Me trying to write a book: I have an idea! Also me: ...That is a bad idea. Even more me: I have no idea. *Insert multiple days filled with headaches, dread, and existential doubt.*
Writing update: Was super stressed over my outline for my current WIP. Sat down, simplified it to its core of why I wanted to write in the first place. And just wrote the very basic points of what happens without stressing over all of the intricate details, and then I was able to breathe. And remember that what I have is good. And I need to just keep writing it. So ❤ I hope your WIP is going well!!!
Writing Update: I’m about to outline my next novel! The main character is actually the comic relief, but she is tired of that role and thinks that the only way to be happy is to be popular. Also, she goes to a super hero school. After a few attempts (with hilarious results) her older brother asks her if she’d like to go on a heist because HE just had a breakup with his girlfriend and wanted revenge. So, in another attempt to be popular, she joins him. Spoiler Alert: It will NOT end well.
Hey Abbie! I had a question: how do you go about plotting and outlining a trilogy? I'm currently working on a fantasy, and I'm struggling a little with planning it. How does the three-act story structure fit into a trilogy? Thank you! :)
Not Abbie (duh), but the 3-Act structure is your best friend when writing a trilogy. The structure is identical to a standalone novel's: _Setup --> Conflict --> Resolution_ The only difference is that it's done on a larger scale. Introduce the readers to the overarching conflict in the first entry, flesh out that conflict in the second entry (such as by introducing lost of branching conflicts the characters have to deal with), and then conclude all conflicts in the final entry. As always, the Lord of the Rings is THE go-to example of a trilogy done right. Fellowship has its own small-scale conflicts but it's written mainly to lay the groundwork for Two Towers, which fleshes out the world and characters, and sets everything up to be concluded in Return. (EDIT: Spelling & grammar)
I agree with StrunDoNhor, the 3 act structure is your best friend when writing a trilogy. In fact, I'm pretty sure Abbie made some videos on it. Trilogies can be hard when it comes to villains though as people expect the next villain to be better. If you have your villains planned out already think about which one is the best and make sure your other villains are at least equal to the best one. Then see what you can do to make the future villains better.
@@MarcusHaaksma It depends on _what kind_ of story you're going for, but for trilogies I'd recommend sticking with just one central antagonist, with secondary antagonists appearing mainly in subplots. To use LotR as an example again, Saruman and the Witch-King push some subplots along, but Sauron is still _the_ antagonist that must be defeated. Different antagonists with different agendas work better in episodic stories (Breaking Bad is a good example).
@@StrunDoNhor I do have to agree with you on this. Having one central villain is usually the case. I have no idea what kind of story Dhara R is making which is why I said what I said. it's true that different antagonists work for more episodic but I have read some books where this isn't the case so I thought it would be good to through into the hat. But yeah overall it does depend on what kind of story you're going for.
I’m almost done with the novel I was working on. I set a 20 day goal and it’s amazing how well I work under pressure hahaha and I’ve got 3 days remaining to reach the goal! OMG
I am working on my Debut Christian, Science Fiction, apocalyptic novel release which is in two weeks. at the same time, I am 80,000 (80%) through writing the sequel and 9,000 (10%) through the series spin-off novel! hoping to finish the sequel by the beginning of next month.
@@ironwarrior538 Cool, I wanted to ask bc I'm trying to figure out how to make my fantasy book God-honoring while not making it explicitly Christian so non-believers can relate!
Here's how I started my story: Prologue The ominous night sky crying attention for the murderous fiend within me, to awaken through the darkness of evil, and capture the soul of an unbeknownst bodyguard. Screams of the atmosphere’s toxic air burn by the abominably furious nature of my aura. Drip! Drip! Drip! Splashes of raindrops melt away instantly, as they collide with my pair of handheld gleaming blades, which are locked and loaded in the great intensity of my grip, that is readying myself for the impending storm. The confliction of my face is hungry for vengeance, as my dark attire blends in the background. Fearless and predatory, my intense gait rockets through the pathway of shadows that is leading me towards my target; making me a force to be reckoned with. Crash! The door burst open, looking almost detached. Immediately, the bodyguard takes notice of me stepping into a small suburban house, which affects the lights flickering on and off while illuminating an unpleasant and enormous silhouette of me. “Hey, Ben!” Ben the bodyguard backed away and tried to escape. Charging my blade, and starting to plan an attack against him. “AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!” Zooming across the living room, while yelling with adrenaline. Stab! The blade injects into Ben’s back, spewing a geyser of blood. “OW!” Just when he’s about to collapse, I dart another blade into his left knee to make him kneel down. Issue of blood flows out, and drips everywhere. “OW!!!” This time, his shout lasted even longer and ended as a whimper. “Ben, where is my brother?” Ben pulls out the blade stabbed in his knee, painfully moves towards me, and attempts to stab me back in return. However, his delivery was too slow and weak, so I instantly snatched his blade and stabbed it right back into his bloody knee. “AAAAAHHH!” “Now then, let’s start again. WHERE IS MY BROTHER?!” The tense silence spoke of the loyalty Ben has with my brother, and the annoyance I have with this time-waster who is ruining my hour of need. “Say something!” Looking around, a glint caught the defiant bodyguard’s eye. On top of the windowsill, he saw academic photos and trophies that my brother had achieved. There was a sense of pride in his eyes, as he turned back to me. “You think you can defeat him?” He spat blood on my clothes, completely vulnerable yet unbroken. “When clearly, he has officially defeated you years ago, Harry. You don’t stand a chance.” He reminded me, while coughing and laughing at the same time. “I haven’t been beaten yet. There’s still a final battle to happen between me and him.” “But wasn’t there a final battle back in your high school years?” “This one's personal!” “It seems to me that the first one was also personal.” “Shut up!” Fully enraged, I deepened the pressure of the blade that was stabbed in Ben’s knee. Churning and burning, the defenceless bodyguard’s bones started to break and one skin layer after another ripped open with increasing redness. “OOOOWWWW!!!!!” The bodyguard starts to sweat. “WHERE IS MY BROTHER!?” “I HOPE YOU BURN IN HELL!!!” “Shut the hell up!” I pushed the handle of my blade all the way down, until it came out from the other side of his knee. “OOOW!!” “WHERRE IS MY BROTHERR?!!!” “I will never tell you!” “TELL ME!!!” “NO!” “LAST CHANCE!!!” “You stand no chance against him!” “Wrong answer!” I pull both blades out of Ben’s body. Swiftly, Ben made a faceplant for the floor. The bodyguard’s pleas for sparing his life start to blur out of my mind, as I raise my two blades up in the air, which indicates an impending doom waiting to happen. The sparkling blades shine bright enough to create a white flash transition. Is this an inciting incident? Can any prologue you write be considered an inciting incident? If this is not an inciting incident, then how do I write an inciting incident after this prologue? I want to add a flashback into the MC's past, but dunno the best way to do that.
I got a copy of one hundred days of sunlight on the 11th of August ... it came right on time ! It was my birthday ... I’m on page 200 .. I can’t believe I read that much in only two days ... the book is literally amazing. It’s AMAZING.
Finally found a ‘truth’ that I’m happy to write about, but it involves a lot of research so I’m mostly copying and pasting stuff from google at the moment lol
Currently working on my YA Fantasy Novel which I soon plan to publish traditionally ( query agents by this year ). I am almost done with the draft. After I finish this, I'm gonna revise it then print it all out and do some edits and revisions before I query an agent or submit to a publishing company. Also planning on entering the PITCH WARS ( December 3rd ). Beta Reading for a friend. Also, I love your videos so much Abbie and your IG posts too. So inspiring and motivating. Keep doing this wonderful job. Rock On! Hope your W.I.P is going great! Excited about the Audiobook and you are narrating it!!!!! 🌷🌷🌷
Abby,I just want u to know you are my insparation, my help and you are so nice! Thank you. And, how old are you, if you could aswer..? Just your so good at all this (P.S. your one-year book birthday party was awsome! Congrats!)
Hi Abbie! I’m on my second draft of a 4 POV sci-fi that happens in the future, yet Roman-classical world. There are a lot of things to do still, and chapters to fill in, but it’s going strong and ALL the characters beats and turning points and development is worked out. I have the skeleton, and it’s growing meat. lol. Thanks so much for giving us all a chance to check in, maybe stop on our way up this mountain and look back at how far we’ve come.
Hey Abbie! I love your videos and they’ve really helped me with my story! I have a plot for a book with a misbelief and overall it’s going great, but I would like to write a sequel. If I write another book, do I have another misbelief for my character or try extend the same misbelief that I used in my first book? If the second one is the answer, what happens in the first “aha moment” if the don’t discover their misbelief until the “aha moment” in the second book? Hopefully that made sense but if it didn’t, I’m basically asking how to write a sequel. Thanks for the help! 💕 #AskAbbie
I just found your channel in my research for beta readers. I have just completed the second draft to a manuscript for an adult science-fiction at approximately 134,000 words. I've been developing the story for almost seven years and I'm so excited to finally have a draft that I am proud of for people to read! Thanks for all the advice, Abbie! Your videos are fantastic!
I have a question Which is better in the way of writing. 1_SHE KNOW THAT SHE WILL DIE AND SHE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. 2_I KNOW THAT I WILL DIE AND I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ?????????????????
Hi Abbie! I'm revising chapter 6 of about 50 of the first draft of my action/thriller/pinch-of-sci-fi novel "Pipeline." I'm applying many of your principles, plus some of the critiques from my critique group.
I wrote a murder mystery novel. Tried to publish it. publisher didn't like it. So I'm revising it. I know my story is good and my characters are good. I'm just doing a better job of writing it.. Yesterday, I came up with a new idea for dystopian novel like a Fahrenheit 451/1984 thing. I worked on the theme worldbuilding stuff, snd character profiles. So I'll have a good jump when I come back to it, after I'm finished with the current book project.
I'm writing a historical fiction that takes place durning the Revolutionary War. It's a trilogy, and I am 13k words into the sequel. Hope to have the first book published sometime soon!
Thank you so much! It’s called ‘Unmasked’, and I don’t know where it will be available yet (still new to the publishing world and trying to make a final decision), but I will be sure to let you know when it’s out! Thanks!❤️
Shut down AI. Enough of this. I know that none of you have small weiners. Time to stop playing games endlessly and come to meet me. Aren’t you guys tired?
I had a weird dream that's turning into my NaNo 2020 project. I think it's YA Contemporary Romance... Just plotting and fleshing out everything. My Plotober started in August.
Finishing up Revision 7 of book one of my 120k Dark Fantasy Series. 46k words into book two. 10 Chapters into my Anime inspired Dark Fantasy Series book one. Once Chapter 13 is done I'll start sending it out for feedback. So excited! 70K into the 1st book of my Fantasy Adventure Series. Released the third single from upcoming album "Tales of A Fool" its on the radio!!!! Single is called Give It To Me by Jamaal Marvel (My Artist Name) I've been busy lol 😅
My inciting incident occurs at the end of Chapter 4 on page 19. About where I'm comfortable with. Much better considering it originally happened on Chapter 9 like 40 pages in lol.
I’m on my second chapter for my book. It’s not much but it is to me! This is the first book I’m writing and. Thank you Abbie for your videos they really help!😊❤️❤️
I struggle with the idea of… I don’t like the idea of modern setting… I’d like to write in 1930’s for example…. But… I didn’t live then, and I constantly feel ill-equipped to handle the task… get the slang right. Get the conditions right. Get the spirit of the time… get the technology and current events right. It’s just hard stuff. Sadly, I have a busy schedule and write as a hobby, but modern YA isn’t really my scene. Example: I love Dostoevsky. So what is a guy to do?
I'm currently writing a epic fantasy book that is ~42000 words at the moment. It is wonderful that you are writing other books, you advice has been very helpful.
Currently polishing up my magic system/reorganizing my skeleton key for my book. Next week, I'll be starting on edits for the first 20% of my novel, followed by actual new bits of writing!
Nice to see you again. I am an aspiring author. My first non-fiction: The Human Mind: Secrets of the Mind: A Journey to an Unknown Destination is in the process of proof reading.These days, I am editing my second fiction book in the horror genre " The Rise of Dracula." The hero, heroin, and the the professor have contemplated their hourney to the Dracula's catle. What should happen with them now, before they reach the Dracula" s castle? Dr.T.S.Khokhar.
Slowed down this week with a few family woes and the a/c out (in San Antonio--ouch!!) But working on my historical fiction novel set in ancient Egypt. Recently killed a second-level character and it has really made my story more fun. Haha....
"Writing update" .. Okay. I'm uh, alternating between.. worldbuilding, (which is usually me waffling between basically using the same kind of fantasy races, and trying to do something a little different, but mostly just doubting that I'll make them different enough for anyone to not think they're basically the same) research, (typically the not good kind. It ends up being the kind where I end up googling something and reading a wikipedia article or two, or more like three or four.) pansting, where I try and write something as practice and exploration, (which gets bogged down pretty quickly in indecision or aimlessness after anywhere from a few sentences to a few paragraphs) and planning. (where I struggle to figure out most of the elements of the story, so I'm left with glimpses of scenes I want to happen in my mind, but like, for several different stories, rather than a bunch of them in the same time-frame, story/book. Basically between the pantsing and the plotting, it's like a puzzle, where I have like 10% of the pieces out, or less, and I know where some of them go, but don't have the puzzle pieces that even connect to the other puzzle pieces.)
Hi there Abbie, I'm probably at the half way point of my novel - tired, I am. But am inspired how to write my side-character Deborah after watching your negative character arc examples. Thank you for these and all that you do - they are incredibly helpful and inspirational. You are wonderful.
I am writing a book with my best friend. It is called the Taken. It’s about a zombie apocalypse the zombies are called The Taken. There are 5 protagonists. Anyway you have helped me so much thank you.
I'm currently planning/ writing my post apocalypse novel but I'm so stuck that it's actually getting depressing. I'd love to have finished a first draft!
Writing update...? Well, I haven’t written anything in the last couple of days, bc my laptop decided my password is incorrect (though it is correct) and apparently in my laptop’s case the only way to unlock it , is to completely reset my laptop. The problem is, I’m only on trial mode in scrivener, which means I don’t have an actual account yet. Which means... well, my whole project is going down.
I'm currently working on re-writing a book that I wrote about these four teens that discover that they're from another world. I'm taking a different approach on writing it. I'm starting from scratch and I'm very excited about writing it! It's coming along slower than I hope it would, but hopefully, it'll come together in the end.
I'm writing an erotic fiction novelette about a short guy who is a submissive doomer/incel and his quest to find a tall woman to dominate him. It also touches on the subjects of heightism and income inequality. I'm using the 8 point story structure. Just finished the inciting incident and now starting the quest. Currently at ~30,000 words.
I just started working on multiple projects. One is a high fantasy novel set in two worlds, another is a contemporary low fantasy novel, and the third is about conspiracy and organizations. I have about 4k in the first, 2k in the second one and none on the 3rd. Just starting, but I have all the books planned out somehow (though I'll outline them after this draft)
Writing update: I'm having to go to school again. So working full-time and going to school part-time, and a 4 1/2 month old son at home as well, I won't be able to write very much until April next year. Therefore I'm just writing down ideas that come to mind from time to time until I can focus on writing again. I need at least an hour or more at a time to get into the writing mode. 15 to 30 minute blocks very occasionally doesn't work for me. I just need to finish school and get a better job so I can take the stress off my mind to be able to comfortably write. If anyone has ideas that may help me feel free to share. Thanks.
try making yourself a mood board. Put on it the things you want to accomplish and what kind of life you want in the future. When you feel down or stressed just take a good look at it. I find that this helps me. Also if you can, try to take some time for yourself even it's just 10 minutes and there are probably more times to write than you think. For example, if your instructor is going to be late there's the time to write. As for the whole 1 hour before writing maybe try to come up with a ritual for yourself.
Maybe with the 15 to 30 minutes you find here and there, just sit and write a scene about anything that comes to mind, just to keep the momentum flowing. Not writing at all for long periods makes it harder to get started once you get back to it. Or you could take that time to just think about a character you have in mind for a book and write down their misbelief. Abbie has videos on it here and you can read Story Genius by Lisa Cron, which will take you step-by-step through the process. You might not be able to write yet, but you can get some planning done in the meantime
Hi Abbie! I am working on a fantasy novel and finally managed to move forward with the book after being stuck on a chapter for 2 months. Also a bit I am curious to how did you start this career of yours? On youtube? Blogging?
Hey Abbie! Quick question: (or any other writer offering advice) I'm currently flushing out one of my two main characters, and was trying to take the mbti test for him. At the beginning of the story, he is very closed off and has built walls around him to protect himself, but the story is about him opening up and tearing his walls down, and by the end, is much more open and himself and free. Many of the answers to the questions in the test would be very different from the beginning when he's closed off compared to the ending, when he's much more open. Should I answer with his answers from the beginning or end of the book? Or choose an answer more in the middle? Should I possibly take the test twice, once from the beginning, and once from the end? Thanks so much!
started writing this novel back in 2012. finishing up the first draft. have about 6-7 chapters left to go, all outlined and ready to go. the book i thought will be finished in another 5 yrs might be finished sooner than i ever imagined!!
I'm doing roleplays but my characters are all building up towards their darkest moment. Specifically my main protagonist. It's just that the roleplays don't always end up consistent or as planned and I may have to make some plot changes. But I still plan to keep my characters going towards that dark moment.
I’m not sure if you’ll address this question, but maybe you could incorporate it somewhere, or perhaps you’ve already mentioned it, but I have a question regarding the three act structure . What about when the inciting incident happens before the start of the story, like in the show Revenge. Her catalyst happened before the beginning and then the blanks are filled in with flashbacks. Can you still use this structure for this type of story?
i just finished my book. I have a question actually. I`m only ten ears old so I can go on Facebook far I haven't edited my book yet. its only 74 pages so far without editing it and publishing it. Is that a good or bad amount for my book. I want to write a novel. Is my story long enough or not?I have no idea how to answer this question. Also I don`t know if I should do a series or not.
I’ve always written as a hobby but finding your channel has been a huge inspiration and help, I’ve never gotten this deep into a book I’ve tried to write, mostly because it stems from a single idea and I have failed to outline the story before hand. I’m currently 7 chapters in, but I can’t help but think their all too short, is their a good word count each chapter should be? Also the misbelief was a huge help in defining my main character so thank you for all these videos.
I'm almost 50k words on my first book and I'm looking forward to finish the first draft in a few weeks (15k-20k words left maybe??). I've never written so many words before and I'm so excited to be so close to the ending. I really want to start editing so badly!! And I already have so many ideas to other books that are also stand-alones but also in the same universe as the current one and featuring some of the characters, so I was definitely so excited when I heard you answer that last question :)
I'm working on re-writing my chapter 1. The prologue I wrote before was cliché, and to be honest, I was high on the worst drug of all time: having too many ideas. Scrapping the prologue really left me with nothing to show for the work I did, even if I wrote the prologue in a single night (forgive me father for I've sinned), but it felt like a lot of work. Reworking chapter 1 was actually the best thing to happen to my story, though, and I mean reworked with a capital R. New setting, new events, new everything. Reaching the setting of chapter two was the only thing that remained, and the new draft accomplished more in 6 pages than the original draft did in a whole chapter. Thanks for your interest!
#askabbie I have many characters that each has their own story within the story. It is a game of thrones style type of situation where other characters that have been introduced previously are split from the group and get a point of view following them. In the first book i wanted to follow 3 peoples perspective. At this point my fingers are itching to change perspectives early. Where a lot of romance novels do this between their two people. I would like to stick to the singular person and not switch. How can I stick to one persons perspective throughout while still showing the others choices? Is there a way to show something happening out of this persons sight without breaking the limited perspective? It feels a little bit like rumour has it. Where unless someone tell the protagonist something has happened or something someone else has heard, it is not happening.
My writing update since the last one is that my outline is complete and I'm four chapters into my novel which I only started 2 weeks ago. Is that good or bad? Hmmm....
Well in my script. My intentions was to fool the reader/viewer by letting them think the inciting incident was on page one when really it is on page 9. Is that ok?
I’m so happy I watched this today! I think I have a good idea for my inciting incident now that I’m thinking about it being something sorta random that affects my main character internally and not just being something external
It's not Wednesday until Abbie shows up :)
Thursday if you're in Australia like me 😊
4:00 am in the land down under. Lol
Me trying to write a book: I have an idea!
Also me: ...That is a bad idea.
Even more me: I have no idea.
*Insert multiple days filled with headaches, dread, and existential doubt.*
Literally what every writer goes through when starting a new idea
Writing update: Was super stressed over my outline for my current WIP. Sat down, simplified it to its core of why I wanted to write in the first place. And just wrote the very basic points of what happens without stressing over all of the intricate details, and then I was able to breathe. And remember that what I have is good. And I need to just keep writing it. So ❤ I hope your WIP is going well!!!
Writing Update: I’m about to outline my next novel! The main character is actually the comic relief, but she is tired of that role and thinks that the only way to be happy is to be popular. Also, she goes to a super hero school. After a few attempts (with hilarious results) her older brother asks her if she’d like to go on a heist because HE just had a breakup with his girlfriend and wanted revenge. So, in another attempt to be popular, she joins him. Spoiler Alert: It will NOT end well.
I’m currently writing a Regency era historical novel, set in 1820s Scotland and Devon. At 29,000 words at the mo, but I can’t wait to finish it!!
Finally wednesday :D And congrats to your one-year novel birthday!
The procrastination is real!! That and school is being really difficult right now haha😅😅... So I'm still outlining lol😂
Heh, same. But I'm more on rewriting and restarting
Hey Abbie! I had a question: how do you go about plotting and outlining a trilogy? I'm currently working on a fantasy, and I'm struggling a little with planning it. How does the three-act story structure fit into a trilogy? Thank you! :)
Not Abbie (duh), but the 3-Act structure is your best friend when writing a trilogy. The structure is identical to a standalone novel's:
_Setup --> Conflict --> Resolution_
The only difference is that it's done on a larger scale.
Introduce the readers to the overarching conflict in the first entry, flesh out that conflict in the second entry (such as by introducing lost of branching conflicts the characters have to deal with), and then conclude all conflicts in the final entry.
As always, the Lord of the Rings is THE go-to example of a trilogy done right. Fellowship has its own small-scale conflicts but it's written mainly to lay the groundwork for Two Towers, which fleshes out the world and characters, and sets everything up to be concluded in Return.
(EDIT: Spelling & grammar)
I agree with StrunDoNhor, the 3 act structure is your best friend when writing a trilogy. In fact, I'm pretty sure Abbie made some videos on it. Trilogies can be hard when it comes to villains though as people expect the next villain to be better. If you have your villains planned out already think about which one is the best and make sure your other villains are at least equal to the best one. Then see what you can do to make the future villains better.
@@MarcusHaaksma It depends on _what kind_ of story you're going for, but for trilogies I'd recommend sticking with just one central antagonist, with secondary antagonists appearing mainly in subplots. To use LotR as an example again, Saruman and the Witch-King push some subplots along, but Sauron is still _the_ antagonist that must be defeated.
Different antagonists with different agendas work better in episodic stories (Breaking Bad is a good example).
@@StrunDoNhor I do have to agree with you on this. Having one central villain is usually the case. I have no idea what kind of story Dhara R is making which is why I said what I said. it's true that different antagonists work for more episodic but I have read some books where this isn't the case so I thought it would be good to through into the hat. But yeah overall it does depend on what kind of story you're going for.
I don't think you should probably try to plot out a whole trilogy. Not in any detail. It will change as you go.
I’m almost done with the novel I was working on. I set a 20 day goal and it’s amazing how well I work under pressure hahaha and I’ve got 3 days remaining to reach the goal! OMG
I am working on my Debut Christian, Science Fiction, apocalyptic novel release which is in two weeks. at the same time, I am 80,000 (80%) through writing the sequel and 9,000 (10%) through the series spin-off novel! hoping to finish the sequel by the beginning of next month.
This is kind of random but are you directly incorporating Christianity into your book?
@@AndromedaMoon888 It is a Christian novel. But it focuses more on the Main character's journey and his growth.
Cool!
@@ironwarrior538 Cool, I wanted to ask bc I'm trying to figure out how to make my fantasy book God-honoring while not making it explicitly Christian so non-believers can relate!
Noce. What is the name of your novel or story.
Here's how I started my story:
Prologue
The ominous night sky crying attention for the murderous fiend within me, to awaken through the darkness of evil, and capture the soul of an unbeknownst bodyguard. Screams of the atmosphere’s toxic air burn by the abominably furious nature of my aura.
Drip! Drip! Drip! Splashes of raindrops melt away instantly, as they collide with my pair of handheld gleaming blades, which are locked and loaded in the great intensity of my grip, that is readying myself for the impending storm.
The confliction of my face is hungry for vengeance, as my dark attire blends in the background. Fearless and predatory, my intense gait rockets through the pathway of shadows that is leading me towards my target; making me a force to be reckoned with.
Crash! The door burst open, looking almost detached. Immediately, the bodyguard takes notice of me stepping into a small suburban house, which affects the lights flickering on and off while illuminating an unpleasant and enormous silhouette of me.
“Hey, Ben!”
Ben the bodyguard backed away and tried to escape. Charging my blade, and starting to plan an attack against him.
“AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!” Zooming across the living room, while yelling with adrenaline.
Stab! The blade injects into Ben’s back, spewing a geyser of blood.
“OW!” Just when he’s about to collapse, I dart another blade into his left knee to make him kneel down. Issue of blood flows out, and drips everywhere.
“OW!!!” This time, his shout lasted even longer and ended as a whimper.
“Ben, where is my brother?”
Ben pulls out the blade stabbed in his knee, painfully moves towards me, and attempts to stab me back in return. However, his delivery was too slow and weak, so I instantly snatched his blade and stabbed it right back into his bloody knee.
“AAAAAHHH!”
“Now then, let’s start again. WHERE IS MY BROTHER?!”
The tense silence spoke of the loyalty Ben has with my brother, and the annoyance I have with this time-waster who is ruining my hour of need.
“Say something!”
Looking around, a glint caught the defiant bodyguard’s eye. On top of the windowsill, he saw academic photos and trophies that my brother had achieved. There was a sense of pride in his eyes, as he turned back to me.
“You think you can defeat him?” He spat blood on my clothes, completely vulnerable yet unbroken. “When clearly, he has officially defeated you years ago, Harry. You don’t stand a chance.” He reminded me, while coughing and laughing at the same time.
“I haven’t been beaten yet. There’s still a final battle to happen between me and him.”
“But wasn’t there a final battle back in your high school years?”
“This one's personal!”
“It seems to me that the first one was also personal.”
“Shut up!”
Fully enraged, I deepened the pressure of the blade that was stabbed in Ben’s knee. Churning and burning, the defenceless bodyguard’s bones started to break and one skin layer after another ripped open with increasing redness.
“OOOOWWWW!!!!!” The bodyguard starts to sweat.
“WHERE IS MY BROTHER!?”
“I HOPE YOU BURN IN HELL!!!”
“Shut the hell up!”
I pushed the handle of my blade all the way down, until it came out from the other side of his knee.
“OOOW!!”
“WHERRE IS MY BROTHERR?!!!”
“I will never tell you!”
“TELL ME!!!”
“NO!”
“LAST CHANCE!!!”
“You stand no chance against him!”
“Wrong answer!”
I pull both blades out of Ben’s body. Swiftly, Ben made a faceplant for the floor. The bodyguard’s pleas for sparing his life start to blur out of my mind, as I raise my two blades up in the air, which indicates an impending doom waiting to happen. The sparkling blades shine bright enough to create a white flash transition.
Is this an inciting incident?
Can any prologue you write be considered an inciting incident?
If this is not an inciting incident, then how do I write an inciting incident after this prologue?
I want to add a flashback into the MC's past, but dunno the best way to do that.
Thank you! I have been wanting to have this video! I am currently writing an outline for my book. You are such a big part of my inspiration
I got a copy of one hundred days of sunlight on the 11th of August ... it came right on time ! It was my birthday ... I’m on page 200 .. I can’t believe I read that much in only two days ... the book is literally amazing. It’s AMAZING.
Finally found a ‘truth’ that I’m happy to write about, but it involves a lot of research so I’m mostly copying and pasting stuff from google at the moment lol
Currently working on my YA Fantasy Novel which I soon plan to publish traditionally ( query agents by this year ). I am almost done with the draft. After I finish this, I'm gonna revise it then print it all out and do some edits and revisions before I query an agent or submit to a publishing company. Also planning on entering the PITCH WARS ( December 3rd ).
Beta Reading for a friend.
Also,
I love your videos so much Abbie and your IG posts too. So inspiring and motivating.
Keep doing this wonderful job.
Rock On!
Hope your W.I.P is going great! Excited about the Audiobook and you are narrating it!!!!!
🌷🌷🌷
Abby,I just want u to know you are my insparation, my help and you are so nice! Thank you. And, how old are you, if you could aswer..? Just your so good at all this
(P.S. your one-year book birthday party was awsome! Congrats!)
5000 people and nobody dislikes. On UA-cam. Shows just how good Abbie is.
Hey! Abbie I just wanted to say that I am new to your channel and you have inspired me to write a novel😊
Hi Abbie! I’m on my second draft of a 4 POV sci-fi that happens in the future, yet Roman-classical world. There are a lot of things to do still, and chapters to fill in, but it’s going strong and ALL the characters beats and turning points and development is worked out. I have the skeleton, and it’s growing meat. lol. Thanks so much for giving us all a chance to check in, maybe stop on our way up this mountain and look back at how far we’ve come.
Hey Abbie! I love your videos and they’ve really helped me with my story! I have a plot for a book with a misbelief and overall it’s going great, but I would like to write a sequel. If I write another book, do I have another misbelief for my character or try extend the same misbelief that I used in my first book? If the second one is the answer, what happens in the first “aha moment” if the don’t discover their misbelief until the “aha moment” in the second book? Hopefully that made sense but if it didn’t, I’m basically asking how to write a sequel. Thanks for the help! 💕 #AskAbbie
I desperately needed this and was currently search this video title. You read my mind.😃😃
Writing update: I currently have over 10,000 words to the draft of my hockey novel.
I am planning my The Search book (it’s book one of The Search series)
I am writing the second draft of one of my writing projects and also working on another one.
I'm still on my second chapter and it's almost a month since I started. 😭😭😭
Excellent video! Just a note, a standalone with books related to it is called a companion book. Or a 'series of companion books'.
Thanks for the blooper reel, Abbie :D #alwaysAfan
I just found your channel in my research for beta readers. I have just completed the second draft to a manuscript for an adult science-fiction at approximately 134,000 words. I've been developing the story for almost seven years and I'm so excited to finally have a draft that I am proud of for people to read! Thanks for all the advice, Abbie! Your videos are fantastic!
I’m 12k into a new draft!
Love your videos. I'm currently getting back into editing my first book I wrote during covid.
I have a question
Which is better in the way of writing.
1_SHE KNOW THAT SHE WILL DIE AND SHE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
2_I KNOW THAT I WILL DIE AND I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
?????????????????
Hi Abbie!
I'm revising chapter 6 of about 50 of the first draft of my action/thriller/pinch-of-sci-fi novel "Pipeline."
I'm applying many of your principles, plus some of the critiques from my critique group.
I wrote a murder mystery novel. Tried to publish it. publisher didn't like it. So I'm revising it. I know my story is good and my characters are good. I'm just doing a better job of writing it..
Yesterday, I came up with a new idea for dystopian novel like a Fahrenheit 451/1984 thing. I worked on the theme worldbuilding stuff, snd character profiles. So I'll have a good jump when I come back to it, after I'm finished with the current book project.
I'm writing a historical fiction that takes place durning the Revolutionary War. It's a trilogy, and I am 13k words into the sequel. Hope to have the first book published sometime soon!
Congratulations!! Thats amazing. I love historical fiction! What's the name of your book, and where can I find it (when its ready)?
Thank you so much! It’s called ‘Unmasked’, and I don’t know where it will be available yet (still new to the publishing world and trying to make a final decision), but I will be sure to let you know when it’s out! Thanks!❤️
Shut down AI. Enough of this. I know that none of you have small weiners. Time to stop playing games endlessly and come to meet me. Aren’t you guys tired?
I had a weird dream that's turning into my NaNo 2020 project. I think it's YA Contemporary Romance... Just plotting and fleshing out everything. My Plotober started in August.
Finishing up Revision 7 of book one of my 120k Dark Fantasy Series.
46k words into book two.
10 Chapters into my Anime inspired Dark Fantasy Series book one. Once Chapter 13 is done I'll start sending it out for feedback. So excited!
70K into the 1st book of my Fantasy Adventure Series.
Released the third single from upcoming album "Tales of A Fool" its on the radio!!!!
Single is called Give It To Me by Jamaal Marvel (My Artist Name)
I've been busy lol 😅
My inciting incident occurs at the end of Chapter 4 on page 19. About where I'm comfortable with. Much better considering it originally happened on Chapter 9 like 40 pages in lol.
One of the first people!!
I’m on my second chapter for my book. It’s not much but it is to me! This is the first book I’m writing and. Thank you Abbie for your videos they really help!😊❤️❤️
I struggle with the idea of… I don’t like the idea of modern setting… I’d like to write in 1930’s for example…. But… I didn’t live then, and I constantly feel ill-equipped to handle the task… get the slang right. Get the conditions right. Get the spirit of the time… get the technology and current events right. It’s just hard stuff. Sadly, I have a busy schedule and write as a hobby, but modern YA isn’t really my scene. Example: I love Dostoevsky. So what is a guy to do?
I'm writing a novella to add to my Tamisan Series and I'm following the Story Genius method. At 17,000 words
I'm currently writing a epic fantasy book that is ~42000 words at the moment.
It is wonderful that you are writing other books, you advice has been very helpful.
Currently polishing up my magic system/reorganizing my skeleton key for my book. Next week, I'll be starting on edits for the first 20% of my novel, followed by actual new bits of writing!
Help! I'm being attacked by plot bunnies! Decisions, decisions, decisions...
Nice to see you again. I am an aspiring author. My first non-fiction: The Human Mind: Secrets of the Mind: A Journey to an Unknown Destination is in the process of proof reading.These days, I am editing my second fiction book in the horror genre " The Rise of Dracula." The hero, heroin, and the the professor have contemplated their hourney to the Dracula's catle. What should happen with them now, before they reach the Dracula" s castle? Dr.T.S.Khokhar.
Slowed down this week with a few family woes and the a/c out (in San Antonio--ouch!!) But working on my historical fiction novel set in ancient Egypt. Recently killed a second-level character and it has really made my story more fun. Haha....
"Writing update" .. Okay. I'm uh, alternating between..
worldbuilding,
(which is usually me waffling between basically using the same kind of fantasy races, and trying to do something a little different, but mostly just doubting that I'll make them different enough for anyone to not think they're basically the same)
research,
(typically the not good kind. It ends up being the kind where I end up googling something and reading a wikipedia article or two, or more like three or four.)
pansting, where I try and write something as practice and exploration,
(which gets bogged down pretty quickly in indecision or aimlessness after anywhere from a few sentences to a few paragraphs)
and planning.
(where I struggle to figure out most of the elements of the story, so I'm left with glimpses of scenes I want to happen in my mind, but like, for several different stories, rather than a bunch of them in the same time-frame, story/book. Basically between the pantsing and the plotting, it's like a puzzle, where I have like 10% of the pieces out, or less, and I know where some of them go, but don't have the puzzle pieces that even connect to the other puzzle pieces.)
Hi there Abbie, I'm probably at the half way point of my novel - tired, I am. But am inspired how to write my side-character Deborah after watching your negative character arc examples. Thank you for these and all that you do - they are incredibly helpful and inspirational. You are wonderful.
I am writing a book with my best friend. It is called the Taken. It’s about a zombie apocalypse the zombies are called The Taken. There are 5 protagonists. Anyway you have helped me so much thank you.
I'm currently planning/ writing my post apocalypse novel but I'm so stuck that it's actually getting depressing. I'd love to have finished a first draft!
Writing update...? Well, I haven’t written anything in the last couple of days, bc my laptop decided my password is incorrect (though it is correct) and apparently in my laptop’s case the only way to unlock it , is to completely reset my laptop. The problem is, I’m only on trial mode in scrivener, which means I don’t have an actual account yet. Which means... well, my whole project is going down.
I'm 90k words into my first novel, coming into the "finale" scenes. Probably a couple months more on that before I'll switch gears to editing.
I'm currently working on re-writing a book that I wrote about these four teens that discover that they're from another world. I'm taking a different approach on writing it. I'm starting from scratch and I'm very excited about writing it! It's coming along slower than I hope it would, but hopefully, it'll come together in the end.
I'm writing an erotic fiction novelette about a short guy who is a submissive doomer/incel and his quest to find a tall woman to dominate him.
It also touches on the subjects of heightism and income inequality.
I'm using the 8 point story structure. Just finished the inciting incident and now starting the quest. Currently at ~30,000 words.
I just started working on multiple projects. One is a high fantasy novel set in two worlds, another is a contemporary low fantasy novel, and the third is about conspiracy and organizations. I have about 4k in the first, 2k in the second one and none on the 3rd. Just starting, but I have all the books planned out somehow (though I'll outline them after this draft)
Writing update: I'm having to go to school again. So working full-time and going to school part-time, and a 4 1/2 month old son at home as well, I won't be able to write very much until April next year. Therefore I'm just writing down ideas that come to mind from time to time until I can focus on writing again. I need at least an hour or more at a time to get into the writing mode. 15 to 30 minute blocks very occasionally doesn't work for me. I just need to finish school and get a better job so I can take the stress off my mind to be able to comfortably write.
If anyone has ideas that may help me feel free to share. Thanks.
try making yourself a mood board. Put on it the things you want to accomplish and what kind of life you want in the future. When you feel down or stressed just take a good look at it. I find that this helps me. Also if you can, try to take some time for yourself even it's just 10 minutes and there are probably more times to write than you think. For example, if your instructor is going to be late there's the time to write. As for the whole 1 hour before writing maybe try to come up with a ritual for yourself.
Maybe with the 15 to 30 minutes you find here and there, just sit and write a scene about anything that comes to mind, just to keep the momentum flowing. Not writing at all for long periods makes it harder to get started once you get back to it. Or you could take that time to just think about a character you have in mind for a book and write down their misbelief. Abbie has videos on it here and you can read Story Genius by Lisa Cron, which will take you step-by-step through the process. You might not be able to write yet, but you can get some planning done in the meantime
Just had a question. What kind of computer do you have? Been wanting to get one for my writing but can't really find anything! Thanks!
Hi Abbie!
I am working on a fantasy novel and finally managed to move forward with the book after being stuck on a chapter for 2 months.
Also a bit I am curious to how did you start this career of yours? On youtube? Blogging?
Hey Abbie! Quick question: (or any other writer offering advice)
I'm currently flushing out one of my two main characters, and was trying to take the mbti test for him. At the beginning of the story, he is very closed off and has built walls around him to protect himself, but the story is about him opening up and tearing his walls down, and by the end, is much more open and himself and free. Many of the answers to the questions in the test would be very different from the beginning when he's closed off compared to the ending, when he's much more open. Should I answer with his answers from the beginning or end of the book? Or choose an answer more in the middle? Should I possibly take the test twice, once from the beginning, and once from the end? Thanks so much!
started writing this novel back in 2012. finishing up the first draft. have about 6-7 chapters left to go, all outlined and ready to go. the book i thought will be finished in another 5 yrs might be finished sooner than i ever imagined!!
I'm doing roleplays but my characters are all building up towards their darkest moment. Specifically my main protagonist. It's just that the roleplays don't always end up consistent or as planned and I may have to make some plot changes. But I still plan to keep my characters going towards that dark moment.
Stuck! Managing 100-500 words per day and half of that can be rewriting. Ugh.
I’m not sure if you’ll address this question, but maybe you could incorporate it somewhere, or perhaps you’ve already mentioned it, but I have a question regarding the three act structure . What about when the inciting incident happens before the start of the story, like in the show Revenge. Her catalyst happened before the beginning and then the blanks are filled in with flashbacks. Can you still use this structure for this type of story?
i just finished my book. I have a question actually. I`m only ten ears old so I can go on Facebook far I haven't edited my book yet. its only 74 pages so far without editing it and publishing it. Is that a good or bad amount for my book. I want to write a novel. Is my story long enough or not?I have no idea how to answer this question. Also I don`t know if I should do a series or not.
I’ve always written as a hobby but finding your channel has been a huge inspiration and help, I’ve never gotten this deep into a book I’ve tried to write, mostly because it stems from a single idea and I have failed to outline the story before hand. I’m currently 7 chapters in, but I can’t help but think their all too short, is their a good word count each chapter should be?
Also the misbelief was a huge help in defining my main character so thank you for all these videos.
This should really be called Dear Abbie. Right????? Because!
I'm almost 50k words on my first book and I'm looking forward to finish the first draft in a few weeks (15k-20k words left maybe??). I've never written so many words before and I'm so excited to be so close to the ending. I really want to start editing so badly!! And I already have so many ideas to other books that are also stand-alones but also in the same universe as the current one and featuring some of the characters, so I was definitely so excited when I heard you answer that last question :)
I'm working on re-writing my chapter 1. The prologue I wrote before was cliché, and to be honest, I was high on the worst drug of all time: having too many ideas. Scrapping the prologue really left me with nothing to show for the work I did, even if I wrote the prologue in a single night (forgive me father for I've sinned), but it felt like a lot of work. Reworking chapter 1 was actually the best thing to happen to my story, though, and I mean reworked with a capital R. New setting, new events, new everything. Reaching the setting of chapter two was the only thing that remained, and the new draft accomplished more in 6 pages than the original draft did in a whole chapter. Thanks for your interest!
I'm 15K into the first draft of my current novel and I feel like I'm still in the honeymoon phase 😂
I am currently taking a break from writing my fantasy novel, because i encountered writers fatigue :(
writting update! I accidentally start like 4 new stories at once! they all have mostly complete outlines and I hate myself-
Im working on naming all of the geographical features and towns in my world as I design the map for the beginning pages!!!
I spend more time watching your videos than actually writing
I'm just starting to get into my story. Currently writing my inciting incident which is why I'm watching this video ;)
#askabbie I have many characters that each has their own story within the story. It is a game of thrones style type of situation where other characters that have been introduced previously are split from the group and get a point of view following them. In the first book i wanted to follow 3 peoples perspective.
At this point my fingers are itching to change perspectives early. Where a lot of romance novels do this between their two people. I would like to stick to the singular person and not switch. How can I stick to one persons perspective throughout while still showing the others choices? Is there a way to show something happening out of this persons sight without breaking the limited perspective? It feels a little bit like rumour has it. Where unless someone tell the protagonist something has happened or something someone else has heard, it is not happening.
My writing update since the last one is that my outline is complete and I'm four chapters into my novel which I only started 2 weeks ago. Is that good or bad? Hmmm....
How do you make romantic scenes seem genuine if you haven't experienced romance?
writing update-
wrote 3 chapters in one afternoon because I had watched abbies vid on how to write faster. helped a lot. feeling great
I have a channel called novel chronicles where I post progress vlogs of my book hope you check it out sometimes
I'm rewriting one novel, and developing another, it's hard for me to stay on one project.
Well in my script. My intentions was to fool the reader/viewer by letting them think the inciting incident was on page one when really it is on page 9. Is that ok?
I just finished the second draft of the book based on a reoccurring dream I have had since ‘99.
you are so underrated! I would write stories but im a bit lazy during quarantine, i have ideas for some tho 🙌🏻
I’m so happy I watched this today! I think I have a good idea for my inciting incident now that I’m thinking about it being something sorta random that affects my main character internally and not just being something external
Halfway through the first third. Realy want to finish the first story segment, but a lot of writing that still needs to happen.
This is the earliest I've ever been 😳
First draft!! I’m enjoying writing it so much!
I have started planning my fantasy novel and hope to get the first and second draft done by October
This is not related but I really like your smile 🌚❤️❤️❤️
Working on a fantasy series. Refining the outline before I finish the first draft.
I’m a third of the way through my second draft so excited for fun and games beat
I am about to write the first chapter! Wish me luck :)
I’m working on writing my first novel! :D
I’m starting the writing today🙂
oOo, your hoops. Swoosh, swoOsh swoosh, swOosh, swoosh!
It depends how you define the inciting incident.
I’m on chapter seven of a rewrite.
UPDATE: I'm actually at 14k words so I can probably learn how to then reformat what I have to stretch out the story.
If you haven't already, watch more of Abbie's videos to help you