wowww a new upload!!! TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 0:52 - Chasing improvement isn't worth sacrificing writing 3:08 - Improvement fluctuates 6:16 - Writing for yourself is a practice of longevity 9:24 - Most of confidence is learning how to push forward 11:13 - Understanding the core of a story can be more challenging than actually writing it 13:28 - The only process that matters is the process that works for your and actually gets you writing 16:27 - Insecurity doesn't quite go away, it just changes (& can coexist with confidence) 19:08 - I'm forever a beginner, and I like that 21:16 - It's okay to change your mind a million times 23:18 - You can always "write like you're 13" 26:26 - Outro
I've been having such a hard time revising my writing lately, and I think a lot of it is because I'm forgetting to write for myself, and "write like I'm 13" again. Thanks for this!
I’ve really stabilized my writing process this year, especially in the last few months, made all the easier now that I’ve begun treating my original fic like fanfic. I feel quite content. ☺️
as an autistic person myself who's only now really allowing myself to dive more into the art of writing, your content is such a breath of fresh air. I have a bad habit of approaching crafts feeling like i need to follow the rules and "do everything correctly" and systemically, but your passion for your project is contagious and i want to be able to be as self indulgent about it as well. You talking about how you planned to just continue the fostered project indefinitely simply because you want to was a bit eye-opening to me because i have been dreading following the typical way of limiting my project to be a trilogy or something and having to say goodbye to my characters. But i can in fact just write for myself! I don't usually comment on anything but your videos are so authentic and resonate so well with me, thank you for being so open about your approach and experiences!
Awww omg I’m so happy the vid resonated! I honestly feel like there’s a gap in videos on writing that focus on loving your writing unconditionally so I’m happy to share my thoughts there bc it’s such an important topic to me! Also yayyy for writing series for as long as we want!
This is some of the best writing advice I’ve heard yet. It’s very relatable but I’ve not heard other writers put into words what a in my brain. I am also autistic and I have adhd and this take was really helpful to me. I’ve been really in my head about it and this gives me hope that I can be a writer too, thank you! 😊
Rachel, you were the one who truly made the "write for yourself" key turn into my head, and only because of this mindset I was able to write an entire book front to back for the first time! A few years ago I used to get so caught up into trying to please imaginary readers I could never finish anything. So ty!!! ❤
I like the stuff you said about confidence, insecurity and mistakes always being part of writing. And yeah! Sometimes the mistakes aren't even there! Last night, I thought the chapter I had just written was horrible and when I came back to it today I was like... oh? This is good? It can feel amazing to find the core of the story, but yeah, not getting the core of the story yet is unfortunately not something that has an easy solution. It's like an epiphany sometimes for me, where all the different parts of the suddenly connect, but I don't know what I've done in the past to make that happen, I was just thinking about the story a lot. Maybe it'll get easier the more times I do it. Thanks again for the video, Rachel! You always give me something to think about.
I love what you said about the worries of regression or “getting worse” at writing. I’ve definitely experienced those! Especially because as writers I feel like we always want to edit our past works, whether or not we should 😅 Sometimes, it can be almost healing to be able to look at elements of old projects and feel proud of your achievements, rather than assuming your current self could (or should) be able to do it better.
I didn't really get into writing until I was 16, and then I was just pouring all my depression and anxiety into writing 😅 It wasn't until I was an adult I started having fun with writing.
Love this video! Really resonate with points 5 and 6. That hit me hard. Really awesome advice here! I wish I’d heard this advice and reflection when I was closer to your age. And yes, being late diagnosed autistic suddenly illuminates a lot about us as writers. Thank you, Rachel! You’re brilliant! 💜🫶
The essay you wrote was so powerful read it a few times and going to read it again today. With your stories being so much of personal projects your inspired to start writing personal projects I write with the same craft as the things I want to publish.I am also a poet written 24 or so poems and would love to hear you talk more about that!❤️💕
aww I'm so so happy to hear that! the next one is a deeper dive into my process too and some behind the scenes stuff, so hoping to get it up bc I wanted to back in march! time is moving soo fast LOL also POEMS!!! I had a whole thing planned for a series on poetry but then got swept away in employmentttt naurrr but hopefully soon! :)
This really resonated with me. Especially the point about Improvement being non-linear. I've been writing since childhood, and my biggest lesson was establishing a writing routine. Just sitting down at the keyboard with consistent frequency to vomit some words down opens the floodgates to so much improvement. You can always fix it later. Just pour it out.
I think this was really good and helpful for writers at all stages! I agree that we all need to find a writing process that works for us! TH-cam overload with information is real. Also TH-cam inspiration overload was real for me. I found myself being inspired and motivated by other writers that I kept wanting to see their journey, but I wasn't writing. So, I had to take a step back from TH-cam and figure out a better balance for myself. It's hard for me to write like my younger self, but I do believe I am still capable.
I see where you are coming from. I can act like my younger self but to write like one. It feels like a battle I don't want to face nor are the rewards of writing like a 13 year old good for me.
This video comforts me a lot, I started writing again a few days ago after 4 years without writing. Before, I used to write a lot but with my studies I stopped completely, it was impossible for me to find the time or the motivation... I'm trying to get back into it but it's not easy... I feel like I lost everything during the years without writing anything. When I reread my old writings I feel like what I wrote before was much better and I wonder if I will be able to write again. This video reassures me a lot that I'm not the only one with these kinds of doubts! I hope i'll be able to get back into writing like before again :)
I've learned that outlining to the core is NOT something I can obtain or enjoy. I don't need to know exactly what my characters look like, what their names are, their complete backstories, and that examining them before I start writing will create false narratives and when these things need to change, it's more difficult than if I had barely began outlining at all. I no longer give my time accepting advice from writers who believe the best writing is done after filling out a three page long worksheet about characters, plot, setting, ETC. I get distracted by the fancy language used in these questionaries and give up too soon. It's better to answer questions along the way. This doesn't mean I'm completely a discovery writer. I answer many questions before I dive completely into my project, but these questions can be answered slowly and in no particular order. I have been writing on and off for about 7 years and have not finished anything. I am working on a project that I truly see myself finishing and it is completely unlike anything I've tried before in genre, style, POV. Also for the first time I am actually outlining each or most chapters, because the style of this book allows me to digest this type of outlining. And I am writing chapters out of order, when the chapter is something I am excited to write and I have a pretty good understanding of how I want to write it.
I loved this video! I found it very encouraging 😊 something I've learned with writing is that I don't need fancy supplies to write. For a long time I thought "I'll start writing when I have a laptop" or "I'll start when I have these pens or those nice notebooks or the perfect desk" but really the aesthetics don't make me more or less of a valid writer, and it's ok to use a dollar store notebook. There is no shame in that at all!
I stopped writing for myself in my senior year of high school (2020), and am finally at a place where I can let myself breathe and write stories again. I wrote a lot as a child and will surprise myself finding old usb sticks with word documents of short stories I wrote. I am new to your channel but have devoured your writing advice and this one finally gave me the confidence to open word again. Thank you Rachel 💚
Ooof. Another very good video that came at the perfect time! Something I've come around to is that while I might feel nerfed in drafting a new story and feel like I'm having to relearn everything about writing again after finishing a project, I've started to see it more as me internalizing the things I learned from my last project so that those similar elements in the new one aren't as hard. Or would take as long to sort out. Hopefully 🤣 I'm not starting over totally from zero, it's just my baseline of zero is starting at a different level. I think your lesson on how emphasis on improvement can be a detriment, and even suck out the fun in writing, hits very close to home. I know I've been feeling that sort of way for almost six months because I was increasingly getting more and more caught up with what the writing looks like on the page, instead of how the writing feels and sounds like as an entire package. And well, I know I still feel that way although I've taken some steps recently to retread the worn path of writing for fun again. I suspect my relationship with writing may never go back to how it used to be, but that's a similar sentiment to what I felt a year ago, two years ago, back in college, before college. My relationships then with writing will likely not come around again in my present, but I've come to acknowledge those eras as being phases in where my writing hit me in a certain way at that time because the circumstances I was going through at that time, and what I needed. It very much echoes with your comment that the people we are today are very different from the people back then, from the way we think down to the air we breathe 🤣 Thanks for this video, Rachel! Much food for thought to gnaw on.
'I'm not starting over totally from zero, it's just my baseline of zero is starting at a different level' You have to coin this phrase! I found this sentence an amazing use of words. Reflective and i can feel the sincerity of your words.
omg I was just thinking about drafting a new newsletter this morning haha I was like omg I haven't posted one since march?? februrary?? I can't remember! I've had one in my drafts for a while, hoping I can polish it up tomorrow! been so busy with work!
Such valuable advice! I've always admired your approach to giving writing advice, and I'm glad to hear it's a conscious choice to make writing accessible. Especially for new writers, the amount of negative content on here can get so overwhelming, but I can always count on your channel to inspire me to write. u truly are a gem💖
YES that’s sooo important to me! It can get so overwhelming and idk… become a bummer? when all the advice is like “actually you’re doing everything wrong!” lol so yes I do try my best to avoid that (esp from now on)!
So enlightening this rewatch of this video is giving me so much theory backed evidence, practical tips, and hope that’s the most important thing for me Thank you ❤
awww naurrrr I made it so early today bc I had to work LOL but probably will be regular time next week, tho I was thinking of doing several streams next week idk... maybe! thx for watching!
wowww a new upload!!!
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:52 - Chasing improvement isn't worth sacrificing writing
3:08 - Improvement fluctuates
6:16 - Writing for yourself is a practice of longevity
9:24 - Most of confidence is learning how to push forward
11:13 - Understanding the core of a story can be more challenging than actually writing it
13:28 - The only process that matters is the process that works for your and actually gets you writing
16:27 - Insecurity doesn't quite go away, it just changes (& can coexist with confidence)
19:08 - I'm forever a beginner, and I like that
21:16 - It's okay to change your mind a million times
23:18 - You can always "write like you're 13"
26:26 - Outro
I've been having such a hard time revising my writing lately, and I think a lot of it is because I'm forgetting to write for myself, and "write like I'm 13" again. Thanks for this!
Yessss omg happy it resonated!
I’ve really stabilized my writing process this year, especially in the last few months, made all the easier now that I’ve begun treating my original fic like fanfic. I feel quite content. ☺️
as an autistic person myself who's only now really allowing myself to dive more into the art of writing, your content is such a breath of fresh air. I have a bad habit of approaching crafts feeling like i need to follow the rules and "do everything correctly" and systemically, but your passion for your project is contagious and i want to be able to be as self indulgent about it as well. You talking about how you planned to just continue the fostered project indefinitely simply because you want to was a bit eye-opening to me because i have been dreading following the typical way of limiting my project to be a trilogy or something and having to say goodbye to my characters. But i can in fact just write for myself!
I don't usually comment on anything but your videos are so authentic and resonate so well with me, thank you for being so open about your approach and experiences!
Awww omg I’m so happy the vid resonated! I honestly feel like there’s a gap in videos on writing that focus on loving your writing unconditionally so I’m happy to share my thoughts there bc it’s such an important topic to me! Also yayyy for writing series for as long as we want!
This is some of the best writing advice I’ve heard yet. It’s very relatable but I’ve not heard other writers put into words what a in my brain. I am also autistic and I have adhd and this take was really helpful to me. I’ve been really in my head about it and this gives me hope that I can be a writer too, thank you! 😊
Rachel, you were the one who truly made the "write for yourself" key turn into my head, and only because of this mindset I was able to write an entire book front to back for the first time! A few years ago I used to get so caught up into trying to please imaginary readers I could never finish anything. So ty!!! ❤
I had to return to this video because I am struggling with my own writing again. Especially on the prose level. Its a draining cycle.
your ability to be honest is one of my favorite thing about you. super glad that i found your channel
Oh that’s so kind ❤️❤️❤️ I’m really happy to hear that!!
I like the stuff you said about confidence, insecurity and mistakes always being part of writing. And yeah! Sometimes the mistakes aren't even there! Last night, I thought the chapter I had just written was horrible and when I came back to it today I was like... oh? This is good?
It can feel amazing to find the core of the story, but yeah, not getting the core of the story yet is unfortunately not something that has an easy solution. It's like an epiphany sometimes for me, where all the different parts of the suddenly connect, but I don't know what I've done in the past to make that happen, I was just thinking about the story a lot. Maybe it'll get easier the more times I do it.
Thanks again for the video, Rachel! You always give me something to think about.
YEAHH that happens to me ALL the time! It’s really about knowing when to take a step back tbh!
it's so nice to hear this kind of real talk, especially after watching your writing evolution vid
Awww I’m so happy to hear!!
I love what you said about the worries of regression or “getting worse” at writing. I’ve definitely experienced those! Especially because as writers I feel like we always want to edit our past works, whether or not we should 😅 Sometimes, it can be almost healing to be able to look at elements of old projects and feel proud of your achievements, rather than assuming your current self could (or should) be able to do it better.
I didn't really get into writing until I was 16, and then I was just pouring all my depression and anxiety into writing 😅 It wasn't until I was an adult I started having fun with writing.
Oh gosh I feel that lol so awesome you can have fun with it now!
Wonderful advice! Especially the last point about writing like your 13 again. I needed to be reminded of that. Thank you.
Yayyy happy that point resonated!
Love this video! Really resonate with points 5 and 6. That hit me hard. Really awesome advice here! I wish I’d heard this advice and reflection when I was closer to your age. And yes, being late diagnosed autistic suddenly illuminates a lot about us as writers. Thank you, Rachel! You’re brilliant! 💜🫶
RACHEL!! I love this video and LOVE how the tips were moreso about enjoying the process :’)
Yayyy I’m so happy to hear! Honestly after ten years enjoyment is the most important thing I realize!
The essay you wrote was so powerful read it a few times and going to read it again today. With your stories being so much of personal projects your inspired to start writing personal projects I write with the same craft as the things I want to publish.I am also a poet written 24 or so poems and would love to hear you talk more about that!❤️💕
aww I'm so so happy to hear that! the next one is a deeper dive into my process too and some behind the scenes stuff, so hoping to get it up bc I wanted to back in march! time is moving soo fast LOL also POEMS!!! I had a whole thing planned for a series on poetry but then got swept away in employmentttt naurrr but hopefully soon! :)
This really resonated with me. Especially the point about Improvement being non-linear.
I've been writing since childhood, and my biggest lesson was establishing a writing routine.
Just sitting down at the keyboard with consistent frequency to vomit some words down opens the floodgates to so much improvement.
You can always fix it later. Just pour it out.
Yes yes yes so true!
I think this was really good and helpful for writers at all stages!
I agree that we all need to find a writing process that works for us! TH-cam overload with information is real. Also TH-cam inspiration overload was real for me. I found myself being inspired and motivated by other writers that I kept wanting to see their journey, but I wasn't writing. So, I had to take a step back from TH-cam and figure out a better balance for myself.
It's hard for me to write like my younger self, but I do believe I am still capable.
I see where you are coming from. I can act like my younger self but to write like one. It feels like a battle I don't want to face nor are the rewards of writing like a 13 year old good for me.
This video comforts me a lot, I started writing again a few days ago after 4 years without writing. Before, I used to write a lot but with my studies I stopped completely, it was impossible for me to find the time or the motivation... I'm trying to get back into it but it's not easy... I feel like I lost everything during the years without writing anything. When I reread my old writings I feel like what I wrote before was much better and I wonder if I will be able to write again. This video reassures me a lot that I'm not the only one with these kinds of doubts! I hope i'll be able to get back into writing like before again :)
I've learned that outlining to the core is NOT something I can obtain or enjoy. I don't need to know exactly what my characters look like, what their names are, their complete backstories, and that examining them before I start writing will create false narratives and when these things need to change, it's more difficult than if I had barely began outlining at all. I no longer give my time accepting advice from writers who believe the best writing is done after filling out a three page long worksheet about characters, plot, setting, ETC. I get distracted by the fancy language used in these questionaries and give up too soon. It's better to answer questions along the way. This doesn't mean I'm completely a discovery writer. I answer many questions before I dive completely into my project, but these questions can be answered slowly and in no particular order. I have been writing on and off for about 7 years and have not finished anything. I am working on a project that I truly see myself finishing and it is completely unlike anything I've tried before in genre, style, POV. Also for the first time I am actually outlining each or most chapters, because the style of this book allows me to digest this type of outlining. And I am writing chapters out of order, when the chapter is something I am excited to write and I have a pretty good understanding of how I want to write it.
I loved this video! I found it very encouraging 😊 something I've learned with writing is that I don't need fancy supplies to write. For a long time I thought "I'll start writing when I have a laptop" or "I'll start when I have these pens or those nice notebooks or the perfect desk" but really the aesthetics don't make me more or less of a valid writer, and it's ok to use a dollar store notebook. There is no shame in that at all!
Yes so true!!
I felt the same way. It is like adding more hurdles to what actually needs to be done.
I stopped writing for myself in my senior year of high school (2020), and am finally at a place where I can let myself breathe and write stories again. I wrote a lot as a child and will surprise myself finding old usb sticks with word documents of short stories I wrote. I am new to your channel but have devoured your writing advice and this one finally gave me the confidence to open word again. Thank you Rachel 💚
Awww I'm so so happy to hear this
SO MUCH wisdom in this video, you're an icon ☀✨
💜💜💜💜 ty Kris!
Ooof. Another very good video that came at the perfect time!
Something I've come around to is that while I might feel nerfed in drafting a new story and feel like I'm having to relearn everything about writing again after finishing a project, I've started to see it more as me internalizing the things I learned from my last project so that those similar elements in the new one aren't as hard. Or would take as long to sort out. Hopefully 🤣 I'm not starting over totally from zero, it's just my baseline of zero is starting at a different level.
I think your lesson on how emphasis on improvement can be a detriment, and even suck out the fun in writing, hits very close to home. I know I've been feeling that sort of way for almost six months because I was increasingly getting more and more caught up with what the writing looks like on the page, instead of how the writing feels and sounds like as an entire package. And well, I know I still feel that way although I've taken some steps recently to retread the worn path of writing for fun again. I suspect my relationship with writing may never go back to how it used to be, but that's a similar sentiment to what I felt a year ago, two years ago, back in college, before college. My relationships then with writing will likely not come around again in my present, but I've come to acknowledge those eras as being phases in where my writing hit me in a certain way at that time because the circumstances I was going through at that time, and what I needed. It very much echoes with your comment that the people we are today are very different from the people back then, from the way we think down to the air we breathe 🤣
Thanks for this video, Rachel! Much food for thought to gnaw on.
'I'm not starting over totally from zero, it's just my baseline of zero is starting at a different level'
You have to coin this phrase! I found this sentence an amazing use of words.
Reflective and i can feel the sincerity of your words.
I am really looking forward to you posting another newsletter, love your videos
❤😊
omg I was just thinking about drafting a new newsletter this morning haha I was like omg I haven't posted one since march?? februrary?? I can't remember! I've had one in my drafts for a while, hoping I can polish it up tomorrow! been so busy with work!
Such valuable advice! I've always admired your approach to giving writing advice, and I'm glad to hear it's a conscious choice to make writing accessible. Especially for new writers, the amount of negative content on here can get so overwhelming, but I can always count on your channel to inspire me to write. u truly are a gem💖
YES that’s sooo important to me! It can get so overwhelming and idk… become a bummer? when all the advice is like “actually you’re doing everything wrong!” lol so yes I do try my best to avoid that (esp from now on)!
So enlightening this rewatch of this video is giving me so much theory backed evidence, practical tips, and hope that’s the most important thing for me
Thank you ❤
Wise words for such a young person. Love your honesty.
Thank you!
Nice video! 😊
That's nice
i missed the stream so im SAT for this. i miss talking to you bestie
awww naurrrr I made it so early today bc I had to work LOL but probably will be regular time next week, tho I was thinking of doing several streams next week idk... maybe! thx for watching!
@@rachelwritesbooks i wasn't doing too hot anyhow so its okay! hopefully i can catch one soon ♡
i appreciate you sharing your journey with us
💜💜💜