As always, Malcolm, brilliant. Only you could turn the Karma Sutra into a Dickens short story. You make writing plot points sound so easy and accessible to all writers. Excellent advice, well delivered. Thank you.
Not to be that guy but just as an educational point it's 'kama', meaning pleasure, not 'karma' as in consequence. The 'r' tends to be accentuated in Indian languages.
There's a line in Cloud Atlas where Robert Frobisher is reading the pacific journal of Adam Ewing, which has missing pages, and asks his lover in London help him find a complete edition. He says, "it's completely killing me... An unfinished book is, after all, an unfinished love affair."
Hey, thanks, maybe I will. Jack London once famously said, 'You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club'. I might do something on that.
Yeah the suffering is a bit relentless here, but really it compresses into a short video the stuff that happens to the average character in a Dickens or Thomas Hardy novel.
You make things seem SO EASY!! I struggle (a lot) to write stories that follow a "traditional" storyline. Yet, I'm always confused by why my mind thinks almost in the opposite way of traditional authors. For example: I wrote the beginning of my novel focusing on the hero first, using three different POVs (because 3rd person limited and omniscient failed, and 1st person felt weird). That didn't work, so I tore it apart and started with a flashback. That didn't seem quite right either. So I went through a few more scenarios until one day, I woke up (at 4am) and said, "The villain goes first." Now... I've read a MILLION craft books that denounce this, so why does it seem "right" to me? I'm an introvert (and usually only a rebel in my mind), so this has bothered me to no end. But again... it just feels right, you know? I'd love for you to do a video showing a writer "writing from the wrong side of the tracks" (so to speak) and how they can still be successful despite coloring outside the lines. Malcolm, I adore your videos; ty for all of your help!! They have truly helped me more than you can know. You're about the only author I would even think to ask this question to because to me, the way you write is the perfect balance between writing what most people are familiar without compromising your style of coloring outside the lines (something I'm trying to accomplish)! Again, ty for all you do!! You are appreciated!😊
Thank you very much. When you say ' "writing from the wrong side of the tracks", what exactly do you mean? Can you give some examples? I'm very open to suggestions for new videos.
Lol, oh I just meant possible ideas (not necessarily specific to your writing, although I get the same type of visceral feeling from your writing) like: (1) starting a first chapter with the villain's story; (2) mixing genres that seemingly don't go together (such as horror and comedy), (3) showing the reality of life within a certain historical period vs what has been "made up," etc. Basically things that readers may not be expecting or like because it may go against traditional norms but what they may need (like a spoonful of sugar for disgusting medicine) and actually find they not only like it but will embrace it as well. A person normally doesn't want to take medicine, but they usually understand that they may need to take it to feel better. And when this type of energy is placed inside a novel, I think it is the essence of "writing outside the lines." I hope I explained that ok. I tried. Lol.
@@AngelaKHarrell A great topic for discussion, and please allow me to reflect, because I can feel like you do: thinking 'the opposite way' and being the 'rebel writer'. It's even more for myself than for you or anyone else, maybe. (1) There IS room for innovation in writing. The first thing I think of is 'new genres'. As for example Don Quichot: it's mixing chivalry with comedy, and that was new. (2) Storytelling has certain 'rules' that are based on human psychology. As Malcolm point out in the video here (just as an example) we first must learn to like the character before we can become interested in their fate. (3) What you seem to be after (and I love that!) is to surprise your reader (and maybe also yourself). When for instance you start with telling about the villain, the reader may be tempted to get to like the character, only later to discover that it's the villain, and there is another character that (s)he should really care about (the protagonist). Now, surprise is essential to good writing. The question will just be: does the surprise gets accepted by the reader, or will they feel betrayed? Because that is I think the risk of surprise that is too 'surprising'. (4) I think it is a good thing to first learn to write "in genre" - following 'the rules' - and only then intentionally derail in another story. Even simple rules like 'show, don't tell' can be 'unfollowed', but it better be that the author knows how to make 'telling' interesting enough when they plan a lot of 'telling, not showing'. (5) In conclusion: innovation for innovation's sake may be fun, but it is not good advice. My advice to myself and other authors (like you) who love to break the rules: learn to apply them first, and only then start deviating from them for surprise and reader's pleasure.
Excellent video. When writing, people need to remember that all things are connected. Good, evil, love, hate, anger, peace, war. A balanced experience of all these things molds an individual into a near perfect individual. I look back on my life experiences and I’ve been through so many different experiences that I now use these experiences to create characters that are considered interesting to others.
Thoughtful articulated content, loving it. Question, have you read Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry? It's my favorite of all the books I've ever read. Imo one of the most brilliant novels that seems just about perfect in every way as well as some of the most brilliant characterization I've ever read. It's also very funny throughout. I'd love to know how to pull off conversational humor between characters that feels completely natural. I watched an interview with Mr McMurtry who said he learned how characters talk to each other from Faulkner, who as I remember, did not infuse his novels with much humor at all If memory serves lol. If it ever sparks your interest, I'd love to see some content on that particular book. I've never read anything like it to this day. Again love the content and thank you.
I have such trouble with this litany of disaster approach. I also don't understand the playing hard to get game. I prefer my conflict to be structural rather than accidental or contrived.
Your content is brilliant and free. But, please, don't be offended, the part where you are an AI reproduction (image and voice) is probably a good deal for you time at all, but it's a little uncomfortable for me and probably for other people. I still prefere see humans speaking with me. Thank you for your lessons. Thank you for sharing your rich knowledge with us. Cheers from Brazil.
I wrote the best peice of lirature i have ever read and then became religious and realised how unnecessary it was and how silly the writing world is. Get a life people. Get religion. No need for blue person to show you the way. Join islam. Allah is the greatest
Allah is beautiful and loves beauty, brother. Writing literature is not forbidden in our religion. The prophet pbuh said "Verily, the religion is easy and no one burdens himself in religion but that it overwhelms him. Follow the right course, seek closeness to Allah, give glad tidings, and seek help for worship in the morning and evening and a part of the night.”
@@mohammedfaqih499most people waste time on far more frivolous things. But you have an admirable protestant work ethic. Maybe one day you'll join the true religion.
As always, Malcolm, brilliant. Only you could turn the Karma Sutra into a Dickens short story. You make writing plot points sound so easy and accessible to all writers. Excellent advice, well delivered. Thank you.
Hey thanks very much, that is very kind of you!
Not to be that guy but just as an educational point it's 'kama', meaning pleasure, not 'karma' as in consequence. The 'r' tends to be accentuated in Indian languages.
There's a line in Cloud Atlas where Robert Frobisher is reading the pacific journal of Adam Ewing, which has missing pages, and asks his lover in London help him find a complete edition. He says, "it's completely killing me... An unfinished book is, after all, an unfinished love affair."
I like that!!!
Please make another video. I miss you and your advice packed stories.
Thanks, I'm working on it but I have been distracted recently working on a self-published novel. The amount of work involved is nuts.
@@TheOxfordWriter Yes it is. I'm working on a novel well. I would love to know when you finish and how I could purchase a copy.
Brilliant vid 👍 thank you
I see the throughline in this. *Liked.
Fabulous story👏
My dearest and most kindest sir, please make a video on developing a whole idea for a novel when you have no inspiration.
Hey, thanks, maybe I will. Jack London once famously said, 'You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club'. I might do something on that.
@@TheOxfordWriter I put my trust in you, sorry for the late reply.
@@TheOxfordWriter and I just wanted to say that your videos are great, they are full of wisdom. You are a great person I look up to, Sir.
You are so creative! I love your video! Not so sure if I like so much suffering, but the ending does pay off. Cheers!
Yeah the suffering is a bit relentless here, but really it compresses into a short video the stuff that happens to the average character in a Dickens or Thomas Hardy novel.
just found you and I love your vids
You make things seem SO EASY!! I struggle (a lot) to write stories that follow a "traditional" storyline. Yet, I'm always confused by why my mind thinks almost in the opposite way of traditional authors. For example: I wrote the beginning of my novel focusing on the hero first, using three different POVs (because 3rd person limited and omniscient failed, and 1st person felt weird). That didn't work, so I tore it apart and started with a flashback. That didn't seem quite right either. So I went through a few more scenarios until one day, I woke up (at 4am) and said, "The villain goes first."
Now... I've read a MILLION craft books that denounce this, so why does it seem "right" to me? I'm an introvert (and usually only a rebel in my mind), so this has bothered me to no end. But again... it just feels right, you know?
I'd love for you to do a video showing a writer "writing from the wrong side of the tracks" (so to speak) and how they can still be successful despite coloring outside the lines.
Malcolm, I adore your videos; ty for all of your help!! They have truly helped me more than you can know. You're about the only author I would even think to ask this question to because to me, the way you write is the perfect balance between writing what most people are familiar without compromising your style of coloring outside the lines (something I'm trying to accomplish)! Again, ty for all you do!! You are appreciated!😊
Thank you very much. When you say ' "writing from the wrong side of the tracks", what exactly do you mean? Can you give some examples? I'm very open to suggestions for new videos.
Lol, oh I just meant possible ideas (not necessarily specific to your writing, although I get the same type of visceral feeling from your writing) like:
(1) starting a first chapter with the villain's story;
(2) mixing genres that seemingly don't go together (such as horror and comedy),
(3) showing the reality of life within a certain historical period vs what has been "made up," etc.
Basically things that readers may not be expecting or like because it may go against traditional norms but what they may need (like a spoonful of sugar for disgusting medicine) and actually find they not only like it but will embrace it as well. A person normally doesn't want to take medicine, but they usually understand that they may need to take it to feel better. And when this type of energy is placed inside a novel, I think it is the essence of "writing outside the lines." I hope I explained that ok. I tried. Lol.
@@AngelaKHarrell A great topic for discussion, and please allow me to reflect, because I can feel like you do: thinking 'the opposite way' and being the 'rebel writer'. It's even more for myself than for you or anyone else, maybe.
(1) There IS room for innovation in writing. The first thing I think of is 'new genres'. As for example Don Quichot: it's mixing chivalry with comedy, and that was new.
(2) Storytelling has certain 'rules' that are based on human psychology. As Malcolm point out in the video here (just as an example) we first must learn to like the character before we can become interested in their fate.
(3) What you seem to be after (and I love that!) is to surprise your reader (and maybe also yourself). When for instance you start with telling about the villain, the reader may be tempted to get to like the character, only later to discover that it's the villain, and there is another character that (s)he should really care about (the protagonist). Now, surprise is essential to good writing. The question will just be: does the surprise gets accepted by the reader, or will they feel betrayed? Because that is I think the risk of surprise that is too 'surprising'.
(4) I think it is a good thing to first learn to write "in genre" - following 'the rules' - and only then intentionally derail in another story. Even simple rules like 'show, don't tell' can be 'unfollowed', but it better be that the author knows how to make 'telling' interesting enough when they plan a lot of 'telling, not showing'.
(5) In conclusion: innovation for innovation's sake may be fun, but it is not good advice. My advice to myself and other authors (like you) who love to break the rules: learn to apply them first, and only then start deviating from them for surprise and reader's pleasure.
Excellent video.
When writing, people need to remember that all things are connected. Good, evil, love, hate, anger, peace, war. A balanced experience of all these things molds an individual into a near perfect individual.
I look back on my life experiences and I’ve been through so many different experiences that I now use these experiences to create characters that are considered interesting to others.
Thanks! Sorry this comment got held for review, no idea why.
@@TheOxfordWriter no problem. TH-cam can be weird sometimes
Thoughtful articulated content, loving it. Question, have you read Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry? It's my favorite of all the books I've ever read. Imo one of the most brilliant novels that seems just about perfect in every way as well as some of the most brilliant characterization I've ever read. It's also very funny throughout. I'd love to know how to pull off conversational humor between characters that feels completely natural. I watched an interview with Mr McMurtry who said he learned how characters talk to each other from Faulkner, who as I remember, did not infuse his novels with much humor at all If memory serves lol. If it ever sparks your interest, I'd love to see some content on that particular book. I've never read anything like it to this day. Again love the content and thank you.
Thanks for the kind words, I'm not familiar with the book you mention, but I will check it out.
👍🏾✨✨
Thank You, @TheOxfordWriter 📝
I have such trouble with this litany of disaster approach. I also don't understand the playing hard to get game. I prefer my conflict to be structural rather than accidental or contrived.
What an intriguing story, except that Bathsheba at 10:03 looks more like a child bride.
Your content is brilliant and free. But, please, don't be offended, the part where you are an AI reproduction (image and voice) is probably a good deal for you time at all, but it's a little uncomfortable for me and probably for other people.
I still prefere see humans speaking with me.
Thank you for your lessons. Thank you for sharing your rich knowledge with us.
Cheers from Brazil.
I wrote the best peice of lirature i have ever read and then became religious and realised how unnecessary it was and how silly the writing world is. Get a life people. Get religion. No need for blue person to show you the way. Join islam. Allah is the greatest
Allah is beautiful and loves beauty, brother. Writing literature is not forbidden in our religion. The prophet pbuh said "Verily, the religion is easy and no one burdens himself in religion but that it overwhelms him. Follow the right course, seek closeness to Allah, give glad tidings, and seek help for worship in the morning and evening and a part of the night.”
@@bratbonanza9023 I did not say it is haram. I am convinced that writing immortalizes us in ways that are unnecessary.
What did you write? Did anybody read it? Was it shite?
@@bratbonanza9023he's said he's checking out that 'gateway to narnia' course elsewhere.
@@mohammedfaqih499most people waste time on far more frivolous things. But you have an admirable protestant work ethic. Maybe one day you'll join the true religion.
❤