I should note/give myself some credit: when I say I rewrote the fun & games/act 2, that's not quite true! I did swap one major set piece--dinner party for speed dating--but the second dinner party and going to the club, and then the space walk lead-in remained without major changes. BUT the connective "glue" in this section morphed as I threw out that old Carina B plot and inserted the new stuff with Captain Lind having Leo take Elliot & the Orlovs' DNA, building that tension, instead. And TIMESTAMPS! 02:32 Draft One vs. Draft Zero 04:57 Idea development & mystery plot 06:16 Figuring out the antagonist 07:00 Adding a Bachelor plotline 08:18 Inventing Daniel 09:51 My first terrible ending 10:39 Things in draft one I later threw out 12:01 The B plot from hell 12:32 The pool motif/murder backstory 14:49 Mushy politics & why revision is essential 15:40 Diminishing Maxim & Ewan/swapping character function 16:45 Leo the engineer/inventor 17:29 Rewriting Klara (3 times) 18:46 Turning in the 1st draft/edit letter 19:13 Elliot's motivations/rewriting the romance arc (3x) 21:39 Emotional consistency & rewriting critical scenes 22:40 Turning early filler into high stakes tension 23:49 Dead kids in a romance (mistakes were made) 24:25 Firming up the politics/worldbuilding 26:05 Addressing Leo's agency 27:58 SPEED DATING! 29:15 Rewriting the "fun & games" 30:52 Completely changing the space walk 33:32 Trying to fix the Lady Liberty 35:42 Changing the mystery drive 36:54 The second ending (that failed) & poor Daniel 38:48 Final/third draft changes 39:52 Finally nailing the romance arc 40:54 Making speed dating high tech 42:52 Calling Leo out for classism 44:50 Sexy Marco Polo/fixing the Lady Liberty 46:33 Adding the deep backstory murder plot/new climax 47:59 New ending/epilogue 49:20 Line edits & working in the cover motif
I’ve had SUCH an issue with judging my first draft on anything that I freeze up and hearing you talk about how temporal the first draft is and how normal it is for it to be “mushy” has brought me so much encouragement. Thank you for sharing your journey on how you got this book done despite the insane obstacles and stresses, you have a writer’s spirit it’s so cool to watch and learn from you. Also, how is your makeup always on point?! You’re so pretty!
This was an insta-click for me! I loved The Stars We Steal and also loved this video concept when you did it for Brightly Burning. Cant wait for the "From 1st to Final Draft" for The Ivies!
I love that you've made these videos about your books!! It is so interesting to hear authors talk about how their books change from beginning to end. I feel like a lot will say that it changes during the process but not actually explain how, which is totally fine cause some people don't want to share that sort of thing, but it helps so much getting a peak of how things develop for other people. Especially any time I'm feeling the "this draft is garbage" blues about my draft zeros haha. Yay for mushy beginnings!
I loved this book, it was even better than brightly burning! After watching this, I really want to go and re-read it. It’s so interesting to see how the story evolved through the different edits. When reading, it seems so seamless that everything just fits together.
Thank you Auntie Alexa 😂 for explaining this! Currently watching it. But this helps a lot. I’m in my 3rd draft in my book right now so this is definitely a big help
Absolutely love these kinds of vids! Makes me feel better about not freaking out so much once I finally get into the professional tradpub world, the appreciation here is STRONG 😂😂 loved this so much!
This is the first ever video of yours that has come up on my feed. And as someone who has just made the decision to start writing their first book, which I'm hoping to create a trilogy out of, it's insanely reassuring to hear that you didn't have everything planned out from the beginning. Hearing about the stress and amount of changes your book went through, as well as how you got ideas at the literal end and then had to go back and edit the entire thing. I've been feeling anxious about not knowing my ending, and judging how my first draft looks already. So, I just want to thank you for being very open with your process. It's has made me feel so much better, and I'm hoping that it will make things easier going forward
I'm late in the watching, but I'm so grateful to see this! Makes me feel so much better, I'm on my 5th revision and I've gone through all you have said and it's so nice to know we aren't alone! Thank you, thank you! By the way loved The Stars We Steal, I gave you a review on Good Reads back in June! ;)
Your channel has kept me motivated throughout the drafting process for my first novel and I can't say how grateful I am for your content, you've taught me so much in such a fun, informative way!
I really enjoyed the stars we steal and it was so interesting watching this video and getting to know the behind the scenes -- the speed dating aspect with the different rooms I think was one of my favorite aspects so it was cool to see how that wasn't fully developed until later drafts!
Hey Alexa! This is amazing! So great to hear a writer breakdown the process in such a detailed way! Not many writers want to explain the complicated / messy creative process. This is so good for novice writers to hear - How books aren't just BORN. They are put together bit by bit, ideas are suggested from other people, the best ideas usually come AFTER the first draft - I love the fact that you had the defining idea of the book as the initial act 3. Simply thinking on it, figuring out ways of refining... I'm finding that now. I'm writing the first episode of a comedy series, and I'm running scenes in my head while I'm going to sleep, continually getting my phone and writing down ideas to make things stronger. Really enjoying your content! Cheers
honestly this blows me away. alexa, you had such a hard year and you went through so much heartache, and yet you still managed to get all of this work done. to have the willpower to keep going back, keep rewriting, editing, listening to critique and applying your creative mind when you were going through such a hard time is amazing to me. you should be really proud of yourself.
Oh this one was actually done before my mom got sick. It'll come up a lot when I talk about The Ivies, however, as I drafted and then revised that during that period.
As a big Persuasion fan and watching your videos about your Persuasion meets Bachelor book, I think I read it on the release date and had it finished before I went to bed that night. I ate up the so-good angst in the book - like, I out-loud squealed in a way I haven't since I was a teenager. This was a really fun insight into how much went into it and changed through the process! Do you plan to do anymore Jane Austen covers or are these two the only ones?
I have been wondering the same thing! I've read both of her (thus far) published books and while I'm excited to read her new thriller, I love how accessible and fun she has made the classics.
Honestly The dates we steal made me most excited for your new thriller. The stars we steal was good but the mystery aspect was just so interesting I wanted that to be the centerpiece not the romance. I love you as a writer and Authortuber!
Thanks Alexa! This video was encouraging. I'm realizing ever deeper, the importance of "get the story out," and edit to develop the details and meat or core of the story. 👍🏾
Amazing video! I loved all the little details told about the process. And just generally, it's very helpful to see how other authors change a lot of things in the process
I'm so bummed, because in Poland we don't have much of your books... I mean I can only buy Brightly burning in paperback and that's all, maybe I'll try an ebook one day, but until then I'll just watch your videos. I've been a subscriber for over two years now, I think, and although most of your advice is for beginners, I still love it and your voice and knowledge is so admirable. I wish that someday I'll have enough courage to write again!
Gonna dive into the book and then come back for the video :D (I got it when it launched but I still haven't gotten to time to read it. I think I was waiting for this video, because I remember watching your similar video for your first book just after I read it.)
As a Swede, I can definitely say you had surprisingly accurate facts about my people. That princess cake is my childhood! And we do listen to ABBA a lot! Well done! Really enjoyed the book! I never see my culture so appreciated🤩
Hahaha that's so good to hear! I ADORE ABBA. Like... I listen to them a lot and have since I was a kid. I should move to Sweden ha. The princess cake I must confess I learned about on Great British Bake Off and it just looked SO YUMMY. And generally I snagged a few impressions off my time working for EF, which is a Swedish-owned company so all my bosses were Swedes :) (the founder was also literally friends with Anni-Frid so her portrait was in our cafeteria!)
Just read it in 2 days. OH EM GEE! Freaking amazing! So 1)Jane Austen 😍 2) persuasion is my FAV Jane Austin so when I bought your two books I was drawn to read this one first. Oh my word! ❤️ Loved it! Thanks so much for all the hard work, and the helpful TH-cam vids. I've been using ALL my self control NOT to watch this until I had read the book. X
I tried to stay up and finish this book, but I finally quit at 2am. Finished this morning. This was my first Alexa book and I loved it. Can't wait to read more. Thanks, Alexa! Full disclosure: I watched this video when it came out. Read the book yesterday/today(forgot what the video told me) and am watching it again now that I know THINGS. lol
So is it really okay to turn in a zero draft when it comes to our second contract/option book? I'm worried about those because we all had the time in the world to write our first book and it's a whole new game when it comes to option books because this time, time is quite limited.
I haven’t read this one yet because I do most stuff through audible now since I can multitask, and I don’t love the voice actress so I didn’t get it. I’m sure the book itself is great though. I’ll have to get the physical book.
OMG! I just saw your upcoming first page critique live stream. How do I join? Am I too late? How did I not see it before? I'm so sad right now. Can I join or is it a members only type of thing?
If anyone is looking for something to do before NaNo begins, my last goal for 2020 is to get beta readers for my YA Fantasy that just wrapped up Draft 3. If anyone is interested in helping out, please let me know!!
![How Much Did My Book Change? 1st draft to Final [Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-yyMM_AjDr0/mqdefault.jpg)
I should note/give myself some credit: when I say I rewrote the fun & games/act 2, that's not quite true! I did swap one major set piece--dinner party for speed dating--but the second dinner party and going to the club, and then the space walk lead-in remained without major changes. BUT the connective "glue" in this section morphed as I threw out that old Carina B plot and inserted the new stuff with Captain Lind having Leo take Elliot & the Orlovs' DNA, building that tension, instead. And TIMESTAMPS!
02:32 Draft One vs. Draft Zero
04:57 Idea development & mystery plot
06:16 Figuring out the antagonist
07:00 Adding a Bachelor plotline
08:18 Inventing Daniel
09:51 My first terrible ending
10:39 Things in draft one I later threw out
12:01 The B plot from hell
12:32 The pool motif/murder backstory
14:49 Mushy politics & why revision is essential
15:40 Diminishing Maxim & Ewan/swapping character function
16:45 Leo the engineer/inventor
17:29 Rewriting Klara (3 times)
18:46 Turning in the 1st draft/edit letter
19:13 Elliot's motivations/rewriting the romance arc (3x)
21:39 Emotional consistency & rewriting critical scenes
22:40 Turning early filler into high stakes tension
23:49 Dead kids in a romance (mistakes were made)
24:25 Firming up the politics/worldbuilding
26:05 Addressing Leo's agency
27:58 SPEED DATING!
29:15 Rewriting the "fun & games"
30:52 Completely changing the space walk
33:32 Trying to fix the Lady Liberty
35:42 Changing the mystery drive
36:54 The second ending (that failed) & poor Daniel
38:48 Final/third draft changes
39:52 Finally nailing the romance arc
40:54 Making speed dating high tech
42:52 Calling Leo out for classism
44:50 Sexy Marco Polo/fixing the Lady Liberty
46:33 Adding the deep backstory murder plot/new climax
47:59 New ending/epilogue
49:20 Line edits & working in the cover motif
I’ve had SUCH an issue with judging my first draft on anything that I freeze up and hearing you talk about how temporal the first draft is and how normal it is for it to be “mushy” has brought me so much encouragement. Thank you for sharing your journey on how you got this book done despite the insane obstacles and stresses, you have a writer’s spirit it’s so cool to watch and learn from you. Also, how is your makeup always on point?! You’re so pretty!
A full hour, we have been blessed 🙌
This was an insta-click for me! I loved The Stars We Steal and also loved this video concept when you did it for Brightly Burning. Cant wait for the "From 1st to Final Draft" for The Ivies!
Weirdly enough, Alexa doesn't talk about Sci fi a lot even though she's written two sci fi novels.
I love that you've made these videos about your books!! It is so interesting to hear authors talk about how their books change from beginning to end. I feel like a lot will say that it changes during the process but not actually explain how, which is totally fine cause some people don't want to share that sort of thing, but it helps so much getting a peak of how things develop for other people. Especially any time I'm feeling the "this draft is garbage" blues about my draft zeros haha. Yay for mushy beginnings!
Leah Rummel I was thinking the same thing--definitely
I loved this book, it was even better than brightly burning! After watching this, I really want to go and re-read it. It’s so interesting to see how the story evolved through the different edits. When reading, it seems so seamless that everything just fits together.
Thank you Auntie Alexa 😂 for explaining this! Currently watching it. But this helps a lot. I’m in my 3rd draft in my book right now so this is definitely a big help
Absolutely love these kinds of vids! Makes me feel better about not freaking out so much once I finally get into the professional tradpub world, the appreciation here is STRONG 😂😂 loved this so much!
Ouu! I love writer process videos!! Can't wait to dive in 🍿
I bought, and read, this book yesterday so this video is honestly perfect😂😂
This is the first ever video of yours that has come up on my feed. And as someone who has just made the decision to start writing their first book, which I'm hoping to create a trilogy out of, it's insanely reassuring to hear that you didn't have everything planned out from the beginning. Hearing about the stress and amount of changes your book went through, as well as how you got ideas at the literal end and then had to go back and edit the entire thing.
I've been feeling anxious about not knowing my ending, and judging how my first draft looks already. So, I just want to thank you for being very open with your process. It's has made me feel so much better, and I'm hoping that it will make things easier going forward
When Elliot came back for the space walk was one of my favorite parts! Such a good change.
I'm late in the watching, but I'm so grateful to see this! Makes me feel so much better, I'm on my 5th revision and I've gone through all you have said and it's so nice to know we aren't alone! Thank you, thank you! By the way loved The Stars We Steal, I gave you a review on Good Reads back in June! ;)
I just want to thank you for making these videos! I don't feel like such a failure for not having all my plot holes filled during my draft 0. :)
This is basically my entire writing process. Re-writing giant chunks that make it better after getting inspired or figuring our better scenes.
Never been this early and so pumped
This video makes me want to reread the book haha. I loved the video of this you did for Brightly Burning, so this is super exciting!
Same I really wanna re-read it!
Your channel has kept me motivated throughout the drafting process for my first novel and I can't say how grateful I am for your content, you've taught me so much in such a fun, informative way!
I really enjoyed the stars we steal and it was so interesting watching this video and getting to know the behind the scenes -- the speed dating aspect with the different rooms I think was one of my favorite aspects so it was cool to see how that wasn't fully developed until later drafts!
Hey Alexa! This is amazing! So great to hear a writer breakdown the process in such a detailed way! Not many writers want to explain the complicated / messy creative process. This is so good for novice writers to hear - How books aren't just BORN. They are put together bit by bit, ideas are suggested from other people, the best ideas usually come AFTER the first draft - I love the fact that you had the defining idea of the book as the initial act 3. Simply thinking on it, figuring out ways of refining... I'm finding that now. I'm writing the first episode of a comedy series, and I'm running scenes in my head while I'm going to sleep, continually getting my phone and writing down ideas to make things stronger. Really enjoying your content! Cheers
honestly this blows me away. alexa, you had such a hard year and you went through so much heartache, and yet you still managed to get all of this work done. to have the willpower to keep going back, keep rewriting, editing, listening to critique and applying your creative mind when you were going through such a hard time is amazing to me. you should be really proud of yourself.
Oh this one was actually done before my mom got sick. It'll come up a lot when I talk about The Ivies, however, as I drafted and then revised that during that period.
I usually listen to you speak while I write and draw, I love the long videos!!!
Alexa, I just want to say that I adored this book! I love seeing an insight into your revision process
As a big Persuasion fan and watching your videos about your Persuasion meets Bachelor book, I think I read it on the release date and had it finished before I went to bed that night. I ate up the so-good angst in the book - like, I out-loud squealed in a way I haven't since I was a teenager. This was a really fun insight into how much went into it and changed through the process! Do you plan to do anymore Jane Austen covers or are these two the only ones?
I have been wondering the same thing! I've read both of her (thus far) published books and while I'm excited to read her new thriller, I love how accessible and fun she has made the classics.
Honestly The dates we steal made me most excited for your new thriller. The stars we steal was good but the mystery aspect was just so interesting I wanted that to be the centerpiece not the romance. I love you as a writer and Authortuber!
Thanks Alexa! This video was encouraging. I'm realizing ever deeper, the importance of "get the story out," and edit to develop the details and meat or core of the story. 👍🏾
Amazing video! I loved all the little details told about the process. And just generally, it's very helpful to see how other authors change a lot of things in the process
I'm in the middle of this and your video gives me so much hope. Thank you! ❤️
I'm so bummed, because in Poland we don't have much of your books... I mean I can only buy Brightly burning in paperback and that's all, maybe I'll try an ebook one day, but until then I'll just watch your videos. I've been a subscriber for over two years now, I think, and although most of your advice is for beginners, I still love it and your voice and knowledge is so admirable. I wish that someday I'll have enough courage to write again!
Yes please! And thank you!!!
omg i’ve been waiting for this one, so excited to watch! 💗
Gonna dive into the book and then come back for the video :D
(I got it when it launched but I still haven't gotten to time to read it. I think I was waiting for this video, because I remember watching your similar video for your first book just after I read it.)
Thanks for sharing all the details! So inspiring 😀
Bless you for sharing so much. Thank you Alexa. Congratulations! Im so happy for you. You are the real deal my dear.
As a Swede, I can definitely say you had surprisingly accurate facts about my people. That princess cake is my childhood! And we do listen to ABBA a lot! Well done! Really enjoyed the book! I never see my culture so appreciated🤩
Hahaha that's so good to hear! I ADORE ABBA. Like... I listen to them a lot and have since I was a kid. I should move to Sweden ha. The princess cake I must confess I learned about on Great British Bake Off and it just looked SO YUMMY. And generally I snagged a few impressions off my time working for EF, which is a Swedish-owned company so all my bosses were Swedes :) (the founder was also literally friends with Anni-Frid so her portrait was in our cafeteria!)
@@AlexaDonne I'm curious to learn how much German you actually speak. Your pronunciation is great, so maybe you're fluent?
i love these types of videos soo much
Just read it in 2 days. OH EM GEE! Freaking amazing! So 1)Jane Austen 😍 2) persuasion is my FAV Jane Austin so when I bought your two books I was drawn to read this one first. Oh my word! ❤️ Loved it! Thanks so much for all the hard work, and the helpful TH-cam vids. I've been using ALL my self control NOT to watch this until I had read the book. X
I tried to stay up and finish this book, but I finally quit at 2am. Finished this morning. This was my first Alexa book and I loved it. Can't wait to read more. Thanks, Alexa! Full disclosure: I watched this video when it came out. Read the book yesterday/today(forgot what the video told me) and am watching it again now that I know THINGS. lol
Now I'm gonna have to do a reread of TSWT because I somehow forgot how much I loved it
I just started this video and I’m so excited about how long this video is!
Good to know professional writers have incredibly messy editing processes too!
So is it really okay to turn in a zero draft when it comes to our second contract/option book? I'm worried about those because we all had the time in the world to write our first book and it's a whole new game when it comes to option books because this time, time is quite limited.
Evgenia was my favorite character and I was so happy that she got a little romantic interest in the end. She deserves happiness!
Thankyou thankyou thankyou so much for this video
I like the fact you admit to basic-bitchiness aspects of the novel due to fatigue. Adds a smidge of authenticity. :)
I haven’t read this one yet because I do most stuff through audible now since I can multitask, and I don’t love the voice actress so I didn’t get it. I’m sure the book itself is great though. I’ll have to get the physical book.
OMG! I just saw your upcoming first page critique live stream. How do I join? Am I too late? How did I not see it before? I'm so sad right now. Can I join or is it a members only type of thing?
So interesting! On a side note, will The Ivies be available in the UK?
Yes! We sold world English rights to PRH so it'll release there with them, I assume same day :)
Excellent, looking forward to it. Thanks for the quick reply :)
The moment I realize I got this gem of a book for free, at a con.
😳❤💖🌺
Couldn’t you set these retelling stories in almost any genre? I mean why not a cyberpunk romance?
If anyone is looking for something to do before NaNo begins, my last goal for 2020 is to get beta readers for my YA Fantasy that just wrapped up Draft 3. If anyone is interested in helping out, please let me know!!
"......and leo because she's a masochist...."
Me: I'm sorry wait wut?
I know what a masochist is.....I was just shocked lol.
my biggest fear is letting someone critique and edit my writing :(
You mean you had to show your editor draft one? Yikes. I always have to write at least two drafts before showing anyone. 😬