I had this feeling like I needed to sit down and write an entire chapter at once or not even bother. Then I realized that even if I only put a paragraph down in a day, it was one paragraph more than I had the day before. Slow and steady beats never happening. Thanks for the vids Viv! ;)
This is a good idea. Just don't stop to edit until you get stuck. I mean, write the whole first draft if you can, then go back to edit. Only edit while writing a story if you get stuck somewhere in the telling.
April Taylor it is super important. Gives u a fresh outlook at life 😂 .. jokes apart.. I am like super noob to the writing community but I am following these rules religiously
I love writing. I honestly cannot see myself doing any other career, which might mean that I’ll probably be broke but honestly I’d rather be broke and doing something I love
I'm a storyteller, working on being a writer. I created the characters and the plot for a story in less than a day, but it took me 13 years to show the story the way I envisioned it from beginning to end. My advice is, "what's the rush?" Take your time. And when you start rearranging your favorite paragraphs to keep a flow--you are there.
It gives me so much peace of mind to hear writers say the journey is hard. It can be so easy to think that bestsellers just write themselves. It's just not true. Thanks for the reminder, Vivien.
I didn't even know an outline existed when I started writing. I just had some ideas in my head, and it just turned out, that in a way, that's an outline. But, it was just what I wanted to do. For the most part I'm writing it on the Fly.
If I had to go through what hard core plotters do, I wouldn't write. Writing one sentence tells me how to write the next. And when I run out of ideas, I ask my characters what I should write.
My outline is in my head. I knew how I'd start, basically where it'd end, and the major bump in the middle: beyond that, I'm writing as I go. It's like... I'm in Durham North Carolina, I know I plan to end my trip in San Francisco California, and at some point I plan on stopping by the Grand Canyon; but beyond that, I'm just along for the adventure.
As a former secretary, I proofread EVERYTHING. I ran across a good book that was full of grammatical errors...I mean BLATANT ones. I very nicely let the author know, in case they could make changes to the online books (not realizing they couldn't). She was very nice, but also not wanting to hear what I had found because it would stress her out. It's frustrating to read something and be pulled out of that world by subconsciously analyzing grammar, spelling, etc.
Honestly, I've never had this problem unless I was reading something from an unpublished author. Sometimes not even then. Because I'm in the world of the book while I'm reading it, I'm not analyzing the writing, so unless something is blatantly, perhaps horribly, bad I have no difficulty staying in the story and away from analyzing - unless I'm reading to learn and on a 2nd or beyond reading of the book.
I'm working on the first draft of my novel. Halfway through writing it, I learned that most writers never publish their first novels. This almost crushed me. Then I looked back over my work and saw they were probably right. However, now that I know that it's still good to edit the first draft, even if I never publish this book, I will push forward.
I paused your video to comment on your words about learning so much more in the editing phase. I have my first book scheduled for release Nov. 15, 2019 and had the opportunity to spend five days working with my editor. What a schooling I got! I look at the entire writing process from such a different perspective today. Thank you for all you share.
love how authentic you are 💞I'm not a fictional prose writer, I'm a poet, but your videos always have something helpful for me, so thank you for all the work you put into this channel! It's so appreciated. (Also- I loveeee your desk🌻)
Always love hearing your thoughts, Took me 7 years to write first 2 books. 2 years to write book 3 and hopefully book 4 in just over a year. Write write write. I plot and then pants as my characters reveal what they are about. "I guess that is something i never knew would happen is that the characters would take on a life on the page sometimes beyond me ken. Keep up the vids - am slowly watching them all. Cheers
I am new to writing. I was inspired by in incredibly whacky dream, so I just wrote it down. 20,000 words later, and nowhere near the end I was like 'maybe I should write a book...' While I'm new to novel writing, I can say that pretty much all of this advice applies to academic writing too (which I guess a lot of people DO have experience in). For that reason, I believe your advice 100%.
#5 resonates with me SO MUCH! I find it so hard to enjoy reading because I get caught up analyising the writing. I've resorted to audiobooks because I find I don't do it so much that way, but it isn't quite the same experience as just reading the book :(
#1 - How about if you feel terrible _while_ you're righting the chapter. I have maybe two or three chapters to go and my manuscript is complete but I just think it's utter rubbish (though everything that has come before I'm fine with). #7 - I'm coming up to this RIGHT NOW. I'm finally at the point where it's time to start sharing and so many friends and family know I've been writing a novel for the past few months. I don't want them to read it and say, "Oh, that's what's been taking so long? It's pretty bad." Love the honesty on this channel. You're such an inspiration for me. We do and feel very similar things during the writing journey.
#1. That's okay and completely normal. I have that a lot and what I've learned is that it's either: unnecessary/replaceable in the story or just something you have to get through. If it's the second case, then try to just forget about it. Make a goal and don't stop writing until you reach it, whatever you have to do. #7. This is a part of yourself, you have worked on this for so long, hell you've created it! It's your baby! And you care about it more than some people about anything. So if you think someone is going to dare say that to your face. Don't show it to them. Show it to the people who will be proud either way, you wrote a fricking book! If they are your friends, if they are your family, have a little faith. I know it's hard, but just ask them not to try and give constructive criticism if you think they aren't capable of separating you from those pages. Congratulations! (I know these questions weren't really for me, so Vivian still comment!)
These last couple years of writing have been vitally important. I've learned a lot and forgot a lot. Every writer writes in his or her own magical way. I've gotten so much help from amazing people( newsflash you're one of those people). Some moments have been hard, but I've come a long way and my passion for writing continues to grow. I'm planning to publish a short story in October. It's getting real!
I love writing, writing is therapeutic for me, however whenever I outline, I don't outline my whole story, I only outline certain beets within the story itself, how the characters and plot get to those beets is what makes the journey of writing fun for me. For example I'm writing a television show and I know how it's going to begin, progress and end, also who's going to live and die. However what I don't know is how the characters will get to those points, I'll make it up as I go along in the writing process and if I don't like where the story is going I'll change it to fit my needs.
Super Guy 5000 I usually do that too! I know general plots and subplots, but I don't know exactly how I will reach them... but once I get to parts I don't know, they start forming in my mind and on the screen and it feels amazing.
I agreed to do something like this to my friend (she knew the main points, and I actually make it happen). So who cares I added few characters and comlicated things even more XD I finished only the first part though (out of two)
Thank you for creating these videos. After watching them, I feel better about myself and my writing. Knowing that there are other people out there who experience the same things as me is so helpful and comforting. Thank you so much.
My characters end up changing the story a lot of times, destroying my outline. Sometimes, I'm happy with the changes. Sometimes, I say, "GRR" not, "great." I love your channel. I've read a few pages out of your book. You have talent.
I've run into that as well. I pantsed my first story, and it turned out great, but, yes, the story moved and shifted as I wrote. My second story was done with more of an outline, but was harder to write. That one too, also changed as it progressed. I think that's the nature of the beast. :-)
Great advice thank you. I didnt realize how long it actually takes to write a book. I always thought writers banged them out in a year. Not 2 to 5 years opened my eyes a bit. Ive bern writing my book off and on for years. Looking back now a lot of the advice you gave here i wish i had known. Thanks! You just gain a subscriber!
Very helpful! I love what you said about not being so focused on a goal that your well being is at risk. I’m pretty disciplined about getting up early to write... but have learned to pay attention when my body is crying out for more rest. It isn’t worth getting run down just to make that word count goal. If I take care of myself, I can make it up another day/week.
I just started watching Vivien's videos yesterday and I already LOVE them! They are so helpful and she explains things in ways anyone can understand! I am literally binge-watching all her videos. This is so great!
I love this video. Your writing videos are always honest and helpful. For so long, I didn't write anything because no one told me that first drafts always suck. But they do. I think that's the most important thing that every younger writer should learn. Sometimes it sucks, but if you know it sucks, you just might be okay. Thank you. x
This was great, you are getting better and better! You covered all direct and solid ideas here Vivien. I love learning from and through you and your radiant personality! Forced into early retirement because of health issues spurred me into finally going for my first book, suffered from the mid-point blues, got back on course, working on editing now. I hope you plan to continue on this solid foundation you have begun, you are so appreciated! Thank you again and have a great day! Nate
I wish I would listen to you right now. I set myself a (I thought realistic) minimum of 500 words a day. Meeting that would complete my first draft by December for a 175,000 word goal. I got stuck on a party scene that's ideal to deliver character development and information without exposition. But I HATE parties; I'm not a social person at all. I wound up going through the motions of a real event organizer, planning the party in meticulous detail; choosing a venue including obtaining floor plans for accessibility, catering, hiring a DJ, setting up lights and decorations, etc. Doing all this research solidified exactly where and when everything was in the world to allow the scene to develop naturally in its environment. It took a week of research. I was -working- on the book, but I wasn't writing. That set me back 3,500 words. I should totally take your advice and not stress over it, be more forgiving of my timelines and be flexible. But, I'm not. I'm going to sit here and stress out. Yayy.
I am trying to start writing the story about my mom who is diagnosed with ALS when I came across your channel. This video is very helpful and I will drown myself in your videos to be able to finish my very first book. 😊
I listened to ALL 15 tips except the last one, the one that said I won't listen. .. Now I'm floating off in hyperspace watching windows of my former self crumpling back in time like soggy pages of a sci fi saga left out in the rain with no one to read it. Thanks Vivien! The tips were really helpful but I wished your last one didn't create an impossibility paradox. Now, how do I get out this dimension... Murph! Murph!!
Excellent Video!! I am a pantser, I create a story idea or basis for one, then I start writing it. The only planning I am doing is creating schedule for story. If it a sport event, then i make schedule frist. Otherwise it is created as I go along. 20 manuscripts completed the same way. However, you have some excellent advice and thank you!!
haha same here! eclipse and rain. some ppl say it caused the rain tho, cuz its temperature change and yadiyada but man it was so annoying cuz i walked a mile to get glasses lol
Thanks so much for your help and guidance about my Novel writting skills, you have suggested important point that I can understand So everything is depend on me whatever and what to write but it is sure I will do it some people on social media spread rumers many types of procrastinate but it is not good they try to to miss me on other side and way but I am steadily going on my way, some other people don't give me interview from their website because of they're well trained, So I understand all the situation. Thanks so much for your help and guidance.
Thank you I appreciate the advice. I came to several myself. I am a pantser and a terrible outliner. I think either you are or you aren't. On occasion if I think I will forget an idea I jot it down...what I wish I could really do was find all those little papers afterwards LOL. keep on vlogging
First draft's don't always suck, but parts of them will have problems which doesn't mean it sucks. It means there is work to be done. The trick is to know your weaknesses and address them in copy editing. If you plot and outline correctly, IE understand how your structure will work, there shouldn't be content changes. If you build a house's structure soundly, the cosmetic aspects laid over it can vary like mad without harming the frame and foundation. If the siding is crooked, for example, pull it down and hang new siding, or use the same material but realigned it so it fits correctly.
Thank you for this!!! This time I'm ACTUALLY going to follow the advice. I'm learning about the first draft sucking. I'm also learning how not to hate myself for not managing the new "Pride and Prejudice" or "Great Expectations" on my first draft. I actually revised something!!!! Now I just have to do it again. And again. And again....
i have a suggestion for a video I really need right now, it's "how to make sure your PLOT makes any SENSE" i struggle with that so much ;-; i feel like plotting is my weak point as a writer and i just shove my nicely created characters into a whole bunch of mess i call a plot that doesn't make sense, has a lot of loose ends and would never logically happen if the story was real. i'm also curious to know if anyone has this same problem and we could talk about it.
Ryu Haruka I have a similar problem. There are so many subplots I try to squeeze in but I'm not sure my story makes sense with them. I also have trouble figuring out endings.
RYU and Love Lyte (wow this got to a Korean Drama/ Japanese Manga rather quickly), the thing I found with Plots and subplots that may help you. Josh Waitzskin, who learned chess from Bobby Fischer, was taught to start learning the game by playing with the pieces at the end, in their most basic element. once he worked out how to win with only a king and a pawn vs. a King, they would add a piece. so maybe start with the ending where the subplots come together? then write the sub plots backwards into the gordian knot?
Notice that 99% of stories have terrible plots. Not a single story of Steven King has a decent plot. What makes a story good is the characters and their conflicts. They create a glance into humanity.
Great advice. I, too, can't pants to save my life. Tried it and had to NUKE an entire novel because it couldn't be saved. Now I do what I like to call a "major points" outline. I know all the major plot points and I just work towards them. Thanks for sharing! :)
I'm loving this channel so much. I'm not a writer, I'm more of a translator and I feel like everything you mentioned here is very similar to translation as well.
I'm a complete beginner. In my first draft it was suck mainly 'cause I didn't have an outline nor a goal to the story I just wrote what came to mind, now I'm trying to see some vidoes and explore the basics then start writing
Great video, thanks, Vivien! I have just crossed the 10k mark (goalpost yay) and all of these tips are so applicable... Especially the 'don't edit as you go' one. I found that my first attempts to some scenes turned into cringe compilations when I revisited them, but I guess that is part of the learning curve. Now my writing isn't totally so 'shitty' anymore. Thanks for making these videos. Your advice has been pivotal in my writing endeavor. Thanks for inspiring and motivating me to follow my passion. I am currently a 3rd year mechanical engineering student and when I learnt that you were an engineer (mechanical if I remember correctly?) - I was like 'Ah - this can be done' and now I am 10k words closer to completing my first novel. Keep up the good work :)
I love this video! I would go crazy when I didn't meet my self-imposed deadlines. Now I am glad to know I am not the only one. I felt like a failure and like I wasn't serious about writing, because I couldn't meet the deadlines. And yes, I edited while writing SOOO MANY TIMES, and I never got past the first five chapters.
I just gone back to the beginning of my book i have so many id to make it better than it was i love to write i have so much to do in my first book. Your c is helping me thanks
"It's okay if your writing is bad" is something I keep trying to tell myself while struggling through my first draft. I have to make myself not got back and re-read anything I wrote so I don't get down on myself. These are all awesomeeeee tips!
Epiphany for me.. especially to blocked writing (writer's block...) "You can't fix a blank page." Write...write..write.. Thanks Vivien!! Very much appreciate it!
Editing advice was crucial for me. When she said It doesn't make sense to edit until later because you might throw the chapter out. I could of kicked myself, Annoyed that I've spent more time editing than writing. Earlier this morning half of one chapter got deleted after realizing I had written to much details on some not that important charters. Vivien also pointed out to much details aren't good. Although it really does stick out like a sore thumb when re reading over some parts.
Hi, Vivien. I love your videos and they're a source of inspiration for my fledgling writing hobby. Have you done or would you consider doing a video on how to structure short stories?
I wish I had known that you don't have to have a vocabulary of extravagant words and every line does not have to be immaculate. The trick is to write the story like you're telling a friend. You don't run to the thesaurus every few minutes when you're talking to a friend. Just tell your story the most simple way possible. You can spice it up a bit later, but not too much.
i find the tip on editing helpful, and how a first draft is not going to be perfect. the latter is gonna be hard to keep in mind as a perfectionist, but i have to try.
so true, i'm writhing my book for 2 years now (because of school and no time) but my book is still 20% of what i want to write. So number 6: writhing a book takes forever! is my life
Hi Vivien, I'm not sure if other users got this issue, but I noticed some audio issues with the video. Lot's of audio pops as if a microphone was being tapped. Not sure what's causing the issue but might want to be cognizant about it since it hasn't been in your previous vids. Asides from that, thank you for uploading this! The tips here are very relevant and are things I wished I had known as well.
#5 tip makes so much sense! 😂 Sometimes I can't help but edit the words I'm reading, like how to tighten the writing. Vivien's right, it's both a blessing and a curse 😃
I planned to write a trilogy but after publishing the first book long before i started working on the sequel i realized there was so much i could have added to the first book, so is it wise to finish all three books first before publication?
taylor reece This is why it's so important to outline your whole plot. You can't be a pantser when it comes to writing series. The only thing you can do is kill your darlings. If you love an idea that needed to be mentioned in the first book really, then you are better off not including it at all.
Yeah, some writers advise to write your whole series first for that reason. Sure, you can outline, but nobody is perfect. Some writers advise (if not to write the whole trilogy) to write the next book in your series. That way, if you publish the first, the second publication date can follow closely while the hype is still there. But if you want to write all three before pitching to an agent/publisher, that would be even better!
Rashmika the Artsy is that so? Like is it better to make a complete version? I am afraid like.. what if the story turns out crappy and needs lots of changes? T.T that scares me!
I don't think reading like a writer (RLW) takes away from reading at all. I love books and writing my own. The best part about reading now is that it's enjoyment and writing research at the same time :) (More a response to the comments than the vid)
Just watched your video (a year and a half later). First, I would like to point out how cute and funny the girl you describe appears to be. Maybe a bit stubborn, with her head in the clouds, and probably delusional about her goals...but so cute and naive! It's good to be young. On another note, I'm a young (yup I am) and will try to keep your advice in mind. Though, I will probably have to learn through my mistakes instead of other's. Thank you for your video, it felt good to hear your thoughts as a writer.
Vivien, I just wanted to let you know I am taking your Tips/Tricks videos and the Master Outline from Better Novel Project to A|B test the commercial viability of a fictional novel. Feel free to check out videos I post on my channel (not a shill, I am keeping it as a diary of the struggle or success of taking the outline Literally, and don't expect followers from it) showing the weekly updates, figured you may want to as I will be talking about implementing some of your thoughts. Only thing I would ask: I've created a twitter account for the project where I will be posting polls up to get input on the different cards outlined. If you do check that out and feel like the polls are structurally flawed, please feel free to let me know. any following or voting on the polls or whatever is not something I am asking you for. Love your work. PS hope you are doing well with Irma.
The first book I had self-published, I had published after my Sophmore year of college. I knew it would be a big mistake and that is why I did it. Let me explain. I had reasoned that the first one would have the most mistakes. I knew that I did not know what had been involved in publishing a book. However, in 2008, self-publishing had been a new thing. I had already known how to edit and format text, fonts, kerning because back in the 1980s, I had read the big thick books Adobe had sent out on self-publishing with their software. And in the 1990s, I had gone on some tours of a few printing companies and learned how books are manufactured. In 2007, I did not know how to distribute books. Which is what I had really wanted to learn in the exercise. So I did not bother editing the book for mistakes, typing errors. It had been just a collection of rants that I had made on MySpace and I published them in a book along with the comments. However, the lesson I had learned from that adventure had been that books are never completed. You just release them. Now, I have decided to develop Video Novels. The goal is to write full-length novels [my novels are all 12 Chapters around 12,000 words a chapter or 144,000 words long] And on one side have the novel presented to the reader, but on the left-hand side have 3D animation created in iClone 3D animation software. The idea is to allow the book to be experienced as an animated graphic novel and read by voice actors. So for the people who want to read the novel, they can. For people who want to hear the novel, they can. And for the people who want the full video novel experience, they can do that too. However, my process is different in that I publish straight to UA-cam. I feel that I am a fanfiction writer that creates stories people want to read but no one wants to publish. The hardest thing I am finding is getting people to be alpha readers and beta readers. The only real reliable proofreader I have found is [Grammerly.com]. For my novels, I did the opposite of what you had done with romance. I went the hardcore romance to get practice at it then I went to a softer approach once I had found my stride or style. It had not been until I had been working on my fourth novel that I had developed the correct style for me when writing "risky" scenes. I had a hard time with "do I go more anatomically correct" in my approach or be"loose with words." However, I found my way by listening to Country Bluegrass music. I had realized that if I had written all the encounter scenes [eating, fighting, fleeing, mating] in a lyrical way than I could let the reader's imagination do the work for me. Along the way, I discovered a really good book called "If You Want to Write" by Brenda Ueland. I had purchased the audiobook so I can listen to it when I write. I know this is probably long, but I am an INFJ type with OCD and ADHD and it is difficult for me to be brief. However, I have one more point. I had decided to go to the UA-cam self-publishing route because I know that I can edit the books at any time or make different versions of the book. For me, I have learned to write the first draft at one time or the first layer of the editing process. This way, I can hear the book over and over again and think about how to change it. I tend to write several novels at the same time, and I do not write the titles in a linear way. Because I have ADHD, I write in a short burst called "snippets." Then I make a composite version so I can move things around if needed. I write all the encounter scenes last after I write the main parts of the story, my titles have a significant amount of human interaction because the books are written in the Burlesque Parody genre. Once I have the entire book laid out then I move to the second draft process which is drawing the plates, refine the factual information like dates, character names consistency, technical terminology, historical information. To recap, the first book I had purposely got all the mistakes out of my system into that book. The first two video books that I had published on UA-cam have plenty of mistakes but I leave them up because I want to show how far my writing has progressed the more book titles that I release. Thank you
Well now that it's my second attempt at publishing my book (last time was self publishing. This time is professional). I've been slowly adding and improving and subtracting to the story and characters and such to finally finish soon. But honestly I may not be done with the series since it's the first one and I've spawned an extension and a sequel since I've started Lol...
I have an outline, but my characters seem to not be following it, especially two in particular - they seem to want to spit in the face of my outline and go their own way. I’m just going with it because the two characters are connected and I’m discovering things as I go…
Vivien, keep these videos coming! I have a part of my book where one of the characters get in a fight with four other boys his age. Should I name the other boys? It is hard writing the chapter using description to depict one boy from the other, and im sure it will be just as hard to read. Little help?
Can't fix a blank page. I wrote my first book fifteen years ago. Hated it. Thought I was the worst writer ever. It's taken me that long to pull it out and start the second draft
You can't fix a blank page. I think that's my new absolute favorite piece of writing advice.
Sean Belbin yessss love it
You can fix a blank page. Write something...
100% Agree! It's going on my write inspiration wall haha
Or throw a can of Benjamin Moore at the thing and call it an impressionist take on Rothko.
I love that advice too
I had this feeling like I needed to sit down and write an entire chapter at once or not even bother. Then I realized that even if I only put a paragraph down in a day, it was one paragraph more than I had the day before. Slow and steady beats never happening.
Thanks for the vids Viv! ;)
This is a good idea. Just don't stop to edit until you get stuck. I mean, write the whole first draft if you can, then go back to edit. Only edit while writing a story if you get stuck somewhere in the telling.
The advice I ignored and wish I had not... after you finish your first draft take a break from it for a few weeks. I will do this next time!
April Taylor it is super important. Gives u a fresh outlook at life 😂 .. jokes apart.. I am like super noob to the writing community but I am following these rules religiously
Maybe even try writing something else before going back to it. It's kinda like a mental palate cleanser.
I am SOOO addicted to writing! It's all I want to do, especially at school when I need to focus on my assignments.
I love writing. I honestly cannot see myself doing any other career, which might mean that I’ll probably be broke but honestly I’d rather be broke and doing something I love
I'm a storyteller, working on being a writer. I created the characters and the plot for a story in less than a day, but it took me 13 years to show the story the way I envisioned it from beginning to end. My advice is, "what's the rush?" Take your time. And when you start rearranging your favorite paragraphs to keep a flow--you are there.
It gives me so much peace of mind to hear writers say the journey is hard. It can be so easy to think that bestsellers just write themselves. It's just not true. Thanks for the reminder, Vivien.
I wrote my novel without any outline. I just made it up as I went along.
Arc Kocsog yeah same
Same
I didn't even know an outline existed when I started writing. I just had some ideas in my head, and it just turned out, that in a way, that's an outline. But, it was just what I wanted to do. For the most part I'm writing it on the Fly.
Well done. I hope you will be great writer
If I had to go through what hard core plotters do, I wouldn't write. Writing one sentence tells me how to write the next. And when I run out of ideas, I ask my characters what I should write.
My outline is in my head. I knew how I'd start, basically where it'd end, and the major bump in the middle: beyond that, I'm writing as I go. It's like... I'm in Durham North Carolina, I know I plan to end my trip in San Francisco California, and at some point I plan on stopping by the Grand Canyon; but beyond that, I'm just along for the adventure.
number 5 is insane!! It's soo true! I can't read anything anymore without wanting to fix it -_-
As a former secretary, I proofread EVERYTHING. I ran across a good book that was full of grammatical errors...I mean BLATANT ones. I very nicely let the author know, in case they could make changes to the online books (not realizing they couldn't). She was very nice, but also not wanting to hear what I had found because it would stress her out. It's frustrating to read something and be pulled out of that world by subconsciously analyzing grammar, spelling, etc.
Honestly, I've never had this problem unless I was reading something from an unpublished author. Sometimes not even then. Because I'm in the world of the book while I'm reading it, I'm not analyzing the writing, so unless something is blatantly, perhaps horribly, bad I have no difficulty staying in the story and away from analyzing - unless I'm reading to learn and on a 2nd or beyond reading of the book.
I'm working on the first draft of my novel. Halfway through writing it, I learned that most writers never publish their first novels. This almost crushed me. Then I looked back over my work and saw they were probably right. However, now that I know that it's still good to edit the first draft, even if I never publish this book, I will push forward.
I paused your video to comment on your words about learning so much more in the editing phase. I have my first book scheduled for release Nov. 15, 2019 and had the opportunity to spend five days working with my editor. What a schooling I got! I look at the entire writing process from such a different perspective today. Thank you for all you share.
love how authentic you are 💞I'm not a fictional prose writer, I'm a poet, but your videos always have something helpful for me, so thank you for all the work you put into this channel! It's so appreciated. (Also- I loveeee your desk🌻)
Rita T may I practice English with you
Always love hearing your thoughts, Took me 7 years to write first 2 books. 2 years to write book 3 and hopefully book 4 in just over a year. Write write write. I plot and then pants as my characters reveal what they are about.
"I guess that is something i never knew would happen is that the characters would take on a life on the page sometimes beyond me ken.
Keep up the vids - am slowly watching them all.
Cheers
I am new to writing. I was inspired by in incredibly whacky dream, so I just wrote it down. 20,000 words later, and nowhere near the end I was like 'maybe I should write a book...'
While I'm new to novel writing, I can say that pretty much all of this advice applies to academic writing too (which I guess a lot of people DO have experience in). For that reason, I believe your advice 100%.
#5 resonates with me SO MUCH! I find it so hard to enjoy reading because I get caught up analyising the writing. I've resorted to audiobooks because I find I don't do it so much that way, but it isn't quite the same experience as just reading the book :(
#1 - How about if you feel terrible _while_ you're righting the chapter. I have maybe two or three chapters to go and my manuscript is complete but I just think it's utter rubbish (though everything that has come before I'm fine with).
#7 - I'm coming up to this RIGHT NOW. I'm finally at the point where it's time to start sharing and so many friends and family know I've been writing a novel for the past few months. I don't want them to read it and say, "Oh, that's what's been taking so long? It's pretty bad."
Love the honesty on this channel. You're such an inspiration for me. We do and feel very similar things during the writing journey.
#1. That's okay and completely normal. I have that a lot and what I've learned is that it's either: unnecessary/replaceable in the story or just something you have to get through. If it's the second case, then try to just forget about it. Make a goal and don't stop writing until you reach it, whatever you have to do.
#7. This is a part of yourself, you have worked on this for so long, hell you've created it! It's your baby! And you care about it more than some people about anything. So if you think someone is going to dare say that to your face. Don't show it to them. Show it to the people who will be proud either way, you wrote a fricking book! If they are your friends, if they are your family, have a little faith. I know it's hard, but just ask them not to try and give constructive criticism if you think they aren't capable of separating you from those pages. Congratulations!
(I know these questions weren't really for me, so Vivian still comment!)
“”... unless you are already writing full time, with no kids, and no other jobs...” 😂 I totally understand that.
These last couple years of writing have been vitally important. I've learned a lot and forgot a lot. Every writer writes in his or her own magical way. I've gotten so much help from amazing people( newsflash you're one of those people). Some moments have been hard, but I've come a long way and my passion for writing continues to grow. I'm planning to publish a short story in October. It's getting real!
I love writing, writing is therapeutic for me, however whenever I outline, I don't outline my whole story, I only outline certain beets within the story itself, how the characters and plot get to those beets is what makes the journey of writing fun for me. For example I'm writing a television show and I know how it's going to begin, progress and end, also who's going to live and die. However what I don't know is how the characters will get to those points, I'll make it up as I go along in the writing process and if I don't like where the story is going I'll change it to fit my needs.
Super Guy 5000 I usually do that too! I know general plots and subplots, but I don't know exactly how I will reach them... but once I get to parts I don't know, they start forming in my mind and on the screen and it feels amazing.
Yes this if how i feel a lot
I agreed to do something like this to my friend (she knew the main points, and I actually make it happen). So who cares I added few characters and comlicated things even more XD I finished only the first part though (out of two)
"You can't fix a blank page." What a beautiful quote.
Thank you for creating these videos. After watching them, I feel better about myself and my writing. Knowing that there are other people out there who experience the same things as me is so helpful and comforting. Thank you so much.
My characters end up changing the story a lot of times, destroying my outline. Sometimes, I'm happy with the changes. Sometimes, I say, "GRR" not, "great." I love your channel. I've read a few pages out of your book. You have talent.
I've run into that as well. I pantsed my first story, and it turned out great, but, yes, the story moved and shifted as I wrote. My second story was done with more of an outline, but was harder to write. That one too, also changed as it progressed. I think that's the nature of the beast. :-)
If you follow your characters, you will always end up In a more interesting place than you thought you were going. 😁
Great advice thank you. I didnt realize how long it actually takes to write a book. I always thought writers banged them out in a year. Not 2 to 5 years opened my eyes a bit. Ive bern writing my book off and on for years. Looking back now a lot of the advice you gave here i wish i had known. Thanks! You just gain a subscriber!
Very helpful! I love what you said about not being so focused on a goal that your well being is at risk. I’m pretty disciplined about getting up early to write... but have learned to pay attention when my body is crying out for more rest. It isn’t worth getting run down just to make that word count goal. If I take care of myself, I can make it up another day/week.
I just started watching Vivien's videos yesterday and I already LOVE them! They are so helpful and she explains things in ways anyone can understand! I am literally binge-watching all her videos. This is so great!
I fell like you're in a chill/ open mood this video. I like it!
I love this video. Your writing videos are always honest and helpful. For so long, I didn't write anything because no one told me that first drafts always suck. But they do. I think that's the most important thing that every younger writer should learn. Sometimes it sucks, but if you know it sucks, you just might be okay.
Thank you. x
This was great, you are getting better and better! You covered all direct and solid ideas here Vivien. I love learning from and through you and your radiant personality! Forced into early retirement because of health issues spurred me into finally going for my first book, suffered from the mid-point blues, got back on course, working on editing now. I hope you plan to continue on this solid foundation you have begun, you are so appreciated! Thank you again and have a great day!
Nate
Yes! I find myself analyzing TV shows, movies and books all the time. Plot-wise. And it makes it harder for to sink into those stories.
I wish I would listen to you right now. I set myself a (I thought realistic) minimum of 500 words a day. Meeting that would complete my first draft by December for a 175,000 word goal. I got stuck on a party scene that's ideal to deliver character development and information without exposition. But I HATE parties; I'm not a social person at all. I wound up going through the motions of a real event organizer, planning the party in meticulous detail; choosing a venue including obtaining floor plans for accessibility, catering, hiring a DJ, setting up lights and decorations, etc. Doing all this research solidified exactly where and when everything was in the world to allow the scene to develop naturally in its environment. It took a week of research. I was -working- on the book, but I wasn't writing. That set me back 3,500 words. I should totally take your advice and not stress over it, be more forgiving of my timelines and be flexible. But, I'm not. I'm going to sit here and stress out. Yayy.
i love your desk space!
I am trying to start writing the story about my mom who is diagnosed with ALS when I came across your channel. This video is very helpful and I will drown myself in your videos to be able to finish my very first book. 😊
Great advice, especially re: first drafts, pantser/plotter, and staying flexible. I'm in between a pantser and a plotter :)
Thanks so much for these kind of videos! Right now I'm starting to write something and can absolutely not think of the best way to start it.
Love that you're back to posting every week again! Any updates on when The Elysian Prophecy will come out?
I listened to ALL 15 tips except the last one, the one that said I won't listen.
..
Now I'm floating off in hyperspace watching windows of my former self crumpling back in time like soggy pages of a sci fi saga left out in the rain with no one to read it. Thanks Vivien! The tips were really helpful but I wished your last one didn't create an impossibility paradox. Now, how do I get out this dimension...
Murph! Murph!!
Hah hah! :-D
Excellent Video!! I am a pantser, I create a story idea or basis for one, then I start writing it. The only planning I am doing is creating schedule for story. If it a sport event, then i make schedule frist. Otherwise it is created as I go along. 20 manuscripts completed the same way. However, you have some excellent advice and thank you!!
haha same here! eclipse and rain. some ppl say it caused the rain tho, cuz its temperature change and yadiyada but man it was so annoying cuz i walked a mile to get glasses lol
Good vlog, Vivien Reis. It cleared many issues which the aspiring writers face.
Thanks for the encouragement. Been trying to write a book years. Stopped after seventeen chapters. Trying again.
Thanks so much for your help and guidance about my Novel writting skills, you have suggested important point that I can understand So everything is depend on me whatever and what to write but it is sure I will do it some people on social media spread rumers many types of procrastinate but it is not good they try to to miss me on other side and way but I am steadily going on my way, some other people don't give me interview from their website because of they're well trained, So I understand all the situation.
Thanks so much for your help and guidance.
Thank you I appreciate the advice. I came to several myself. I am a pantser and a terrible outliner. I think either you are or you aren't. On occasion if I think I will forget an idea I jot it down...what I wish I could really do was find all those little papers afterwards LOL. keep on vlogging
Recently discovered your content and you've helped kick me up the arse and write! Thanks.
Jimmy Fox same here (10months late though)
P.S. better late than never
First draft's don't always suck, but parts of them will have problems which doesn't mean it sucks. It means there is work to be done. The trick is to know your weaknesses and address them in copy editing. If you plot and outline correctly, IE understand how your structure will work, there shouldn't be content changes. If you build a house's structure soundly, the cosmetic aspects laid over it can vary like mad without harming the frame and foundation. If the siding is crooked, for example, pull it down and hang new siding, or use the same material but realigned it so it fits correctly.
Thanks for the advises, and also for the Progress Spreadsheet, I'll try to use them wisely!
Thank you for this!!! This time I'm ACTUALLY going to follow the advice. I'm learning about the first draft sucking. I'm also learning how not to hate myself for not managing the new "Pride and Prejudice" or "Great Expectations" on my first draft. I actually revised something!!!! Now I just have to do it again. And again. And again....
i have a suggestion for a video I really need right now, it's "how to make sure your PLOT makes any SENSE" i struggle with that so much ;-; i feel like plotting is my weak point as a writer and i just shove my nicely created characters into a whole bunch of mess i call a plot that doesn't make sense, has a lot of loose ends and would never logically happen if the story was real. i'm also curious to know if anyone has this same problem and we could talk about it.
Ryu Haruka I have a similar problem. There are so many subplots I try to squeeze in but I'm not sure my story makes sense with them. I also have trouble figuring out endings.
welllll my solution to it was reading more, procrastination and try looking for inspiration everywhere
RYU and Love Lyte (wow this got to a Korean Drama/ Japanese Manga rather quickly), the thing I found with Plots and subplots that may help you. Josh Waitzskin, who learned chess from Bobby Fischer, was taught to start learning the game by playing with the pieces at the end, in their most basic element. once he worked out how to win with only a king and a pawn vs. a King, they would add a piece. so maybe start with the ending where the subplots come together? then write the sub plots backwards into the gordian knot?
Mridul Sharma lol
Notice that 99% of stories have terrible plots. Not a single story of Steven King has a decent plot. What makes a story good is the characters and their conflicts. They create a glance into humanity.
Great advice. I, too, can't pants to save my life. Tried it and had to NUKE an entire novel because it couldn't be saved. Now I do what I like to call a "major points" outline. I know all the major plot points and I just work towards them. Thanks for sharing! :)
I'm loving this channel so much. I'm not a writer, I'm more of a translator and I feel like everything you mentioned here is very similar to translation as well.
I'm a complete beginner. In my first draft it was suck mainly 'cause I didn't have an outline nor a goal to the story I just wrote what came to mind, now I'm trying to see some vidoes and explore the basics then start writing
Your videos are very good. I am currently writing a novel and your advice is amazing. You've helped me so much, thank you.
Great video, thanks, Vivien! I have just crossed the 10k mark (goalpost yay) and all of these tips are so applicable... Especially the 'don't edit as you go' one. I found that my first attempts to some scenes turned into cringe compilations when I revisited them, but I guess that is part of the learning curve. Now my writing isn't totally so 'shitty' anymore.
Thanks for making these videos. Your advice has been pivotal in my writing endeavor. Thanks for inspiring and motivating me to follow my passion. I am currently a 3rd year mechanical engineering student and when I learnt that you were an engineer (mechanical if I remember correctly?) - I was like 'Ah - this can be done' and now I am 10k words closer to completing my first novel. Keep up the good work :)
"#15: You wont listen!"
I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. I'll rewind and watch it again. I'm Making Notes. (ll_ll)
I love this video! I would go crazy when I didn't meet my self-imposed deadlines. Now I am glad to know I am not the only one. I felt like a failure and like I wasn't serious about writing, because I couldn't meet the deadlines. And yes, I edited while writing SOOO MANY TIMES, and I never got past the first five chapters.
Can you show how to make an outline? How exactly you do/did it? Thank you :)
I love your voice. It's so angelic😇
I just gone back to the beginning of my book i have so many id to make it better than it was i love to write i have so much to do in my first book. Your c is helping me thanks
"It's okay if your writing is bad" is something I keep trying to tell myself while struggling through my first draft. I have to make myself not got back and re-read anything I wrote so I don't get down on myself.
These are all awesomeeeee tips!
Taylor Rae congratulations! You have your first draft! 😱 Awesome ma'am! Hope u publish ur story soon! 😄
Wow your channel has grown so much. Congratulations! And great video, as always.
Great video. I'm going to show it to lots of people. Subscribed.
You're awesome. Great books. Great tips. Great advice all around.
Epiphany for me.. especially to blocked writing (writer's block...) "You can't fix a blank page." Write...write..write.. Thanks Vivien!! Very much appreciate it!
Editing advice was crucial for me. When she said It doesn't make sense to edit until later because you might throw the chapter out. I could of kicked myself, Annoyed that I've spent more time editing than writing. Earlier this morning half of one chapter got deleted after realizing I had written to much details on some not that important charters. Vivien also pointed out to much details aren't good. Although it really does stick out like a sore thumb when re reading over some parts.
Hi, Vivien. I love your videos and they're a source of inspiration for my fledgling writing hobby. Have you done or would you consider doing a video on how to structure short stories?
Great advice! Thank you for sharing these with us!
I wish I had known that you don't have to have a vocabulary of extravagant words and every line does not have to be immaculate. The trick is to write the story like you're telling a friend. You don't run to the thesaurus every few minutes when you're talking to a friend. Just tell your story the most simple way possible. You can spice it up a bit later, but not too much.
Amazing advice, thank you!
That is funny. I just did a video today about feeling like my first draft was horrible. Thank you for the encouragement.
i find the tip on editing helpful, and how a first draft is not going to be perfect. the latter is gonna be hard to keep in mind as a perfectionist, but i have to try.
I love your videos so much ☺️ I was going to go to sleep but I'm watching this first 👌🏼 (I'm in the UK) keep doing what you're doing 💖
Well spoken. Really liked this video
Words cannot express how much I love your videos, thank you, thank you.
listened to and believed all of it. Thank you.
so true, i'm writhing my book for 2 years now (because of school and no time) but my book is still 20% of what i want to write. So number 6: writhing a book takes forever! is my life
Hi Vivien, I'm not sure if other users got this issue, but I noticed some audio issues with the video. Lot's of audio pops as if a microphone was being tapped. Not sure what's causing the issue but might want to be cognizant about it since it hasn't been in your previous vids.
Asides from that, thank you for uploading this! The tips here are very relevant and are things I wished I had known as well.
#5 tip makes so much sense! 😂 Sometimes I can't help but edit the words I'm reading, like how to tighten the writing. Vivien's right, it's both a blessing and a curse 😃
Number 15 is freaking amazing!!
I just got my first boon published. I write the book in 10 days flat. Though it has only 144 pages
Thank you very much, 'I'm writing a novel myself and it's tough
I planned to write a trilogy but after publishing the first book long before i started working on the sequel i realized there was so much i could have added to the first book, so is it wise to finish all three books first before publication?
taylor reece This is why it's so important to outline your whole plot. You can't be a pantser when it comes to writing series. The only thing you can do is kill your darlings. If you love an idea that needed to be mentioned in the first book really, then you are better off not including it at all.
Yeah, some writers advise to write your whole series first for that reason. Sure, you can outline, but nobody is perfect. Some writers advise (if not to write the whole trilogy) to write the next book in your series. That way, if you publish the first, the second publication date can follow closely while the hype is still there. But if you want to write all three before pitching to an agent/publisher, that would be even better!
Rashmika the Artsy is that so? Like is it better to make a complete version? I am afraid like.. what if the story turns out crappy and needs lots of changes? T.T that scares me!
I don't think reading like a writer (RLW) takes away from reading at all. I love books and writing my own. The best part about reading now is that it's enjoyment and writing research at the same time :)
(More a response to the comments than the vid)
Just watched your video (a year and a half later).
First, I would like to point out how cute and funny the girl you describe appears to be. Maybe a bit stubborn, with her head in the clouds, and probably delusional about her goals...but so cute and naive! It's good to be young.
On another note, I'm a young (yup I am) and will try to keep your advice in mind. Though, I will probably have to learn through my mistakes instead of other's.
Thank you for your video, it felt good to hear your thoughts as a writer.
The most useful video i watched indeed i give you 100 out of 10 Vivien Reis!
My pillar of everything writing :)
This video wasn't "pointless" at all.....THANKS!
Vivien, I just wanted to let you know I am taking your Tips/Tricks videos and the Master Outline from Better Novel Project to A|B test the commercial viability of a fictional novel. Feel free to check out videos I post on my channel (not a shill, I am keeping it as a diary of the struggle or success of taking the outline Literally, and don't expect followers from it) showing the weekly updates, figured you may want to as I will be talking about implementing some of your thoughts.
Only thing I would ask: I've created a twitter account for the project where I will be posting polls up to get input on the different cards outlined. If you do check that out and feel like the polls are structurally flawed, please feel free to let me know. any following or voting on the polls or whatever is not something I am asking you for. Love your work. PS hope you are doing well with Irma.
Thank you! This is great advice!
Awesome video! I've learned SO MUCH over the years and it's great to see what other writers have learned. :)
I think it would be a good idea to make a video on how to use 'foreshadowing'.
Thank you this was needed, I love your channel.
Vivien if i had watched this video earlier, i would've saved myself so much stress.
SOOO HELPFUL!!! NOW I'M REALLY ITCHING TO WRITE :D
The first book I had self-published, I had published after my Sophmore year of college. I knew it would be a big mistake and that is why I did it. Let me explain. I had reasoned that the first one would have the most mistakes. I knew that I did not know what had been involved in publishing a book. However, in 2008, self-publishing had been a new thing. I had already known how to edit and format text, fonts, kerning because back in the 1980s, I had read the big thick books Adobe had sent out on self-publishing with their software. And in the 1990s, I had gone on some tours of a few printing companies and learned how books are manufactured. In 2007, I did not know how to distribute books. Which is what I had really wanted to learn in the exercise. So I did not bother editing the book for mistakes, typing errors. It had been just a collection of rants that I had made on MySpace and I published them in a book along with the comments.
However, the lesson I had learned from that adventure had been that books are never completed. You just release them.
Now, I have decided to develop Video Novels. The goal is to write full-length novels [my novels are all 12 Chapters around 12,000 words a chapter or 144,000 words long] And on one side have the novel presented to the reader, but on the left-hand side have 3D animation created in iClone 3D animation software. The idea is to allow the book to be experienced as an animated graphic novel and read by voice actors. So for the people who want to read the novel, they can. For people who want to hear the novel, they can. And for the people who want the full video novel experience, they can do that too.
However, my process is different in that I publish straight to UA-cam. I feel that I am a fanfiction writer that creates stories people want to read but no one wants to publish.
The hardest thing I am finding is getting people to be alpha readers and beta readers. The only real reliable proofreader I have found is [Grammerly.com]. For my novels, I did the opposite of what you had done with romance. I went the hardcore romance to get practice at it then I went to a softer approach once I had found my stride or style. It had not been until I had been working on my fourth novel that I had developed the correct style for me when writing "risky" scenes. I had a hard time with "do I go more anatomically correct" in my approach or be"loose with words." However, I found my way by listening to Country Bluegrass music. I had realized that if I had written all the encounter scenes [eating, fighting, fleeing, mating] in a lyrical way than I could let the reader's imagination do the work for me. Along the way, I discovered a really good book called "If You Want to Write" by Brenda Ueland. I had purchased the audiobook so I can listen to it when I write.
I know this is probably long, but I am an INFJ type with OCD and ADHD and it is difficult for me to be brief. However, I have one more point.
I had decided to go to the UA-cam self-publishing route because I know that I can edit the books at any time or make different versions of the book. For me, I have learned to write the first draft at one time or the first layer of the editing process. This way, I can hear the book over and over again and think about how to change it. I tend to write several novels at the same time, and I do not write the titles in a linear way. Because I have ADHD, I write in a short burst called "snippets." Then I make a composite version so I can move things around if needed. I write all the encounter scenes last after I write the main parts of the story, my titles have a significant amount of human interaction because the books are written in the Burlesque Parody genre. Once I have the entire book laid out then I move to the second draft process which is drawing the plates, refine the factual information like dates, character names consistency, technical terminology, historical information.
To recap, the first book I had purposely got all the mistakes out of my system into that book. The first two video books that I had published on UA-cam have plenty of mistakes but I leave them up because I want to show how far my writing has progressed the more book titles that I release.
Thank you
I needed that today. Thank you
Well now that it's my second attempt at publishing my book (last time was self publishing. This time is professional). I've been slowly adding and improving and subtracting to the story and characters and such to finally finish soon. But honestly I may not be done with the series since it's the first one and I've spawned an extension and a sequel since I've started Lol...
This background is sooooo cute!!! 😍😍😍
I wish I could tell myself that my very first draft isn't going to be the one that sells. I'm sure alot of ppl have same problem.
DeathDefyingStar 1000 🙋guilty
I have an outline, but my characters seem to not be following it, especially two in particular - they seem to want to spit in the face of my outline and go their own way. I’m just going with it because the two characters are connected and I’m discovering things as I go…
Vivien, keep these videos coming! I have a part of my book where one of the characters get in a fight with four other boys his age. Should I name the other boys? It is hard writing the chapter using description to depict one boy from the other, and im sure it will be just as hard to read. Little help?
Can't fix a blank page. I wrote my first book fifteen years ago. Hated it. Thought I was the worst writer ever. It's taken me that long to pull it out and start the second draft
Clarky Clark wow! That was... Inspirational in a way!
Better late than never! 😃
I have started my first short read through Pantser writing. Yup, regretting it