Answering Questions about Writing
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- Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
- Watch the Vlogbrothers Video First: • 8 Things I Wish I Knew...
Do I feel like a bit of a fraud talking with authority after having written a total of one complete book? Absolutely! But that never stopped me from mouthing off!
We really need "Crash Course: The Green Brothers teach writing."
sameyer716 Yes!
YES!
Pls
Especially if both of them teach it from their own perspectives. Yes, cover the broad strokes together but everyone has their own style and there should be episodes dedicated to finding/making/revealing your own style.
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You can’t go and post the vlogbrothers video at the SAME time as this one. I can’t choose between you vs. you!!
"If you can't keep your characters straight..."
Well you caught me right there
This one gets me because in my head the characters are much more clearly defined than what's on the page, that's also why I'm not writing professionally.
@@SweetChuckPi no, uh, i'm pretty sure this was a gay joke
heheh same
I'm not straight, how can I keep characters straight?
@@rchlclr what about letting them breath a little bit too much of the homophobia that's in our society's atmosphere?
I'm sure that's a start...
I love when I'm watching a vlogbrothers video and I'm like "man I wish I could have this but longer" and Hank comes through with that quality content :)
“If you hate what you’re writing, it’s because you have taste, you know what you don’t like”
Nice. Started my first novel, hated it, now I know why. Thank you.
Can you and John do a podcast on writing??? People (me) would absolutely eat that up!
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YESSSS pleasee
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If you haven’t already, listen to Writing Excuses. ~14 season of 15-20min episodes on writing from Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Taylor with guest like Patrick Rothfuss and N.K. Jemesin. It’s a treasure trove of quality advice.
Also, Sanderson teaches a course on writing science fiction and fantasy at BYU and all of his lectures are on UA-cam.
Yessss please
Hank: Quiet contemplations on the creative process
Also Hank: GE-YEWkGüLL bye
15:58 I hear that Stephen King is a pure pantser. The dude writes a novel in an afternoon, and apparently they just publish his first drafts now.
(At least that's what someone on reddit said, and I believe it because you're not allowed to lie on the internet)
You should definitely read "On Writing" by Stephen King if you're interested in how he writes, it's an amazing book. He is absolutely a pantser and I find the way he writes fascinating. He sits down, starts from a situation, and lets the characters tell the story. The first half of his book is basically his autobiography and the second half is his advice to writers. He changed the way I think and feel about writing and it will forever be one of my favorite books.
@@annam9534 it would be funny if that was secretly a fiction book and everything he said in it was untrue, and he actually plots out every detail beforehand
I started writing when I was 10 and stopped for maybe ten years, as an adult. But hearing you talk so much about your opinions and thoughts about novel writing has made me itch to write. Thank you, Hank :)
"Here's Everything!" would be an excellent title for a nonfiction book.
Matt Babineau I need that now
"A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson is a good read.
There's a theory on that ...
One of my favorite books on writing is Stephen King's "On Writing". There's a great few pages in the second half where he talks about writing schedules and quotas and goes into stories of authors who've written utter classics in less than a month. He says his fastest one was Running Man and he wrote it in a week. William Faulkner wrote As I Lay Dying in 6 weeks and sent it off to his publisher without changing a word.
Love Stephen King. Highly recommend that book. It's informative but mostly just a wonderful read. One of my favorites from him.
That book was the single most important book about writing I ever read as a student. So lucky to have been introduced to it by my freshman English teacher. It's such an insightful, practical book. Plus, how he weaves the memoir into everything is just perfect. I genuinely think that book has propelled me toward professional writing more than any other nonfiction I've ever read, including all the books I encountered in my Creative Writing degree program.
I get it now! Writing fiction is having imaginary friends, at level pro.
now take that level, and multiply it by 5,000
It's true
it’s like d&d but like for introverts. you’re the dm and the players all listen to you(atleast most of the time).
I just had my friend look over my shoulder and ask "what does he do?"...
I feel the answer would be far too long.
I would read your "400000 words of non-linear non-fiction garbage".... Cuz I honestly like the way you organically/non-linearly jump between topics.
Yeah, it’s cool to see the links he makes between things, and compare them to the links I make between things
yeah i definitely feel like my brain works in this way and i would read the heck outta hanks rambles
Me too
This is some of the smartest writing commentary I've ever heard. I get seriously bored of listening to interviews with most authors because most interviewers ask the same trite questions on repeat, but your habit for thoughtfulness and analysis of your own practices has led to some genuine and reassuring gold in this video.
2 Absolutely 2 Remarkable
Absolutely do not think 'that's kind of a cheaty answer, writing has made me a better writer,' I think that's it, The Answer. You cannot improve if you do not do. This is going to be frustrating for those who come to this video looking for advice on writing their books because most of the writing you have done is not novel writing, but that doesn't discount it from helping you get your novels written. Write until you can't write anymore. And then keep writing. But not in one sitting. Breaks are good, y'all.
Great video, thank you for sharing your extended thoughts and answers with us.
So... is that a VHS of the Emperor's New Groove on the floor?
I came down here for this observation ^_^
Have you considered calling your sequel "more light than heat"?
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"Warm Malt Liquor" would have also been a great title
Just want to say I always love the Hanks Channel vids. I understand and appreciate the 4:00 rule on Vlogbrothers vids, but every so often get a "hank"ering for a more unstructured rambly thing as in the days of yore, and you do these just often enough to scratch that itch. Thank you for your time and care!
Hank thank you so much for making both of these videos. Writing has always felt so out of reach for me so these videos are really helpful. It just makes it feel more accessible.
I know what you mean. These tips are some of the best contextualizations (is that a word?) that I have come across for how to think about writing. I would love suggestions for other things that explain writing like Hank does here.
I watched the vlogbrothers video, saw this video on the endscreen, started watching this video, then remembered I forgot to like the vlogbrothers video, so went back and liked it, and now I am back again. Whew!
The stress of trying to be early on both videos is unrealllllll
Honest and insightful conversation. So many wonderful mysteries to the creative process. Thanks for sharing some of yours.
Here from the vlogbrothers video to see the long version.
same
whenever I'm feeling unmotivated in my writing, I always watch this video. It reminds me that you did it, and so can I. You talk about the same issues I struggle with, therefore when writing or coming back this video, there's always something new in here to shed light. thank you x haha for being the binding holding this future book together haha
it's not surprising in retrospect, since I love the way your brain works and how you problem solve/consider the world/understand yourself, but this half hour of you talking about your processes for writing stories - my own passion - is even more poignant and helpful to me than I could've ever imagined. thought provoking and interesting and wonderful. thank you thank you thank you
"This isn't about writing as good as my favorite writers- it's about me writing me... way." Well said! In the beginning, it took me awhile not to emulate my favorite writers (Douglas Adams, Chuck Palahniuk) when certain situations came up in my writing I knew those legends would have great lines for, but they weren't my lines. I abandoned the only styles I knew (as a reader) in favor of writing my own little, weird book. My firstborn is ultra weird, totally in my own voice, and I love it.
I was honored to be able to hand it to Chuck late last year knowing I didn't sound anything like him... or Mr. Adams for that matter. Pretty sure I wound up in the neighborhood of Tom Robbins (only because we have similar minds) and I'm just fine with that. Great vid!~Subbed.
The acoustics in your office are freaking fantastic.
One of my favorite youtubers wrote a book about how to write fantasy/sci fi, On Writing and Worldbuilding. Not really applicable to Hank but hopefully someone here will find it helpful!
Thanks! Added it to my Goodreads list of nonfiction books to read.
1:00 continuity errors.
Enjoyed your thoughts. Really need to sit down and start writing again.
As a writer currently working on a sequel, which happens to be my second novel, I can relate to so much of this! I really want to answer some of these questions now, as I don't often think about my "process" but it is fascinating to hear you talk about yours, especially because I hear so much of my own experiences echoed in what you are saying, and I found that really reassuring. I also found it reassuring when you said the sequel is going to be longer, because same. And also writing arguments is THE BEST.
About choosing from two different good ideas: I usually don't have that problem, but when I do I use a few rules (and maybe it's those rules that avoid me of finding that problem more):
- take the one that best servers the story you want to tell... Meaning the one that sticks to the original goal of your book, or your message and feeling.
- take the one that is more "awesome"
- take to one that came later in your head (usually is the one more mature and more distant from clichés)
- "why not both?"
- take the one your characters and writing go more naturally in
"I'm not really a poet" says the guy that wrote a bunch of songs
Please give me The Vlogbrothers' guide to living! I would love the Complexly values distilled into a book
Around the 5:20 mark, Hank had a lovely, discursive tangent on writing to one's strengths rather than aspiring to write like your heroes wrote. As a writer on the autism spectrum, I know the frustration of wishing I could express myself similarly to other artists. It's quite discouraging, but choosing to be authentic and vulnerable is always better than striving for mimicry.
I didn’t really intend to start writing a book. But then I got colitis. I would be bored stuck on the toilet so I downloaded microsoft word onto my phone and wrote the first 40,000ish words entirely on my phone on the toilet. I stopped writing when my digestive system started getting better. Then I decided I wanted to finish the book and started writing in places that weren’t the toilet and not on my phone. But I still write on the toilet when I have a flare up. I clean my phone including inside the case with alcohol wipes at least once a week.
I like how you skipped over the part where they think that John finishing the book if you died is possible, as if no one would notice the part where the book stops having a plot.
Hey evereyone, hope you're all doing great!
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Interesting question about you dying. I was just thinking about how if I died suddenly, the big project I've been focused on for the past year but haven't put out yet is going to die with me, and that's somehow a more upsetting thought than any other aspect of my death.
ok I’m so glad you answered my question (the titles one). I’ve been working at a newspaper this summer and headlining my articles has easily been the worst part. can’t imagine naming a book, man!
Yes! Garage is the greatest word to type as someone who draws mortgage location surveys in AutoCad for a living. I have to type it multiple times every day and it will never not be my favorite!
"D&D campaigns are stories written for very small audiences"
Unless you're name is Griffin McElroy.
That’s the damn truth right there!
Or Brennan Lee Mulligan.
"Its jus- I got- I'm... busy." We know Hank, we know.
4:48 "400,000 words of non-linear garbage"
If you ever write a book with that as the title, I promise to pre-order it.
Thanks for motivating me to get writing again! I struggle with feeling like only superhuman people can write a book, hearing about the process like this helps make it a lot less intimidating
listened to this while planning a dnd session. i fully and completely love hank’s appreciation for dnd, and his great understanding of it. writing the world is a perfect phrase for that. it gets tiring and sometimes frustrating, and i needed this video today.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (and the sequel) are 2 of my favorites, and it's so cool to hear some of how they were pieced together
Interesting video! I've recently heard about the plotter vs pants'ser thing and that was in regards to DnD. I'm a DM and a little bit of a writer, definitely more of a pantser. I like to just start and see where or goes. But it definitely is easier when you know your world very well. My tip for writing a campaign is to first off all, just start! You don't have to have a full campaign ready. Also, I really love Matt Colville's running the game videos! Very interesting!
I have so many stories I want to write but I'm constantly discouraged. I'm a good writer, I probably shouldn't be, I haven't read a book in over ten years, but I'm a good writer... I just have a problem with follow-through and discouragement. I'm working on 3 projects right now; a novel, a fanfic and... well, I'm not even sure what the last one is, but it's a massive story (I'd like it to become a graphic novel or animated series some day) but I'm having trouble with all of them
I love scrivener because it allows me to break up the chapters, and sometimes even individual scenes in each chapter. Makes it easier to find things when I go back, plus I can summarize / write plot points on the index card for each chapter/section to make it easier to keep track of the story. I used to write in Word back in my university days and it overwhelmed me because it was all in one document instead of in chunks.
Yeeeees, finally had time to watch this. Wonderful thoughts.
That was extremely interesting, thank you! x
I am super struggling with my own writing pace right now and this was very encouraging. Thank you. :)
Around 13:00 you talk about giving more minor characters clear recurring characteristics so the reader will remember and recognize them the next time they come on screen. This is what I miss in Crash Course History videos, I wish recurring characters would get a thought cafe figure with a clear recognizable thing so that I'll recognize later "oh right, that was that emperor that liked his cats!"
Oh boy is garage a nice word to type. Good call, Hank
"I love climaxes."
-Hank Green, Bestselling Author
Super awesome. Thx for opening up on your thoughts!!
“Manual for being human” well,that’s the title!
Loved this! Now I want to take up writing again. Thanks, Hank! :)
I love these kinds of videos, Hank!
Ugh I love Hank’s love of Becky Chambers, it absolutely resonates with me.
I’ve never been able to finish writing a novel, but I’ve been toying with a new idea. I might try the beginning point, two or three points in the middle, and end point way of plotting. Usually I either get really specific in the outline or I have no idea where the story is going.
i love your videos about writing! super helpful
I'm a DM that is writing my first book. My book character sometimes role for damage or have to do checks 😂
It's just something I love about DND, you can have characters be a great fighter, but sometimes he'll get badly hurt. A knowladgable person may at times not know things. I love surprising myself like that and having to consider different way's to solve problems.
(ofcourse it has to move the story forword, it keeps me writing and thinking)
how about a (yearly?) video about your favorite books/authors and talking about why they are that fascinating/lovable to you? p.s. loving your book! for its faith in humanity paired with the detailed knowledge about diverse things and how it's being conveyed
It always catches me off guard when i watch hank on hankschannel vs vlogbrothers bc it doesnt have that like frantic jumpcut energy aksksksk
This video TOTALLY got me out of my writing slump I was buried deeply in and gave me the inspiration to get back on the fiction writing horse (figuratively and literally... now I feel like I can write about horses) so: THANKS A BUNCH HANK!!!
I have a book partially written from last NaNo, but i also have a new idea and story forming in my head for this November haha I just want to 'finish' one of those and hopefully that will end up as something others can enjoy. That would be a wonderful thing XD
19:49 I have learned so much about writing from playing DND
So I’ve decided to start my first book and I’m now binging the writing part of UA-cam just to get an idea of other writers’ processes. I’ll check back in in 2 years to tell y’all how it goes.
How did it go?
yes you are good in story telling,clear talking...you are smart
Some non-fiction titles on my top bookshelf (you'll pick up the theme pretty quickly):
- The Enchanted Braid: Coming to Terms with Nature on the Coral Reef
- An Entirely Synthetic Fish
- The Philosopher Fish
- Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime
- The Silent World
- Plastic Ocean: How a Sea Captain's Chance Discovery Launched a Determined Quest to Save the Ocean
- The Founding Fish
Those titles all did their jobs. XD
This was delightful!
The book would have been waaay less interesting without the dream. I'm glad you took it in.
I read the sample of your first book and I couldn’t help but start by reading it in your voice (the way you speak and stuff). I’ve been watching too much vlogbrothers and Crash Course. Or maybe not enough...
Either way I want to read the rest of your book. :)
Just sitting here listening to Hank while crocheting an AART beanie...
Hanks compendium of super awesome facts! Non fiction each chapter is a different topic. Make it a BIG BOOK!
When you mentioned a book that has the settings be characters I immediately thought of Robin Sloan's 24 Hour Bookstore (which I haven't even read yet but is next on my tbr) and then you mentioned Sourdough lmao. This must be a sign.
You’re spot on about DnD campaigns. My channel is about helping people do that in a text based online medium, and it takes a lot of the same skills as writing a novel.
Another Expanse fan!!!!! Awesome.
*repeatedly types garage* honestly Hank I think you'd be great at writing one of those deep dive weird non-fiction books like The Feather Thief or anything by Mary Roach.
"Not never happened" is a great answer for so many things
Also it would be a good book title
Two things:
1. Sequel name idea: Lethargic recompense amending carousel
2. What paperback tour things are you doing?
I would really love the 'manual for life' book mentioned before - I would totally buy that
Hank’s newest non fiction book “Before I die”
Happy to hear Hyperion mentioned(:
I actually loved the "my new favorite lind of fire" comment, and also i loved the poptart tweet a lot.
Sourdough, yes! Robin Sloan is one of my favorite authors and no one has ever heard of him!
You should meet @Veronica Marie
This is the first time I have heard of Clarke'sworld, but as a huge podcast and SciFi fan it seems perfect.
Hank, or anyone here in the comments, any recommendations on ones to start with?
Love your "Science is Real" TMBG shirt!
it's like a road trip...you have some places in mind where you'd like to stop along the way to your final destination...sometimes these places suck or are closed or are exactly what you wanted them to be...inevitably though you find places you weren't expecting to find too! and sometimes they're awesome!
"it's about me writing me way" 💕
"Here's everything!"
The Anthropocene Reviewed- coming May 18, 2021
An example of nonfiction that's short but covers a lot of stuff is the Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum. I'd recommend it to anyone because it's very interesting and I've re-read it more then any other book, but if you're trying to go from writing fiction to writing nonfiction I think it's probably a good example.
Thank you for this.
I want people to care about educator burnout, and I have this Tech Ed teacher in my brain that is going to demonstrate the toll on educators. He feels so real to me, but to demonstrate the toll on his soul and mind, I have to do what Bo Burnham did in 8th Grade of making social media, UA-cam videos, and forums be characters/locations that are integral to the story.
I’ve always had a more technical, non-fiction writing style, and I thought for a long time that it would inhibit my character’s story.
This is just part of a larger plan of PanOmnic becoming a resource for media to help educators deal with burnout, and society learning how teacher burnout is different than other careers, along with doing conferences that cause policy/curriculum deciders to mix with teachers from various sociology economic areas, while using conference funds (for those that don’t attend on scholarship) to fund respite grants for teachers to use to get breaks from caring for their own special need child or elderly family member since so many educators can’t afford to refill their own tank.
I sincerely appreciate this boost of confidence. I know what I’m trying to begin is important, but because it’s important, imposter syndrome questions if I’m the most qualified to do this despite it being such a big deal that anyone with an interest in tackling this should wade into the pool to try to help.
I actually really like how your fiction is like nonfiction
You should call it April May and New York Carl.
Hank, good advice here, Thanks! Do you think having a literary agent is important or not? I have written my first book and have had problems finding an agent. Is self-publishing a good alternative?
Newbie mistake asking this question. Self publish through Amazon. Can you self promote?