Preptober writing and planning continues today as we discuss how to think of good book ideas AND how to choose which one you'll write. Hope this is helpful!!
Clicked on this so fast! Listening while I get made up for the day. ❤ I'm one of those writers that has more ideas than I could possibly write BUT not all of them have enough substance to make a full novel out of. So this video is helping me think through those elements as I pick which project to outline this month.
thank you for doing this! this year is my first nanowrimo and I am really intimidated and scared I am going to lose ideas half way through, but your videos are helping soooo much!
I am usually the person with the "I have one million ideas and I have no idea which one to choose" problem but this time I am trying to write Book 2 in a series and it's kinda throwing me because I have the basics and a setting and a trope (forced proximity/locked down together) but other than that no real idea of the conflict so thank you.
This is great. Thank you for the wonderful resources. I will have to watch this again to make sure I got it all and can work through the ideas again. I always have too many ideas so I plan to work through this again to narrow down. I love so many things lol
I understand this struggle! And it can sometimes feel paralyzing to have to leave any behind! I hope this ends up being helpful for you to narrow it down!
One thing which I find helps when plotting is to ask questions. "What if a childhood imaginary friend suddenly appeared to you, totally real?" Etc. I then ask more what if questions to slowly come up with ideas. From there I then write out what I love about the ideas, characters, and story. When stuck it helps to look over the list to pick out something I want to demonstrate in the scene for the day.
As a pantser I love this idea to help me start planning a little. I know what I’m writing for nano this year but I will use this to plan out the series I want to start next year.
Awesome video!! I have watched it twice-the second time stopping multiple times so I could take detailed notes. :) This is just what I needed! Thanks so much-and I can't wait until Sunday!
OMG Pretty Little Liars is my guilty pleasure show haha. One thing that helps to is not to get caught up in having an 'original idea'. Alot of people think they need to avoid anything that has been done or is cliche etc. But there isn't really anything much left out there that hasn't been done. What matters is your own unique writing style and ideas to it.
Me toooo! I love it. And I agree. It's so tempting to put that pressure on ourselves as totally unique, but honestly, you can make ideas fresh with a simple hook or characters!
I do have a video that talks about this a little if you want to start there. th-cam.com/video/dwLQsiBOro8/w-d-xo.html But I would like to update this because I think some of the way serials are done is changing since I made this!
This may be something you go into in your next video, but I figured I'd ask anyway: one of the things that draws me to my favourite books / movies / TV shows / etc. is really cohesive, fleshed out, deep worldbuilding. But it's precisely BECAUSE it takes so much time to do it properly that I love the books where it's been done well - it's not the sort of thing I feel I can do myself. (At least, not in any reasonable sort of time.) I've written a fair amount of fanfic in universes where there's already a lot of worldbuilding that's been done (such as Forgotten Realms for D&D) and I can just consult the wikis that other people have made, but the idea of coming up with that level of worldbuilding is absolutely daunting to me. But, at the same time, I worry that my book won't be good enough unless I have that level of worldbuilding. Help! Do I just need to choose something less ambitious? Or is there a way to do deep worldbuilding that doesn't feel like I need to come up with an encyclopaedia's worth of information in order to feel like it's "enough"?
If you get a chance to watch the video I posted today, that's going to give you a starting point! I think the key is to build in layers. Don't think about how you have this huge, deep world to build. That's so overwhelming! Instead, start high level and make some foundational decisions, then start layering things in. Let the rest come when you're writing the first draft and flesh it out after that draft. You can do it! If you love it so much, you're going to naturally be good at it!
Did you watch the full video? If not please watch for the suggestions on how to pick between your ideas! If you did watch it all, I suggest going through that process and seeing where you're still struggling.
Preptober writing and planning continues today as we discuss how to think of good book ideas AND how to choose which one you'll write. Hope this is helpful!!
Clicked on this so fast! Listening while I get made up for the day. ❤ I'm one of those writers that has more ideas than I could possibly write BUT not all of them have enough substance to make a full novel out of. So this video is helping me think through those elements as I pick which project to outline this month.
thank you for doing this! this year is my first nanowrimo and I am really intimidated and scared I am going to lose ideas half way through, but your videos are helping soooo much!
This is the preptober topic I’ve been looking forward to most!!
Yay! Let me know how it goes for you!
I am usually the person with the "I have one million ideas and I have no idea which one to choose" problem but this time I am trying to write Book 2 in a series and it's kinda throwing me because I have the basics and a setting and a trope (forced proximity/locked down together) but other than that no real idea of the conflict so thank you.
Your videos are the best. I love how straight to the point they are. Thank you for sharing your tips.
Your shirt is so cute!!!!!! 😮😮😮 ❤❤❤
Thank you! I’m so excited for this month! Your workbook has been AMAZING.
I know I'll be coming back to watch these again. So much great information! Thank you.
This !!!
Absolutely amazing !!
Thank you for this! I’m wrapping up a 14 book series and it’s so hard to decide what to do next!
Your content is FIRE! Keep going girl! You made a new fan and got a new sub
Great video, thank you, Sarra! :) I already have my novel idea. Excited for your next video.
Sending love and creative vibes
I like your idea and you’re using my theme colors that I could see myself using for a book series someday
This is great. Thank you for the wonderful resources. I will have to watch this again to make sure I got it all and can work through the ideas again. I always have too many ideas so I plan to work through this again to narrow down. I love so many things lol
I understand this struggle! And it can sometimes feel paralyzing to have to leave any behind! I hope this ends up being helpful for you to narrow it down!
One thing which I find helps when plotting is to ask questions. "What if a childhood imaginary friend suddenly appeared to you, totally real?" Etc. I then ask more what if questions to slowly come up with ideas. From there I then write out what I love about the ideas, characters, and story. When stuck it helps to look over the list to pick out something I want to demonstrate in the scene for the day.
Great ideas!
Drop dead fred?
As a pantser I love this idea to help me start planning a little. I know what I’m writing for nano this year but I will use this to plan out the series I want to start next year.
Awesome video!! I have watched it twice-the second time stopping multiple times so I could take detailed notes. :) This is just what I needed! Thanks so much-and I can't wait until Sunday!
Love this. So glad it was helpful! More to come!
OMG Pretty Little Liars is my guilty pleasure show haha. One thing that helps to is not to get caught up in having an 'original idea'. Alot of people think they need to avoid anything that has been done or is cliche etc. But there isn't really anything much left out there that hasn't been done. What matters is your own unique writing style and ideas to it.
Me toooo! I love it. And I agree. It's so tempting to put that pressure on ourselves as totally unique, but honestly, you can make ideas fresh with a simple hook or characters!
Also, you can go to your library. For books, of course. But also, many libraries have movies available to check out, too.
Such a great point!!
Thanks for the advice! 🙂
i'm writing the story of a witch with a magical pickle!
I knew someone would jump on that 🥒
As soon as you said it I was like "ME"@@HeartBreathings
I would totally read the “Witch with a magic pickle” story! 😂
haha, yes! I was wondering if anyone would mention that!
Great info, when is your publish and thrive class available again or open again??
I'll open registration the last weekend of January and we'll begin in early February!
This is fantastic!
Where can we get the planner book you show in this video ? Very helpful video by the way thank you so much❤
It's in my free resource library for my newsletter. Just sign up at heartbreathings.com and I'll send a link to all my resources.
Can you do a video on how to structure a serial? It's what I'm writing for Nano, but I've been working on it for a while and I keep rewriting it.
I do have a video that talks about this a little if you want to start there. th-cam.com/video/dwLQsiBOro8/w-d-xo.html
But I would like to update this because I think some of the way serials are done is changing since I made this!
This may be something you go into in your next video, but I figured I'd ask anyway: one of the things that draws me to my favourite books / movies / TV shows / etc. is really cohesive, fleshed out, deep worldbuilding. But it's precisely BECAUSE it takes so much time to do it properly that I love the books where it's been done well - it's not the sort of thing I feel I can do myself. (At least, not in any reasonable sort of time.) I've written a fair amount of fanfic in universes where there's already a lot of worldbuilding that's been done (such as Forgotten Realms for D&D) and I can just consult the wikis that other people have made, but the idea of coming up with that level of worldbuilding is absolutely daunting to me. But, at the same time, I worry that my book won't be good enough unless I have that level of worldbuilding. Help! Do I just need to choose something less ambitious? Or is there a way to do deep worldbuilding that doesn't feel like I need to come up with an encyclopaedia's worth of information in order to feel like it's "enough"?
If you get a chance to watch the video I posted today, that's going to give you a starting point! I think the key is to build in layers. Don't think about how you have this huge, deep world to build. That's so overwhelming! Instead, start high level and make some foundational decisions, then start layering things in. Let the rest come when you're writing the first draft and flesh it out after that draft. You can do it! If you love it so much, you're going to naturally be good at it!
Can you do a video on how you pick a book to write for NaNo when you have too many starts or ideas? That's where I am right now
Did you watch the full video? If not please watch for the suggestions on how to pick between your ideas! If you did watch it all, I suggest going through that process and seeing where you're still struggling.
Can you explain how to structure a serial? It's what I'm writing for Nano, but I've been working on it for a while and I keep rewriting it.
I have a whole video about this in my Publish & Thrive course!
Kisses from france !
Oh no. I laughed at witch with a magic pickle….picture book?
hahaha
This video made me realize we never describe someone as having "crow hair" 🤔😅
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