For me the first story idea excited me and motivated me to write. But as I began to flesh it out, the initial idea evolved. I think that's a good thing. But it lead me to so many story possibilities that the idea itself became daunting. It even led me to a host of character possibilities that I hadn't thought of. Trimming the exploding idea to something manageable is the trick
Yup, get out that block of marble in any sort of shape is the first step, then whittle it down till it starts taking the form you pictured. It's the most fun you can have IMO.
I'm learning how to accept that sometimes my ideas are better suited for short stories or screenplays rather than full length books and trilogies like I would initially think and be excited for.
Thank you. This helps sort out the dumb ideas, the good ideas, and the great ideas from each other. By the way, the pillow in the background helps get me back to your channel if I download one of your vids.
Another lovely video! I am in the process of writing a fantasy novel. I tried plotting but I found that I like to discover as I write, so my new goal is to pick a couple of key pivotal scenes to work towards and to pour all my excitement into it instead of worrying so much. (The not worrying part is really hard for me).
As I write fantasy as well, my suggestion is to keep writing. Sometimes you think of something while you write, giving you a chance to make changes you see fit. Did it many times and it helped me a lot.
One of the eternal problems in art is that we tend to write about something unique to our own situation, and sometimes miss the mark of creating something universal.
ALYSSA - A great list. And Intuitive, I think, because (without guidance from outsiders) I have already run these questions through my mind regarding my current WIP. So these must be fundamentally sound.
Thankfully I still have passion for writing my books. Even when several are still waiting to be published due to not getting an agent. I think it also matters when getting feedback from betas and proofreaders, so as your editor. Mine have been always been brutally honest and I'm thankful for it. My proofreader also pointed out that my fantasy book was very refreshing to read because it didn't touch the typical tropes such as flame powers or that there are any elves, orc, dragons, etc in them. Such feedback keeps encouraging me to write more to finally get represented.
Excellent topic and awesome video as always, Alyssa. You saved the most vital step for last. We can fake a lot of things in this hustle-til-you-die world, but excitement can't be faked. I watch the New Year's Eve countdown from Times Square every year and those people cannot hide how miserable they are. Don't be fake excited in Times Square. Be real excited at home.
I got a book idea for a dystopian fantasy but I didn't know if it will make a strong story, so I took a break for more than a month 😹 thinking of the book as the book idea kept developing and transforming...now the idea is solid and I can pen it down 💯
I figure its a good idea that you start to daydream about your premise and the narrative drive is so strong it starts to write itself in your head when you are driving or doing some other mundane task.
My idea sucked on day 1, for sure. But with a robust writing and revision process, a long break, and some soul searching, I can honestly say, hand on heart, it's now much, much worse than that.
I have never been so early!!! YAY! Question, Alyssa. What are your thoughts on less obvious antagonists? For example, my book's theme focuses a lot on existentialism. The main antagonizing force is something beyond the character's entire comprehension, similar to how we comprehend only certain parts of the universe. Is there a great way to properly pitch that?
Hello Alyssa! I subscribed after watching your videos. I self published a book after 9 years total, 7 years researching, 2 years writing, rewriting. The genre is fantasy sci-fi. Called The Uprising of Omega X 7.0 I'm working on book 2 &3 I really want to go the traditional route, because self publishing is to expensive.
My idea came from a friend. Her company has a policy that an employee's plus-one for their holiday party must be someone that employee is dating, engaged to, or married to (in a relationship with vs a friend or family member). I thought that could make for a good inciting incident for a romance featuring a plus-sized heroine who works at an HR company that other businesses hire. The hero is the contact of a new client. Because I'm a pantser, that's all I've got so far. :)
I doubt anyone imagines an entire story from an initial idea. The idea doesn't have to be about a story, it could be about the background/world to the story in which a story would be set from which you would develop a story through characters. To know a story has legs, I find it helpful to write a blurb so you know it has legs for the genre. In doing so, It also helps to come up with a one sentence log line/pitch that would describe your story if someone in the street asked you what it is about. From the blurb, develop a one page synopsis, then expand it to two pages. You can then either write by the seat of your pants or develop further before starting. By having the blurb and synopsis to start with, it saves a lot of head scratching if you are to submit to agents and having to condense a 3/400 page story into 1 or two pages.
Thanks. This helps me to think about fantasy. Intregue needs to be everywhere. The magic system. Really cool but with enough limitations and costs that it only helps with problems, not solve everything. The protagonist's wound and flaw. What is hidden away in their shadow? What terrible decision and consequence will finally pull this needed part of them into the light to allow them to succeed? How does this weakness make them intriguing to the reader? I know this is the tip of the iceberg but it's a bit closer to understanding. Love and light.
Desmond Bagley and Alistair MacLean regularly started novels and then realised the story was not great, but ended up using scenes and ideas in other stories.
Great advice, Alyssa! I polled my FB community to see if readers would be satisfied with a "realistic," albeit unhappy ending. 80% of them wanted a positive outcome for my protagonists! Several ladies even said if they knew the book ended sadly they wouldn't read it. I listened and crafted my manuscript accordingly.
I'm working on an idea for a novel or short story about a haunted picture that protects the wife of a murdered ceo, The premise is that the love shared by husband and wife is eternal. Anyone who tries to attack the wife is drawn into the portrait and horribly disfigured. I was wondering if there was any tips you could share on the horror thriller genre is receptive to such a storyline.
I never get why people always jump on the bandwagon. I love dystopian novels and movies, but there are about 300 zombie apocalypse books per month. I wish people would stop in this genre.
My novel in progress is dystopian but there aren't zombies. I reread my chapter 20 or 30 times in an attempt to ensure it isn't cliche. It's impossible to avoid all previously used ideas since books have been being written for thousands of years, but I agree that people need to know when to draw the line at "overdone". They get the wrong idea when a few books of a subject catch the beginning of a wave but by the time they finish theirs the wave is at its end and all creativity is drowned by the flooded aftermath.
Major question 🙋♂️ I am in the Uk but my book is set in USA, because of this I’ve decided that being published in USA would be more beneficial for me, I was wondering how common is this situation and if it’s actually possible? Thank you 🙏🏾
Gaimon leaps to mind as an immediate example of someone who's done this specifically, and I'm sure there are many others. Plenty of people write stories set in countries other than their own, so I think you're fine. That said, don't assume Americans are unwilling to read a story set in England. If you want to set the story in the US because it works better for the story, two thumbs up, but if you're doing it for purely marketing reasons - I don't think its necessary.
Hi Alyssa, please tell me, when querying a letter to an agent, what if an author does not have another book to compare his/her novel with. What is the author supposed to do in this situation?
Regarding "It's Original." I cowrote a story in high school 20 years ago that was distributed among a small group of friends. Me and two others were the authors. I want to write a book based on this story we wrote. While the book I want to write is a vast departure from the story we wrote 20 years ago, it does use some similar characters and themes. Do I need my co-authors' permission to publish? Or is something we wrote on our computers and printed a few copies of way back when not a protected work?
In my case, for good and for bad 😅, my stories could only appeal to people who like grim-bloody-things like Warhammer 40k, The Witcher, Elfen Lied, The punisher, Let the right one in, Carmila, Dracula, Darkly dreaming Dexter, or other disturbing stuff 😂
Hi there - here is the link to download the free story self-assessment: www.alyssamatesic.com/#freebie-form If you've already subscribed to the newsletter, you may have to enter a different email address (you can unsubscribe one of the email addresses after you've downloaded the template). I hope that helps!
Actually, an update: I just discovered a bug in my email software that was preventing the download from being sent to new newsletter subscribers. Please email me at hello@alyssamatesic.com if you still haven't received it, and I will resend. Sorry about that!
Beyond a ‘bad’ idea or not, you need to have trendy ideas -certainly not trend SETTING ideas. You need to know what agents are publishers are looking for. Currently that’s Identity not ideas.
![일상 속 기분 좋음 [Proto disco meme]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DwmEIaZ7XGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
For me the first story idea excited me and motivated me to write. But as I began to flesh it out, the initial idea evolved. I think that's a good thing. But it lead me to so many story possibilities that the idea itself became daunting. It even led me to a host of character possibilities that I hadn't thought of. Trimming the exploding idea to something manageable is the trick
Yup, get out that block of marble in any sort of shape is the first step, then whittle it down till it starts taking the form you pictured. It's the most fun you can have IMO.
I'm learning how to accept that sometimes my ideas are better suited for short stories or screenplays rather than full length books and trilogies like I would initially think and be excited for.
You never fail to deliver❤
Yeah talk about customer service lol. I literally just yesterday posted a comment about wanting this as a video. We’ll done AM. We’ll done. ❤
Thank you. This helps sort out the dumb ideas, the good ideas, and the great ideas from each other. By the way, the pillow in the background helps get me back to your channel if I download one of your vids.
Another lovely video! I am in the process of writing a fantasy novel. I tried plotting but I found that I like to discover as I write, so my new goal is to pick a couple of key pivotal scenes to work towards and to pour all my excitement into it instead of worrying so much. (The not worrying part is really hard for me).
As I write fantasy as well, my suggestion is to keep writing. Sometimes you think of something while you write, giving you a chance to make changes you see fit. Did it many times and it helped me a lot.
One of the eternal problems in art is that we tend to write about something unique to our own situation, and sometimes miss the mark of creating something universal.
ALYSSA - A great list. And Intuitive, I think, because (without guidance from outsiders) I have already run these questions through my mind regarding my current WIP. So these must be fundamentally sound.
Thankfully I still have passion for writing my books. Even when several are still waiting to be published due to not getting an agent.
I think it also matters when getting feedback from betas and proofreaders, so as your editor. Mine have been always been brutally honest and I'm thankful for it. My proofreader also pointed out that my fantasy book was very refreshing to read because it didn't touch the typical tropes such as flame powers or that there are any elves, orc, dragons, etc in them. Such feedback keeps encouraging me to write more to finally get represented.
Excellent topic and awesome video as always, Alyssa. You saved the most vital step for last. We can fake a lot of things in this hustle-til-you-die world, but excitement can't be faked. I watch the New Year's Eve countdown from Times Square every year and those people cannot hide how miserable they are. Don't be fake excited in Times Square. Be real excited at home.
I got a book idea for a dystopian fantasy but I didn't know if it will make a strong story, so I took a break for more than a month 😹 thinking of the book as the book idea kept developing and transforming...now the idea is solid and I can pen it down 💯
I figure its a good idea that you start to daydream about your premise and the narrative drive is so strong it starts to write itself in your head when you are driving or doing some other mundane task.
My idea sucked on day 1, for sure. But with a robust writing and revision process, a long break, and some soul searching, I can honestly say, hand on heart, it's now much, much worse than that.
Your ideas dont suck, your learning to make a book that readers cant put down. 😊
Thank you for the awesome information and guidance ! Sincerely G
This video is worth gold, thank you very much Alyssa!
So glad you found it helpful. Thanks for commenting!
I have never been so early!!! YAY! Question, Alyssa. What are your thoughts on less obvious antagonists? For example, my book's theme focuses a lot on existentialism. The main antagonizing force is something beyond the character's entire comprehension, similar to how we comprehend only certain parts of the universe. Is there a great way to properly pitch that?
Hello Alyssa! I subscribed after watching your videos.
I self published a book after 9 years total, 7 years researching, 2 years writing, rewriting. The genre is fantasy sci-fi. Called The Uprising of Omega X 7.0 I'm working on book 2 &3 I really want to go the traditional route, because self publishing is to expensive.
The next book in the series is called The Return of Omega X 7.0
Trad pub ends up being MORE expensive in the long run🙏
Not if you're strapped for Cash after rent and bills are paid, so traditional is my best option.
@@benkeafer6869 Yes in the long run, because indie authors make more per book sold. Your example doesn’t apply to my “in the long run” statement.
@@benkeafer6869 Besides, it’s entirely possible to self-publish a book 100% free.
My idea came from a friend. Her company has a policy that an employee's plus-one for their holiday party must be someone that employee is dating, engaged to, or married to (in a relationship with vs a friend or family member). I thought that could make for a good inciting incident for a romance featuring a plus-sized heroine who works at an HR company that other businesses hire. The hero is the contact of a new client. Because I'm a pantser, that's all I've got so far. :)
I doubt anyone imagines an entire story from an initial idea. The idea doesn't have to be about a story, it could be about the background/world to the story in which a story would be set from which you would develop a story through characters. To know a story has legs, I find it helpful to write a blurb so you know it has legs for the genre. In doing so, It also helps to come up with a one sentence log line/pitch that would describe your story if someone in the street asked you what it is about. From the blurb, develop a one page synopsis, then expand it to two pages. You can then either write by the seat of your pants or develop further before starting. By having the blurb and synopsis to start with, it saves a lot of head scratching if you are to submit to agents and having to condense a 3/400 page story into 1 or two pages.
Thanks. This helps me to think about fantasy. Intregue needs to be everywhere. The magic system. Really cool but with enough limitations and costs that it only helps with problems, not solve everything. The protagonist's wound and flaw. What is hidden away in their shadow? What terrible decision and consequence will finally pull this needed part of them into the light to allow them to succeed? How does this weakness make them intriguing to the reader? I know this is the tip of the iceberg but it's a bit closer to understanding. Love and light.
Desmond Bagley and Alistair MacLean regularly started novels and then realised the story was not great, but ended up using scenes and ideas in other stories.
Great advice, Alyssa! I polled my FB community to see if readers would be satisfied with a "realistic," albeit unhappy ending. 80% of them wanted a positive outcome for my protagonists! Several ladies even said if they knew the book ended sadly they wouldn't read it. I listened and crafted my manuscript accordingly.
I'm working on an idea for a novel or short story about a haunted picture that protects the wife of a murdered ceo, The premise is that the love shared by husband and wife is eternal. Anyone who tries to attack the wife is drawn into the portrait and horribly disfigured. I was wondering if there was any tips you could share on the horror thriller genre is receptive to such a storyline.
I never get why people always jump on the bandwagon. I love dystopian novels and movies, but there are about 300 zombie apocalypse books per month. I wish people would stop in this genre.
My novel in progress is dystopian but there aren't zombies. I reread my chapter 20 or 30 times in an attempt to ensure it isn't cliche.
It's impossible to avoid all previously used ideas since books have been being written for thousands of years, but I agree that people need to know when to draw the line at "overdone".
They get the wrong idea when a few books of a subject catch the beginning of a wave but by the time they finish theirs the wave is at its end and all creativity is drowned by the flooded aftermath.
Major question 🙋♂️ I am in the Uk but my book is set in USA, because of this I’ve decided that being published in USA would be more beneficial for me, I was wondering how common is this situation and if it’s actually possible?
Thank you 🙏🏾
Gaimon leaps to mind as an immediate example of someone who's done this specifically, and I'm sure there are many others. Plenty of people write stories set in countries other than their own, so I think you're fine. That said, don't assume Americans are unwilling to read a story set in England. If you want to set the story in the US because it works better for the story, two thumbs up, but if you're doing it for purely marketing reasons - I don't think its necessary.
You're welcome everyone for pitching this last night because that's how this happened. lol. Man that was fast.
Hi Alyssa, please tell me, when querying a letter to an agent, what if an author does not have another book to compare his/her novel with. What is the author supposed to do in this situation?
Regarding "It's Original." I cowrote a story in high school 20 years ago that was distributed among a small group of friends. Me and two others were the authors. I want to write a book based on this story we wrote. While the book I want to write is a vast departure from the story we wrote 20 years ago, it does use some similar characters and themes. Do I need my co-authors' permission to publish? Or is something we wrote on our computers and printed a few copies of way back when not a protected work?
Is Non Fiction, true crime a good read?
In my case, for good and for bad 😅, my stories could only appeal to people who like grim-bloody-things like Warhammer 40k, The Witcher, Elfen Lied, The punisher, Let the right one in, Carmila, Dracula, Darkly dreaming Dexter, or other disturbing stuff 😂
Horror and dark fantasy are fair-sized markets, and you just listed a lot of successful books, so I think you're market's fine.
I went to AM's page and couldn't download her story template. Can I get some help on that? Thanks
It's been a while but what I think I remember is that I signed up for her email list and she sent it to me.
Hi there - here is the link to download the free story self-assessment: www.alyssamatesic.com/#freebie-form If you've already subscribed to the newsletter, you may have to enter a different email address (you can unsubscribe one of the email addresses after you've downloaded the template). I hope that helps!
Actually, an update: I just discovered a bug in my email software that was preventing the download from being sent to new newsletter subscribers. Please email me at hello@alyssamatesic.com if you still haven't received it, and I will resend. Sorry about that!
Beyond a ‘bad’ idea or not, you need to have trendy ideas -certainly not trend SETTING ideas. You need to know what agents are publishers are looking for. Currently that’s Identity not ideas.
My story idea is the life and experiences of an unmoving paperweight. I think it'll l be a big hit. (I'm kidding)