This reminds me of the acting advice "acting is reacting," meaning that an actor shouldn't be trying to "act," but rather reacting naturally to the story happening around them. That's how you make your acting seem real and authentic. It's the same way with writing, because at its core, all storytelling is the same no matter the medium!
I'm a hugeeee fan of this, wow!!! Love the parallels between two different art forms. I agree - if you just parrot the lines, it will seem so stiff, same as if a character just follows a pre-plotted path without proper character work and motivations to back it up. That is awesome, thanks for sharing :))
I'm really glad to hear someone put to words that characters, in order to live within the plot, DO have to be reactive. There's so much pressure to treat reactiveness as an antithesis to interesting, proactive characters.
Yes! I think there's a balance to be struck between proactive characters and ones who are reacting to the plot (as opposed to just following it) - but I think in the best books, plot is created specifically to CREATE proactive characters - ones who *react* to plot points/obstacles with agency and a type of 'proactivity' that matches their character. Katniss is an explosive reactor, but others might be more introspective, some might despair... etc. thank you so much for watching!!
I'm not the type to leave comments usually, but I just wanted to share how much your channel means to me. Even without having read your book when I found you, I subscribed because I felt like I saw myself reflected in you as a black sci-fi/fantasy lover. I know there are lots of us out there, but I've yet to find that community for myself so watching you has meant so much for me. Within my family I'm considered the "weird" one which they don't mean in a mean way, but it feels so isolating at times and reading fantasy has been a form of escapism for me. Although it was always a form of escapism, it wasn't until recently that I finally felt as though I was seeing myself in the stories I was reading. I started university this year, but when I was applying to schools I was somewhat unsure of what I wanted my future to be. Finding you was the push I needed to be inspired to write again. Because I see myself in you, seeing the love you have for what you do reminded me of what writing used to be for me.
Thank you so much for leaving this comment. I am so glad that this channel has been part of the journey toward you re-discovering your love for writing. I relate to the experience of never seeing myself in books - it was one of my main inspirations for writing - to tell the stories I wanted to read. As a fellow weird-kid I wish you so much luck with your writing journey. Hugs to you!! Don't stop writing!!❤
This was so useful! I always try to keep in mind that they’re reacting and not just doing things. Having the whys behind the actions make things so much easier to work with and rework.
I'm so glad it was helpful! Yeah I think especially if you are a plotter, it can feel like the 'right' way to create a sequence of events for your characters to follow, but we have to remember to make them human as well, reacting to what's put in their path...!
Sometime’s you know things but when you listen to them as an advice from someone else (like everything you said here) hits you different. I mean I KNOW, in theory, everything you said here, but as I listen to your video I realized I may have not had this in mind as I was writing my first draft. So, thank you 😅❤
hahaha you're welcome! It's so funny how we often know everything we need to get going, but it takes someone else saying it for us to internalise it. You've GOT THIS!! thank you for watching😊
Halfway through this video I subscribed. I agree with everything you said and as an aspirin writer I feel more confident jearing a published writer say what Ive come to believe. I feel more confident moving forward with my own WIP.
thank you!! Yes I love that advice - it can be tricky to think through and wrap your head around (I find it really difficult) but its so key to understanding what motivates your character!
Great reminder of the need for the physical and the mental obstacles! I think I'm clear on both aspects in my WIP, but bringing it across to the reader is the skill isn't it. I'm not sure I always get things across on the page as clearly as they are in my head! Thanks for this! By the way your jumper is gorge and I don't suppose you can share where your necklace is from? I'm feeling influenced 😃
it really is a skill. One thing I've had to work on (and found really useful) is that idea of trusting the reader. If we put our characters in a situation that sparks/triggers the exploration of an emotional obstacle, the reader can infer what that is, and will naturally understand the journey they've got to go on. So have faith in your reader too! Thank you!! My necklace is Monica Vinader!
@@esmietheauthor I love that. Yes - trusting the reader is so important, I need to remember that and try to strike the right balance. And thanks re the necklace info - off to browse the MV website 😁❤️
Esmie - I discovered your channel today and it’s wonderful! Thank you so much for helping, and guiding us, as generously (and wittily!) as you do. May I ask a question please… when you’re writing, what do you like to listen to on your headphones? Do you listen to music? Podcasts? I was reading today that the easiest way for us to activate the right, creative hemisphere of our brain is to listen to music. I always write in silence and wonder if this is a mistake. Thank you again. You truly do shine, and I hope that your writing career continues to bring joy and fulfilment! ✨ x
thank you so much for watching, this is so kind of you to say!! When I write, I definitely listen to music. I have a few playlists for each project and they help to settle me within the mood of the scene, or book. Sometimes I listen to classical, or just the same song on repeat. Though there are times when I write purely in silence (usually if the music is too catchy and I'm finding it hard to concentrate 😂) thank YOU again for watching and leaving such a lovely comment.
GREAT ADVICE - I find my characters get away from me. They don't want to do what I want them to do,🤣 this is very helpful in getting them on the right direction
Very helpful! As someone who has been procrastinating working on the worldbuilding of my fantasy novel, this has given me some motivation to start again! 😁
Hi Esmie, another great video with lots of useful tips for writers. Keep 'em coming! 💯 Oh! BTW: I made it through to the Shortlist for Penguin WriteNow 2024! Yahoo! Now have to submit an extra 40k words plus a detailed synopsis. Would love to know what you think a 'detailed synopsis' would look like, as they didn't give us any instructions on format? ⁉
Hi! Thanks so much! oh WOW huge congrats!!! Okay so - generally a detailed synopsis means like a play by play of your entire novel (beginning, middle, end, including all "spoilers"), usually over the course of about 3 pages, or within the range of 2-5 pages. In terms of formatting, you should be fine with 1.5 spaced, regular paragraphs, and then every time you introduce a new character, make sure to put their name in CAPITAL LETTERS so that it's clear a new person is entering the plot. That's all I can think of for now, but BEST of luck and hugeee congratulations on this achievement!!
This reminds me of the acting advice "acting is reacting," meaning that an actor shouldn't be trying to "act," but rather reacting naturally to the story happening around them. That's how you make your acting seem real and authentic. It's the same way with writing, because at its core, all storytelling is the same no matter the medium!
I'm a hugeeee fan of this, wow!!! Love the parallels between two different art forms. I agree - if you just parrot the lines, it will seem so stiff, same as if a character just follows a pre-plotted path without proper character work and motivations to back it up. That is awesome, thanks for sharing :))
I'm really glad to hear someone put to words that characters, in order to live within the plot, DO have to be reactive. There's so much pressure to treat reactiveness as an antithesis to interesting, proactive characters.
Yes! I think there's a balance to be struck between proactive characters and ones who are reacting to the plot (as opposed to just following it) - but I think in the best books, plot is created specifically to CREATE proactive characters - ones who *react* to plot points/obstacles with agency and a type of 'proactivity' that matches their character. Katniss is an explosive reactor, but others might be more introspective, some might despair... etc. thank you so much for watching!!
I'm not the type to leave comments usually, but I just wanted to share how much your channel means to me. Even without having read your book when I found you, I subscribed because I felt like I saw myself reflected in you as a black sci-fi/fantasy lover. I know there are lots of us out there, but I've yet to find that community for myself so watching you has meant so much for me. Within my family I'm considered the "weird" one which they don't mean in a mean way, but it feels so isolating at times and reading fantasy has been a form of escapism for me. Although it was always a form of escapism, it wasn't until recently that I finally felt as though I was seeing myself in the stories I was reading. I started university this year, but when I was applying to schools I was somewhat unsure of what I wanted my future to be. Finding you was the push I needed to be inspired to write again. Because I see myself in you, seeing the love you have for what you do reminded me of what writing used to be for me.
Thank you so much for leaving this comment. I am so glad that this channel has been part of the journey toward you re-discovering your love for writing. I relate to the experience of never seeing myself in books - it was one of my main inspirations for writing - to tell the stories I wanted to read. As a fellow weird-kid I wish you so much luck with your writing journey. Hugs to you!! Don't stop writing!!❤
This was so useful! I always try to keep in mind that they’re reacting and not just doing things. Having the whys behind the actions make things so much easier to work with and rework.
I'm so glad it was helpful! Yeah I think especially if you are a plotter, it can feel like the 'right' way to create a sequence of events for your characters to follow, but we have to remember to make them human as well, reacting to what's put in their path...!
Sometime’s you know things but when you listen to them as an advice from someone else (like everything you said here) hits you different. I mean I KNOW, in theory, everything you said here, but as I listen to your video I realized I may have not had this in mind as I was writing my first draft. So, thank you 😅❤
hahaha you're welcome! It's so funny how we often know everything we need to get going, but it takes someone else saying it for us to internalise it. You've GOT THIS!! thank you for watching😊
This was amazing! Can you make a vid about brainstorming ideas and how you come up with them?
yes of course! Will put this in the queue to film, thank you so much for watching and suggesting this☺️
Halfway through this video I subscribed. I agree with everything you said and as an aspirin writer I feel more confident jearing a published writer say what Ive come to believe. I feel more confident moving forward with my own WIP.
really glad I could help!! more writing advice vides coming soon!
love this practical writing advice, especially playing with what the character thinks they want, and what they actually need
thank you!! Yes I love that advice - it can be tricky to think through and wrap your head around (I find it really difficult) but its so key to understanding what motivates your character!
I am here seated and have my notebook ready for notes 🤓
Thank you so much for this video and I love all your other videos! Can always use the amazing writing advice :)
thank you so much for watching!! I really appreciate it. :))
Her intelligence about writing and her beauty made me watch this video 3 times. It was so kind of her to say that “she believed in us”
Great reminder of the need for the physical and the mental obstacles! I think I'm clear on both aspects in my WIP, but bringing it across to the reader is the skill isn't it. I'm not sure I always get things across on the page as clearly as they are in my head! Thanks for this! By the way your jumper is gorge and I don't suppose you can share where your necklace is from? I'm feeling influenced 😃
it really is a skill. One thing I've had to work on (and found really useful) is that idea of trusting the reader. If we put our characters in a situation that sparks/triggers the exploration of an emotional obstacle, the reader can infer what that is, and will naturally understand the journey they've got to go on. So have faith in your reader too!
Thank you!! My necklace is Monica Vinader!
@@esmietheauthor I love that. Yes - trusting the reader is so important, I need to remember that and try to strike the right balance. And thanks re the necklace info - off to browse the MV website 😁❤️
Esmie - I discovered your channel today and it’s wonderful! Thank you so much for helping, and guiding us, as generously (and wittily!) as you do.
May I ask a question please… when you’re writing, what do you like to listen to on your headphones? Do you listen to music? Podcasts? I was reading today that the easiest way for us to activate the right, creative hemisphere of our brain is to listen to music. I always write in silence and wonder if this is a mistake.
Thank you again. You truly do shine, and I hope that your writing career continues to bring joy and fulfilment! ✨ x
thank you so much for watching, this is so kind of you to say!!
When I write, I definitely listen to music. I have a few playlists for each project and they help to settle me within the mood of the scene, or book. Sometimes I listen to classical, or just the same song on repeat. Though there are times when I write purely in silence (usually if the music is too catchy and I'm finding it hard to concentrate 😂)
thank YOU again for watching and leaving such a lovely comment.
GREAT ADVICE - I find my characters get away from me. They don't want to do what I want them to do,🤣 this is very helpful in getting them on the right direction
LOL I have the exact same thing happen to me all the time!! So glad it was helpful :))
Your advice is put in a way I don’t think I’ve heard before, not in that way.
I'm glad!! thank you for watching :)
Very helpful, thanks🙏🏾🙏🏾
Very helpful! As someone who has been procrastinating working on the worldbuilding of my fantasy novel, this has given me some motivation to start again! 😁
You've got this!!! Thank you so much for watching, I really appreciate it :))
This is very interesting 🧐
Hi Esmie, another great video with lots of useful tips for writers. Keep 'em coming! 💯
Oh! BTW: I made it through to the Shortlist for Penguin WriteNow 2024! Yahoo! Now have to submit an extra 40k words plus a detailed synopsis. Would love to know what you think a 'detailed synopsis' would look like, as they didn't give us any instructions on format? ⁉
Hi! Thanks so much!
oh WOW huge congrats!!! Okay so - generally a detailed synopsis means like a play by play of your entire novel (beginning, middle, end, including all "spoilers"), usually over the course of about 3 pages, or within the range of 2-5 pages. In terms of formatting, you should be fine with 1.5 spaced, regular paragraphs, and then every time you introduce a new character, make sure to put their name in CAPITAL LETTERS so that it's clear a new person is entering the plot.
That's all I can think of for now, but BEST of luck and hugeee congratulations on this achievement!!
here for this 🤍