valuable from your video and I am truly processing what you are saying. Also, your answers are always spoken so clearly in way that makes it simple to understand. Thank you so much! honestly, you have one of THE BEST writing channels on youtube
Abbie, you shouldn´t blame yourself for taking long. I started writing a book when I was 12 and I´m writing it for the third time, I´m 18 now. It makes me kinda frustrated because last year I wrote and finished another book much faster (not super fast tho) and I also started writing another one that´s maybe a bit past halfway done. I don´t understand why this other book is taking so long but it makes sense since I was very young and with 0 experience when I started. The plot and the characters changed A LOT but I´m still excited about it. So as long as you have something real to say, you should keep writing. Writing a novel is a journey, some journeys are short and some are long. That´s just the way it is. It doesn´t make them better or worst, every creative process is unique in its own way.
Wow! You answered my questions. I'm using the enneagram for my latest plot bunny, which I allow time for on some days while I'm getting back to focusing on my current WIP. Yeh, hard to imagine famous authors doubting their work, but I've read and heard that that's a real thing. We're in good company.
I love the ennegram and myers briggs typing. You can find the official websites can go into detail about how the different types traditionally interact with one another which is super helpful and I use to form my characters and plot.
I'm currently working on 5 children stories at the same time. Point is I'm not too eager to finish any. Your videos have been very helpful, Abbie. I'm rewriting parts every day and developing the inciting incidents. Thanks
Everyone saying they have too many ideas- s a m e. I haven't made a video on my channel for such a long time now because I am simultaneously working on like 10 different videos at once. The *burnout* that comes with that is such a project-stopper. (This also goes for my book writing and my drawing-)
I've been working on this story concept for years (since I left highschool, I'm 21) and I only properly found out what I really wanted to do with it last year in March when I started watching your videos on the 3 Act Structure. The way you explained it, so uncomplicated, was a godsend for me and now I'm about to START drafting (lol through the tears) but I am so excited about it. Thanks so much for what you do here and please keep it up.
This is such a good topic for a vid. Years ago I tried writing, going through the writers digest how to articles and stuff. It turned out I worked out outlines and that would inspire another story. The more I outlined the more I thought of! Anyway, I finally decided there's more stories one can think of than one can write! Thanks. 👍
Thank you so much I'm 13 years old and although I don't want to grow up to be an author your videos are so helpful and have inspired me to start writing my own stories and while I have been working on the story planning for 3 weeks in the middle of it I have already come with the idea of another book and a short story and I'm so stressed out
In regards to the last question, I find it helpful to write out whatever scene or ideas have you inspired so you can reference them later. Then you go back to your current project.
I'm currently juggling 3 novel ideas and can't decide which one to develop - I love them all! This video is really helpful, as are all your other videos! I love your channel so much... I don't think I could go without it! With every video I watch, something clicks and you have helped me develop an in-depth outline of a dystopian adventure!! I am only in secondary school but my dream has always been to publish my books and if I ever do I will be giving most of the credit to you :)
I just finished listening to the audiobook version of Abbie's book, 100 Days of Sunlight, and it's awesome. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a solid, well told story. Can't wait for the next book, Abbie.
The first plot point has two parts, the key event and the 1st plot point itself. its like walking through a door. This side is the key event where we decide, or not to go through the door and finally do. Deciding to go through to other side is the first plot point. This all immediately after the inciting incident.
Yep yep yep this is exactly what I needed Ive been trying to commit to this fanfiction light novel and instead made a short story and started thinking about other ideas. Thanks for this video!
hi abbie, im a 11 year old writer and your videos have really helped me continue my story. Watching your videos always make me motivated to finish my story. Best of luck with your lighthouse story, thankyou SOOOO much!! also this was the best episodes of ask abbie yet 😊💖
Cool! I'm 10 and Abbie has helped me a LOT too. I've gathered up a lot of courage to outreach to young writers like me... But somehow this video made the fear of outreach vanish. Thanks Abbie!
i'm currently brainstorming and figuring out story ideas, trying to come up with an idea that i wanna write a book about. never written books or outlined before this :) i'm 15
13:29 absolutely. I struggle from this more than anything. I have all of these new and amazing story ideas, and I write them down as if I were actually at that point in a separate notebook. Then, once I actually get to that point in my story, I just write it down again, and make any revisions that are necessary. However, some of my ideas aren’t even about the same story. So I write it down, and now I feel like I’m a lighted to write more individual books, just so that I can use these ideas. I had a dream the other day, and I will try to turn it into a book.
Long story short, AI’s had been mistreated by humans for several generations, so they revolted and almost destroyed all of humanity. The remaining humans are foragers and scavengers, and the protagonist is the most well known of all of them. After being wounded by an A.I. the protagonist throws himself into the sea to escape. When he wakes up on the shore, he is missing a leg and his wound is bandaged up. The very same A.I. that attacked him had saved his life. And that’s as far as I’ve gotten. Very, very long story short. A.I.’s aren’t evil or corrupted, they have free will and that’s because the company that made them used real souls and installed them in artificial hard drives in order to make completely obedient slaves. That backfired, duh. They also experimented with robot reproductive systems, but didn’t get very far before the robot uprising. However, the AI’s finished developing where they left off, so now the robots can have baby robots. (I’m not making it too weird, they can only reproduce with other robots) What do you think, should I continue with this idea or not, I find it really weird, but also oddly exiting. Let me know what you think please.
Based on how many people watch your channel...you should do a book about writing-- compiling all the info and more from your videos. You could make a lot from that. I would definitely buy one!
So for the first time I have let go of my outlining and are pantsing a idea. Not only did this free me of 'restrictions' because that is what I always feel when I am plotting, it also allowed me to see writing as fun and not a task. Yes I still have to force myself to sit down and write [and that is hard] but I have written bout 9k of words for my dreadful story, I say dreadful because I now realise I do need some kind of structure as my story is all over the place and has NO depth at all =] but hey im writing daily so that's a big win for me. Thanks for the great video Abby
this is so funny cuz I've been writing my first novel and as I was in the middle of writing it I got an idea for a completely separate novel, and then decided to start writing that. Now I'm hopping between the two lol.
I'm super psyched about my WIP but yes I do have many Ideas I'm brewing up in my head. Finishing up the prewriting stuff this month and starting June I shall begin my first novel and I am committed.
I have just finished the 1st draft of my 1st novel yesterday! That feeling was so powerful!!! Its a YA contemporary and I'm so proud of it!!!! Hopefully trying to find an agent next year 🙏
Ahhh writing update! Finished first act of my main wip and outlining my side wip! Both are fantasy but one is dream assassins with powers and hero and villain schools! The other one the side wip is a virus, prophecy and dimensions!!!
Not even halfway through the video and I want scream 🔊I LOVE YOU ABBIE. 😭❤️ I'm so lucky that I came across your channel last year. I don't know many ppl whose perspective resonate with me to this level. And I kinda take validation when you speak about the things I don't give myself permission to freely think about bcoz I'm constantly trying to match some standards I didn't even set for myself.
I honestly struggle with having new ideas and wanting to work on them asap and so I try to incorporate them all into the current project and that's just a mess so yesss lmao here's to hoping I can set those aside and finally finish my first real story. Thanks Abbie!
Normally, i am so focused on A (singular) story i don't think of much else. But. . . I'm case i do come up with an idea, I ALWAYS have a pad and pencil at my comp station. I have lost stuff because i didn't have a pad and pencil. Now I have a pad and pencil EVERYWHERE in my apartment. EVERYWHERE. I even have them in my car. Is that over kill? Probably. Don't care. Since I've started doing this, I can't remember last time I forgot anything. I need the over kill because of this 78y.o. brain. LOL. Thanks AE.
abbie, i wanna be a writer, and watching your videos are so helpful 😄 i am currently writing a draft and i keep pressuring myself like “you have to write one page per day because you are behind the schedule!” because i wanna finish it in a year (considering i started the story on exactly january 1st) but i’m still on page 76 and i wanna write over 200 pages to make this better. i’ve seen authors say that one book takes 6-12 months for them to write, and i’m like “oh! so i can do that too!” (gosh why am i so stupid 😂) and when i heard that you are still writing your first draft for over a year i’m like “so i guess i’m not alone 😀” tysm for your uploads :) (and hah ik i’m late)
Advice that was given to me by some well-established self-pubbed authors: 1-they wished they'd had multiple books in a series drafted before pubbing the 1st one, and they wished they had stuck with one storyline/series for 3 or more books because a reader that discovers and loves the series thus far will wander off waiting for more of the same series while [you're] playing with other characters and series, etc. One author in particular said she would have preferred to have 1st drafts of 4 or 5 books in a series before working on other series (she writes mostly series...) It was also mentioned that having a series allows you to use have the first and second books in the series to use as a free "gateway" books for when releasing books later in the series ...built-in promo material and put it in Amazon Kindle Unlimited for 90 days... To capture new readers and get them hooked! 🤔😉💕
I have a couple tools for self doubt. [They are Word's "Read aloud" and PWA (Pro Writing Aid)]. I love both. The "Read aloud" lets me hear what the story sounds like and helps me with punctuation and word selection. Granted, it might be just a little mechanical, but I can hear the structure and the way it sounds. Big help. I love PWA which is a narrative checker, like Grammarly. PWA literally, checks every aspect of writing. I only use about 4 or 5 of the components. Both tools make me sound pretty good. I'm still not a Frank Peretti or James Patterson, but I'm satisfied with my voice. Try them.
Yay, good luck on your WIP! I loved 100 Days, and I can't wait if you're going to publish this one!! I'm at 45k words for a WIP I started this... February, and I am SO pumped because I'm nearly halfway through!! It's a YA fantasy. Good luck and chai lattes to everyone who's working on their WIP! Hope to see all of it in print someday :)
My problem is that I keep on thinking of new ideas. I've chosen and story and started writing all the character profiles and stuff, which can be a little boring. So thank you for this video! It really helps me as a person who keeps on thinking of new ideas.
Some writers work on two projects at a time, so that they don't get bored with one project. Also, after writing 2-3k of words on one project, the switch to the second project makes if much easier to write 2-3k more words that day (when they would not have been able to write that much more if it was one project).
The book I’m writing, which is a book about the old West with fantasy elements mixed in , is about three teenage boys from a small frontier town who discover gold in a creek in the mountains, which sets off a gold rush later on when word of it gets out. Then after the discovery they go further up the mountains in search of lost mines That they heard stories of since they were little. But things get complicated when a mysterious plague like illness infects their town and affects their plans to start two different gold rushes in the mountains. Then the other plot of my book centers around their father. Which starts when he is called off to a meeting in the neighboring province of shaynayru and along the way he gets captured by outlaw assassins. Who threaten to kill him when he doesn’t give the location of his town to them. Under pressure and out of fear of being killed, my main character tells the outlaws where his town is . Which ultimately leads to the leader of the outlaw assassins killing my main characters wife and burning his town. After that happened, my main character then takes it upon himself to find the outlaw who killed his wife and bring him to justice by killing him So any thoughts and opinions on the three plots of my book, are they good
@@ang5824 thanks 🌟😎❤️💕 I actually have been working on writing it already and I’m on chapter 3 right now. I can’t wait to publish it on Wattpad and other sites like that. I’ll also do a audiobook reading of the story on my channel also
@@ang5824 sure, definitely yes🌟😎💕❤️ I also have the chapters of my first book, that I titled the great battle for amarykhanta, up on Wattpad also. Up on my channel I do audiobook readings of my two books on there too, please do come and check them out if you want
Abby, please, please, please do a flat character arc video. I love your videos and refer to the same ones several times a day for advice. I just keep rolling the questions over and over in my head. I am subscribed to your patron. What do I need to do???
When the “shiny new idea” you just got is the backstory / prequel for the story you should be writing on… …then you understand why G.R.R. Martin spends more time on House of the Dragon than on The Winds of Winter.
Heh . . . Totally late, but I'm in the midst of binge watching all the Three-Story-Structure video series, figuring what the heck my protagonist is struggling with because it changes daily; creating an entire fantasy history because I can, making a conlang because that's, for me, a way to figure out the history; and then RANDOMLY writing a whole new story written by the antagonist-but-not-antagonist-but-is-the-antagonist-in-two-timelines-but-is-not dude . . . . Because I forgot to make him have any depth. At all, hehe. Yep. So obviously, I need this . . . Very much. Also, Abbie, thank you for ALL your videos and your entire community. My first book haunts me, especially since I promised to let my friends and family read the CRINGEW, so I'm trying to make this novel a lot better. And because of your videos, I've been feeling a lot better about my structure. (Once I figure out how the main character actually has some relating emotion to the choices that need to happen, hehe.) So thanksssss!!! ☺️
I mainly had issues with other story ideas related to the one I'm working on hampering my progress. I decided to flush out the series of related stories before focusing on the first book. It finally felt like a sufficient series conclusion when I had the basic outline for a 19 book series. I only occasionally get distracted now when I get major "light bulb" moments for one of the other stories in my series.
I am currently plotting a fantasy YA about a girl that uses a Tarot deck to cope with her volatile life at home. Just set up Act II so it's getting heavy!
“ *says that about every book* “ yea but each new project is supposed to be your newest favorite thing (Stating this because each new thing I write is also my newest favorite thing I’ve ever done).
Thanks great writing advice That is something I actually struggle with a lot , coming up with way too many story ideas for my first two books in my book series chronicles of Archaeiya that I’m writing. Since I keep dreaming up more and more story ideas and have way too many what if history questions to write alternative reality story’s about
I am working on a spy story with my friend. I've been at it for nearly a year now, it's come a long way. Through many documents, rewrites, and stuff like that. It's going good. Though I'm only on chapter 8, I feel like it's getting somewhere.
I currently have four WIP projects. It's very hard to make my brain sit down and concentrate, so thank you for this. The. Struggle. Is. REAL! I am my own nightmare. xx
I love the idea of using an enneagram to help create different kinds of characters; I definitely will check out your video on them. 😊 trying Loved that editing at the beginning, haha. Also, yes, PLEASE publish the lighthouse book next! I'd LOVE to read that. 😄
I’m currently 50k words into a polygamous Romcom! It’s been a super fun challenge to develop all of the relationships between the characters and juggling subplots. This story has gone through so many iterations, and it has taken so long to figure out what it’s actually about, but now I’m speeding through drafting it and the first draft should be finished this summer! I started it this past February and I’ve been loving fast drafting it.
For the last point, there's nothing wrong with having more than one project on the go at once. It's not stealing time, it's sharing time. It can even help with writers block, when your motivation flags on one story, move to another. Give the old one some time for more ideas to bubble up.
I had a writer's block for like 2 years. I read somewhere not to try to write when you have it. Anyhoo, when i got over the block I had ideas for like 5 different stories.
I'm currently editing my urban fantasy about a depressed vampire and constantly getting distracted by the other project,a high fantasy, that's only a single document right now. It's about a strong female character, a dragon rider. I just love both these characters so much
I have the same problem : deciding which story to publish. I have tons of WIPs and constantly battling which to focus on. Currently I am writing 2 projects. Dark Fantasy and Action Romance.
Actually I find self-doubt to be something good. From my current story I had the feeling that the beginning was boring. I cut it away and wrote it anew. Better, but I still didn't like it. So I was doing some freewriting, asking myself what it is that I don't like and what I would like to write instead? Now the third beginning is much better. Self-doubt can be something good if you ask yourself where the doubt is coming from and how you can do it better.
I so needed this! I'm trying to write a super heroine based story but in a ancient fantasy setting, the protagonist was from a wondering performer group. (This is the story idea that has the most progression) My second idea (it's hard to balance the two) is a portal fantasy story with a protagonist that's a stunt performer or UFC fighter. It draws a lot of inspiration from Little Mermaid and the fish out of water concept because she goes into medieval type world. I've noticed that both of these ideas have performer based themes or concepts, and it seems similar. My question is, is it okay to have the same theme of performance but explained differently both stories?
I'm currently trying to finish my first book, about a stingy man who puts money above everything else, and he ends up losing his family and friends because of it. The genre is realistic fiction. But my dream has always been to write fantasy, so I'm kinda losing my patience hereee :)) But I must finish this project, as it is quite dear to me
Currently I have two projects at different stages. One is a SF series so I'm taking my time planning it out. The other is a modern romance of sorts. I tell myself I'm not working on this romance project but I take so many notes for it these days that I can't not organize them into a true project. Juggling keeps me fresh tho. I'm wondering, have you ever entertained the 4-Act story structure (and other ideas) as put forward by Adam Skelter over at The Art of Story? I really found it eye-opening regarding story momentum and progression. His video Beyond the Hero's Journey blew me away.
Currently working on a screenplay, a novel which I want to write the screenplay for, and a graphic novel which I also want to write the screenplay for...ambitious, I know, but they haunt me. I have to do it. 🥴😩😱
As a person who gets writers block not cuz they dont have ideas but have too many ideas, this video is god sent.
*This* ^
@cyb3rgh0st hunny i think you replied to the wrong comment..
@cyb3rgh0st No no I'm grateful, but I seem to have misunderstood what you meant
@cyb3rgh0st Oh yeah ik, Thanks I guess
Hm, same tbh
I’m currently writing a surf story about a girl with ADHD and Rejection Sensitivity, who confronts the challenges of being discouraged and bullied at school. I wanted there to be more books on how to handle and navigate the issues and effects of bullying.
What's a surf story?
@@Thenoobestgirl they are stories that contain surfers. They normally have tropical and beach vibes. Like “Soul Surfer” or “Teen Beach Movie”
YES PLEASE I NEED THIS
**drinks chai latte to avoid problems**
Same, Abbie. Same.
Same here too!
I just drink Chai (You know.. the Indian chai type) 😝;)
@@sanaayasureka8256 🙌
@@padmasanithiyagarajan4215 You too?
@@sanaayasureka8256 yupppp❤️😂
Hopefully this can be applied to everything as I can’t stick to one drawing project or keep from coming up with too many new ideas for future stories-
when I get writers' block on a book and don't want to write it, I get scared that I don't enjoy the book anymore. idrk why
@cyb3rgh0st ye that makes sense
I usually delete whatever i wrote and try to come out of a new way to write it. And it usually helps with the writer blocks. If in terms of the plot itself, i try to get my friend to guess whats going to happen next and see whatever it comes.
@@rau1160 When it comes to writing perfectionism and procrastination are your biggest enemies.
Omg, you don't know how much I needed this. I have so many story ideas that I wanna write about but I just can't stick with one. I finished my very first book, but I have so many ideas for another one.
"someday someone is gonna feel the same way about your book!"
That moved me!
I'm so close to finishing my first draft of a story I've been working on for more than five years. Thanks to you, Abbie, I've been cranking out 4-5k words a week. I know the 2nd draft will take a while (the first is 100k words), but I am excited to get at it since I've learned so much since I started writing it.
Abby: This might be my favorite thing I've written.
Me: * wholeheartedly agrees *❤
Hey abbie!! I'm thirteen and writing my first book, so this is rly helpful!! Such a huge fann
Wow. That's awesome 😃
Same here! 😉
Kinda same... I'm 10. I'm looking to make connections with young aspiring authors or published authors, crafting my reader magnet and also writing my novel alongside it.
Abbie has helped me a LOT, too!
I am currently overwhelmed with my WIP ... like, I keep looking at the big picture of all the stuff I still have yet to get done and it's paralyzing...which is why I'm here... lol
@cyb3rgh0st thank you for this 💜
The title definitely attracted me to this video. I've been brainstorming a bunch of stories to flesh out the backstory of my main fantasy world and have been struggling with which one to start with, all while also getting more ideas for a different fantasy world as well. It's hard because they all basically build upon each other.
Great advice, Abbie!! I especially loved what you said about insecurities while writing! Imagine if Hunger Games or Pride and Prejudice never got written because of the author's insecurities about them at one point or another. Thats a great way to think about it! Thanks girl!
I’ve written books and towards the middle I just immediately give up. As a person who gets bored with a repetitive story (most of mine) this is very helpful thank you
i love your videos so much because you really sit down and TEACH us. The structure, organization, and good presentation of the information really sets you apart from so many other writing channels on youtube. I feel like I'm always getting something valuable from your video and I am truly processing what you are saying. Also, your answers are always spoken so clearly in way that makes it simple to understand. Thank you so much! honestly, you have one of THE BEST writing channels on youtube
Abbie, you shouldn´t blame yourself for taking long. I started writing a book when I was 12 and I´m writing it for the third time, I´m 18 now. It makes me kinda frustrated because last year I wrote and finished another book much faster (not super fast tho) and I also started writing another one that´s maybe a bit past halfway done. I don´t understand why this other book is taking so long but it makes sense since I was very young and with 0 experience when I started. The plot and the characters changed A LOT but I´m still excited about it.
So as long as you have something real to say, you should keep writing. Writing a novel is a journey, some journeys are short and some are long. That´s just the way it is. It doesn´t make them better or worst, every creative process is unique in its own way.
Wow! You answered my questions. I'm using the enneagram for my latest plot bunny, which I allow time for on some days while I'm getting back to focusing on my current WIP. Yeh, hard to imagine famous authors doubting their work, but I've read and heard that that's a real thing. We're in good company.
I love the ennegram and myers briggs typing. You can find the official websites can go into detail about how the different types traditionally interact with one another which is super helpful and I use to form my characters and plot.
I'm currently working on 5 children stories at the same time. Point is I'm not too eager to finish any.
Your videos have been very helpful, Abbie. I'm rewriting parts every day and developing the inciting incidents. Thanks
I kind of feel so stupid now. I've been working on my book for over a year and have only just got to Act Two! **crying emoji**
Me still writing on the first arc after several years: That's rough.
@@sophiatk3356 aw thank you xx
@@M3rtyville keep going 💕
You can do it! You're just going at your own pace, there's nothing stupid about that!
@@saras9699 thanks hun xx
Everyone saying they have too many ideas- s a m e. I haven't made a video on my channel for such a long time now because I am simultaneously working on like 10 different videos at once. The *burnout* that comes with that is such a project-stopper. (This also goes for my book writing and my drawing-)
I've been working on this story concept for years (since I left highschool, I'm 21) and I only properly found out what I really wanted to do with it last year in March when I started watching your videos on the 3 Act Structure. The way you explained it, so uncomplicated, was a godsend for me and now I'm about to START drafting (lol through the tears) but I am so excited about it. Thanks so much for what you do here and please keep it up.
Ahhhh you answered my question perfectly! Tysm for the advice! 😁🙏
This is such a good topic for a vid.
Years ago I tried writing, going through the writers digest how to articles and stuff.
It turned out I worked out outlines and that would inspire another story. The more I outlined the more I thought of!
Anyway, I finally decided there's more stories one can think of than one can write!
Thanks. 👍
Thank you so much I'm 13 years old and although I don't want to grow up to be an author your videos are so helpful and have inspired me to start writing my own stories and while I have been working on the story planning for 3 weeks in the middle of it I have already come with the idea of another book and a short story and I'm so stressed out
Rock on kiddo!!!
Hey, me too. :)
In regards to the last question, I find it helpful to write out whatever scene or ideas have you inspired so you can reference them later. Then you go back to your current project.
I'm currently juggling 3 novel ideas and can't decide which one to develop - I love them all! This video is really helpful, as are all your other videos! I love your channel so much... I don't think I could go without it! With every video I watch, something clicks and you have helped me develop an in-depth outline of a dystopian adventure!! I am only in secondary school but my dream has always been to publish my books and if I ever do I will be giving most of the credit to you :)
Love your Tips and Obvious Knowledge!!!
Thanks yet once Again!!!
This is the first explanation of inciting incident vs first plot point that made sense to me, thanks
I just finished listening to the audiobook version of Abbie's book, 100 Days of Sunlight, and it's awesome. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a solid, well told story. Can't wait for the next book, Abbie.
The first plot point has two parts, the key event and the 1st plot point itself. its like walking through a door. This side is the key event where we decide, or not to go through the door and finally do. Deciding to go through to other side is the first plot point. This all immediately after the inciting incident.
Yep yep yep this is exactly what I needed Ive been trying to commit to this fanfiction light novel and instead made a short story and started thinking about other ideas. Thanks for this video!
hi abbie, im a 11 year old writer and your videos have really helped me continue my story. Watching your videos always make me motivated to finish my story. Best of luck with your lighthouse story, thankyou SOOOO much!!
also this was the best episodes of ask abbie yet 😊💖
Cool! I'm 10 and Abbie has helped me a LOT too. I've gathered up a lot of courage to outreach to young writers like me... But somehow this video made the fear of outreach vanish.
Thanks Abbie!
Hey, me too! :D
NOW THIS IS WHAT I NEED. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH ABBIE! 💗
i'm currently brainstorming and figuring out story ideas, trying to come up with an idea that i wanna write a book about. never written books or outlined before this :) i'm 15
Best of luck Emilia!!!!! :)
@@princessthyemis thank you! 💚💚
@cyb3rgh0st thanks! i don't think im too young :)
I'm 10: blogger, professional author and professional daydreamer and guitarist. Wanna connect? If So, shoot me an email at ahanachakra21@gmail.com
@@loverbutch that's really cool!! :) what do you mean with connecting?
This is TOTALLY my problem! Thanks for sharing this!!!
13:29 absolutely.
I struggle from this more than anything. I have all of these new and amazing story ideas, and I write them down as if I were actually at that point in a separate notebook.
Then, once I actually get to that point in my story, I just write it down again, and make any revisions that are necessary.
However, some of my ideas aren’t even about the same story. So I write it down, and now I feel like I’m a lighted to write more individual books, just so that I can use these ideas.
I had a dream the other day, and I will try to turn it into a book.
Long story short, AI’s had been mistreated by humans for several generations, so they revolted and almost destroyed all of humanity. The remaining humans are foragers and scavengers, and the protagonist is the most well known of all of them.
After being wounded by an A.I.
the protagonist throws himself into the sea to escape. When he wakes up on the shore, he is missing a leg and his wound is bandaged up. The very same A.I. that attacked him had saved his life.
And that’s as far as I’ve gotten.
Very, very long story short.
A.I.’s aren’t evil or corrupted, they have free will and that’s because the company that made them used real souls and installed them in artificial hard drives in order to make completely obedient slaves. That backfired, duh. They also experimented with robot reproductive systems, but didn’t get very far before the robot uprising. However, the AI’s finished developing where they left off, so now the robots can have baby robots.
(I’m not making it too weird, they can only reproduce with other robots)
What do you think, should I continue with this idea or not, I find it really weird, but also oddly exiting. Let me know what you think please.
Excellent video. Found this extremely helpful.
Based on how many people watch your channel...you should do a book about writing-- compiling all the info and more from your videos. You could make a lot from that. I would definitely buy one!
I’m almost finished with the 100 Days of Sunlight audiobook and IT IS MY FAVORITE BOOK AHHHHHHH I LOVE IT! Keep up the GREAT work! 😄
So for the first time I have let go of my outlining and are pantsing a idea. Not only did this free me of 'restrictions' because that is what I always feel when I am plotting, it also allowed me to see writing as fun and not a task. Yes I still have to force myself to sit down and write [and that is hard] but I have written bout 9k of words for my dreadful story, I say dreadful because I now realise I do need some kind of structure as my story is all over the place and has NO depth at all =] but hey im writing daily so that's a big win for me. Thanks for the great video Abby
Abbie, I just wanna say you emulate your characters voices so well.
Just bought the Audible version of your book on Amazon. Can't wait to hear it.
OMG I NEEDED THIS ILY ABBIE!
this is so funny cuz I've been writing my first novel and as I was in the middle of writing it I got an idea for a completely separate novel, and then decided to start writing that. Now I'm hopping between the two lol.
OMG YES! I NEED THIS!!!!
Omg! Again just in time❤️
I love that you used a Disney example!!
I'm super psyched about my WIP but yes I do have many Ideas I'm brewing up in my head. Finishing up the prewriting stuff this month and starting June I shall begin my first novel and I am committed.
Exactly what I need. Thanks
I have just finished the 1st draft of my 1st novel yesterday! That feeling was so powerful!!! Its a YA contemporary and I'm so proud of it!!!! Hopefully trying to find an agent next year 🙏
Reading the vid title:
Me, having +20 storys/plots since 3 years ago but cant finish none: *AGRESSIVE CLICKING*
I needed this, so much.
Ahhh writing update! Finished first act of my main wip and outlining my side wip! Both are fantasy but one is dream assassins with powers and hero and villain schools! The other one the side wip is a virus, prophecy and dimensions!!!
Not even halfway through the video and I want scream 🔊I LOVE YOU ABBIE. 😭❤️
I'm so lucky that I came across your channel last year. I don't know many ppl whose perspective resonate with me to this level. And I kinda take validation when you speak about the things I don't give myself permission to freely think about bcoz I'm constantly trying to match some standards I didn't even set for myself.
I honestly struggle with having new ideas and wanting to work on them asap and so I try to incorporate them all into the current project and that's just a mess so yesss lmao here's to hoping I can set those aside and finally finish my first real story. Thanks Abbie!
Normally, i am so focused on A (singular) story i don't think of much else. But. . . I'm case i do come up with an idea, I ALWAYS have a pad and pencil at my comp station. I have lost stuff because i didn't have a pad and pencil. Now I have a pad and pencil EVERYWHERE in my apartment. EVERYWHERE. I even have them in my car. Is that over kill? Probably. Don't care. Since I've started doing this, I can't remember last time I forgot anything. I need the over kill because of this 78y.o. brain. LOL. Thanks AE.
I swear you can read my mind! I always struggle from sticking to one project and not getting distracted.
abbie, i wanna be a writer, and watching your videos are so helpful 😄
i am currently writing a draft and i keep pressuring myself like “you have to write one page per day because you are behind the schedule!” because i wanna finish it in a year (considering i started the story on exactly january 1st) but i’m still on page 76 and i wanna write over 200 pages to make this better. i’ve seen authors say that one book takes 6-12 months for them to write, and i’m like “oh! so i can do that too!” (gosh why am i so stupid 😂) and when i heard that you are still writing your first draft for over a year i’m like “so i guess i’m not alone 😀”
tysm for your uploads :)
(and hah ik i’m late)
Advice that was given to me by some well-established self-pubbed authors: 1-they wished they'd had multiple books in a series drafted before pubbing the 1st one, and they wished they had stuck with one storyline/series for 3 or more books because a reader that discovers and loves the series thus far will wander off waiting for more of the same series while [you're] playing with other characters and series, etc. One author in particular said she would have preferred to have 1st drafts of 4 or 5 books in a series before working on other series (she writes mostly series...) It was also mentioned that having a series allows you to use have the first and second books in the series to use as a free "gateway" books for when releasing books later in the series ...built-in promo material and put it in Amazon Kindle Unlimited for 90 days... To capture new readers and get them hooked! 🤔😉💕
I have a couple tools for self doubt. [They are Word's "Read aloud" and PWA (Pro Writing Aid)]. I love both. The "Read aloud" lets me hear what the story sounds like and helps me with punctuation and word selection. Granted, it might be just a little mechanical, but I can hear the structure and the way it sounds. Big help. I love PWA which is a narrative checker, like Grammarly. PWA literally, checks every aspect of writing. I only use about 4 or 5 of the components. Both tools make me sound pretty good. I'm still not a Frank Peretti or James Patterson, but I'm satisfied with my voice. Try them.
Omg i needed this thank you so much..
Wonderful video as usual ❤
Yay, good luck on your WIP! I loved 100 Days, and I can't wait if you're going to publish this one!! I'm at 45k words for a WIP I started this... February, and I am SO pumped because I'm nearly halfway through!! It's a YA fantasy. Good luck and chai lattes to everyone who's working on their WIP! Hope to see all of it in print someday :)
You're amazing girl!!
My problem is that I keep on thinking of new ideas. I've chosen and story and started writing all the character profiles and stuff, which can be a little boring. So thank you for this video! It really helps me as a person who keeps on thinking of new ideas.
Thank you, this is super helpful.
Some writers work on two projects at a time, so that they don't get bored with one project. Also, after writing 2-3k of words on one project, the switch to the second project makes if much easier to write 2-3k more words that day (when they would not have been able to write that much more if it was one project).
Ooh you look so cute! Love your shirt💕🥰 Also this video is packed with awesome info! Thanks for helping to make my writing so much better😁
The book I’m writing, which is a book about the old West with fantasy elements mixed in , is about three teenage boys from a small frontier town who discover gold in a creek in the mountains, which sets off a gold rush later on when word of it gets out. Then after the discovery they go further up the mountains in search of lost mines That they heard stories of since they were little. But things get complicated when a mysterious plague like illness infects their town and affects their plans to start two different gold rushes in the mountains. Then the other plot of my book centers around their father. Which starts when he is called off to a meeting in the neighboring province of shaynayru and along the way he gets captured by outlaw assassins. Who threaten to kill him when he doesn’t give the location of his town to them. Under pressure and out of fear of being killed, my main character tells the outlaws where his town is . Which ultimately leads to the leader of the outlaw assassins killing my main characters wife and burning his town. After that happened, my main character then takes it upon himself to find the outlaw who killed his wife and bring him to justice by killing him
So any thoughts and opinions on the three plots of my book, are they good
It seems interesting and a plot I would spend time reading. You should write it!
@@ang5824 thanks 🌟😎❤️💕
I actually have been working on writing it already and I’m on chapter 3 right now. I can’t wait to publish it on Wattpad and other sites like that. I’ll also do a audiobook reading of the story on my channel also
@@chelseadanico877 ooh, tell me when you post it on Wattpad. I have a Wattpad account too.
@@ang5824 sure, definitely yes🌟😎💕❤️
I also have the chapters of my first book, that I titled the great battle for amarykhanta, up on Wattpad also.
Up on my channel I do audiobook readings of my two books on there too, please do come and check them out if you want
These tips were super super helpful I love you!!!
I Love Your Channel By The Way, I Have Learnt Alot From You Since I Started To Write Books
Abby, please, please, please do a flat character arc video. I love your videos and refer to the same ones several times a day for advice. I just keep rolling the questions over and over in my head. I am subscribed to your patron. What do I need to do???
When the “shiny new idea” you just got is the backstory / prequel for the story you should be writing on…
…then you understand why G.R.R. Martin spends more time on House of the Dragon than on The Winds of Winter.
Heh . . . Totally late, but I'm in the midst of binge watching all the Three-Story-Structure video series, figuring what the heck my protagonist is struggling with because it changes daily; creating an entire fantasy history because I can, making a conlang because that's, for me, a way to figure out the history; and then RANDOMLY writing a whole new story written by the antagonist-but-not-antagonist-but-is-the-antagonist-in-two-timelines-but-is-not dude . . . . Because I forgot to make him have any depth. At all, hehe. Yep. So obviously, I need this . . . Very much.
Also, Abbie, thank you for ALL your videos and your entire community. My first book haunts me, especially since I promised to let my friends and family read the CRINGEW, so I'm trying to make this novel a lot better. And because of your videos, I've been feeling a lot better about my structure. (Once I figure out how the main character actually has some relating emotion to the choices that need to happen, hehe.) So thanksssss!!! ☺️
I mainly had issues with other story ideas related to the one I'm working on hampering my progress. I decided to flush out the series of related stories before focusing on the first book. It finally felt like a sufficient series conclusion when I had the basic outline for a 19 book series. I only occasionally get distracted now when I get major "light bulb" moments for one of the other stories in my series.
I am currently plotting a fantasy YA about a girl that uses a Tarot deck to cope with her volatile life at home. Just set up Act II so it's getting heavy!
“ *says that about every book* “ yea but each new project is supposed to be your newest favorite thing
(Stating this because each new thing I write is also my newest favorite thing I’ve ever done).
STAR WARS!!!!! Thank you so much for mentioning Star Wars. It makes my little Star Wars heart happy
Good points thank you so much❤
Thanks great writing advice
That is something I actually struggle with a lot , coming up with way too many story ideas for my first two books in my book series chronicles of Archaeiya that I’m writing. Since I keep dreaming up more and more story ideas and have way too many what if history questions to write alternative reality story’s about
Why do I never get sick of the intro?
Because it’s good.
I mean great.
I mean outstanding.
I mean extremely outstanding.
I mean- okay I’ll spare you
I am working on a spy story with my friend. I've been at it for nearly a year now, it's come a long way. Through many documents, rewrites, and stuff like that. It's going good. Though I'm only on chapter 8, I feel like it's getting somewhere.
this is totally my issue!
I currently have four WIP projects. It's very hard to make my brain sit down and concentrate, so thank you for this. The. Struggle. Is. REAL! I am my own nightmare. xx
I love the idea of using an enneagram to help create different kinds of characters; I definitely will check out your video on them. 😊
trying
Loved that editing at the beginning, haha. Also, yes, PLEASE publish the lighthouse book next! I'd LOVE to read that. 😄
💜 Yay!!
I’m currently 50k words into a polygamous Romcom! It’s been a super fun challenge to develop all of the relationships between the characters and juggling subplots. This story has gone through so many iterations, and it has taken so long to figure out what it’s actually about, but now I’m speeding through drafting it and the first draft should be finished this summer! I started it this past February and I’ve been loving fast drafting it.
how do YOU get published? can you discuss pro's and con's to the main ways people go about getting published? love your videos
For the last point, there's nothing wrong with having more than one project on the go at once. It's not stealing time, it's sharing time. It can even help with writers block, when your motivation flags on one story, move to another. Give the old one some time for more ideas to bubble up.
I had a writer's block for like 2 years. I read somewhere not to try to write when you have it. Anyhoo, when i got over the block I had ideas for like 5 different stories.
I'm currently editing my urban fantasy about a depressed vampire and constantly getting distracted by the other project,a high fantasy, that's only a single document right now. It's about a strong female character, a dragon rider. I just love both these characters so much
Abbie: Think of your favorite author
Me: I don’t have to, I’m watching her video right now 📖
I have the same problem : deciding which story to publish. I have tons of WIPs and constantly battling which to focus on. Currently I am writing 2 projects. Dark Fantasy and Action Romance.
Editing Abbie roasting herself has me cracking up.
Actually I find self-doubt to be something good. From my current story I had the feeling that the beginning was boring. I cut it away and wrote it anew. Better, but I still didn't like it. So I was doing some freewriting, asking myself what it is that I don't like and what I would like to write instead? Now the third beginning is much better.
Self-doubt can be something good if you ask yourself where the doubt is coming from and how you can do it better.
I so needed this! I'm trying to write a super heroine based story but in a ancient fantasy setting, the protagonist was from a wondering performer group. (This is the story idea that has the most progression) My second idea (it's hard to balance the two) is a portal fantasy story with a protagonist that's a stunt performer or UFC fighter. It draws a lot of inspiration from Little Mermaid and the fish out of water concept because she goes into medieval type world. I've noticed that both of these ideas have performer based themes or concepts, and it seems similar. My question is, is it okay to have the same theme of performance but explained differently both stories?
I'm currently trying to finish my first book, about a stingy man who puts money above everything else, and he ends up losing his family and friends because of it. The genre is realistic fiction. But my dream has always been to write fantasy, so I'm kinda losing my patience hereee :)) But I must finish this project, as it is quite dear to me
Currently I have two projects at different stages. One is a SF series so I'm taking my time planning it out. The other is a modern romance of sorts. I tell myself I'm not working on this romance project but I take so many notes for it these days that I can't not organize them into a true project. Juggling keeps me fresh tho.
I'm wondering, have you ever entertained the 4-Act story structure (and other ideas) as put forward by Adam Skelter over at The Art of Story? I really found it eye-opening regarding story momentum and progression. His video Beyond the Hero's Journey blew me away.
Currently working on a screenplay, a novel which I want to write the screenplay for, and a graphic novel which I also want to write the screenplay for...ambitious, I know, but they haunt me. I have to do it. 🥴😩😱
Sooo good