I am currently writing my 3rd book, ( I write in Portuguese), and it's impressive how many mistakes I still make but also fascinating how I feel myself improving with every word, sentence, chapter. You just get better at identifying what works and what doesn't. Sooner or later, be it on the 5th book or the 10th, one thing it's for sure, I will be a much better writer than the guy who wrote the first book.
It's easy to start, but challenging to finish. You should 100% be proud, I'm so happy to hear you feel that way. Congratulations. Finishing is a big accomplishment! Sometimes you just have to get that story OUT.
My heart goes out to you and I totally know what you're experiencing. I've written two unpublishable novels. The first one took nearly two years and though there are aspects of it I like, it just won't fly. The second took only four months and though my writing was better, the plot was confused and the book didn't seem to know who its audience was. But I feel okay about this because I know my third book, once it's off the ground, stands a good chance of succeeding where the others failed. I know I'm getting better, I'm able to finish things and I'm writing faster too. I'm in no position to give advice but if I was I'd say keep going, you're on the right track.
Appreciate it! I think it's mostly par for the course for the first couple attempts at a novel to not work. Those that push through that period tend to go pro, which is my goal!
So, I have not seen any of your videos before, but today I opened my phone and turned on TH-cam and this video popped. It must have been fate because like yourself I too have wrote a book about a year ago and have debated on changing it from a middle grade to a young adult novel. So this was kick the pants to move my butt. Thank you very much...
This is what it’s about. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. If nothing else, this channel has always been about sharing my own experiences, and hoping that they impact others positively. Thanks for watching!
IM PROUD OF YOU! i've never written a novel. i've always been a visual artist (watercolor, portraits, character design) and now more than ever i've picked up the writing/story aspect. and the beautiful thing about any story is that-even if it's small. it is simply art. and any good art on earth is a blessing in itself.
“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” Not to say that you should put no effort into a book just to say you’ve written a book, but the point is to do the thing instead of psyching yourself out because it isn’t perfect. (This is advice I really need to take and apply in my own pursuits.)
Question... Was your first novel critiqued/beta read and edited? Or a final draft that you decided just wasn't worth it? New subscriber, look forward to following you on your journey!
Liked the video :D Though it would’ve been cool had you delved a little deeper into why the story wasn’t salvageable, and why it couldn’t be edited into something publishable. Whether the reasoning was narrative or character based, coming from a fellow beginner writer, it would’ve been nice to have seen more of that thought process, rather than just the end thoughts. Still subscribing though, good luck on your journey!
Thanks so much! For me, it’s less about what specifically is wrong, more about the fact that I’m not fully sure what is wrong, but I know I’m not proud of it yet. And so I think it’s a project I’ll return to when I’ve finished other projects and had time to discover what about the story I love, and what about it can be re-worked. I recognize that’s probably not very helpful, and that’s mostly why I decided to not talk in specifics about the project-because there wasn’t much constructive I could offer with it. :) thanks for watching!
@@JoshReadsBooks12 That’s happened to me too and now almost a year later I do know how to fix it and make it better and I’m glad I can still query it once I have an improved version.
I'm 10% of the way through my first novel. It's hard and frustrating and i know it's probably gonna be awful by the end, but the constant improvement is always fun for me. P S You're cool! Have a sub
Appreciate it so much! Keep working! Since posting this video i've started revisiting the manuscript and have started to get some ideas for how to improve it. Keep at it!
I’m writing my first novel after a 5 year hiatus, and so far, it’s SO FRUSTRATING but SO REWARDING. I love writing and want to make it a career, so I’m constantly reminding myself that if this book sucks, I’ll take my lesson and go write a better one, and then I’ll rinse and repeat until I can finally publish a great book. My main goal with this book is to just finish writing it. Whatever comes next, I don’t care about right now.
I love this video and its themes. Have you progressed with your writing? If so, will you include any updates in the future? My journey is in writing shorter form stories, and the point you made in many ways is that the more you write, the better you get as the basics become 2nd nature and your mind has more space and energy to devote to the creative side. I recently watched your Abercrombie rankings video and you noted his 1st book was ok, then he found his legs. Imagine how he was before finally publishing? Right there is proof that the greats were neophytes as well and just put in the time and had the confidence to push through.
I love the honesty, but I am a bit fearful that there is still a definite goal of becoming a professional writer, since there is always the chance that that is simply not in the cards not matter how many stinking books you write. Basically I feel the greatest satisfaction should come simply by having managed to write that first novel, and then again for every one that follows, it's quite a colossal progress I have come to realise (a first complete novel is still far away for me hahaha).
Maybe it’s the optimist in me, but I can’t allow myself to think it will never happen no matter what. I can only control what I can control-one of those things is my productivity, and the quality of my writing.
Typically, for me, I do a pass looking at overall story structure. Then another editing pass looking at character and setting. Then a final polish pass before beta readers. Then it goes to a pro editor.
I just published my first novel, RAT BASTARD JACK (available on Amazon), which is actually my third novel written. The very first has a great story, but my execution was not great LOL. It was melodramatic, too in-depth in description, and poorly formatted. It was, however, FANTASTICALLY educational, and a great deal of fun! I am proud of the merit on the attempt, but it needs a lot of work to be better lol.
@@JoshReadsBooks12 Thanks! I learned that, most of the time, less is more. If you're going to be verbose and/or purple in your prose, it's best to keep it in the dialogue. I also learned that dialogue HAS to sound real to the situation. If you have doubts, try speaking it out loud. If it doesn't work out here, then it probably won't work on the page. Only use the word "of" when absolutely necessary- it's good to exercise your gray macaroni! Don't be afraid to ask for honest opinions or see things from others' points of view. We can't write "3-D" stories if we remain one 1 or 2 dimensional. And the biggest lesson(s) learned- write to entertain yourself first, and never be afraid of failure. You will get doors slammed in your face, that's just part of life, but you can always go home and write a good story to take you away for a little while!
@@aaronjanusch6090 This. The goal for me in my writing is to create a story that I enjoy reading. If I can’t do that, it gets shelved or re-worked until it accomplishes that goal.
@@JoshReadsBooks12 I do a similar thing. However, I am apt to pull characters from one story to another if they happen to meet the story's needs best lol. I rarely discard anything in a permanent way. some important characters in RBJ came from my 2nd novel, but they just weren't cutting it there, but they were just what RBJ needed lol. Writing is kinda wonderful like that!
Honestly my 44k+ book soucked, but i made the plot into something loveable and im working on it again. I'd probably never publish it? Because people probably won't like it yadayada but i do want to make it into a story that i would love dearly and that's all that keeps me going
It’s only printed. I’m submitting it to magazines/collections for publication at the moment. I’d love to make a video about something being officially “published.” But, not yet.
@@JoshReadsBooks12 Thanks J.C. Where and how did you get it printed? I'm curious because I'd like to print a few of my things and I like the look of how yours was done.
I'm currently writing my first book. Or at least trying to. It's a romance set in late 19th century NY. I just don't know if writing it is worth my time. The idea is great and as far as I know, there isn't any books on it. I'm only newly 18 so old-time romance shouldn't be my first thought but It just makes sense to myself (its lgbtq romance). My only fear is that once I'm ready to publish, the idea will already be adapted to another writer's perspective. Do I keep going or abandon the idea?.
Think of it this way: You bring a unique voice that is only yours. Nobody else can write in your voice, therefore, your perspective and story are inherently unique.
Josh. Im a young writer and have spent the last two years working on my first book, and know somthing of what your going through... id love to chat, see how you feel about your work.
Much of the experience of writing it is deeply personal, and the lessons learned will unravel over time, as I begin other projects and draw on previous experiences. I only have instinct, and reading the whole of the story, I know it’s not up to a standard I have for myself. So, for now, the lesson learned is perseverance, and the result will work itself out.
I am currently writing my 3rd book, ( I write in Portuguese), and it's impressive how many mistakes I still make but also fascinating how I feel myself improving with every word, sentence, chapter. You just get better at identifying what works and what doesn't. Sooner or later, be it on the 5th book or the 10th, one thing it's for sure, I will be a much better writer than the guy who wrote the first book.
100%. That’s the same mindset I have. Time + Consistency will = great writing in the end.
It's easy to start, but challenging to finish. You should 100% be proud, I'm so happy to hear you feel that way. Congratulations. Finishing is a big accomplishment! Sometimes you just have to get that story OUT.
100%. You’ve just got to get the thing WRITTEN, and then come back to it later and see what you can do with it.
I just came across your channel and it's good to see your videos. Keep these up man.
Thanks, will do!
My heart goes out to you and I totally know what you're experiencing.
I've written two unpublishable novels. The first one took nearly two years and though there are aspects of it I like, it just won't fly.
The second took only four months and though my writing was better, the plot was confused and the book didn't seem to know who its audience was.
But I feel okay about this because I know my third book, once it's off the ground, stands a good chance of succeeding where the others failed.
I know I'm getting better, I'm able to finish things and I'm writing faster too. I'm in no position to give advice but if I was I'd say keep going, you're on the right track.
Appreciate it! I think it's mostly par for the course for the first couple attempts at a novel to not work. Those that push through that period tend to go pro, which is my goal!
So, I have not seen any of your videos before, but today I opened my phone and turned on TH-cam and this video popped. It must have been fate because like yourself I too have wrote a book about a year ago and have debated on changing it from a middle grade to a young adult novel. So this was kick the pants to move my butt. Thank you very much...
This is what it’s about. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. If nothing else, this channel has always been about sharing my own experiences, and hoping that they impact others positively. Thanks for watching!
IM PROUD OF YOU! i've never written a novel. i've always been a visual artist (watercolor, portraits, character design) and now more than ever i've picked up the writing/story aspect. and the beautiful thing about any story is that-even if it's small. it is simply art. and any good art on earth is a blessing in itself.
Thanks so much!!
Hey you finished. Something i cannot claim. I tip my hat. You should be proud. I bet you learned a whole lot.
finishing a project is huge!! congrats on the win!!
Thanks so much!
“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” Not to say that you should put no effort into a book just to say you’ve written a book, but the point is to do the thing instead of psyching yourself out because it isn’t perfect. (This is advice I really need to take and apply in my own pursuits.)
Question... Was your first novel critiqued/beta read and edited? Or a final draft that you decided just wasn't worth it?
New subscriber, look forward to following you on your journey!
Liked the video :D Though it would’ve been cool had you delved a little deeper into why the story wasn’t salvageable, and why it couldn’t be edited into something publishable. Whether the reasoning was narrative or character based, coming from a fellow beginner writer, it would’ve been nice to have seen more of that thought process, rather than just the end thoughts. Still subscribing though, good luck on your journey!
Thanks so much! For me, it’s less about what specifically is wrong, more about the fact that I’m not fully sure what is wrong, but I know I’m not proud of it yet. And so I think it’s a project I’ll return to when I’ve finished other projects and had time to discover what about the story I love, and what about it can be re-worked. I recognize that’s probably not very helpful, and that’s mostly why I decided to not talk in specifics about the project-because there wasn’t much constructive I could offer with it. :) thanks for watching!
@@JoshReadsBooks12 That’s happened to me too and now almost a year later I do know how to fix it and make it better and I’m glad I can still query it once I have an improved version.
I'm 10% of the way through my first novel. It's hard and frustrating and i know it's probably gonna be awful by the end, but the constant improvement is always fun for me.
P S You're cool! Have a sub
Appreciate it so much! Keep working! Since posting this video i've started revisiting the manuscript and have started to get some ideas for how to improve it. Keep at it!
I’m writing my first novel after a 5 year hiatus, and so far, it’s SO FRUSTRATING but SO REWARDING. I love writing and want to make it a career, so I’m constantly reminding myself that if this book sucks, I’ll take my lesson and go write a better one, and then I’ll rinse and repeat until I can finally publish a great book. My main goal with this book is to just finish writing it. Whatever comes next, I don’t care about right now.
I love this video and its themes. Have you progressed with your writing? If so, will you include any updates in the future?
My journey is in writing shorter form stories, and the point you made in many ways is that the more you write, the better you get as the basics become 2nd nature and your mind has more space and energy to devote to the creative side. I recently watched your Abercrombie rankings video and you noted his 1st book was ok, then he found his legs. Imagine how he was before finally publishing? Right there is proof that the greats were neophytes as well and just put in the time and had the confidence to push through.
I love the honesty, but I am a bit fearful that there is still a definite goal of becoming a professional writer, since there is always the chance that that is simply not in the cards not matter how many stinking books you write. Basically I feel the greatest satisfaction should come simply by having managed to write that first novel, and then again for every one that follows, it's quite a colossal progress I have come to realise (a first complete novel is still far away for me hahaha).
Maybe it’s the optimist in me, but I can’t allow myself to think it will never happen no matter what. I can only control what I can control-one of those things is my productivity, and the quality of my writing.
I’m trying to finish my first novel
Love this!
Well I am working on one too but I don't know about how to edit your drafts can you give some tips about how you can edit your drafts??
Typically, for me, I do a pass looking at overall story structure. Then another editing pass looking at character and setting. Then a final polish pass before beta readers. Then it goes to a pro editor.
@@JoshReadsBooks12 Thanks for the tip🙂
I just published my first novel, RAT BASTARD JACK (available on Amazon), which is actually my third novel written. The very first has a great story, but my execution was not great LOL. It was melodramatic, too in-depth in description, and poorly formatted. It was, however, FANTASTICALLY educational, and a great deal of fun! I am proud of the merit on the attempt, but it needs a lot of work to be better lol.
Love it! What have you found that you've improved on as a writer with each completed novel?
@@JoshReadsBooks12 Thanks! I learned that, most of the time, less is more. If you're going to be verbose and/or purple in your prose, it's best to keep it in the dialogue. I also learned that dialogue HAS to sound real to the situation. If you have doubts, try speaking it out loud. If it doesn't work out here, then it probably won't work on the page. Only use the word "of" when absolutely necessary- it's good to exercise your gray macaroni! Don't be afraid to ask for honest opinions or see things from others' points of view. We can't write "3-D" stories if we remain one 1 or 2 dimensional. And the biggest lesson(s) learned- write to entertain yourself first, and never be afraid of failure. You will get doors slammed in your face, that's just part of life, but you can always go home and write a good story to take you away for a little while!
@@aaronjanusch6090 This. The goal for me in my writing is to create a story that I enjoy reading. If I can’t do that, it gets shelved or re-worked until it accomplishes that goal.
@@JoshReadsBooks12 I do a similar thing. However, I am apt to pull characters from one story to another if they happen to meet the story's needs best lol. I rarely discard anything in a permanent way. some important characters in RBJ came from my 2nd novel, but they just weren't cutting it there, but they were just what RBJ needed lol. Writing is kinda wonderful like that!
@@aaronjanusch6090 Isn't it though! It's a wonderful pastime and profession--albeit a rigorous one.
Honestly my 44k+ book soucked, but i made the plot into something loveable and im working on it again. I'd probably never publish it? Because people probably won't like it yadayada but i do want to make it into a story that i would love dearly and that's all that keeps me going
There you go! Keep at it!
Just curious, where/how did you get A Wind Blows in the Old Tower printed/published? Can we find it somewhere? Thanks.
It’s only printed. I’m submitting it to magazines/collections for publication at the moment. I’d love to make a video about something being officially “published.” But, not yet.
@@JoshReadsBooks12 Thanks J.C. Where and how did you get it printed? I'm curious because I'd like to print a few of my things and I like the look of how yours was done.
@@filmforge2499 Thanks! I used BookNinja I believe, and designed the cover myself.
@@JoshReadsBooks12 Awesome. Thank you!
I'm currently writing my first book. Or at least trying to. It's a romance set in late 19th century NY. I just don't know if writing it is worth my time. The idea is great and as far as I know, there isn't any books on it. I'm only newly 18 so old-time romance shouldn't be my first thought but It just makes sense to myself (its lgbtq romance). My only fear is that once I'm ready to publish, the idea will already be adapted to another writer's perspective. Do I keep going or abandon the idea?.
Think of it this way: You bring a unique voice that is only yours. Nobody else can write in your voice, therefore, your perspective and story are inherently unique.
I spend 10 years on my first novel. Legends of Aeolyne. I have been writing in my fantasy for 21 years. I am a fantasy lifer
I love this! I think i'm probably going to be there with you.
Josh. Im a young writer and have spent the last two years working on my first book, and know somthing of what your going through... id love to chat, see how you feel about your work.
Would love to!
@@JoshReadsBooks12 @JHAndersonAutho
But WHY does it suck? WHY is it unpublishable? What did you learn from the experience of writing it?
Much of the experience of writing it is deeply personal, and the lessons learned will unravel over time, as I begin other projects and draw on previous experiences.
I only have instinct, and reading the whole of the story, I know it’s not up to a standard I have for myself. So, for now, the lesson learned is perseverance, and the result will work itself out.
I was waiting to hear some insight into what was actually wrong with that novel.
That would give it all away…😉
You gonna send me a copy of that short?
You can bet on it-once it’s published!
You need an Eric Edson workshop?
I’m not familiar
You should publish it and see what feedback you get. You never know
Certainly at some point, it will have it’s day. Although it’s not what I want my first impression as an author to be. Eventually though…
It's a thought exercise
Ok, man... you asked for it. The Hacker and the Hillbilly.
Satire!
I have to ask.... is the JC for jesus christ 😂😂
HA, no😂 but I get called Jesus OFTEN.
🙈 𝐩𝓻Ỗ𝓂Ø𝓈Ｍ
Love this!
Thank you!