TIMESTAMPS: 2:49 #1. Find your optimal writing time. 5:00 #2. Eliminate as many distractions as possible. 8:05 #3. Find time in between tasks to get a little bit of writing done. 10:35 #4. Make playlists to get in the right headspace. 12:49 #5. Read the previous scene before you start writing. 14:49 #6. Stop before you want to. 19:09 #7. Write your "guilty pleasure" book. 21:07 #8. Avoid skipping too many days in a row. 22:53 #9. Use Pinterest to make vision boards. 24:30 #10. Use Scrivener's focus mode.
I really don't understand why they don't do this, or don't put in chapters, especially for these kinds of videos. Thank you. Not all heroes wear capes.
A great strategy to avoid burning out my creative juices is to give myself a page limit when I’m editing or a time limit when I’m writing. Saying, “okay, I’m going to write until a certain time. Then I’m going to take a break or call it a night.” It’s just like running a marathon. It breaks up my writing time into doable segments, helps me maintain a consistent writing schedule, and gives me a reason to come back.
I got so excited when I saw you released a new video! I had to start a new book because I had no passion, or at least not enough to complete the last one.😂❤
Writing a book from scratch just feels like such an overwhelming task. In my mind, the perfect book must be written by a plotter, who has made painstaking plans so that the story transitions from start to end smoothly with a robust conflict as a driving force, propelling it forward while at the same time fully sketched out characters parade throughout the story. This would serve as the backbone of the book, call it a recipe or a formula. It kind of feels like the work of a general, who meticulously plans ahead of the operation. And on the other hand we have the pantser, who's thinking on the fly and just goes along with the flow, tackling problems no sooner than they actually appear. The pantser is the soldier, in a way, obeying orders execution being his strength, but this mental fluidity may lead to wholesomely unexpected outcomes, because not much thought is put into it, just like being in an adventure, where the hero is constantly reacting to the obstacles he or she faces on the fly, or like an improvisational actor who doesn't know his or her lines but is pretty damn convincing, so much so, that the director says, ok we'll keep the scene, it's fine and by the way, we are behind schedule anyway. So in order to have something cohesive as well as well written and on to this written in a matter of months, you need a team of writers who excel at their own field, like George R.R. Martin alongside Stephen King or be some kind of magnificent albeit surely disturbed genius, able to pull off both, like a one man show. Even if it were theoretically feasible, it would be a one of a kind phenomenon, a monstrosity of a mind methodical and cautious, yet simultaneously impulsive and unpredictable, a walking contradiction. I hope I'm not overanalyzing this, but in any other case you either take time and produce a result with a certain amount of dignity or you write instinctively and produce a patchy hodgepodge, that you never actually know how it's gonna end up. This is serious business we're talking here, and I know not many examples that find themselves in this freakishly peculiar twilight zone, so to speak. What's your two cents on the matter, Kate and Abbie ?
You have no idea how helpful it was, I'm literally struggling with a deadline right now, having to finish my screenplay just before the exam session in uni😆 Cause like my screenplay is also my main studying project. And I'm like... Oh my, I have to finish it in five days so that I have two more days to prepare for my exam... Ahhhhhhh
Thanks ladies again. For me I have a special scene in my head, usually 3/4 of the way through the story. Then I write to that part and then to the end. I use music to drive the scene or a complete sound track to drive the story 😊
As a time traveller who is watching this video in the past, I am determined to make 1217 the best writing year of my life. As soon as Genghis Khan and I get back from pillaging the Eurasian steppes, I'll be straight to work!
What worked for me was buying a laptop, installing only Scrivener on it, and getting away from everything to write. I used to listen to music a lot, but these days, I cannot read what I wrote without the music popping back into my head (when I'm not listening to anything), and it becomes a distraction. What really helps is using a TTS app like Speechify with a natural AI voice to read back what I wrote. It helps with the wording I use, and if it trips up the AI voice, it'll probably trip up the reader too.
It's weird to me that people mention taking breaks so that they have a reason to come back, while I just want to invest all my time in it because I would lose my mood 😢
I'm working on outlining characters right now- but I'm mostly using hacks 1 (10P-midnight) and 7 (explanation after this paragraph) to outline the structure! Ok- hack 7 is a bit of a doozy, but here goes! Set November '15, the story will be told from at least 2 points of view: a young music student based on me, and his teacher. One day, he sees a mysterious item. When he holds it, he sees some images in front of himself, and hears a voice say something like, "I wish I could find someone who wants to apply to my school." Luckily, he has some clues to figure out what this means. Later, his teacher brings memories of her middle/high school up in a music class (she mumbles something about "it's like back then" and accidentally references the series she's based off of). She's supposed to be an equivalent to Amelia, MC (and in the story, author) of Mystwick School of Musicraft. The student's read the series before, but has always wondered whether Mystwick was real. If it had been, he really wants to apply. And eventually, he manages to with her help!
#9 I use AI apps to make visual aspects of characters, scenes, etc ... from my novel, I think it's a really fun way to get me thinking about the chapter I'm writing. Helps me relax when I'm unable to write. You can also do hack #4 and look at the scenes while listening to a song 🎵
yeah finding time in between things to write is so good 🙏 then when you go to write a big session it feels like you’re already in the mood and it’s not so intimidating 😔 haha 🎉
So there's nothing here that's particularly novel for most writers. I'm sure it's helpful for beginners and younger writers who are hearing it for the first time. Having a writing "playlist" might be the most impactful. Music can do a lot, including increasing energy and motivation and drive, as well as setting a "mood". I want to disagree with #6 "stop before you want to". There is never a guarantee that I'll have the energy or inspiration, much less the time, to write tomorrow or any given day. If I stop while there's still gas in the tank, it's wasted fuel/energy/inspiration/motivation that I won't get back. I also find that when I'm "in the zone" there is usually a point where "I'm finished". The thing that inspired me or the particular thing I was writing or working on is done and I feel fulfilled and accomplished. I may try to push a little beyond that, but I'm usually not very productive if I do. And if I stop before reaching that point, I always feel a little frustrated, like I left a task unfinished. It's possible that this is all unique to someone with ADHD and NTs don't experience these same feelings. In which case, you should probably revise your list or make a separate list more specific to neurodivergent needs and experiences.
Ask Abbie yeah I have something similar and would really appreciate your advice about a MC losing his love then finding his real love. How do you make if feel like your not pushing it. Ps I’ve read all of your books and I love them dearly. I can’t wait for more.
Hey guys.Need your help.I started writing on wattpad and I am confident about my story but it didnt got the appreciation it deserved.Should I continue writing on that platform or should quit.
AskAbbie Hi abbie im writing this book where my MC 's love dies and he has to move on and fall in love with the actual love interest. But the problem is my mc is VeERY depressed after her death and i don't know how to make him refall into love without doubting himself. Also im not sure how the other girl is going to fall in love with him bc she knows that he had massive feelings for the previous love interest. They're also are enemies to lovers so that makes everything a whole more complicated. Please someone help😢
Don't do it like, try to cut the stuff out if it's making everything complicated. Think about the theme your novel have or the particular feeling you want your audience to feel after reading the book, it will help you focus on what part to cut
Dear Abbie: As some one who earns a living by WRITING, you should know that this video's title is redundant. If you do something FASTER, it is OBVIOUS it will take less time. There is no way of doing something FASTER that takes MORE TIME than usual. (PS: I love you, you are beautiful and very, VERY useful)
TIMESTAMPS:
2:49 #1. Find your optimal writing time.
5:00 #2. Eliminate as many distractions as possible.
8:05 #3. Find time in between tasks to get a little bit of writing done.
10:35 #4. Make playlists to get in the right headspace.
12:49 #5. Read the previous scene before you start writing.
14:49 #6. Stop before you want to.
19:09 #7. Write your "guilty pleasure" book.
21:07 #8. Avoid skipping too many days in a row.
22:53 #9. Use Pinterest to make vision boards.
24:30 #10. Use Scrivener's focus mode.
thank youuu
THANK YOU
Tyy xxxx
I really don't understand why they don't do this, or don't put in chapters, especially for these kinds of videos. Thank you. Not all heroes wear capes.
Thank you
A great strategy to avoid burning out my creative juices is to give myself a page limit when I’m editing or a time limit when I’m writing. Saying, “okay, I’m going to write until a certain time. Then I’m going to take a break or call it a night.” It’s just like running a marathon. It breaks up my writing time into doable segments, helps me maintain a consistent writing schedule, and gives me a reason to come back.
My characters totally keep me awake if I think about my novel at night; I have to write in the morning instead. I love using a playlist!
Thank you Abbie and Kate for all you both do to help
I got so excited when I saw you released a new video! I had to start a new book because I had no passion, or at least not enough to complete the last one.😂❤
It's comforting to know that I'm already doing a lot of these things.
Writing a book from scratch just feels like such an overwhelming task. In my mind, the perfect book must be written by a plotter, who has made painstaking plans so that the story transitions from start to end smoothly with a robust conflict as a driving force, propelling it forward while at the same time fully sketched out characters parade throughout the story. This would serve as the backbone of the book, call it a recipe or a formula. It kind of feels like the work of a general, who meticulously plans ahead of the operation. And on the other hand we have the pantser, who's thinking on the fly and just goes along with the flow, tackling problems no sooner than they actually appear. The pantser is the soldier, in a way, obeying orders execution being his strength, but this mental fluidity may lead to wholesomely unexpected outcomes, because not much thought is put into it, just like being in an adventure, where the hero is constantly reacting to the obstacles he or she faces on the fly, or like an improvisational actor who doesn't know his or her lines but is pretty damn convincing, so much so, that the director says, ok we'll keep the scene, it's fine and by the way, we are behind schedule anyway.
So in order to have something cohesive as well as well written and on to this written in a matter of months, you need a team of writers who excel at their own field, like George R.R. Martin alongside Stephen King or be some kind of magnificent albeit surely disturbed genius, able to pull off both, like a one man show. Even if it were theoretically feasible, it would be a one of a kind phenomenon, a monstrosity of a mind methodical and cautious, yet simultaneously impulsive and unpredictable, a walking contradiction. I hope I'm not overanalyzing this, but in any other case you either take time and produce a result with a certain amount of dignity or you write instinctively and produce a patchy hodgepodge, that you never actually know how it's gonna end up. This is serious business we're talking here, and I know not many examples that find themselves in this freakishly peculiar twilight zone, so to speak.
What's your two cents on the matter, Kate and Abbie ?
W.ow.
This is so well written that it leads me to believe that you're here watching this and writing this instead of writing your WIP.
@@ShinSoumisa Thank you for your kind words. Unfortunately, you are correct at that.
You have no idea how helpful it was, I'm literally struggling with a deadline right now, having to finish my screenplay just before the exam session in uni😆 Cause like my screenplay is also my main studying project. And I'm like... Oh my, I have to finish it in five days so that I have two more days to prepare for my exam...
Ahhhhhhh
Hi Abby!Currently writing my Fairytale Fantasy.Just started chapter 1! Thanls to you,i can write peacefully and use your tips
Chasing down data after the fact: Put reminders in parentheses right where the data applies to, especially if you highlight it in a color.
I am reading The Otherworld, oh so so good! ❤Thanks again for this timely video 🎉
Thanks ladies again. For me I have a special scene in my head, usually 3/4 of the way through the story. Then I write to that part and then to the end. I use music to drive the scene or a complete sound track to drive the story 😊
I love the playlist idea. I'm a music nut, and I gave my main cast each their own anthem. I totally need #8 though.
I'm here to get some motivation for writing my masters dissertation lol, not really a book but sometimes it's so hard to just start it 😭
Good luck! You can do this! 💪
@MoonlitWaterLillies Thank you so much ❤️
Omg I just subbed, and there’s already a video!!!!
There's always a new video every Wednesday! :D
You subbed to the best channel ever
Writer's Life Wednesdays, 12:30P/11:30A Central- every week!
HAVENT EVEN STARTED MY BOOK YET WHOOOOP🎉🎉🎉
OMG Kate and Abbie, I was just wondering how I'll write now that I have to dedicate a major chunk of my time to studying for my finals. Thanks!
As a time traveller who is watching this video in the past, I am determined to make 1217 the best writing year of my life.
As soon as Genghis Khan and I get back from pillaging the Eurasian steppes, I'll be straight to work!
I find movie scores are great for “seeing” your writing - matching the music to your scenes or overall themes. Anything by Hans Zimmer works for me.
Was waiting for this video!
What worked for me was buying a laptop, installing only Scrivener on it, and getting away from everything to write.
I used to listen to music a lot, but these days, I cannot read what I wrote without the music popping back into my head (when I'm not listening to anything), and it becomes a distraction.
What really helps is using a TTS app like Speechify with a natural AI voice to read back what I wrote. It helps with the wording I use, and if it trips up the AI voice, it'll probably trip up the reader too.
Do you need Scrivener? I feel that Microsoft Word is all you really need
It's weird to me that people mention taking breaks so that they have a reason to come back, while I just want to invest all my time in it because I would lose my mood 😢
Same
I definitely needed this!!
Thx so much!!
I'm working on outlining characters right now- but I'm mostly using hacks 1 (10P-midnight) and 7 (explanation after this paragraph) to outline the structure!
Ok- hack 7 is a bit of a doozy, but here goes!
Set November '15, the story will be told from at least 2 points of view: a young music student based on me, and his teacher.
One day, he sees a mysterious item. When he holds it, he sees some images in front of himself, and hears a voice say something like, "I wish I could find someone who wants to apply to my school." Luckily, he has some clues to figure out what this means.
Later, his teacher brings memories of her middle/high school up in a music class (she mumbles something about "it's like back then" and accidentally references the series she's based off of). She's supposed to be an equivalent to Amelia, MC (and in the story, author) of Mystwick School of Musicraft.
The student's read the series before, but has always wondered whether Mystwick was real. If it had been, he really wants to apply. And eventually, he manages to with her help!
Ooooh! Another video! I bet this one's going to be really useful for me! Then again, your videos are always useful! ^_^
Amazing video abby❤
#9 I use AI apps to make visual aspects of characters, scenes, etc ... from my novel, I think it's a really fun way to get me thinking about the chapter I'm writing. Helps me relax when I'm unable to write. You can also do hack #4 and look at the scenes while listening to a song 🎵
You: Avoid distractions.
In a meantime me, watching your video in a middle of my writing session.
Om even providing the list of hacks at the end?? Your service is appreciated 😭
Hi Abbie and Kate. Could you perhaps make a video on your process on making Pinterest boards for your book, please. Thank you
yeah finding time in between things to write is so good 🙏 then when you go to write a big session it feels like you’re already in the mood and it’s not so intimidating 😔 haha 🎉
So there's nothing here that's particularly novel for most writers. I'm sure it's helpful for beginners and younger writers who are hearing it for the first time.
Having a writing "playlist" might be the most impactful. Music can do a lot, including increasing energy and motivation and drive, as well as setting a "mood".
I want to disagree with #6 "stop before you want to". There is never a guarantee that I'll have the energy or inspiration, much less the time, to write tomorrow or any given day. If I stop while there's still gas in the tank, it's wasted fuel/energy/inspiration/motivation that I won't get back.
I also find that when I'm "in the zone" there is usually a point where "I'm finished". The thing that inspired me or the particular thing I was writing or working on is done and I feel fulfilled and accomplished. I may try to push a little beyond that, but I'm usually not very productive if I do. And if I stop before reaching that point, I always feel a little frustrated, like I left a task unfinished.
It's possible that this is all unique to someone with ADHD and NTs don't experience these same feelings. In which case, you should probably revise your list or make a separate list more specific to neurodivergent needs and experiences.
Ask Abbie yeah I have something similar and would really appreciate your advice about a MC losing his love then finding his real love. How do you make if feel like your not pushing it.
Ps I’ve read all of your books and I love them dearly. I can’t wait for more.
I used to drink and write. That helped. 😆
I wrote a story about two people that just won't let me be. Specific scenes stick with me. I can't seem to get past them. Any advice?
Hi Abbie ❤❤❤
does using scrivner cost money? like the focus mode?
It’s one time payment of about 40 usd
Hey guys.Need your help.I started writing on wattpad and I am confident about my story but it didnt got the appreciation it deserved.Should I continue writing on that platform or should quit.
What's ur new book name
AskAbbie Hi abbie im writing this book where my MC 's love dies and he has to move on and fall in love with the actual love interest. But the problem is my mc is VeERY depressed after her death and i don't know how to make him refall into love without doubting himself. Also im not sure how the other girl is going to fall in love with him bc she knows that he had massive feelings for the previous love interest. They're also are enemies to lovers so that makes everything a whole more complicated. Please someone help😢
Don't do it like, try to cut the stuff out if it's making everything complicated. Think about the theme your novel have or the particular feeling you want your audience to feel after reading the book, it will help you focus on what part to cut
I have no guilty pleasures (of any kind), so... 🙃
Dear Abbie:
As some one who earns a living by WRITING, you should know that this video's title is redundant.
If you do something FASTER, it is OBVIOUS it will take less time.
There is no way of doing something FASTER that takes MORE TIME than usual.
(PS: I love you, you are beautiful and very, VERY useful)
Might be on purpose: Video titles also serve as search engine optimization. The channel may also be managed by a non writer
PS: “beautiful and very useful” she’s a person not a name brand tool
I would question ADVICE from someone who RANDOMLY writes ENTIRE words in ALL CAPITALS.