I Like Joseph Campbell's take on beginnings. He says to begin in an "everyday trouble." Show the MC dealing with a minor problem which can foreshadow their type or character arc. It demonstrates the MC's surface before the deeper stuff they are made of comes out. It not a change. It is an indication they need to change.
My biggest problem is that I always doubt myself, even though I get fantastic feedback. I rewrite my story repeatedly, afraid it's not good enough or missing parts. I'm also a perfectionist and get easily stressed out by working on the same page for days-sometimes weeks. 😮💨
That’s so relatable-it’s so hard to see how fresh eyes will read your story, but it helps me to remember how little time I take to read a page and that mostly I remember the full story arcs and characters over a single paragraph. I also force myself to push through and not go page by page until the end (although I know it’s hard)! I hope I’ll find your story someday in a bookstore :)
@@abbygeigerman It sure is, and I find it challenging when I have no family members or friends interested in reading or writing. I'm eager to share my thoughts and what I learned from amazing authors on TH-cam. Tricks and tips to become better. Maybe help each other by reading and talking about the character arc, the outline, or ideas if you get stuck. When you have writer friends, it’s easier to overcome self-doubt when you encourage each other. Thank you, I hope so too🌺
Just don't do that. Write your story or "novel" and then write something else, then in a few weeks come back to it and revise. Don't doubt yourself. If you write you are a writer. Been writing for 40 years and had no success. I don't care, I just write.
My current WIP novel is 130k and I have only hit the midpoint. When I'm done, the entire novel will only be 80 to 100k words. Obviously tons will be cut, but also, entire chapters will be rewritten. ... Nothing is lost in this process. It's a process with an end goal. Sometimes you need to go down long and windy roads only to backtrack and find the better path until you get to the finish. Also, plotting more would reduce this meander, but the larger point stands. From word one to finish is not an obvious linear path.
Lovely list, congrats. The greatest rule I've learned is "Be your number one fan. If you don't love what you're writing, no one will love to read it". But yeah, adding those to my personal list. Thanks.
Great video. #2. No Work Is Lost reminds me of a quote I read somewhere. I don’t remember who said it, or the exact words, but it went like this: “A good 400 page novel probably started out as a 600 page novel. The missing 200 pages are still there, you just can’t see them.”
the subtle plug of your book on the shelf really worked on me and now i have to buy it T_T I'm an aspiring writer working on my first novel and I can't wait to see what I can learn from reading your work!!
All great advice. Taking the ego out of feedback is so incredibly hard sometimes. Because (a) you are married to the material, and (b) folks giving feedback you often view as not understanding what you are doing. Shove that stuff aside. I can't remember who said it, but criticism often doesn't hit the mark precisely, but it usually highlights a problem you need to address. I.e. What they criticize is often just the symptom of a needed improvement. You need to find the underlying cause. I founded a critique group. They have identified significant issues in my stories. They have been invaluable.
I've never done a zero draft. When I write, the first draft is basically complete. There may be small changes or additions during editing, but nothing major. I've definitely never needed to totally dump a completed book. It's like carving wood or etching metal. You only get one go.
Great video and fantastic advice! Going in, I was worried that it would be the same advice I've heard before, but you were insightful and had new ideas instead of giving a repeat of vague advice a lot of TH-camrs give. Thank you! Also, loved what you had to say about “starting with action.” I've heard this saying so many times, and I was actually writing a script about how it doesn't mean what most people think it means. I think more people need to hear this.😊
of the 50 or so craft books I have read the best one, to me, is from Larry Brooks called, Story Engineering. Larry covers everything you need to know about the mechanics of story.
I’m only just starting to take writing seriously, and with the first intention of writing for a 2D fantasy RPG I’m trying to create, but I still find this kind of advice to be so helpful. I feel like I want to start strong so I don’t need to re-write everything fifty times, but if that’s what it takes to get my vision into reality, then so be it. Great video and nice vibes 😊
Subbed. Great advice in #5. I know I’ll get the ego hit, but I’d never thought to just prepare myself to feel it, instead of trying to prepare myself NOT to feel it. 😅
If it makes you feel any better, make a new document for every time you go back in and start rewriting. I personally save each draft as their own document and it really helped me write more.
I do this! With the story I'm currently working on, every time I've edited, it's been a copy of the previous edit. I even have the editing dates on the "cover"
I'm getting ready to publish a book series and I definitely understand aboutbthe ego! Ive written over 200 novels but never published anything because of anxiety. With the book series, I have 5 characters and i feel so close to them... its as if they're my best friends. I feel so close to them! The story begins with a young man who is a bit of a pushover. He dies, meets a spiritual guide who sends him back to earth to learn how to overcome his fears. He meets four other individuals who have also died and returned, and they travel through time, being placed into difficult situations, and work as a team to find solutions and overcome their fears along the way. I've written four books in the series so far. I'd like to publish the first one. This advice you gave has been helpful. So much better than the other advice I've seen in a lot of other people's videos!
@@abbygeigerman Thanks! I enjoy writing! Yes, I would love to see a video on how to get over the anxiety. Sharing my books and characters is like sharing something personal. Then I fear no one will like my books. I'd love to know how some people get over that anxiety!
To be honest this may be too specific to warrant an entire video... but advice on how to make good decisions on what things to cut from a story that are really cool to write but not necessarily helpful for a good book or reading experience? Sorry for the word salad there I'm bad at answering questions like these 😅
You really did inspire me In at least trying to achieve my dream of writing a book .. your previous video of how you wrote a book was also very helpful .. Keep going !!
There is one thing about self publishing that has helped me. I have written a few books, and have improved with each one. The advice I would give is to publish that first book just to get it out of the way, because you can always go back and revise later.
6:03 Number 5 is possible if you don't identify with your role. "I'm a writer" is a role you're playing and identifying with while "I'm writing books" is just one of many things you're doing. Also, productive feedback is supposed to help you grow and learn as a writer, so always seek it
That’s so true-it’s funny because I think I read the converse (saying “i’m a writer”) about establishing habits, but it can get tricky when feedback comes into the picture
So my book's wordcount is getting a bit out of control, (160k, with about five or six chapters left before draft one is finished). I think I know the solution, but it breaks my heart. It's a three perspective novel, yet for the main character there are also flashback scenes from his childhood before every one of his chapters. I think the story can still work very well if I only hint at the backstory throughout the scenes in the present, and completely scrap all the flashback scenes (and then the word count might be more manageable at 120k). But my good, it's gonna be so painful, scrapping all those chapters, a lot of which I've gotten great feedback over. But it does encourage me that they weren't for nothing, they gave me (the author) a much better understanding of a lot of the characters.
I’ve definitely done the same thing-I love a good flashback, but they almost never make it into my final drafts (as much as I want them to 🫠). It’s definitely helped me to think about those scenes as still being useful. Good luck with your editing, would love to hear how it goes!
You should boost your audio a bit. Good way to know if it's a good volume, is to play a few different videos in cycle with yours, cos i noticed a big difference. ^^
_The Writer's Guide to Beginnings_ has 1 star on Kobo but NO REVIEW! I HATE when people put a low score without giving any reason, Kobo should force people to write at least a bit, like Valve does on Steam for videogames.
I Like Joseph Campbell's take on beginnings. He says to begin in an "everyday trouble." Show the MC dealing with a minor problem which can foreshadow their type or character arc. It demonstrates the MC's surface before the deeper stuff they are made of comes out. It not a change. It is an indication they need to change.
My biggest problem is that I always doubt myself, even though I get fantastic feedback. I rewrite my story repeatedly, afraid it's not good enough or missing parts. I'm also a perfectionist and get easily stressed out by working on the same page for days-sometimes weeks. 😮💨
That’s so relatable-it’s so hard to see how fresh eyes will read your story, but it helps me to remember how little time I take to read a page and that mostly I remember the full story arcs and characters over a single paragraph. I also force myself to push through and not go page by page until the end (although I know it’s hard)! I hope I’ll find your story someday in a bookstore :)
@@abbygeigerman It sure is, and I find it challenging when I have no family members or friends interested in reading or writing. I'm eager to share my thoughts and what I learned from amazing authors on TH-cam. Tricks and tips to become better. Maybe help each other by reading and talking about the character arc, the outline, or ideas if you get stuck. When you have writer friends, it’s easier to overcome self-doubt when you encourage each other.
Thank you, I hope so too🌺
"The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt". Sylvia Plath.
@@davidcopson5800 It is, and it is hard to turn a blind eye to it.
Just don't do that. Write your story or "novel" and then write something else, then in a few weeks come back to it and revise.
Don't doubt yourself. If you write you are a writer.
Been writing for 40 years and had no success. I don't care, I just write.
My current WIP novel is 130k and I have only hit the midpoint. When I'm done, the entire novel will only be 80 to 100k words. Obviously tons will be cut, but also, entire chapters will be rewritten. ... Nothing is lost in this process. It's a process with an end goal. Sometimes you need to go down long and windy roads only to backtrack and find the better path until you get to the finish.
Also, plotting more would reduce this meander, but the larger point stands. From word one to finish is not an obvious linear path.
Lovely list, congrats. The greatest rule I've learned is "Be your number one fan. If you don't love what you're writing, no one will love to read it". But yeah, adding those to my personal list. Thanks.
Love that! Adding it to my list ✍️
“No work is lost”… such great advice. 😊
I really need to emphasize how much I needed to hear “no work is lost.” Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Happy to help ❤️
I'm writing currently and I've experienced all that you've mentioned. Nice to hear it from another person! We writers have to stay tough.
So true-I feel like it’s easy to glamorize the process but it can honestly be really trying at times 😮💨
Great video. #2. No Work Is Lost reminds me of a quote I read somewhere. I don’t remember who said it, or the exact words, but it went like this: “A good 400 page novel probably started out as a 600 page novel. The missing 200 pages are still there, you just can’t see them.”
That is such a good quote-it couldn’t be more true, definitely going to remember that 🧐
the subtle plug of your book on the shelf really worked on me and now i have to buy it T_T I'm an aspiring writer working on my first novel and I can't wait to see what I can learn from reading your work!!
😆 I hope you enjoy it!!
All great advice. Taking the ego out of feedback is so incredibly hard sometimes. Because (a) you are married to the material, and (b) folks giving feedback you often view as not understanding what you are doing.
Shove that stuff aside. I can't remember who said it, but criticism often doesn't hit the mark precisely, but it usually highlights a problem you need to address. I.e. What they criticize is often just the symptom of a needed improvement. You need to find the underlying cause.
I founded a critique group. They have identified significant issues in my stories. They have been invaluable.
I love that idea-it’s so true, and if you think about it as a symptom that probably makes it easier to be a bit more objective about it
my first drafts are structurally solid because I plot and do a lot of preparation beforehand. I don't need a zero draft but I can see why others do.
I've never done a zero draft. When I write, the first draft is basically complete. There may be small changes or additions during editing, but nothing major. I've definitely never needed to totally dump a completed book. It's like carving wood or etching metal. You only get one go.
Great video and fantastic advice! Going in, I was worried that it would be the same advice I've heard before, but you were insightful and had new ideas instead of giving a repeat of vague advice a lot of TH-camrs give. Thank you!
Also, loved what you had to say about “starting with action.” I've heard this saying so many times, and I was actually writing a script about how it doesn't mean what most people think it means. I think more people need to hear this.😊
I’m so glad it was helpful! Would love to read your script about beginning with action when it comes out-please lmk when it does!
@@abbygeigerman absolutely!
of the 50 or so craft books I have read the best one, to me, is from Larry Brooks called, Story Engineering. Larry covers everything you need to know about the mechanics of story.
I haven’t read that one yet-added to my list!
I’m only just starting to take writing seriously, and with the first intention of writing for a 2D fantasy RPG I’m trying to create, but I still find this kind of advice to be so helpful. I feel like I want to start strong so I don’t need to re-write everything fifty times, but if that’s what it takes to get my vision into reality, then so be it. Great video and nice vibes 😊
Congrats, and hope it’s going well!! Would love to get updates on how it’s going 😊
@@abbygeigerman - Thanks! Still in the learning phase but will update!
Subbed. Great advice in #5. I know I’ll get the ego hit, but I’d never thought to just prepare myself to feel it, instead of trying to prepare myself NOT to feel it. 😅
You are underrated! These tips were so helpful! I’m so glad TH-cam recommended me this!
Aw thank you!!! 🙏
@@abbygeigerman of course!
If it makes you feel any better, make a new document for every time you go back in and start rewriting. I personally save each draft as their own document and it really helped me write more.
That’s a great idea-I’m going to start doing that from now on!
I do this! With the story I'm currently working on, every time I've edited, it's been a copy of the previous edit. I even have the editing dates on the "cover"
I'm getting ready to publish a book series and I definitely understand aboutbthe ego! Ive written over 200 novels but never published anything because of anxiety.
With the book series, I have 5 characters and i feel so close to them... its as if they're my best friends.
I feel so close to them!
The story begins with a young man who is a bit of a pushover. He dies, meets a spiritual guide who sends him back to earth to learn how to overcome his fears.
He meets four other individuals who have also died and returned, and they travel through time, being placed into difficult situations, and work as a team to find solutions and overcome their fears along the way.
I've written four books in the series so far. I'd like to publish the first one. This advice you gave has been helpful. So much better than the other advice I've seen in a lot of other people's videos!
Congrats, and good luck on the publishing journey!! Are there any videos/topics you would want to see about that?
@@abbygeigerman Thanks! I enjoy writing! Yes, I would love to see a video on how to get over the anxiety. Sharing my books and characters is like sharing something personal. Then I fear no one will like my books. I'd love to know how some people get over that anxiety!
very happy to have discovered your channel! Great video!
A criminally underrated video
thank you, this made my day 🥹
This was so helpful. Thank you so much for putting it out here !
Of course! Glad you enjoyed it 😊
Thank you so much. Very informative and helpful.
You have a wonderful and very approachable presence in your video! This really helped me. Thank you so much for putting this out!
Aw thank you, I’m so glad it helped! Do you have any other questions/videos you would want made?
To be honest this may be too specific to warrant an entire video... but advice on how to make good decisions on what things to cut from a story that are really cool to write but not necessarily helpful for a good book or reading experience? Sorry for the word salad there I'm bad at answering questions like these 😅
Keep it fun!
You really did inspire me In at least trying to achieve my dream of writing a book .. your previous video of how you wrote a book was also very helpful .. Keep going !!
Aw thank you I’m so glad to hear that-would love to hear updates on your writing journey!!!
There is one thing about self publishing that has helped me. I have written a few books, and have improved with each one. The advice I would give is to publish that first book just to get it out of the way, because you can always go back and revise later.
That’s a great point with self publishing-I definitely want to discuss more of that process because I have also found it incredibly rewarding!
great video and tips 💕 i hope you make a whole video next time about the zero draft and your method or style 💖
Definitely!! I’ll get started on that one soon :)
6:03 Number 5 is possible if you don't identify with your role. "I'm a writer" is a role you're playing and identifying with while "I'm writing books" is just one of many things you're doing. Also, productive feedback is supposed to help you grow and learn as a writer, so always seek it
That’s so true-it’s funny because I think I read the converse (saying “i’m a writer”) about establishing habits, but it can get tricky when feedback comes into the picture
That was a really good video - Thanks!
thank you for watching! 🫶
I want to see your collages in focus and up close.
great video, and i love that book cover! - subbed!
Aw thank you! I’m working on a video of how I made the cover now ❤️
Great Video!
Amazing advice, thank you so much for taking the time to make this video!!
Glad it was helpful! Would love to hear if there’s anything else you want a video about!
So my book's wordcount is getting a bit out of control, (160k, with about five or six chapters left before draft one is finished). I think I know the solution, but it breaks my heart.
It's a three perspective novel, yet for the main character there are also flashback scenes from his childhood before every one of his chapters. I think the story can still work very well if I only hint at the backstory throughout the scenes in the present, and completely scrap all the flashback scenes (and then the word count might be more manageable at 120k).
But my good, it's gonna be so painful, scrapping all those chapters, a lot of which I've gotten great feedback over.
But it does encourage me that they weren't for nothing, they gave me (the author) a much better understanding of a lot of the characters.
I’ve definitely done the same thing-I love a good flashback, but they almost never make it into my final drafts (as much as I want them to 🫠). It’s definitely helped me to think about those scenes as still being useful. Good luck with your editing, would love to hear how it goes!
You should boost your audio a bit. Good way to know if it's a good volume, is to play a few different videos in cycle with yours, cos i noticed a big difference. ^^
Good to know, thank you!! Will do that in the future 🙏😊
Great video! This was super helpful! ❤
Chatgpt write books also
love this! You have some great advice here!
Great video :)
you have such a cute smile
_The Writer's Guide to Beginnings_ has 1 star on Kobo but NO REVIEW! I HATE when people put a low score without giving any reason, Kobo should force people to write at least a bit, like Valve does on Steam for videogames.
That’s so frustrating!!
My favorite piece of advice is to not write to impress other writers.
That’s fantastic advice-I have definitely stressed myself out before by falling into that trap