#1 show don't tell #2 structure #3 strong characters #4 description (character/setting) #5 setting the scene but don't info dump #6 sub plots - helps add layers and enhance relationships #7 pacing #8 clarity #9 feedback #10 don't increase your word count "just for hitting some arbitrary goal - a writer is someone who writes"
I agree with all of this especially getting feedback. A beta reader gave me a suggestion to build up a novella. Thanks to her feedback, that book became my novel The Remainders, which was published in September.
I’ve always had trouble with length. Most of my stories end up being novellas. Of course, my stories usually only involve two or three characters in a single location. It’s really difficult to create a full length novel out of such scenarios. With that being said, the book that I’m currently writing will probably end up being a lot longer, the reason being a flashback sequence that will dominate the middle chapters.
I searched this video when I realized I had 5 chapters and was halfway through my story Edit: I’m happy to report I’m on my second go and currently have 5 chapters. And in the story, I’m on what was a part of chapter 2 in the first go. I’ve added more meaningful dialogue, less lazy fight scenes, more important fantasy elements, and less rushed pacing. Thank you so much for all the help you have been
That's awesome. I'm a novelist looking to beta read others works for inspiration. I could help with ideas and look for anything you think you might be struggling with, while also suggesting things to help develop the story further (if you would allow me to.) May I read your work?
I'm such an underwriter. I typically have to go back and put in descriptions, fix dialogue tags, and smooth transition points. I'm also terrible with character names and general development. What do you mean a cast isn't 15 different versions of myself in various hats ???
Don't worry-the cast that's just 15 different versions of yourself can be the best cast. It's what you know how to write. Split up parts and pieces of your personality, and let each piece grow into its own being. It kind of reminds me of propagating plants.
Is it wrong for me to feel like my first draft is rubbish. As it stands now, it feels like the basic bland plot beats and does not feel like it has any style to it. Can I fix that in the second draft @Daniel
@@matthewevans4337 you can fix anything with a second draft as long as you still care about the project. If it feels bland spice it up. Add conflict, character development. Like Jenna says characters are why people love reading. If it's the plot itself you can just,,, change it , you're the writer , you've got all the power. Think about the works you find compelling , that relate to your story, and figure out *why* they're compelling to you. And at the end of the day if you really don't like it you can just shelve it and start something else. I don't typically promote giving up but I have a million times and I haven't stopped writing yet. If this helped, great, if it didn't,,,, then this never happened and it was all a dream
@@Daniel-rx2ed this comment was so relatable omg I think I started writing since I was 10 but never finished a long term book (specifically because I'm an underwriter and I have zero to none patience). At least I don't feel like I'm the only one who can't get her sht together most of the times
You saved my life. I thought that it would be considered a short novel if it wasn't 100,000 words you literally saved like four years of my darn life. Thank you SO much.
IVE NEVER BEEN THIS EARLY!! Jenna i just wanted to say your videos are really helping me write my first book! You are a true inspiration and you help me get back on track when I'm feeling uninspired and unmotivated! i love you queen!
Woo! My first book made 42,000 words. Still counts. I liked that first story, its short because it was written as the description of a single quest. It serves to introduce the main character Rhunal the she-orc and her first experience with the danger and heartbreak of adventuring.
My books currently 23415 and its almost done. This sucks because that equals 58.8 pages single spaced which is the industry standard. I want my book to be at least 100-199 pages at least. Thats already much lower than how I originally intended, which was anywhere in the 200-300 page range.
For those of you confused about Nano (like what she said in the intro of the vid) I personally need external forces in order to get stuff done so Nano is a great form of motivation. 💖💖
Hi Jenna, I love your channel. I am working on a novella, and I have passed the 50,000 word mark because I heard that's how many words it takes. I heard you say, 40,000 words is a novel, and I got super excited. Thanks for sharing that bit of news.
Writers block sucks. I have a lot of good ideas(if stuff like Twilight and Fifty Shades of Gray can get published I'm sure my stories can) but I can never figure out how to begin the first chapter.
Just wanted to say, thank you for this. I'm just starting out on my writing journey and I'm constantly feeling like I don't have enough words. Which is extremely unusual for me. Whenever I have to write a thing, it's always too long. But with writing a book I suddenly feel like all my words have evaporated and I'm broken. This has given me a few things to look at and take stock of and a few ways to just, calm down 😅
I am writing my first novel. its a ghost story I've turned over in my head like a pearl for years. But I suffer from serious tell-itis. not all the time. some scenarios I look at and realize I did my best at describing, but others have little bits like "She felt uneasy" that have a ton of potential for more descriptive words. I am still trying to find a good balance between rich details and not drowning someone to death in unnecessary details. thank you for this.
Good advice. I am currently writing my first middle grade novel and your videos help. Watching them made me realize just how different and out of the box writer I was, but it also helped me dig deeper to write a great story
As someone who just 'finished' work on their first ever novel, or should I say novella since it's technically 130 pages long, all of this advice is so helpful. After listening to you give this advice, I went back and read my novel through different lenses and noticed how much it would really benefit from your advice. Maybe it won't pass the average threshold a novel will, but I know for certain it'll benefit from your advice purely due to the content it currently has.
For the creative writing club I'm in, I'm doing the 20,000 word challenge thingy and Jenna I gotta say I fuckin love you, oh my Lord you're a writing savior.
I weep every time I have to add words to my story (because it's too long), but I also suffer every time I remove stuff to make it shorter. Me: That description was so beautiful! Brain: It's not really needed though. Me: deletes while crying
You could eliminate all contractions…I did this in high school on assignments but in reverse. Everything that could be contracted was because I was always over the word limit 😇
Yeah, I feel like an Under Writer. My problem is always when to place things, like when to give a description, when to fit in a characters feelings properly and when to take moment to sneak in some lore. To me, these always feel like a speedbump. Also I need 10:23 to 10:26 playing on loop.
Okay, you popped up and I clicked on because I had heard that a "true" novel needed to be a minimum of 80K words. In comparison of authors in my genre, they were running at about 100K. Yet, I was done at 67k. Friends and literary people who read it, loved it. WTF, according to what I heard I still needed atleast 13k words. An then I heard you. You gave me a few ideas to reconsider but more important , the knowledge that I do not need to worry about word count. I will incerease it to above 70k and then its going to the agents. Thanks
Jenna, have you seen that some writers tend to skip the action? They build up for action, or for a big thing to happen, only to sweep past that thing in one or two paragraphs when they reach it? I have seen this a few times, and it absolutely frustrates me. Like, I read a story recently that spent like 15 chapters building up to a big moment. But when the moment came, it was literally swept under the run. Like: This happened, they got away, done. It took legit no more than 2-3 paragraphs to describe it all. That's not even one page! 15 chapters of build-up... less than a page payoff. Arrgh!
A book I can’t recommend enough for novel structure is “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” by Jessica Brody. It gives a very detailed explanation of how to structure a novel and has a ton of examples from well known books. Thankfully, Brody also considers how writers like me (pantsers, who feel boxed in by too much structure) can still benefit from the save the cat beat sheet
Loved the video and I love the way u cover everything and explain everything in detail. I just have request can u pls make a video on how to write flashbacks I'm really facing a problem with it
My problem would be extending the chapters. Yes, I tend to have arcs to keep my characters going. There are times when I felt that my pacing is too fast, so I try slowing it down by writing romance scenes or checking back with my character/s goals. Are they straying from their path? Where is their relationship going? Is it time to pick up on the romance? Those sorts of questions. Also, I tend to do less on descriptions because I wanted the character/s to get a move on especially when I feel that the arc is dragging. I learned a lot from this video. Thank you.
I also write screenplays, and one of the things I have to change my mind set with when I switch between the two is in novels I have to describe the stage business. In screenplays, or at least the way I was taught to write a screenplays, was you need to describe something without directing from the page- give enough insight to the characters emotion, tone, body language without out right saying it. It took a little while for me to figure out I needed to add a little stage business in some scenes. Now I'm an over writer and I like it that way. I'd rather cut then add. A lot of veteran NaNo-ers look at NaNo as a community builder or a push to draft the next book after a long edit. When it started it was a reaction to the founders friends always saying "I'm going to write a novel," repeatiedly so he challenged them to actually sit down and do 50K in a month.
Number 10 Don't. By far my favorite. Am not the best writer but I try my best and mostly dabble in fanfiction. One thing I definitely try to do is put as many words as can possibly do. When I heard 40k is enough... I was pretty damn happy with myself.
Great video, really helped me out 👍🏼 Side note; I don’t know if you already made a video in this (I’m kinda new to your channel) but could you perhaps make a video on how to write a good love confession scene? Like what would they say to each other, and how to make it realistic and how to make them say things people in real life might actually say? I’ve read some stories where the confessions seem so cheesy and unrealistic, and I’m not too sure how to write a nice solid confession. If you read this comment, thanks and I hope you consider it.
I like to write and few chapters one day and edit them the next. I set a goal for word count, (usually 1500 words) and I find that I end up with more words when I go back and edit. Even though I out filler words, word count goes up. I think it's because I find details or descriptions that improve my text.
I agree. Underwriters, in my experience, tell more than they show, and they don't give the characters enough trouble. They solve problems too fast and too easy. And often, from what I've seen, they don't describe scenes/rooms very much (if at all) and/or they have a lack of introspection (thoughts and feelings). They also tell us their feelings instead of showing them.
Don't think of your characters as a character on a page. Think of them as people. They have likes and dislikes, goals and failings, little quirks that we wouldn't expect of them, etc. Go to a mall/market/park/etc. Pick a table, bench, ledge, what have you. Sit there with a pen and paper, and watch the people. Think about what each person you see is like. What kind of job might they have? What kind of food might they like? Music? Favorite car? What might they want from life? Take your notes home, and sit where you do your writing. Pull up your character sheet. Now imagine us (the readers) as yourself people watching where you just were. We are watching a snapshot of these characters lives unfold on the page. In real life, a person walking by seems two-dimensional. It's not until we talk and interact with them that they begin unfolding into more than just a face. When we open a book, it's the same. The characters begin as just a face. Whether the author fleshes them out into people determines whether we connect and engage with them. :)
For #3- one of the best pieces of writing advice I have ever seen- people will read a bad plot if it has good characters. People won't read a good plot with bad characters.
Hi there, Jenna. I've been watching and learning from your videos for quite some time. Your videos have helped me so much with my writing and working on a book of my own. While I've learned so much about making the scene, how to write certain character, now not to write characters, and so much more, I'm having trouble finding ways to expose myself as an author. How do I get exposure for my upcoming novel? How did you get exposure while writing your first novel? What should I do and avoid doing? I'd GREATLY appreciate any help I can get, whether it's big or small. Thanks for your time. From, A Subscriber
When I'm writing descriptions of characters or a setting I'll read them to someone. If they picture something close to what I was thinking I move on if it's completely off I go back and change descriptors or add more details
My second novel was 277,000 words. I'm now writing novellas. I churned my latest out in 8 months after pressure from my ex. The next novellas are still going to be about 30,000 words each (as part of the trilogy). BUT WE LOVE JENNA.
I prefer visualizing characters myself and even if they are described I still picture them I how I want. Thats just how my mind works. It keeps me from wanting to include descriptions in my writings
For the description one, I have a question. What’s the best way to describe a first person POV character without using the “looking in the mirror” thing?
Here are some ways that I include descriptions of the protagonist. Just sprinkle them sparingly over the first couple of chapters instead of all at once. Use an action: "I pulled my thick, brown hair into a ponytail" or "I touched the ridges of scars on my arms, marks from war. Now, a nervous tic." While introducing other characters (especially family): "My sister walked into the room, wide hips swaying. I looked away, jealousy pricking at my nerves" or "his eyes were a deep brown much like my own." The mirror doesn't have to be a mirror: "I caught a glimpse of my reflection through the shop window and pulled my hood over the red tangles" or "the photo of us from years ago still hung on the fridge. Some things never change, like his freckles and my crooked smile" Just some ideas. I hope they help :)
@@shelbywelter2381 They actually do! I had originally done it when he comes across a different version of himself, but since that plot line got pushed to the next book, this will come in handy! Thank you!!!
Jenna I just saw the trailer for a new video game called Redfall. I've always wanted to either write or create video games with supernatural creatures in a modern world and people who hunt them. Could you please give some tips on how to write a similar universe and have it not be completely terrible.
Thank you. I always fall short in the word count. Question about a beautiful/handsome character. Could a detailed description of such a character alienate or confuse some readers? When I read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" I asked my teacher if Washington Irving was poking fun when describing Katrina Van Tassel as "plump".
At the time Washington Irving was writing, being slightly plump was considered beautiful and healthy. Which generally tends to be the case in societies where hunger and illnesses resulting from malnourishment are more common than illnesses resulting from overfeeding and lack of exercise. To answer the question, yes, specific description can confuse some readers if they don't share your beauty ideal, but you can counteract that by word choice. E.g. if you describe a woman with a very light complexion as having "alabaster white skin", the reader will get that she is supposed to be beautiful (even if the reader himself is more into brown suntanned skin) whereas if you describe her as ghostly pale, the reader will understand that she is supposed to look bland or unhealthy. Or to get back to Katrina van Tassel: You would probably have been much less confused, if Irving had described her as having a luscious or curvy figure instead of using plump, even if you are personally more into slim models than into well-endowed ladies (though I suppose Irving didn't use such words because he was aiming for describing her as attractive but innocent rather than sexy).
@@chrisrudolf9839 Exactly right, which circles back to my question. Would giving a detailed description of a beautiful/handsome character alienate or confuse readers? "A Passage to India" was good at bringing this out, a woman attractive by English standards was scrawny by Indian standards.
@@rsacchi100 The "confuse" part you can avoid by using unambiguously positive wording and/or showing that other characters in your novel perceive that character as attractive. Could it aleniate some readers who don't share that concept of beautiful? In most cases probably not, unless you depict something in great detail that they would regard as outright disgusting. To relate to a romance plot (or subplot), it is usually sufficient to show the reader that and why the MC is into that character, the reader doesn't have to be into the love interest themselves to emphatize with the MC. And if they want to imagine the love interest to look just like their own ideal dream woman/man/other, they still can just ignore your description and imagine the character that way. There is still a chance that some readers might be aleniated, but avoiding a description at all is not the solution, because a considerable part of readers will be disappointed about the lack of description. You can't please everyone. The only exception I see is the everyman main character that is explicitely designed to serve as the self insert for the reader (Like the typical plain ordinary girl character in wish fullfilling romance who somehow manages to make Prince Charming fall for her or the main character in a second person CYOA). Those should be described as vaguely as possible to enable the reader to imagine themselves in the role.
I actually did a wordcount on my entire manuscript, and I'm at the NEW AND IMPROVED halfway point. It's 100 words longer than "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone". Niiiiiiiiiice! And like I say, that's halfway.
Description is something I actively ignore when reading sometimes oops. I often have a visual idea of a character even before the description comes up so I ignore it in my head, and this is often because, as a biracial black kid, nearly every character I'll imagine immediately as a biracial black person simply from a weird sense of projection ig. I also hate focusing on settings unless it's important, I'm a visual person already, so as a reader, I fill in blanks? It's sorta weird.
I finished my first novel (fantasy adventure). I never done editing before cause I never finished a story. I always procrastinated, got bored, or too busy. But I finally buckled down and finished it. However it's only 60k words. Apparently 50k is enough for a rough draft but the sweet spot is 80k for publishing though many novels are required to be 90-120k. I am taking a break from writing for the year and will tackle the edits in the new year with a fresh mind. After the holidays. But should I write more chapters or even another whole act if it's not long enough to be published? Or would I be able to amend the word count with editing and revising? Many thanks for your videos. They are very helpful for a novice like me!
I have no problem with length - almost the opposite. Im greedy. I want to describe EVERYTHING lol. I do struggle with how to describe a character's appearance while making it sound natural. I don't want to suddenly include an inventory of physical features. But I also want to make sure Im getting the description in early enough so that by the time readers DO find out what the characters look like, they havent already built their own mental picture.
The Old Man and The Sea is a short book. Romeo and Juliet is a short book. Don't really care for the love of word count. Just write your story... A good story will withstand time.
Alwayed feared that I would underwrite. Considering I haven’t even reached the 10th chapter on my first draft and still have about 30k words, I don’t think not reaching the word count for a novel is that hard.
Lol I wrote my book and had 10 chapters total. I watched this video to get some pointers, and now I’m on pace to reach 25 chapters for my second lol XD
Seeing this video a year later but I feel like I do have enough plot and my story is not bare bones, it just doesn't take up as many words as I thought it would. I'm already nearing one of the bigger events towards the end and only have about 15k words right now. I'm going to finish the first draft and then worry about bulking it up, so thanks for the tips!!
people keep saying don't write more than 100k but there are popular fantasy novels out there with 300-400k words so I really don't know what the word count for my novel should be. I haven't started writing it but considering a fanfiction I'm working on reached 150k without even reaching part 2 of the story, I'll probably easily pass 100k words for my original novel...
lol. I have some many ideas, but I wanted to do a short story first to get a rhythm down, and I was thinkin exactly this topic. lol. then I chose to end it when everyone I wanted to kill is dead...
I'm such an underwriter it's sad. It's to the point where this time around, I'm just giving myself beat goals to go back and fill in so it's not a complete rewrite.
I kinda have the reverse problem, my pros and writing style are very slow paced and reflective, I feel like I'm having to slap a horse on the ass to pick it's speed up three times a page cause I'm just dawdling around forever trying to get the phrasing, framing, and descriptions of every random detailed to be just right, despite the fact the reader will only be with this page for like 3 minutes.
#1 show don't tell
#2 structure
#3 strong characters
#4 description (character/setting)
#5 setting the scene but don't info dump
#6 sub plots - helps add layers and enhance relationships
#7 pacing
#8 clarity
#9 feedback
#10 don't increase your word count "just for hitting some arbitrary goal - a writer is someone who writes"
I agree with all of this especially getting feedback. A beta reader gave me a suggestion to build up a novella. Thanks to her feedback, that book became my novel The Remainders, which was published in September.
Dude, that's awesome.
Congrats!
NICE!!!
Congrats! Have you made any sales since?
@@wofan1000 Yes, and five-star reviews.
I went from 40,000 words to 50,000 words. Fuck yeah! Thank you so much
I’ve always had trouble with length. Most of my stories end up being novellas. Of course, my stories usually only involve two or three characters in a single location. It’s really difficult to create a full length novel out of such scenarios. With that being said, the book that I’m currently writing will probably end up being a lot longer, the reason being a flashback sequence that will dominate the middle chapters.
I searched this video when I realized I had 5 chapters and was halfway through my story
Edit: I’m happy to report I’m on my second go and currently have 5 chapters. And in the story, I’m on what was a part of chapter 2 in the first go. I’ve added more meaningful dialogue, less lazy fight scenes, more important fantasy elements, and less rushed pacing. Thank you so much for all the help you have been
That's awesome. I'm a novelist looking to beta read others works for inspiration. I could help with ideas and look for anything you think you might be struggling with, while also suggesting things to help develop the story further (if you would allow me to.) May I read your work?
I'm such an underwriter. I typically have to go back and put in descriptions, fix dialogue tags, and smooth transition points. I'm also terrible with character names and general development. What do you mean a cast isn't 15 different versions of myself in various hats ???
Don't worry-the cast that's just 15 different versions of yourself can be the best cast. It's what you know how to write. Split up parts and pieces of your personality, and let each piece grow into its own being. It kind of reminds me of propagating plants.
Is it wrong for me to feel like my first draft is rubbish. As it stands now, it feels like the basic bland plot beats and does not feel like it has any style to it. Can I fix that in the second draft @Daniel
@@matthewevans4337 you can fix anything with a second draft as long as you still care about the project. If it feels bland spice it up. Add conflict, character development. Like Jenna says characters are why people love reading. If it's the plot itself you can just,,, change it , you're the writer , you've got all the power. Think about the works you find compelling , that relate to your story, and figure out *why* they're compelling to you. And at the end of the day if you really don't like it you can just shelve it and start something else. I don't typically promote giving up but I have a million times and I haven't stopped writing yet. If this helped, great, if it didn't,,,, then this never happened and it was all a dream
@@Daniel-rx2ed this comment was so relatable omg I think I started writing since I was 10 but never finished a long term book (specifically because I'm an underwriter and I have zero to none patience). At least I don't feel like I'm the only one who can't get her sht together most of the times
I do the same. I searched this video when I realized I was halfway through my planned story and had 5 chapters
You saved my life. I thought that it would be considered a short novel if it wasn't 100,000 words you literally saved like four years of my darn life. Thank you SO much.
To number 10: “Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing let to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
I swing from underwriting and overwriting depending on mood lol 😂. Thank you for the video! I definitely need to take more notice of structure.
IVE NEVER BEEN THIS EARLY!! Jenna i just wanted to say your videos are really helping me write my first book! You are a true inspiration and you help me get back on track when I'm feeling uninspired and unmotivated! i love you queen!
I love this!!! I'm doing nanowrimo to get the habit of writing every day so I can work towards finishing one of my novels!!
Woo! My first book made 42,000 words. Still counts. I liked that first story, its short because it was written as the description of a single quest. It serves to introduce the main character Rhunal the she-orc and her first experience with the danger and heartbreak of adventuring.
My books currently 23415 and its almost done. This sucks because that equals 58.8 pages single spaced which is the industry standard. I want my book to be at least 100-199 pages at least. Thats already much lower than how I originally intended, which was anywhere in the 200-300 page range.
For those of you confused about Nano (like what she said in the intro of the vid) I personally need external forces in order to get stuff done so Nano is a great form of motivation. 💖💖
Hi Jenna, I love your channel. I am working on a novella, and I have passed the 50,000 word mark because I heard that's how many words it takes. I heard you say, 40,000 words is a novel, and I got super excited. Thanks for sharing that bit of news.
I write barebones intentionally. Once I got the idea of where the story is going, then I flesh it out. I call it my 0-th draft.
Such a relief to see you after so long! My motivation was dwindling down toward the depths of hell, was about to give up :(
@Paul DC Haha thanks mate!
Struggling with writer’s block, anyone? I’m struggling with both my fanfiction and original book.
Am this close to giving up 👌
Yes, sadly. And adhd too... I hope I'll make it some day. 🥲
Writers block sucks. I have a lot of good ideas(if stuff like Twilight and Fifty Shades of Gray can get published I'm sure my stories can) but I can never figure out how to begin the first chapter.
I love it when Jenna calls me a piece of shit.👁👄👁 Amazing video!
Just wanted to say, thank you for this. I'm just starting out on my writing journey and I'm constantly feeling like I don't have enough words. Which is extremely unusual for me. Whenever I have to write a thing, it's always too long. But with writing a book I suddenly feel like all my words have evaporated and I'm broken. This has given me a few things to look at and take stock of and a few ways to just, calm down 😅
I am writing my first novel. its a ghost story I've turned over in my head like a pearl for years. But I suffer from serious tell-itis. not all the time. some scenarios I look at and realize I did my best at describing, but others have little bits like "She felt uneasy" that have a ton of potential for more descriptive words. I am still trying to find a good balance between rich details and not drowning someone to death in unnecessary details. thank you for this.
Needed this. Also thanks to your channel I’m finally making head way on my book.
Good advice. I am currently writing my first middle grade novel and your videos help. Watching them made me realize just how different and out of the box writer I was, but it also helped me dig deeper to write a great story
THANK YOU!! I’ve been struggling through my last edits and I’ve been pressed about the word count. This is a big help
As someone who just 'finished' work on their first ever novel, or should I say novella since it's technically 130 pages long, all of this advice is so helpful. After listening to you give this advice, I went back and read my novel through different lenses and noticed how much it would really benefit from your advice. Maybe it won't pass the average threshold a novel will, but I know for certain it'll benefit from your advice purely due to the content it currently has.
For the creative writing club I'm in, I'm doing the 20,000 word challenge thingy and Jenna I gotta say I fuckin love you, oh my Lord you're a writing savior.
I weep every time I have to add words to my story (because it's too long), but I also suffer every time I remove stuff to make it shorter.
Me: That description was so beautiful!
Brain: It's not really needed though.
Me: deletes while crying
Might be my fave video of yours yet. I really struggle with this! My stories are definitely lacking in a lot of these areas. Thank you!
Always topical 😂 I was just talking about this for NaNo, but you really know how to keep on top of these things.
The more I write, the more I step away from being an under writer :)
The innuendos I was sensing during the structure talk was insane.
You could eliminate all contractions…I did this in high school on assignments but in reverse. Everything that could be contracted was because I was always over the word limit 😇
I wouldnt mind (and probably a lot more people as well ) for the next video to be about overwriting. Great video as always BTW
Juggling ideas stalls my writing more than ANYTHING. Thanks for the video Jenna!
Yeah, I feel like an Under Writer. My problem is always when to place things, like when to give a description, when to fit in a characters feelings properly and when to take moment to sneak in some lore. To me, these always feel like a speedbump.
Also I need 10:23 to 10:26 playing on loop.
Okay, you popped up and I clicked on because I had heard that a "true" novel needed to be a minimum of 80K words. In comparison of authors in my genre, they were running at about 100K. Yet, I was done at 67k. Friends and literary people who read it, loved it.
WTF, according to what I heard I still needed atleast 13k words. An then I heard you.
You gave me a few ideas to reconsider but more important , the knowledge that I do not need to worry about word count. I will incerease it to above 70k and then its going to the agents. Thanks
Jenna, have you seen that some writers tend to skip the action? They build up for action, or for a big thing to happen, only to sweep past that thing in one or two paragraphs when they reach it? I have seen this a few times, and it absolutely frustrates me. Like, I read a story recently that spent like 15 chapters building up to a big moment. But when the moment came, it was literally swept under the run. Like: This happened, they got away, done. It took legit no more than 2-3 paragraphs to describe it all. That's not even one page! 15 chapters of build-up... less than a page payoff. Arrgh!
Your hair is so pretty 😍
Also thanks for all the tips!!
A book I can’t recommend enough for novel structure is “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” by Jessica Brody. It gives a very detailed explanation of how to structure a novel and has a ton of examples from well known books. Thankfully, Brody also considers how writers like me (pantsers, who feel boxed in by too much structure) can still benefit from the save the cat beat sheet
I saw this last one coming 😏
Great job, like always !!!
I've had this issue for 4 years now, so I'm listening to it while I write words on the page :)
Good timing. I need to up the word count up on my story by at least 20,000 but don't know where to start.
Well, looks like Novelpad might actually get me to write again....
Thx Jenna!
Loved the video and I love the way u cover everything and explain everything in detail.
I just have request can u pls make a video on how to write flashbacks
I'm really facing a problem with it
loved this video!!! great tips as always
Thanks Ren!
Wait how is this comment 22 hours ago?
@@thups9552 Jenna has a Patreon tier where her Patreons get early access to videos :)
@@KileyKeeling Oh nice!
My problem would be extending the chapters. Yes, I tend to have arcs to keep my characters going. There are times when I felt that my pacing is too fast, so I try slowing it down by writing romance scenes or checking back with my character/s goals. Are they straying from their path? Where is their relationship going? Is it time to pick up on the romance? Those sorts of questions.
Also, I tend to do less on descriptions because I wanted the character/s to get a move on especially when I feel that the arc is dragging.
I learned a lot from this video. Thank you.
Thanks Jenna! This was helpful.
“Please don’t eliminate contractions.” Yes, you’re not writing Star Trek fanfic where all the characters are Data. 😂
You know exactly what I'm looking for Jenna, I stan you hard :)
Holy damn Jenna! I was just thinking how to increase the size of my 270 page book by 100 pages. Thank you very much!
You're my go-to. Thanks, boss!
Hey, Jenna!
Have you considered doing writing livestreams? I find them to be productive and relaxing.
I also write screenplays, and one of the things I have to change my mind set with when I switch between the two is in novels I have to describe the stage business. In screenplays, or at least the way I was taught to write a screenplays, was you need to describe something without directing from the page- give enough insight to the characters emotion, tone, body language without out right saying it.
It took a little while for me to figure out I needed to add a little stage business in some scenes. Now I'm an over writer and I like it that way. I'd rather cut then add.
A lot of veteran NaNo-ers look at NaNo as a community builder or a push to draft the next book after a long edit. When it started it was a reaction to the founders friends always saying "I'm going to write a novel," repeatiedly so he challenged them to actually sit down and do 50K in a month.
Today I literally asked my friend: “how do you write so much” because I always under write, and now this video is here
Number 10 Don't.
By far my favorite. Am not the best writer but I try my best and mostly dabble in fanfiction. One thing I definitely try to do is put as many words as can possibly do. When I heard 40k is enough... I was pretty damn happy with myself.
Solid advice. Thank you, Jenna.
Great video, really helped me out 👍🏼
Side note; I don’t know if you already made a video in this (I’m kinda new to your channel) but could you perhaps make a video on how to write a good love confession scene? Like what would they say to each other, and how to make it realistic and how to make them say things people in real life might actually say? I’ve read some stories where the confessions seem so cheesy and unrealistic, and I’m not too sure how to write a nice solid confession. If you read this comment, thanks and I hope you consider it.
Yes, queen! I really needed this video! 😍
Thank you so much for the advice!!!
Thank you, I needed this my book is at 8 pages and I am about 3 quarters done
*me* struggling with my first draft which is definitely too long
*also me* omg I have to watch this!
I like to write and few chapters one day and edit them the next. I set a goal for word count, (usually 1500 words) and I find that I end up with more words when I go back and edit. Even though I out filler words, word count goes up. I think it's because I find details or descriptions that improve my text.
This was a great video. Thanks very much for this.
I agree. Underwriters, in my experience, tell more than they show, and they don't give the characters enough trouble. They solve problems too fast and too easy. And often, from what I've seen, they don't describe scenes/rooms very much (if at all) and/or they have a lack of introspection (thoughts and feelings). They also tell us their feelings instead of showing them.
can you do a video on fleshing out your characters? i struggle with writing characters except for minor ones. thanks if you make that video!
Don't think of your characters as a character on a page. Think of them as people. They have likes and dislikes, goals and failings, little quirks that we wouldn't expect of them, etc. Go to a mall/market/park/etc. Pick a table, bench, ledge, what have you. Sit there with a pen and paper, and watch the people. Think about what each person you see is like. What kind of job might they have? What kind of food might they like? Music? Favorite car? What might they want from life?
Take your notes home, and sit where you do your writing. Pull up your character sheet. Now imagine us (the readers) as yourself people watching where you just were. We are watching a snapshot of these characters lives unfold on the page. In real life, a person walking by seems two-dimensional. It's not until we talk and interact with them that they begin unfolding into more than just a face. When we open a book, it's the same. The characters begin as just a face. Whether the author fleshes them out into people determines whether we connect and engage with them. :)
am i an overwriter? yes
will i still watch this video? hell yes!
Never been this early to a vid xD But very relevant, starting it now!
For #3- one of the best pieces of writing advice I have ever seen- people will read a bad plot if it has good characters. People won't read a good plot with bad characters.
Hi there, Jenna. I've been watching and learning from your videos for quite some time. Your videos have helped me so much with my writing and working on a book of my own. While I've learned so much about making the scene, how to write certain character, now not to write characters, and so much more, I'm having trouble finding ways to expose myself as an author. How do I get exposure for my upcoming novel? How did you get exposure while writing your first novel? What should I do and avoid doing? I'd GREATLY appreciate any help I can get, whether it's big or small. Thanks for your time.
From,
A Subscriber
Tack så mycket Jenna🥰
When I'm writing descriptions of characters or a setting I'll read them to someone. If they picture something close to what I was thinking I move on if it's completely off I go back and change descriptors or add more details
Chronic underwriter here, largely because I I suck at subplots. Thanks for the vid!
My second novel was 277,000 words. I'm now writing novellas. I churned my latest out in 8 months after pressure from my ex. The next novellas are still going to be about 30,000 words each (as part of the trilogy). BUT WE LOVE JENNA.
and to think I've barely even written 100k in three years lmao
@@josefinasotes796 hey don't knock yourself. At least you are doing it. Keep going. Peace
@@ReinhardvonHolst thanks for cheering me up!
I died laughing at 7:02. You're awesome :D subscribed
I prefer visualizing characters myself and even if they are described I still picture them I how I want. Thats just how my mind works. It keeps me from wanting to include descriptions in my writings
I'm doing my first nanowrimo! :D
I really need it to finally finish a book (hopefully)
8: I am rewriting my stories as they are confusing. They are good stories, but they are easy to get lost without paragraphs and spaces.
For the description one, I have a question. What’s the best way to describe a first person POV character without using the “looking in the mirror” thing?
Here are some ways that I include descriptions of the protagonist. Just sprinkle them sparingly over the first couple of chapters instead of all at once.
Use an action: "I pulled my thick, brown hair into a ponytail" or "I touched the ridges of scars on my arms, marks from war. Now, a nervous tic."
While introducing other characters (especially family): "My sister walked into the room, wide hips swaying. I looked away, jealousy pricking at my nerves" or "his eyes were a deep brown much like my own."
The mirror doesn't have to be a mirror: "I caught a glimpse of my reflection through the shop window and pulled my hood over the red tangles" or "the photo of us from years ago still hung on the fridge. Some things never change, like his freckles and my crooked smile"
Just some ideas. I hope they help :)
@@shelbywelter2381 They actually do! I had originally done it when he comes across a different version of himself, but since that plot line got pushed to the next book, this will come in handy! Thank you!!!
Luv the tough love, do you f*cking job on description. I feel seen. This is gold
Jenna I just saw the trailer for a new video game called Redfall. I've always wanted to either write or create video games with supernatural creatures in a modern world and people who hunt them. Could you please give some tips on how to write a similar universe and have it not be completely terrible.
Im an overwriter but Im watching this anyways because Jenna
Literally working on my NanothingyMo right now and decided to watch this video lol.
Thank you. I always fall short in the word count. Question about a beautiful/handsome character. Could a detailed description of such a character alienate or confuse some readers? When I read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" I asked my teacher if Washington Irving was poking fun when describing Katrina Van Tassel as "plump".
At the time Washington Irving was writing, being slightly plump was considered beautiful and healthy. Which generally tends to be the case in societies where hunger and illnesses resulting from malnourishment are more common than illnesses resulting from overfeeding and lack of exercise. To answer the question, yes, specific description can confuse some readers if they don't share your beauty ideal, but you can counteract that by word choice. E.g. if you describe a woman with a very light complexion as having "alabaster white skin", the reader will get that she is supposed to be beautiful (even if the reader himself is more into brown suntanned skin) whereas if you describe her as ghostly pale, the reader will understand that she is supposed to look bland or unhealthy. Or to get back to Katrina van Tassel: You would probably have been much less confused, if Irving had described her as having a luscious or curvy figure instead of using plump, even if you are personally more into slim models than into well-endowed ladies (though I suppose Irving didn't use such words because he was aiming for describing her as attractive but innocent rather than sexy).
@@chrisrudolf9839 Exactly right, which circles back to my question. Would giving a detailed description of a beautiful/handsome character alienate or confuse readers? "A Passage to India" was good at bringing this out, a woman attractive by English standards was scrawny by Indian standards.
@@rsacchi100 The "confuse" part you can avoid by using unambiguously positive wording and/or showing that other characters in your novel perceive that character as attractive. Could it aleniate some readers who don't share that concept of beautiful? In most cases probably not, unless you depict something in great detail that they would regard as outright disgusting. To relate to a romance plot (or subplot), it is usually sufficient to show the reader that and why the MC is into that character, the reader doesn't have to be into the love interest themselves to emphatize with the MC. And if they want to imagine the love interest to look just like their own ideal dream woman/man/other, they still can just ignore your description and imagine the character that way.
There is still a chance that some readers might be aleniated, but avoiding a description at all is not the solution, because a considerable part of readers will be disappointed about the lack of description. You can't please everyone.
The only exception I see is the everyman main character that is explicitely designed to serve as the self insert for the reader (Like the typical plain ordinary girl character in wish fullfilling romance who somehow manages to make Prince Charming fall for her or the main character in a second person CYOA). Those should be described as vaguely as possible to enable the reader to imagine themselves in the role.
@@chrisrudolf9839 That makes good sense. Thank you for the detailed answer.
Thank you.
Amazing video as always. It was very helpful!
I actually did a wordcount on my entire manuscript, and I'm at the NEW AND IMPROVED halfway point. It's 100 words longer than "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone". Niiiiiiiiiice! And like I say, that's halfway.
Description is something I actively ignore when reading sometimes oops. I often have a visual idea of a character even before the description comes up so I ignore it in my head, and this is often because, as a biracial black kid, nearly every character I'll imagine immediately as a biracial black person simply from a weird sense of projection ig. I also hate focusing on settings unless it's important, I'm a visual person already, so as a reader, I fill in blanks? It's sorta weird.
I'm usually very vague about my characters' looks too. I like to leave most to the imagination of the reader.
I finished my first novel (fantasy adventure). I never done editing before cause I never finished a story. I always procrastinated, got bored, or too busy. But I finally buckled down and finished it.
However it's only 60k words. Apparently 50k is enough for a rough draft but the sweet spot is 80k for publishing though many novels are required to be 90-120k.
I am taking a break from writing for the year and will tackle the edits in the new year with a fresh mind. After the holidays. But should I write more chapters or even another whole act if it's not long enough to be published? Or would I be able to amend the word count with editing and revising?
Many thanks for your videos. They are very helpful for a novice like me!
I have no problem with length - almost the opposite. Im greedy. I want to describe EVERYTHING lol. I do struggle with how to describe a character's appearance while making it sound natural. I don't want to suddenly include an inventory of physical features. But I also want to make sure Im getting the description in early enough so that by the time readers DO find out what the characters look like, they havent already built their own mental picture.
The Old Man and The Sea is a short book. Romeo and Juliet is a short book.
Don't really care for the love of word count. Just write your story... A good story will withstand time.
A lot of books lack good descriptions
Alwayed feared that I would underwrite. Considering I haven’t even reached the 10th chapter on my first draft and still have about 30k words, I don’t think not reaching the word count for a novel is that hard.
Lol I wrote my book and had 10 chapters total. I watched this video to get some pointers, and now I’m on pace to reach 25 chapters for my second lol XD
She’s killing on this “you lazy piece of eh hem
Seeing this video a year later but I feel like I do have enough plot and my story is not bare bones, it just doesn't take up as many words as I thought it would. I'm already nearing one of the bigger events towards the end and only have about 15k words right now. I'm going to finish the first draft and then worry about bulking it up, so thanks for the tips!!
people keep saying don't write more than 100k but there are popular fantasy novels out there with 300-400k words so I really don't know what the word count for my novel should be. I haven't started writing it but considering a fanfiction I'm working on reached 150k without even reaching part 2 of the story, I'll probably easily pass 100k words for my original novel...
Do we have a video on First Person (POV) Writing?
This video has so many ads and I love to see it
lol. I have some many ideas, but I wanted to do a short story first to get a rhythm down, and I was thinkin exactly this topic. lol. then I chose to end it when everyone I wanted to kill is dead...
I'm such an underwriter it's sad. It's to the point where this time around, I'm just giving myself beat goals to go back and fill in so it's not a complete rewrite.
I kinda have the reverse problem, my pros and writing style are very slow paced and reflective, I feel like I'm having to slap a horse on the ass to pick it's speed up three times a page cause I'm just dawdling around forever trying to get the phrasing, framing, and descriptions of every random detailed to be just right, despite the fact the reader will only be with this page for like 3 minutes.
Oh, God! That's me! i'm the under-writer 🤦♀️
Thanks for the video.