Sometimes you just need to take a break from writing. I've taken long breaks before. But I find that the muse always returns. If you enjoy writing, you'll find inspiration again. I like that thing you said about your cup being too full and needing to let some of it go. I think sometimes we put too much on our plate--I know I have--and you can only handle so much. Good luck with finishing your Whiskey City book! I think 500 words a day is a good goal to start with.
I haven't ever commented on your videos or read your books but I've watched many of your videos. I've missed listening to your thoughts on writing. Congratulations on getting back to writing!!!
I love the idea of rereading an old story to help motivate a writer. A lot of these tips are based on becoming immersed into the world of the story again. I do a lot of these things, such as reading my old story, short stories from the same story and timeline, and looking through my thoughtdump for the story. I've heard similar analogies about energy relating to water and letting it out of a container about to overflow. Consistently doing things to pour a bit of water out of the container has been useful and important during stressful times.
I find a good way to _start_ writing is just to write a really *short* piece. Here is an example: SEEING THE LIGHT The distinguished couple that I met at Loch Garten were well-spoken and obviously highly-educated professionals. After all, they arrived in a Mercedes-Benz. In fact, he was a Diplomat and she was a Scientist. I chatted with them. I mentioned that it was a particularly beautiful September evening because, even though it was flat calm, there were very few midges about. The lady suggested to me that it was maybe because of the "long winter" that the midges were reduced in numbers this summer. It was a good year for the visitor, she said, but a bad year if you were a midge. We spoke about Perth (where they came from), their friends in Elgin, and also how stunning the West Coast is. We talked about the beauty of the Loch and how peaceful it was that evening. They asked me if I knew where the Osprey's nest was. I said I did, but that I could not possibly reveal that to them. They accepted this with good grace. They said that they had been watching some deer and it was fascinating. A charming and cool couple. They had that worldly sophistication of people who are well-travelled, intelligent and successful. Later, I wandered deeper into the woods where it was surprisingly quite dark out of the direct sunlight. Ahead of me, a shaft of light burst through the trees lighting up a small circle on the ground. At first I thought I was imagining things. But I wasn't. On the ground was a small shrine with flowers and poems and little statues. There was also a container of someone's ashes and a card telling the story of a young man who had died in action during the Second World War. The card explained that the spirit of the man was laid to rest in the place he loved. The shrine was obviously visited regularly, and maintained, judging by the pretty flowers in the little vases and the immaculate condition of the display of memento mori. The shaft of light piercing through the trees had isolated the shrine, lighting it up in a way which gave it an almost spiritual quality in the darkness of the woods. I crouched down, pointed my camera close, and framed the scene. But I never pressed the shutter. The lighting was remarkable but I thought it would be inappropriate to photograph such a private thing, even though it was in public view. And so the only record is in my memory.
I'm so excited you're back doing authortube! I discovered your channel two years ago, and your videos were what inspired and encouraged me to take writing books more seriously.
It is so exciting and inspiring to see your company making such a progress. I can relate very much with your writing struggles. Writing my thesis really got in the way of my writing last year and this year I have a lot of difficult exams. Sometimes life just gets in the ways. I kicked off my channel this years and almost immediately had to put it to a long hold due to studying. Now I finally feel able to pursue my passion again. 500 words a day would be a big goal for me. For me it is more around 200 words per day. But that is also progress 😀 And as I learned: for me, writing is like self-care. I am so happy to see your writing-videos again. Makes me all pumped to create myself 😘😊
So glad you're back! My co-author and I are in the same position--we've both strayed away from writing due to some extenuating circumstances, but we're so ready to get back to having fun with our stories! We are converting our series into a serial for Wattpad. We decided we care more about the writing than about making money from it! We may eventually turn it back into a book series and/or self-publish it, but for now, this lifts off the pressure we were putting on ourselves to get it done, which was backfiring on both of us big time. I've been listening to my old writing playlist in my car, which has helped me get inspired again, but I need to update the one on my computer and maybe make a new CD for the car (yep, I'm a little old school lol). I'm sure digging into that will ramp up the inspiration! Another thing my co-author and I both do is watch videos, TV shows, and movies that feature our characters in some way, whether it be their personality traits or the actors' resemblance to them. I also collect pics from Google and use them as my desktop background and screen saver. Pinterest is another source, but I have to be careful or I'll get lost in the rabbit hole! lol I was one of the ARC readers for Pistol Daisy, and I loved it! I'm so looking forward to Whiskey City and the rest of the series! I wish you the best of luck, happy writing, and welcome back! 😊
Welcome back! Can’t wait to see what writing videos you have coming. So excited for Whiskey City. I read Pistol Daisy in one night. I’ve also recently been getting back into some projects that I’ve felt distanced from. The playlist helps so much.
I would say I've missed you but I've watched every video you've made outside of authortube too. I'm also so excited to you to get back into writing. I was an ARC for Pistol Daisy and I'm so so so freaking excited to read Whiskey City!! ❤️❤️
So excited to have you dipping your toes back into writing and the Authortube community. You were one of the very first channels I subscribed to and one of the reasons I made my own channel. (Also, your preptober workbook is an essential for me pre-nano.) Can't wait to see what comes next for you :D
@Natalia Leigh: Hello Natalia, Can you please share any books or other resources you would recommend for those who want to work as an editor? Also, in addition to Scribophile, what other free online critique groups would you recommend for those who don't have social media? Thanks in advance for your time and I hope to hear from you soon! Enjoy the rest of your week.
This video is just what I needed! I’ve had to put my book on the back burner due to a lot different reasons, but I’m sooo ready to dive back into it. My goal is to finish the first draft BEFORE NaNoWriMo and before I give birth to my second baby (due early September)
I'm sooooooooo excited for you to be writing again!! I can't wait to read Whiskey City. And thank you for this. I needed this. It's only been a few weeks since u worked on my own book but I was starting to falter. ❤ I appreciate your candid attitude and can't wait to see how this chapter in your life plays out.
So happy you're getting back into the saddle! In solidarity, I am getting back on the horse with you. Routine really does help and it's been almost a year for me too. I think 500 words is great. Would love to keep each other motivated. I cannot wait for Whiskey City.
Yay I'm excited for you. Pistol Daisy was one of my Top 5 reads of 2020! It's so lovely to see you doing authortube again. I love all your videos but I have missed these too:)
I'm so glad to hear this! Glad to have you back talking about your book. Thank you for the inspiration! I've had a bit of a slump myself after getting really close to representation and having it fall through.
I just finished writing my fanfiction a month ago and I'm now trying to get back into the other story I had to put aside, so I feel you! The upside is that there are a lot of funny ways to get back into a story, like spending hours on Pinterest LOL
Just ordered a physical copy of Pistol Daisy. Did get an ebook version for my Kindle, but I’ve found that I buy ebooks but never get around to read them, ha ha. At least, with a physical book it exists on that table or bookcase reminding you it’s there and demands to be read! Hope you’ll permit a technical question : did you need to get a licence for the fonts you used for the print and ebook text? I’ve been surfing the net to get a definitive answer on this and sometimes the answer is ‘yes, you absolutely must’ and sometimes the answer is ‘no, you don’t just use the fonts that came installed on your computer’ - very confusing!🙀
Great question! It depends on the creator of the font. Some creators will allow commercial use for free, while others require you to purchase the font. We always purchase commercial licenses for our clients through Enchanted Ink.
I am trying to get back into a writing routine now especially with Camp NaNo coming up, it would be great to have an idea to work on, so I am trying to brainstorm something :) thanks for the inspiration to keep trying to write :)
So happy that you're getting back into writing💛 I'm going to start writing the second book in my series this summer (the first one is getting published in August iiiih), and I haven't actually been writing in a few months, just editing and proofing! So I needed these tips! Also, I need to be making a series bible I think, because I haven't done that yet. The best of luck on your work! x
I have blogged intermittently over the years and dropped off last June. I asked a friend to be my accountability partner. We meet up once a week if possible and I send her my writing. I started posting again about a month ago, once a week for now. I also loaded an app on my phone to help me be accountable to my goals as well. 😊
Dear Natalia, what would you think if you hired an artist from another country for your book cover, and they wanted 1,500$? I have a really intricate scene design for my cover, it is a high end cover design, but I was thinking closer to 1,000$ and not 1,500$. Now I'm stuck on what to do- because it is my first novel, first time self publishing, and this feels like a huge price. On top of that, I'm borrowing the money for it and I'm terrified I won't make enough sales to even pay it back. It's a fiction novel, a young adult fantasy. I worry I'm getting ripped off. I want their artwork and their professional book cover, but I'm scared to take the plunge. Please give me some advice!
Sometimes you just need to take a break from writing. I've taken long breaks before. But I find that the muse always returns. If you enjoy writing, you'll find inspiration again. I like that thing you said about your cup being too full and needing to let some of it go. I think sometimes we put too much on our plate--I know I have--and you can only handle so much. Good luck with finishing your Whiskey City book! I think 500 words a day is a good goal to start with.
I haven't ever commented on your videos or read your books but I've watched many of your videos. I've missed listening to your thoughts on writing. Congratulations on getting back to writing!!!
Sending you healing! Love to you and the fam.
I love the idea of rereading an old story to help motivate a writer. A lot of these tips are based on becoming immersed into the world of the story again. I do a lot of these things, such as reading my old story, short stories from the same story and timeline, and looking through my thoughtdump for the story.
I've heard similar analogies about energy relating to water and letting it out of a container about to overflow. Consistently doing things to pour a bit of water out of the container has been useful and important during stressful times.
I find a good way to _start_ writing is just to write a really *short* piece. Here is an example:
SEEING THE LIGHT
The distinguished couple that I met at Loch Garten were well-spoken and obviously highly-educated professionals. After all, they arrived in a Mercedes-Benz. In fact, he was a Diplomat and she was a Scientist.
I chatted with them. I mentioned that it was a particularly beautiful September evening because, even though it was flat calm, there were very few midges about. The lady suggested to me that it was maybe because of the "long winter" that the midges were reduced in numbers this summer. It was a good year for the visitor, she said, but a bad year if you were a midge.
We spoke about Perth (where they came from), their friends in Elgin, and also how stunning the West Coast is. We talked about the beauty of the Loch and how peaceful it was that evening.
They asked me if I knew where the Osprey's nest was. I said I did, but that I could not possibly reveal that to them. They accepted this with good grace. They said that they had been watching some deer and it was fascinating. A charming and cool couple. They had that worldly sophistication of people who are well-travelled, intelligent and successful.
Later, I wandered deeper into the woods where it was surprisingly quite dark out of the direct sunlight. Ahead of me, a shaft of light burst through the trees lighting up a small circle on the ground. At first I thought I was imagining things. But I wasn't. On the ground was a small shrine with flowers and poems and little statues. There was also a container of someone's ashes and a card telling the story of a young man who had died in action during the Second World War.
The card explained that the spirit of the man was laid to rest in the place he loved. The shrine was obviously visited regularly, and maintained, judging by the pretty flowers in the little vases and the immaculate condition of the display of memento mori.
The shaft of light piercing through the trees had isolated the shrine, lighting it up in a way which gave it an almost spiritual quality in the darkness of the woods. I crouched down, pointed my camera close, and framed the scene. But I never pressed the shutter. The lighting was remarkable but I thought it would be inappropriate to photograph such a private thing, even though it was in public view. And so the only record is in my memory.
Looking forward to reading Whiskey City!
I'm so excited you're back doing authortube! I discovered your channel two years ago, and your videos were what inspired and encouraged me to take writing books more seriously.
I'm excited to watch more writing videos from you again. 😊
It is so exciting and inspiring to see your company making such a progress.
I can relate very much with your writing struggles. Writing my thesis really got in the way of my writing last year and this year I have a lot of difficult exams. Sometimes life just gets in the ways. I kicked off my channel this years and almost immediately had to put it to a long hold due to studying. Now I finally feel able to pursue my passion again. 500 words a day would be a big goal for me. For me it is more around 200 words per day. But that is also progress 😀 And as I learned: for me, writing is like self-care.
I am so happy to see your writing-videos again. Makes me all pumped to create myself 😘😊
I miss your writing vlogs! Hope we get to watch more soon, they really get me motivated to write.
I hope to start making them again soon!
So glad you're back! My co-author and I are in the same position--we've both strayed away from writing due to some extenuating circumstances, but we're so ready to get back to having fun with our stories! We are converting our series into a serial for Wattpad. We decided we care more about the writing than about making money from it! We may eventually turn it back into a book series and/or self-publish it, but for now, this lifts off the pressure we were putting on ourselves to get it done, which was backfiring on both of us big time.
I've been listening to my old writing playlist in my car, which has helped me get inspired again, but I need to update the one on my computer and maybe make a new CD for the car (yep, I'm a little old school lol). I'm sure digging into that will ramp up the inspiration!
Another thing my co-author and I both do is watch videos, TV shows, and movies that feature our characters in some way, whether it be their personality traits or the actors' resemblance to them. I also collect pics from Google and use them as my desktop background and screen saver. Pinterest is another source, but I have to be careful or I'll get lost in the rabbit hole! lol
I was one of the ARC readers for Pistol Daisy, and I loved it! I'm so looking forward to Whiskey City and the rest of the series! I wish you the best of luck, happy writing, and welcome back! 😊
When I’m sick I love winter spice tea from Twinings. 🥰
Welcome back! Can’t wait to see what writing videos you have coming. So excited for Whiskey City. I read Pistol Daisy in one night.
I’ve also recently been getting back into some projects that I’ve felt distanced from. The playlist helps so much.
Thanks Natalia
You are a blessing to the community
thanks for inspiring me and others
to write.
I'm so excited for you, watching videos like yours is what inspires me
I would say I've missed you but I've watched every video you've made outside of authortube too. I'm also so excited to you to get back into writing. I was an ARC for Pistol Daisy and I'm so so so freaking excited to read Whiskey City!! ❤️❤️
So excited to have you dipping your toes back into writing and the Authortube community. You were one of the very first channels I subscribed to and one of the reasons I made my own channel. (Also, your preptober workbook is an essential for me pre-nano.) Can't wait to see what comes next for you :D
I'm so beyond excited that Whiskey City is in the works! PD was one of my absolute faves of last year 🧡✨
This gave me a gigantic smile! Thank you for the kind words! 💜
@Natalia Leigh: Hello Natalia,
Can you please share any books or other resources you would recommend for those who want to work as an editor? Also, in addition to Scribophile, what other free online critique groups would you recommend for those who don't have social media? Thanks in advance for your time and I hope to hear from you soon! Enjoy the rest of your week.
So exciting!! Welcome back to writing!! Good luck with Whiskey City. :)
This video is just what I needed! I’ve had to put my book on the back burner due to a lot different reasons, but I’m sooo ready to dive back into it. My goal is to finish the first draft BEFORE NaNoWriMo and before I give birth to my second baby (due early September)
I'm sooooooooo excited for you to be writing again!! I can't wait to read Whiskey City.
And thank you for this. I needed this. It's only been a few weeks since u worked on my own book but I was starting to falter. ❤ I appreciate your candid attitude and can't wait to see how this chapter in your life plays out.
So happy you're getting back into the saddle! In solidarity, I am getting back on the horse with you. Routine really does help and it's been almost a year for me too. I think 500 words is great. Would love to keep each other motivated. I cannot wait for Whiskey City.
Horses are so therapeutic! I’m not an animal person but in college I ended up counseling a cabin of girls at horse camp and it was so good!
Yay I'm excited for you. Pistol Daisy was one of my Top 5 reads of 2020! It's so lovely to see you doing authortube again. I love all your videos but I have missed these too:)
I'm so glad to hear this! Glad to have you back talking about your book. Thank you for the inspiration! I've had a bit of a slump myself after getting really close to representation and having it fall through.
I just finished writing my fanfiction a month ago and I'm now trying to get back into the other story I had to put aside, so I feel you! The upside is that there are a lot of funny ways to get back into a story, like spending hours on Pinterest LOL
Ahh! How did I forget Pinterest?! That’s such a great way to get inspired!
@@NataliaLeigh Also a never-ending source of procrastination, but it's worth it!
Pinterest is a lifesaver when you need one final piece of motivation to write your story.
Glad to see you back writing! Can’t wait to watch the process 😌
Just ordered a physical copy of Pistol Daisy. Did get an ebook version for my Kindle, but I’ve found that I buy ebooks but never get around to read them, ha ha. At least, with a physical book it exists on that table or bookcase reminding you it’s there and demands to be read!
Hope you’ll permit a technical question : did you need to get a licence for the fonts you used for the print and ebook text? I’ve been surfing the net to get a definitive answer on this and sometimes the answer is ‘yes, you absolutely must’ and sometimes the answer is ‘no, you don’t just use the fonts that came installed on your computer’ - very confusing!🙀
Great question! It depends on the creator of the font. Some creators will allow commercial use for free, while others require you to purchase the font. We always purchase commercial licenses for our clients through Enchanted Ink.
Welcome back!
That's fantastic that you're getting back to your story :) Even if you don't have a huge amount of time to put on it, each new word counts ;)
Exactly.... how did you save the horse 🐴🐎🐎?
I am trying to get back into a writing routine now especially with Camp NaNo coming up, it would be great to have an idea to work on, so I am trying to brainstorm something :) thanks for the inspiration to keep trying to write :)
Haha I thought the sound in the background was a typewriter so I found it fitting.
So happy that you're getting back into writing💛 I'm going to start writing the second book in my series this summer (the first one is getting published in August iiiih), and I haven't actually been writing in a few months, just editing and proofing! So I needed these tips! Also, I need to be making a series bible I think, because I haven't done that yet. The best of luck on your work! x
Thank you for this video about writing :)
I have blogged intermittently over the years and dropped off last June. I asked a friend to be my accountability partner. We meet up once a week if possible and I send her my writing. I started posting again about a month ago, once a week for now. I also loaded an app on my phone to help me be accountable to my goals as well. 😊
What is a series bible?
I needed “Whiskey City” like yesterday lol. JK. I’m excited though!
💪🏼💜
Dear Natalia, what would you think if you hired an artist from another country for your book cover, and they wanted 1,500$? I have a really intricate scene design for my cover, it is a high end cover design, but I was thinking closer to 1,000$ and not 1,500$. Now I'm stuck on what to do- because it is my first novel, first time self publishing, and this feels like a huge price. On top of that, I'm borrowing the money for it and I'm terrified I won't make enough sales to even pay it back. It's a fiction novel, a young adult fantasy. I worry I'm getting ripped off. I want their artwork and their professional book cover, but I'm scared to take the plunge. Please give me some advice!
Why don't you do a counter offer for $1200. If you like the cover so much, it's worth it.
writers notebooks helps me