The writing everyday advice is legit bull. It took me a very long time to accept how much of a myth that is. Personally, I write during certain times of the year/season. Like the first half of the year is all ideas based and hitting down scenes as notes. Then the second half of the year I strictly write and push that fuel out. Weird, I know, but it works for me.
I'm the same way in 'seasonal writing'. I seem to take October to early February off cause of the holiday season mostly, I'd say. My mind just focuses on family and friends more so. Then I'll pick up my writing from mid to late February to late September. I'll take a week or so off to decompress from all those months of writing/reading/note taking so I can reset myself into the holidays. Then the cycle goes again. Glad I'm not the only one.
I am also very excited about this video! I used to write as a kid and into my teens, but the older I got, the less I wrote and now I haven’t written anything longer than half a page in 10 years. Even though it’s always been my dream career to be a writer full time, I just stopped completely because of ALL the points/lies you just mentioned. So THANK YOU. I need to listen to this on repeat now 👍🏼
LINDA this literally is just what I needed right now. A guest came in to one of my screenwriting classes a couple of weeks ago and said to all of us “you need to be writing every day and if you’re not, ask yourself if this is really the right path for you.” I left feeling so dejected despite the fact that I both don’t write every single day at this point in my life AND am working on a screenplay that I am really excited about. then I thought about it and was like... what BS! and hearing you dispel that myth in this vid is so gratifying. Thanks Linda!! -Sadie
SADIE!!!! This is just DEEEE-LIGHTFUL, I've admired your channel for so long! And OMG those feels! I totally had people like that come into my screenwriting classes now and then and they just shook my confidence in a very unpleasant way. I'm so proud of you! Yes yes yes, keep writing! Sending you so much love and I'm so excited for your screenplays and filmmaking!! xoxo
I know this is old but this was food to my soul! I clicked on your video because I saw your face, and you were my inspiration in my younger years of writing, and even now. I loved writing ever since I was around 11 and I'm 18 now. There was a BIG pause in my work, and for years I had to drop it, and the false writing advice you mentioned is what killed my passion. But this video was a big sigh of relief. As a diehard perfectionist, I really appreciate you clearing these topics, especially for the youngins who also love to write. Now, I'm writing a story about dragons and I couldn't be more excited! I love/hate writing but can't wait to see what gets written. I look up to you broski, and I hope your stories take off with flying colors!! ☺🙏💕💕
Aww!! Bless you, Maddie! My UA-cam family fills my heart with so much joy and waiting for the first comment to see if you guys like it is always such a weird thing that still makes me nervous so BLESS YOU for this lovely gift. So much love to you, my YT pen pal!!
@@LindaBarsiWrites You deserve so much positive energy as your so kind and supportive to everyone here! I'm grateful my old friend was like "i follow this amazing lass online who's going through similar things to us and wants to do she wants to do SO BAD. She's full of advice and warm energy." and I followed her advice! Will always watch no matter how far apart the posting is.
Love this! Especially the one about holding on to your misery to make yourself a good writer. The whole tortured artist thing is so gross. Though I guess it might temporarily make you feel better to think your suffering has a purpose in fueling your creativity, in the long term, getting help is probably better :)
Welcome back, Linda! I treat all writing advice as a guideline and half ignore anything with an absolute statement in it. I'll reintroduce myself. I am a writer. I recently rebrand my channel from TheSugarRay because I mainly make video essays, now. I write fiction of a more magical or sifi tilt.
@@LindaBarsiWrites Right, you used to be OpenElaB. Simpler is probably better. Simpler and not easily confused with 90s bands and 70s Boxers. It is kind of confusing for me because I'm still TheSugarRay on every other social media.
Awesome girl. Awesome advice. I think these ideas would apply to all of the arts: visual, dance, culinary, literary, etc... Creatives need to be so careful who they listen to. Nice job Ms Linda.
I remember like two & a half years ago, I found one video of yours about writing, obviously, and still haven’t watched it. (Mostly because I lost the post where the link came from). But I’m so happy that I found your channel and actually started to watch your videos. And this video helped me relax and calm down because I spent about 45 minutes trying to figure out a plot for a book that I already have characters for.
Such great advice! (Yours, of course!) I'm a writer, but I used to often question if I should be a writer because I didn't (and still don't) write every day, and I often didn't enjoy the writing process (and still don't a lot of the time). The feeling I get though after I finish an essay or a comic book page makes it all worth it though because I successfully and creatively communicated a message in a way that I'm proud of. I took a break from writing projects for a while but last week I felt inspired to write again, and I know from experience that when you get that feeling, it's best to follow it before it disappears. I'm currently working on editing and submitting some old pieces to literary journals!
Omg yes, the writer writes every day thing has messed me up big time. I think you can be a good writer and write in spurts! It depends on the type of person you are! Love this video :)
And omg yes, the thing about reading! Makes me so insecure, too! Idk if this is sacrilegious to say, but I love writing one thousand times more than reading generally . . . .
Also would love a video about your thoughts regarding writing about something you don't know super well. Like, I like the idea of writing a script set in Germany, but I have only been in Germany for a week or so. Am I completely unqualified?
i am a 100% service connected disabled veteran... i have PTSD among other things.. and i am writing a book about it .. it has taken me ten years to get as far as i have.. but i love writing it.. really enjoyed your advise keep it up
This made me so happy to read! Congratulations on embarking on this project! Some projects just require more time. I think it took Kurt V. like 25 years to write Slaughterhouse 5. One of my favorite parts of that book is the prologue or the intro he writes. It might be encouraging to you to read or revisit. Great work and I'm cheering you on!
Thank you for posting this video. I watch UA-cam through my Roku system and the recommandations showed me this video in perfect timing for how I was feeling today and have been for two weeks. I watched the video while I cleaned off the coffee table of past collection of books for my novel research. I can recognize the amount of time past when a collection of books has sat there for months at a time and seeing that makes me depressed and anxious of what writing I hadn't done. Everything you said in this video is reassurance for myself mentally. I'll read maybe five books a year, cause I can't afford books hardly (I like to buy books used or new cause then I can underline in them and make notes, you can't do that with a library book). I have depression, which I don't write when I'm depressed (which lasts 4 days to a week each month or two, so yeah). At least I know how long the 'funk' goes and that way I can prepare shortly before the depression ends so I can get back to work. I do kinda write everyday, but I write a little bit here and a little bit there in my journals that house all my notes. Gotta have a piece of paper and pens nearby, cause you never know when a 'blip' of story of use will pop up. I fear, at least at this time, having to rewrite chapter 1 of book 1 for a third time. I have to make that chapter pop! (I'm on the 2nd draft) I've had my 'wild idea' since I was a kid and kept at it for so long. 4 manuscripts later, one dead forever, it's coming along better than it originally was so long ago. And the story keeps getting more lush and vibrant as I go along. My notes for the 'author bible' are currently 350+ pages and growing. I love it! I love to write and it's good to accept that 'off days' are healthy. Sorry for the long comment, but here's some food for thought for you, wondering if anyone else does this, do you?....Cleaning Up The Stage: tarabdobbs.com/2019/07/25/cleaning-up-the-stage/ (Seeing your video sparked me in maybe making a video about my writing process prep time. Hmmmm….Take care. Hope to see more videos.
I am so so glad to see your face again! I'm a literature student from Finland, and I've been dreaming of being a writer for a long time. But it wasn't until this year that I actually started believing in what I do, and been trying to pursue this dream. And actually, just yesterday a someone came up to me at a party and, I have no idea how they did it, but they had hacked my pen name and wanted to tell me they loved what I've been writing! That gave me hope and then now you coming back with a writing video, I feel its like a message for me to keep going! And yeah, you look fab and this video is beautifully etherial!
Aww! What an amazing thing to happen. I'm so glad! Moments that encourage a writer are worth their weight in gold. I cherish each one because I know I can use it to motivate me along. So happy you're feeling more hope and motivation about your writing!
Always great to see a new video from you appear Linda! I especially enjoyed the note about reading books - I've been working on an outline the last six months or so (fuck, didn't seem so long), barely reading anything but comics, and watching films mostly daily. Doesn't always feel like proper professional creative graft, so good to hear that this anxiety isn't just mine :)
I really think it's about whatever works for you. I also find that I love to read while on vacation and like... where I'm nowhere close to a journal or to a computer where I might feel like I should work on my own stuff. So yes, love this comment. Thanks for watching!
Great video! I've been subscribed for a while but I haven't checked in for a minute- but I really needed to hear this! I'm in a Masters of English program at the moment, and have been struggling with mental health for a year or two and haven't written a thing since NaNo 2014. The one that gets me is the "write every day"- that seemed so insurmountable with my degree! So I appreciate the reassurance, thank you :) Writing doesn't seem so terrifying anymore!
I'm a dyslexic and because of that, all writing I've done in school or related situations have always circled around my poor spelling. So I have never seen writing as an option because of the stigma that got associated with it. But I love reading and I've always made stories. I played with toys for a long time, not that I actually played with them much. But it was a way to create characters and tell stories through them. Sadly I'm also a bit of a mumbler so my stories was almost always an internal process and not something I've shared with others much. But last summer I dreamt about a character that really hooked me, and I want to figure out their story. So now I'm trying to write, not because I think it will sell or that others (than the ones I force to) will want to read it but because I want to try it
Yes yes yes! Write, yes!! I would love nothing more than for you to see writing as a real option for you. I think the world needs your stories because you have a point of view unlike anyone else in the world. The first stories I ever wrote were also through toys and the narratives my beanie babies acted out. I very much want you to try to write this story you're passionate about. And if there are any roadblocks while writing or topics you would like me to make a video about, please let me know! I want so very much to support writers like you and keep encouraging you on your writing journey! I know I said it before, but I'll say it again, the world needs your stories, Magnus! It does. xoxo
Really?? Finally!! Someone has admitted that they’re a writer and don’t read “literally anything [they] can get their hands on”! Thanks Linda. Similar to you, I’m also not a fast reader. And I don’t *like* reading everything out there. I’ve started to wonder if that means maybe I’m more of a poet than novelist. That’s more of what I consume, and it’s the mode I most think in. We shall see how it goes. I’ll try to not limit myself like I was after now seeing this video. Thanks again.
Five is true but conversely when you are in the groove and flying nothing feels better, nothing is more exciting. Often you don't want to write and you force yourself but once the fire catches it's worth while. You punch through the fog. Like digging for gold it's a lot of hard work but once reached the nugget is worth it. That gold which only you can create drives you forward and provides emotional reward.
I'm a songwriter, a poet, a blogger, and a novel writer. I do suffer from anxiety and depression, and I have also been diagnosed with autism and ADHD. I got nightmares a lot in the past, and not of the traditional kind of falling, teeth falling out, etc. No. My nightmares were something that even Stephen King probably wouldn't want to experience. I still have been getting them occasionally, but I don't get them nearly as often as I did. But for the longest time, I struggled to pinpoint what it was that caused these almost daily nightmares; I have a family who loves me, my parents are still married, I've never gotten beat up, I don't watch very many horror movies (believe it or not, the few times I have watched horror movies or been to haunted houses have all ended in nights where I didn't get nightmares). My financial situation has always been pretty stable and secure. Only recently have I realized what this stems from. I've realized that my nightmares are usually about one or more of three things: I accidentally hurt/kill someone (usually someone I care about), I have to watch helplessly as someone I care about suffers and/or dies, or I am forced to choose who is spared and who is killed, often having to take part in hurting and/or killing whoever I choose. These are my three main fears. I'm not afraid of driving, I'm afraid of accidentally hitting someone on the road and being helpless as they die. I'm afraid of being forced into a lose-lose situation. Ultimately, I'm afraid of losing control. I'm afraid of hurting people. My medication has helped. And while I do get some inspiration from my nightmares and other negative experiences, I have also gotten inspiration from books and TV shows, my dungeons and dragons sessions, and several other sources. I simply take something around me, or a question that pops into my brain, and say, "how can I turn this into a story? How can I make this my own?" Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, or just something that's weird, I find a way to incorporate it into my writing. I've been writing from an early age.
Ahh your videos are always brilliant. I really struggle with self doubt and your advice feels empowering even though writing is not my career of choice. However, I am a student studying an arts degree so writing is absolutely involved. thanks! :)
I put the PRO in procrastination as far as my writing projects go... Thanks for this video. In the editing phase of my project and it is... excruciating. I feel like I'm doing a lot of unnecessary edits, though when I'm going through what I've written, even parts that I thought were "done", I find things that are not, in fact, done. It's really painful. Honestly, I just want this thing to be done. I'll have to look through your channel for editing advice. Thanks again.
That last terrible advice is the worst. Writing is working, of course it's not gonna be rainbows and sunshine. Work is, by definition, something you don't want to do. I'm at chapter 7 of my second draft(Over 70000 words written if you count the first draft) after about a year, and I'm proud.
What had hurt me in the past, was a video from a women with glasses here on YT, who said: "Your first story(ies) or your first book, will be crap. But you must write that dumb shit out of your system." I was like: "Why you say something that harsh. It takes away the creativity. You literally taking the wind out of someones sails. That's not nice!" I was very mad at her. I think, everyone can write. Everyone. And there is no wrong story in someones system. They are all beautiful stories and very unique.
I'm a new writer, having just gone into beta on my first manuscript. I also come from more of a film background -- animation, in my case. I've had ideas knocking around my head for years that I had been thinking about in terms of series pitches. I kept on not doing anything with them, so I decided to do NaNoWriMo and finally get something down on paper. I've never been a huge reader, but I'm trying to consume more books -- mostly through audiobooks from the library. Thanks for the encouraging video :)
It’s always such a delight seeing a video of yours pop up! I found your channel years ago, I don’t remember how or why. 🤔 But! Happy to still be here haha. I am not actively writing right now but I remember finding your videos helpful when I was, and always enjoy hearing people discuss the mythical beast of creativity and its motivations. See you next time whenever that is. 💖
Hello Linda. I first discovered your channel when I stumbled across your video of “what’s it like living in Alaska” ( winter edition) and immediately fell in love with your personality. Have you ever considered going back to Alaska? I didn’t get the impression you were a native. Anyway, I’ll be looking forward to more videos from you! Hope you have a wonderful day🙂
Aw thank you! I don't live in Alaska and can't see myself living year round in Alaska long term but i LOVE to go back every year and visit (if I can afford it). So glad you found your way to the rest of my vlogs and enjoy them! Thx for watching!
So glad to see a video from you! I’ve been watching since your first video and think you give great realistic advice, hope you start vlogging more again
Aw thank you, Vanessa!! This warms my heart so much that you've been watchign since the first video, it's hard to describe how much that means to me. I hope I do too! Gonna give it a good go this time to be on YT more. ;)
You are my freaking hero! You have a post about writing where you are not sitting in front of a bookcase. You're in a messy room that looks lived in. YEA!! I'd totally ask you to marry me but I hear that's not an option. Seriously, great advice, thanks for the post.
Hi! i’m a writer in my spare time, i’ve loved to write since I was younger but I struggle with writers anxiety and getting my ideas onto paper like I picture it in my head but can’t translate it to paper. I think this is partly due to my dyslexia. But I’m not going to let that stop me. Years ago I would write notebooks upon notebooks of stories at school and I got bullied because of it . But it is one of my biggest assets and I like to think it actually helped me when I had to write 10,000 word final project for university.
The anxiety of writing is the worst. It's so hard to get past that. And yes, please don't let your dyslexia stop you, because the world absolutely needs your stories! I'd love to hear more about how it goes xoxo
Right now I actually am working on writing every day. I've found that if I write every day, some days are awful, and that's actually been a strangely positive experience? It's desensitizing me to negative writing sessions. When I do it every day I give fewer fucks if I have an off day. So in that way it's actually helping me with self-doubt, which I agree is the number one hurdle.
Yes! Giving fewer fucks is such a real thing. Just making it something you do rather than something you need to do really well every time you do it. I can relate!
I agree with all of these except the one about reading. I don’t think you can be a good writer without being a reader. Being a good reader doesn’t mean you can read fast-it means reading from an analytical/writer’s perspective. It means looking beyond the story and studying pacing, prose, word choice, etc., and then reading reviews to see how others interpret the same book. You can learn from other books about what works and what doesn’t from a storytelling perspective. Even if one isn’t a “good reader” (whatever that means), it is a necessary discipline, in my opinion
I like to vary what I write and thus can write pretty near everyday. Frankly, I'm not happy when I don't write. I needs it like an addled toddler needs to nap, but ya know, with more wakefulness or something. That said, it's impossible to write constantly. Stephen King has said some days it just doesn't happen for whatever life BS that comes up, and I agree. Damn that life BS!
Hey Linda your videos are amazing and thank you for all the great advice! I'm Nora and I'm an English graduate. I just decided to apply for screenwriting MFA next year and just would love to know why did you decide to apply for the program in the first place and your story if that's something you want to share about:) Cheers and have a great weekend!
Love your advice, Linda. It is so inspiring, compassionate, cool and yet sensible and firm. All tells it like it is in best possible way. I have definitely learned a lot in the short amount of time it took to watch your video. Thank you so much for it, and keep up the great work and attitude. Take good care and have a good day, Linda.
#2 HURRAY...#3...hahahaha Reading? Have learned to say no to a book that gets stupid in the beginning and not force myself to finish it, just because the writer is considered best selling, why? I really liked this and appreciate her attitude.
I write exactly because I'm a bad reader. Most of the time I feel disappointed about the books I read. They are too shallow, tamed, uninspiring. Of course, I have favourite writers too (who's level I won't be able to achieve). Regarding depression, there are some situations where it's true. For instance, existential dread that overwhelms the writer can't be genuinely described unless writer actually feels it. That's why most horror/existential stories fall flat for me. Writers just paint some gratuitous violence and other gruesome stuff over conventional plot canvas. It's not an all consuming horror one can barely oppose. However more often these mental problems will just get in the way of doing anything really,
Don't think you need to read a lot of textbooks about structure and theory before you start. Brother did that in the endless quest to turn an art into science and never wrote a word.
Yes, of course, it's important to read and consume other writing, and I love that you included listening to books as a way to consume them, but I think people often feel that they're not doing enough because they compare themselves to others and then that discourages them from writing. I just want to emphasize that they don't need to stop themselves because they think they're not doing "enough." Feeling like they're "enough" is something I think a lot of writers struggle with internally. Anyway, so that's why I included it, to emphasize that every writer is different from other writers just as every reader is different from other readers. But I'd love to hear more of your thoughts as well. Thank you for the feedback!
I struggle with anxiety from time to time. I feel like I can never find the right medication. I'm going to graduate in May with an English Teaching degree. I never got to take a creative writing class but I have always wanted to write something I just don't know where to start.
Hello! I'm so glad you commented! Medication can be so hard to find that right balance and I'm currently going through that struggle. But congrats on your soon-to-be graduation! Such an accomplishment! And yes, I know those feelings. I felt that way when I moved to LA and realized I had never just written a project for myself. I was always too scared to. It's never too late to start though. I'd recommend buying a journal and just start scribbling down thoughts. I also really like the concept of "Morning Pages" (just write 3 pages a day no matter what, in one sitting usually) and it helps to unlock things. It comes from the book "The Artist's Way" which admittedly I've never read but it's such a great concept and I've been doing Morning Pages for about a year (often at night). Even if you don't like your handwriting! push through that. :) That was the hardest part for me because I've never loved my handwriting, but there's something meditative and grounding about putting your hand and a pen against paper. Excited for you and stay in touch! xoxo
@@LindaBarsiWrites thanks for the advice!!! I've been following your journey for years and I am constantly inspired by your creativity and positivity! Sending love 💗
Hi Linda, me name is Finne. Its my first time watching your vlog. I really think your writing advice is helpful. I am from Hong Kong, I have this big dream in recent years to be a sitcom script writer. but english is not my 1st language and I am thinking to go to study MFA screenwriting at USC in the future 5 years as my career turning point. What advice do you have for me ? Do you think is possible for people who's 1st language isn't english to be a writer? and have you join any writing fellowship before? do you think they are good ways to get into the industry ? thank you very much
Many blessings upon you Linda! I love to see happiness obtained in any true manner. Having said this dear woman.. there is something to be said for that which is unsaid... the source of any inner anguish are more than likely caused by a construct and design of a dark entity/source. A very real force ringing alarm bells within your subconscious and something that should not be assauged (if thats a word) by pharmacuetical demonology. Much love and positive energy to you woman! local Fairbanksan.
Interesting! What are you talking about specifically though? Feels a little cryptic to me but maybe I'm just not understanding. Would love to hear more of your thoughts.
The writing everyday advice is legit bull. It took me a very long time to accept how much of a myth that is. Personally, I write during certain times of the year/season. Like the first half of the year is all ideas based and hitting down scenes as notes. Then the second half of the year I strictly write and push that fuel out. Weird, I know, but it works for me.
I love that! It's totally about just finding what works for you!
I mean this advice makes sense? In theory you are gonna be more productive if you write everyday. Works for me hey.
I'm the same way in 'seasonal writing'. I seem to take October to early February off cause of the holiday season mostly, I'd say. My mind just focuses on family and friends more so. Then I'll pick up my writing from mid to late February to late September. I'll take a week or so off to decompress from all those months of writing/reading/note taking so I can reset myself into the holidays. Then the cycle goes again. Glad I'm not the only one.
I loved the "you don't have to have read loads" biggest insecurity right there 👊 no one's ever said that so was nice to hear :)
Aww! I'm so glad, Anna-May! You're def not alone in that feeling. xoxo
self doubt is so real, gotta just push through it and do what feels right. love this advice linda.
Bettyyyyy!!!!!
I am also very excited about this video! I used to write as a kid and into my teens, but the older I got, the less I wrote and now I haven’t written anything longer than half a page in 10 years.
Even though it’s always been my dream career to be a writer full time, I just stopped completely because of ALL the points/lies you just mentioned.
So THANK YOU. I need to listen to this on repeat now 👍🏼
Aw this makes me so happy! Yes yes, write the things! You can do it. :)
LINDA this literally is just what I needed right now. A guest came in to one of my screenwriting classes a couple of weeks ago and said to all of us “you need to be writing every day and if you’re not, ask yourself if this is really the right path for you.” I left feeling so dejected despite the fact that I both don’t write every single day at this point in my life AND am working on a screenplay that I am really excited about. then I thought about it and was like... what BS! and hearing you dispel that myth in this vid is so gratifying. Thanks Linda!! -Sadie
SADIE!!!! This is just DEEEE-LIGHTFUL, I've admired your channel for so long! And OMG those feels! I totally had people like that come into my screenwriting classes now and then and they just shook my confidence in a very unpleasant way. I'm so proud of you! Yes yes yes, keep writing! Sending you so much love and I'm so excited for your screenplays and filmmaking!! xoxo
I write everyday, but I only count the days when I actually do.
SHE'S BACK!!! My girl is back!! So happy!
YESS!!! Bless you xoxo I love this
I know this is old but this was food to my soul! I clicked on your video because I saw your face, and you were my inspiration in my younger years of writing, and even now. I loved writing ever since I was around 11 and I'm 18 now. There was a BIG pause in my work, and for years I had to drop it, and the false writing advice you mentioned is what killed my passion. But this video was a big sigh of relief. As a diehard perfectionist, I really appreciate you clearing these topics, especially for the youngins who also love to write.
Now, I'm writing a story about dragons and I couldn't be more excited! I love/hate writing but can't wait to see what gets written.
I look up to you broski, and I hope your stories take off with flying colors!! ☺🙏💕💕
YASSS LINDA! I always love your uploads, hope you're loving life with Sally and your man! Your videos are like a lovely letter from an old pen pal
Aww!! Bless you, Maddie! My UA-cam family fills my heart with so much joy and waiting for the first comment to see if you guys like it is always such a weird thing that still makes me nervous so BLESS YOU for this lovely gift. So much love to you, my YT pen pal!!
@@LindaBarsiWrites You deserve so much positive energy as your so kind and supportive to everyone here! I'm grateful my old friend was like "i follow this amazing lass online who's going through similar things to us and wants to do she wants to do SO BAD. She's full of advice and warm energy." and I followed her advice! Will always watch no matter how far apart the posting is.
@@Madelelion AWww! This means so much to meeeeee. Thank you thank you for the love.
Loved this
Aww! Thank you for watching, Jack!
Love this! Especially the one about holding on to your misery to make yourself a good writer. The whole tortured artist thing is so gross. Though I guess it might temporarily make you feel better to think your suffering has a purpose in fueling your creativity, in the long term, getting help is probably better :)
Aw this is so well said! Thank you for this!
Welcome back, Linda!
I treat all writing advice as a guideline and half ignore anything with an absolute statement in it.
I'll reintroduce myself.
I am a writer. I recently rebrand my channel from TheSugarRay because I mainly make video essays, now. I write fiction of a more magical or sifi tilt.
A good rule to go by! Oh I love that! TheSugarRay to Thought Ray. :)
@@LindaBarsiWrites Right, you used to be OpenElaB. Simpler is probably better. Simpler and not easily confused with 90s bands and 70s Boxers.
It is kind of confusing for me because I'm still TheSugarRay on every other social media.
Awesome girl. Awesome advice. I think these ideas would apply to all of the arts: visual, dance, culinary, literary, etc... Creatives need to be so careful who they listen to. Nice job Ms Linda.
I remember like two & a half years ago, I found one video of yours about writing, obviously, and still haven’t watched it. (Mostly because I lost the post where the link came from). But I’m so happy that I found your channel and actually started to watch your videos.
And this video helped me relax and calm down because I spent about 45 minutes trying to figure out a plot for a book that I already have characters for.
Such great advice! (Yours, of course!) I'm a writer, but I used to often question if I should be a writer because I didn't (and still don't) write every day, and I often didn't enjoy the writing process (and still don't a lot of the time). The feeling I get though after I finish an essay or a comic book page makes it all worth it though because I successfully and creatively communicated a message in a way that I'm proud of. I took a break from writing projects for a while but last week I felt inspired to write again, and I know from experience that when you get that feeling, it's best to follow it before it disappears. I'm currently working on editing and submitting some old pieces to literary journals!
Aw, I love this comment. And that's so amazing, Lindsay! I'm so happy for you! Yes, I totally support this.
Omg yes, the writer writes every day thing has messed me up big time. I think you can be a good writer and write in spurts! It depends on the type of person you are! Love this video :)
And omg yes, the thing about reading! Makes me so insecure, too! Idk if this is sacrilegious to say, but I love writing one thousand times more than reading generally . . . .
Would love a video about how to sell your script!
Also would love a video about your thoughts regarding writing about something you don't know super well. Like, I like the idea of writing a script set in Germany, but I have only been in Germany for a week or so. Am I completely unqualified?
@@avivapeltin I love that! It's just honest! And every writer is different!
@@avivapeltin Aw I love this idea! I actually had some thoughts about this and was thinking of making a video about it. Thank you for this suggestion!
i am a 100% service connected disabled veteran... i have PTSD among other things.. and i am writing a book about it .. it has taken me ten years to get as far as i have.. but i love writing it.. really enjoyed your advise keep it up
This made me so happy to read! Congratulations on embarking on this project! Some projects just require more time. I think it took Kurt V. like 25 years to write Slaughterhouse 5. One of my favorite parts of that book is the prologue or the intro he writes. It might be encouraging to you to read or revisit. Great work and I'm cheering you on!
Thank you for posting this video. I watch UA-cam through my Roku system and the recommandations showed me this video in perfect timing for how I was feeling today and have been for two weeks. I watched the video while I cleaned off the coffee table of past collection of books for my novel research. I can recognize the amount of time past when a collection of books has sat there for months at a time and seeing that makes me depressed and anxious of what writing I hadn't done. Everything you said in this video is reassurance for myself mentally. I'll read maybe five books a year, cause I can't afford books hardly (I like to buy books used or new cause then I can underline in them and make notes, you can't do that with a library book). I have depression, which I don't write when I'm depressed (which lasts 4 days to a week each month or two, so yeah). At least I know how long the 'funk' goes and that way I can prepare shortly before the depression ends so I can get back to work. I do kinda write everyday, but I write a little bit here and a little bit there in my journals that house all my notes. Gotta have a piece of paper and pens nearby, cause you never know when a 'blip' of story of use will pop up. I fear, at least at this time, having to rewrite chapter 1 of book 1 for a third time. I have to make that chapter pop! (I'm on the 2nd draft) I've had my 'wild idea' since I was a kid and kept at it for so long. 4 manuscripts later, one dead forever, it's coming along better than it originally was so long ago. And the story keeps getting more lush and vibrant as I go along. My notes for the 'author bible' are currently 350+ pages and growing. I love it! I love to write and it's good to accept that 'off days' are healthy. Sorry for the long comment, but here's some food for thought for you, wondering if anyone else does this, do you?....Cleaning Up The Stage: tarabdobbs.com/2019/07/25/cleaning-up-the-stage/ (Seeing your video sparked me in maybe making a video about my writing process prep time. Hmmmm….Take care. Hope to see more videos.
Ugh, what a wonderful video.
PS: You look exceptional. Love the color in this
Aww PJ!! Thank you for this, you sweetheart, you. Made my day xoxoxo
Totally. Whatever your lighting and color balance and stuff, it's working!
I am so so glad to see your face again! I'm a literature student from Finland, and I've been dreaming of being a writer for a long time. But it wasn't until this year that I actually started believing in what I do, and been trying to pursue this dream. And actually, just yesterday a someone came up to me at a party and, I have no idea how they did it, but they had hacked my pen name and wanted to tell me they loved what I've been writing! That gave me hope and then now you coming back with a writing video, I feel its like a message for me to keep going! And yeah, you look fab and this video is beautifully etherial!
Aww! What an amazing thing to happen. I'm so glad! Moments that encourage a writer are worth their weight in gold. I cherish each one because I know I can use it to motivate me along. So happy you're feeling more hope and motivation about your writing!
Writers need honest advice like this to be clear
I have discovered a new goddess
Space from your writing is important, at least for me. Helps me approach things with a fresh perspective and avoid burnout.
Please keep doing these videos. You’re awesome! Love this channel.
Always great to see a new video from you appear Linda! I especially enjoyed the note about reading books - I've been working on an outline the last six months or so (fuck, didn't seem so long), barely reading anything but comics, and watching films mostly daily. Doesn't always feel like proper professional creative graft, so good to hear that this anxiety isn't just mine :)
I really think it's about whatever works for you. I also find that I love to read while on vacation and like... where I'm nowhere close to a journal or to a computer where I might feel like I should work on my own stuff. So yes, love this comment. Thanks for watching!
Great video! I've been subscribed for a while but I haven't checked in for a minute- but I really needed to hear this! I'm in a Masters of English program at the moment, and have been struggling with mental health for a year or two and haven't written a thing since NaNo 2014. The one that gets me is the "write every day"- that seemed so insurmountable with my degree! So I appreciate the reassurance, thank you :) Writing doesn't seem so terrifying anymore!
Aw this makes me so happy to hear! Yes! You absolutely deserve to feel reassured. It's amazing work, what you're doing!
Perfect timing for this video! I really needed to hear this!
Thank you so much! Aww, this makes me so happy. :D
I'm a dyslexic and because of that, all writing I've done in school or related situations have always circled around my poor spelling. So I have never seen writing as an option because of the stigma that got associated with it. But I love reading and I've always made stories. I played with toys for a long time, not that I actually played with them much. But it was a way to create characters and tell stories through them. Sadly I'm also a bit of a mumbler so my stories was almost always an internal process and not something I've shared with others much.
But last summer I dreamt about a character that really hooked me, and I want to figure out their story. So now I'm trying to write, not because I think it will sell or that others (than the ones I force to) will want to read it but because I want to try it
Yes yes yes! Write, yes!! I would love nothing more than for you to see writing as a real option for you. I think the world needs your stories because you have a point of view unlike anyone else in the world. The first stories I ever wrote were also through toys and the narratives my beanie babies acted out. I very much want you to try to write this story you're passionate about. And if there are any roadblocks while writing or topics you would like me to make a video about, please let me know! I want so very much to support writers like you and keep encouraging you on your writing journey! I know I said it before, but I'll say it again, the world needs your stories, Magnus! It does. xoxo
Go for it, and Good luck !
Really?? Finally!! Someone has admitted that they’re a writer and don’t read “literally anything [they] can get their hands on”! Thanks Linda.
Similar to you, I’m also not a fast reader. And I don’t *like* reading everything out there.
I’ve started to wonder if that means maybe I’m more of a poet than novelist. That’s more of what I consume, and it’s the mode I most think in. We shall see how it goes. I’ll try to not limit myself like I was after now seeing this video. Thanks again.
You're fun to watch. Thanks for the video. It cheered me up today. Good luck with your career. : )
Five is true but conversely when you are in the groove and flying nothing feels better, nothing is more exciting. Often you don't want to write and you force yourself but once the fire catches it's worth while. You punch through the fog. Like digging for gold it's a lot of hard work but once reached the nugget is worth it. That gold which only you can create drives you forward and provides emotional reward.
I'm a songwriter, a poet, a blogger, and a novel writer. I do suffer from anxiety and depression, and I have also been diagnosed with autism and ADHD. I got nightmares a lot in the past, and not of the traditional kind of falling, teeth falling out, etc. No. My nightmares were something that even Stephen King probably wouldn't want to experience. I still have been getting them occasionally, but I don't get them nearly as often as I did. But for the longest time, I struggled to pinpoint what it was that caused these almost daily nightmares; I have a family who loves me, my parents are still married, I've never gotten beat up, I don't watch very many horror movies (believe it or not, the few times I have watched horror movies or been to haunted houses have all ended in nights where I didn't get nightmares). My financial situation has always been pretty stable and secure. Only recently have I realized what this stems from. I've realized that my nightmares are usually about one or more of three things: I accidentally hurt/kill someone (usually someone I care about), I have to watch helplessly as someone I care about suffers and/or dies, or I am forced to choose who is spared and who is killed, often having to take part in hurting and/or killing whoever I choose. These are my three main fears. I'm not afraid of driving, I'm afraid of accidentally hitting someone on the road and being helpless as they die. I'm afraid of being forced into a lose-lose situation. Ultimately, I'm afraid of losing control. I'm afraid of hurting people. My medication has helped. And while I do get some inspiration from my nightmares and other negative experiences, I have also gotten inspiration from books and TV shows, my dungeons and dragons sessions, and several other sources. I simply take something around me, or a question that pops into my brain, and say, "how can I turn this into a story? How can I make this my own?" Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, or just something that's weird, I find a way to incorporate it into my writing. I've been writing from an early age.
welcome back :D
wonderful video as always.
Thank you!!
What a great idea for a video! Loved it! High five, girl :)
Love your vids! Found you on my last ’i really want to go to usc’ frenzy and now I’m at it again and you always pop up, haha :)
Ahh your videos are always brilliant. I really struggle with self doubt and your advice feels empowering even though writing is not my career of choice. However, I am a student studying an arts degree so writing is absolutely involved. thanks! :)
Aw yes, writing is totally involved in an arts degree! This makes me so happy to hear!
I put the PRO in procrastination as far as my writing projects go... Thanks for this video. In the editing phase of my project and it is... excruciating. I feel like I'm doing a lot of unnecessary edits, though when I'm going through what I've written, even parts that I thought were "done", I find things that are not, in fact, done. It's really painful. Honestly, I just want this thing to be done. I'll have to look through your channel for editing advice. Thanks again.
Hi, new follower here from Puerto Rico. I hope your day is going well.
God bless, take care + happy writing :)
OMG 4:31> the dog behind you totally freaked me out!
That last terrible advice is the worst. Writing is working, of course it's not gonna be rainbows and sunshine. Work is, by definition, something you don't want to do.
I'm at chapter 7 of my second draft(Over 70000 words written if you count the first draft) after about a year, and I'm proud.
Lovely to see a video from you :) this was fab fab fab xxx
Aww Thank you Leena!! This means so much to me. I've always loved your channel and go to it regularly for inspiration! xoxo
What had hurt me in the past, was a video from a women with glasses here on YT, who said: "Your first story(ies) or your first book, will be crap. But you must write that dumb shit out of your system." I was like: "Why you say something that harsh. It takes away the creativity. You literally taking the wind out of someones sails. That's not nice!" I was very mad at her. I think, everyone can write. Everyone. And there is no wrong story in someones system. They are all beautiful stories and very unique.
I'm a new writer, having just gone into beta on my first manuscript. I also come from more of a film background -- animation, in my case. I've had ideas knocking around my head for years that I had been thinking about in terms of series pitches. I kept on not doing anything with them, so I decided to do NaNoWriMo and finally get something down on paper. I've never been a huge reader, but I'm trying to consume more books -- mostly through audiobooks from the library. Thanks for the encouraging video :)
You have someone else reading your *first* draft?!! My first draft is chaos incarnate.
It’s always such a delight seeing a video of yours pop up! I found your channel years ago, I don’t remember how or why. 🤔 But! Happy to still be here haha. I am not actively writing right now but I remember finding your videos helpful when I was, and always enjoy hearing people discuss the mythical beast of creativity and its motivations. See you next time whenever that is. 💖
I think either Rosianna or Leena Norms recommended this channel. That's how I got here.
@@sexyscientist Aw! Obsessed with both of them XOXO
Aw thank you! I'm looking forward to next time too. :D
YESSSS. untreated depression doesn't make me a better writer, it makes it impossible for me to write.
also i recently started a big scary writing project and this gave me a lot of hope for myself. thank you :)
Hiii!!! And yes, so well said!! xoxoxo
Yaaaay! Glad to see you're back! Hope to see more soon and good luck with the draft! Love from Madrid!
YEAYUH, MADRID FUCKING RULES
Thank you Paula!! I hope so too! And thank you so much!
your videos are always like a hug 💛
Hello Linda. I first discovered your channel when I stumbled across your video of “what’s it like living in Alaska” ( winter edition) and immediately fell in love with your personality. Have you ever considered going back to Alaska? I didn’t get the impression you were a native. Anyway, I’ll be looking forward to more videos from you! Hope you have a wonderful day🙂
Aw thank you! I don't live in Alaska and can't see myself living year round in Alaska long term but i LOVE to go back every year and visit (if I can afford it). So glad you found your way to the rest of my vlogs and enjoy them! Thx for watching!
Linda Barsi thanks. I assumed you attended UAF and that’s why you were there. I’ve always wanted to take an Alaskan cruise. Take care😺
So glad to see a video from you! I’ve been watching since your first video and think you give great realistic advice, hope you start vlogging more again
Aw thank you, Vanessa!! This warms my heart so much that you've been watchign since the first video, it's hard to describe how much that means to me. I hope I do too! Gonna give it a good go this time to be on YT more. ;)
Great (non)advice. And great to see you back on the interwebs!
Haha Thank you!! I love that :D
Welcome back! Glad to see you are doing well 😊
Thank you!!
Great information. Thanks!
Loved this. Glad someone's putting these thoughts out there. It's a job. It's not always pleasant, but it calls (like, always).
Thank you!!! I love this
Thank you soooo much for this vid! Came just in time
I'm so glad, Laura! xoxo
You are my freaking hero! You have a post about writing where you are not sitting in front of a bookcase. You're in a messy room that looks lived in. YEA!! I'd totally ask you to marry me but I hear that's not an option. Seriously, great advice, thanks for the post.
Yay!! Congrats on the manuscript 💖💖💖 and great advice
Thank you!!
I wish I could hug you right now, This video made me cry for how much I needed to hear it. Thank you.
great video!
Hi! i’m a writer in my spare time, i’ve loved to write since I was younger but I struggle with writers anxiety and getting my ideas onto paper like I picture it in my head but can’t translate it to paper. I think this is partly due to my dyslexia. But I’m not going to let that stop me. Years ago I would write notebooks upon notebooks of stories at school and I got bullied because of it . But it is one of my biggest assets and I like to think it actually helped me when I had to write 10,000 word final project for university.
The anxiety of writing is the worst. It's so hard to get past that. And yes, please don't let your dyslexia stop you, because the world absolutely needs your stories! I'd love to hear more about how it goes xoxo
You showed your story back in school? Well I'm impress;I wouldn't dare.
Right now I actually am working on writing every day. I've found that if I write every day, some days are awful, and that's actually been a strangely positive experience? It's desensitizing me to negative writing sessions. When I do it every day I give fewer fucks if I have an off day. So in that way it's actually helping me with self-doubt, which I agree is the number one hurdle.
Yes! Giving fewer fucks is such a real thing. Just making it something you do rather than something you need to do really well every time you do it. I can relate!
I agree with all of these except the one about reading. I don’t think you can be a good writer without being a reader. Being a good reader doesn’t mean you can read fast-it means reading from an analytical/writer’s perspective. It means looking beyond the story and studying pacing, prose, word choice, etc., and then reading reviews to see how others interpret the same book. You can learn from other books about what works and what doesn’t from a storytelling perspective. Even if one isn’t a “good reader” (whatever that means), it is a necessary discipline, in my opinion
I got back into writing in 2014. I have a lot of manuscipts. I have certainly had depression.
I like to vary what I write and thus can write pretty near everyday. Frankly, I'm not happy when I don't write. I needs it like an addled toddler needs to nap, but ya know, with more wakefulness or something. That said, it's impossible to write constantly. Stephen King has said some days it just doesn't happen for whatever life BS that comes up, and I agree. Damn that life BS!
Sure nice to see you again. Hope to see you more.
I shall try!! Thank you!!
Hey Linda your videos are amazing and thank you for all the great advice! I'm Nora and I'm an English graduate. I just decided to apply for screenwriting MFA next year and just would love to know why did you decide to apply for the program in the first place and your story if that's something you want to share about:)
Cheers and have a great weekend!
If you don't write everyday you're not a writer... That's complete bullshit, thank you for driving that home!!!
Love your advice, Linda. It is so inspiring, compassionate, cool and yet sensible and firm. All tells it like it is in best possible way. I have definitely learned a lot in the short amount of time it took to watch your video. Thank you so much for it, and keep up the great work and attitude. Take good care and have a good day, Linda.
Advice #1 is so true.
For example Romeo & Juliet is done 100 million times. Pretty Woman, Twilight and so on is all Romeo & Juliet.
#2 HURRAY...#3...hahahaha Reading? Have learned to say no to a book that gets stupid in the beginning and not force myself to finish it, just because the writer is considered best selling, why? I really liked this and appreciate her attitude.
Thank You!
I write exactly because I'm a bad reader. Most of the time I feel disappointed about the books I read. They are too shallow, tamed, uninspiring. Of course, I have favourite writers too (who's level I won't be able to achieve).
Regarding depression, there are some situations where it's true. For instance, existential dread that overwhelms the writer can't be genuinely described unless writer actually feels it. That's why most horror/existential stories fall flat for me. Writers just paint some gratuitous violence and other gruesome stuff over conventional plot canvas. It's not an all consuming horror one can barely oppose. However more often these mental problems will just get in the way of doing anything really,
Thissss omg I can't stand most of the books I read so I decided to try to make my own gndjbdjd
Don't think you need to read a lot of textbooks about structure and theory before you start. Brother did that in the endless quest to turn an art into science and never wrote a word.
the only one i dont agree with is the reading. reading or listening to a book is key.
Yes, of course, it's important to read and consume other writing, and I love that you included listening to books as a way to consume them, but I think people often feel that they're not doing enough because they compare themselves to others and then that discourages them from writing. I just want to emphasize that they don't need to stop themselves because they think they're not doing "enough." Feeling like they're "enough" is something I think a lot of writers struggle with internally. Anyway, so that's why I included it, to emphasize that every writer is different from other writers just as every reader is different from other readers. But I'd love to hear more of your thoughts as well. Thank you for the feedback!
Reading won't make your story progress LMAO. It's an incredibely fun activity, but it's one of the least useful way of helping your own book.
I struggle with anxiety from time to time. I feel like I can never find the right medication. I'm going to graduate in May with an English Teaching degree. I never got to take a creative writing class but I have always wanted to write something I just don't know where to start.
Hello! I'm so glad you commented! Medication can be so hard to find that right balance and I'm currently going through that struggle. But congrats on your soon-to-be graduation! Such an accomplishment! And yes, I know those feelings. I felt that way when I moved to LA and realized I had never just written a project for myself. I was always too scared to. It's never too late to start though. I'd recommend buying a journal and just start scribbling down thoughts. I also really like the concept of "Morning Pages" (just write 3 pages a day no matter what, in one sitting usually) and it helps to unlock things. It comes from the book "The Artist's Way" which admittedly I've never read but it's such a great concept and I've been doing Morning Pages for about a year (often at night). Even if you don't like your handwriting! push through that. :) That was the hardest part for me because I've never loved my handwriting, but there's something meditative and grounding about putting your hand and a pen against paper. Excited for you and stay in touch! xoxo
@@LindaBarsiWrites thanks for the advice!!! I've been following your journey for years and I am constantly inspired by your creativity and positivity! Sending love 💗
Thanks. Just downloaded your video. You hit on Hemingway...he is kinda harsh
I also used to live in alaska. Just curious do you miss it, and do you think leaving had anything to do with your depression?
hahaha linda cracks me up
Hi Linda, me name is Finne. Its my first time watching your vlog. I really think your writing advice is helpful. I am from Hong Kong, I have this big dream in recent years to be a sitcom script writer. but english is not my 1st language and I am thinking to go to study MFA screenwriting at USC in the future 5 years as my career turning point. What advice do you have for me ? Do you think is possible for people who's 1st language isn't english to be a writer? and have you join any writing fellowship before? do you think they are good ways to get into the industry ? thank you very much
Many blessings upon you Linda! I love to see happiness obtained in any true manner. Having said this dear woman.. there is something to be said for that which is unsaid... the source of any inner anguish are more than likely caused by a construct and design of a dark entity/source. A very real force ringing alarm bells within your subconscious and something that should not be assauged (if thats a word) by pharmacuetical demonology. Much love and positive energy to you woman! local Fairbanksan.
Hehe good one :)
Interesting! What are you talking about specifically though? Feels a little cryptic to me but maybe I'm just not understanding. Would love to hear more of your thoughts.
What is the bullshit about antidepassanr?!
omg literally fuck bad advice #3 like who tf ever thought that was okay advice. thankyou for including it in this list
Aw! You are welcome. Thank you for this comment! I love it