What do you do if you had what amounts to a complusion, to write, but seem to have imagination esp. as you age- some writers say, "everybody has a story" - I'm not sure I do and I'd rather not write memoir. I want to write a mystery novel, stories of the macabre, a novel which expands "a person's sense of what it means to be human, to be alive, to to use a corny phrase, shed light on the human condition- I am a "lit snob" with high standards- I don't want to self publish- like Diane discusses in this post- "Just shut up- seems harsh but then again I am no kid- I think it is TERRIFIC somebody on here published in her 50's- if you have the talent, age isn't an issue- Namaste from A Bookworm in Canada
The advice that really helped me to write my novels was, “Don’t depend on colourful words to make your writing attractive, the story has to be good enough to stand on its own.”
Colorful words in writing should be a spice, lightly sprinkled over a superb story. If there are too many of them, the taste of the story will feel off, regardless whether it's good or bad.
D Frazier I’ve made a living as a writer for 20 years so far. Before that, I was a discerning reader. I didn’t have to watch writing videos or read about writing well to write well. I didn’t even take writing courses until I had worked as a writer for 10 years. I just paid close attention to the writing that worked well for me as a reader. Then I built my writing accordingly. Common sense.
On the other hand, most good stories have been told, many times. The telling of a story is as important as the story itself. Contemporary fiction is full of books stripped of character by advice like that. After all, all words have 'color.' Painting everything in the same color is rarely a good idea.
writing is a cool profession. It's not like sports, where you hit your peak at 20-30, and then, due to physical setbacks, you can never be as good. It's a life long skill, you can start whenever. People who say you need to start as a kid are lying. Van gogh didn't start painting until he was 27. Good luck!!!
My best rejection letter ever came from Marion Zimmer Bradley on a story I sent to her Sword & Sorceress collection. I KNEW the story was too long (about 10,000 words ? Maybe it was less, but certainly well over guidelines) as opposed to 1500, but I sent it anyhow. She loved it, she wrote, but it was just too long. She couldn't suggest a way to shorten it, but she believed in my vision and recommended I make it a full length novel. Rejection or not, I felt honored to receive a personal reply, as proof that yeah, my writing was just not that crappy. LOL in my professional life as a telemarketer, bosses often ask if I'm capable of dealing with the challenge of day-in-day out rejection. LOL "I'm a writer," I answer. I deal with rejection as a constant in my life. But every once and again, I get a yes.
"You're going to feel like hell if you wake up some day and you never wrote the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart." Author Anne Lamott
Yes. I agree. I'm a published author - but when I was a child, I lived with my mom and stepfather. He was a Vietnam vet and merchant marine. So he ran our household like an Army drill sergeant. Like a "tight ship" (he often said that, too). Three inches of water in the bath; or a 3 - minute shower. . . every 3 days, max. White glove tests were performed routinely on my room. And if you failed one of those "tests" ... never mind, you just didn't want to do that. If you did the dishes (and I was 7 when I learned to do them daily), they had to be spotless. He would run his index finger over each dish or plate when you were done; and if you "missed" a spot, even if it was not visible to the human eye, you'd have to do them all over again. _Including_ all the clean ones. This list goes on and on. And everything _always_ had to be up to "snuff" - but one thing he always said was, "no half-ass jobs." That stuck in my mind; I can hear it to this day. And he very much meant it. You didn't "get away with" anything, in that household. You _would_ be caught; and there _would_ be a high penalty to pay for your laxness or transgression. So ... between my perfectionist mother and my perfectionist stepfather, I grew up to be a budding perfectionist, myself. It was like "get an A in class - or don't even try." It's one of the things I've really struggled with. I'm _still_ learning that it's okay to learn and not know everything; it's okay to grow; it's okay if my writing isn't "perfect" the first time around. It really did a number on my writing; because I never felt free to make "mistakes." I was published for the first time at age 17 - but I was also ultra hard on myself - and still am. I don't know if I'll ever quite be able to shake off my childhood "indoctrination" (which really _was_ quite like an indoctrination; I've only told part of the story here and a very small part at that), but I'm learning every day that it's okay to just focus on learning and growing as a writer (and as a human being) - without expectation of being perfect at whatever I'm trying at that time. I'm not really sure why I typed all this, lol. Your comment just reminded me of something I needed to say, I guess. Sending much love and many blessings! 🤍🌹🕊
Protip: finish everything you start. Then challenge yourself to write more in less time. Get all the suck out. Write four or five novels. One of them MIGHT actually be good. Then write five more.
"Finish everything you start." (looks at over two dozen open chapterfics) I'm trying as fast as I can! I just start things faster than I complete things T_T
@@Arkylie you should probably stay in the idea generation phase for a bit longer and ask yourself if this really is "the one", then you will start to have fewer stories, but they will have more flesh
@@nikolajmadsen1002 That's possible, I suppose, but I generate ideas very, very quickly. Like, I'm putting off starting a new fic until I've closed down several of my existing fics -- and my Muse decided to dream up and flesh out an entire new Jotunheim tale even though I'm decidedly not starting that fic for months yet. The idea has a good start to it, lots of flesh, and I spent a couple of days working out Jotnar genetics, which led to some truly interesting places (like how my foundational ideas ended up inadvertently making female Jotnar inherently stronger than male Jotnar in physical power or magic or both, leading to the idea that their strongest military forces are peopled with women). If I restricted myself from writing and posting these stories, I imagine I'd end up with dozens upon dozens of stories all champing at the bit to get posted, and I doubt I could make myself Notfic the majority of them to pare down my "actual writing" to just the most interesting ones. I do think, however, that I ought to dedicate a few (nonconsecutive) months out of the year to specifically pinning down one fic that's close to completion and just finishing it, and then another -- closing down the ones that are not so open-ended as my big ones.
@@Arkylie yeah, it sounds great with the idea of having some months where you focus on completing one story, and then you can just go wild after that and write everything you want
It lies in the channel name, doesn't it? :) I've been jotting down my thoughts (diary style) in notebooks for many years, but taking the step to write full fiction is something I struggle with. At least I've developed the habit of writing anything at all, even if it's not every day (yet).
@@KimStennabbCaesar If you love it, do it. Just write, and don't second guess yourself. First drafts are usually bad. They are there to get the story on paper. Keep writing!😁💗
I’m only 14, and I definitely don’t expect to be a professional author anytime soon, especially since the characters I’m currently very passionate about are not my own (fanfiction’s great, y’all), and the quality of my writing, although steadily improving, definitely has a long way to go, but a major problem for me is that I treat my writing like a hobby, even though it technically is for now. I definitely don’t want to keep making half-baked stories that I abandon after a short spout of inspiration, followed by self-criticism and procrastination. It seems unfair to make a story that someone may love with all of their heart, or even just appreciate slightly, and want to see how it continues, and then just stop it because I stopped caring. Most of my writing happens on impulse, but especially the half finished stories that I decide aren’t good enough to continue. I definitely don’t want to force myself to continue a story that I don’t like, if only because it would show in the quality of my writing, but I definitely think that trying to look at it as a thing that needs to be done will help immensely with finishing stories I am passionate about. (Sorry if I end up sounding pretentious or something, I just wanted to tell you that you helped put me on the right track)
I'm a fanfiction writer as well! Though, I have written my own original fiction work (though it's not completed, I'm in the process of reworking the whole story and world). I've heard numerous times that being in a writing group helps you with your writing and opens up opportunities in the future. What fandom do you write in? I'd like to check out some of your work and give you some suggestions if you'd like them?
Ficcers of the world unite! I use my fic to experiment with ideas before I use them for my own stuff. That said, my fic is as dear to me as my own work and I put as much effort into it as my own work
@@astrothsknot I think I actually put more effort into fics than I am on doing my novel rework. That said, yesterday I got a really good idea for a book but I can't necessarily write it in fanfiction since it's a werewolf book. XD
i was 14 only a few months ago, and i have over 100 drafts of stories that are left unfinished. i feel you, although my only advice is just have a solid plot, one that excites you to write the ending. because from that new and shiny plot, you will write with newfound inspiration. and then you will have another spout of inspiration, and another, and another. hobbies are fun girl, you cant procrastinate a hobby either. don't think of writing as a product you want to make to please other people. write it as if you are putting your wildest thoughts on paper and make as much mess as you can and dont be sorry about it.
Honestly, it's better to finish a bad story than to never finish anything due to self doubt. But finishing the story will also help develop your skills in a different way as well much more than an endlessly repeated excerise of opening lines and call to adventures. Don't worry if it's fan fiction. Don't worry if it's not an original; plot, character, story world, or genre. People enjoy a good story regardless of if it's stolen or not. Just give credit where it's due. As far as professionalism and a job in writing. There are ways to make money via social media, but you could also print out copies of your writing and ask a teacher to edit, and then start selling copies of your work around school. Writing is never going to be a 9-5 Monday to Friday kind of job. So it's not something that you will ever make money in a traditional way either way. If anything, try putting up audio versions of your stories on RUclips and see if you can't make anything from google AdSense.
I had three rejections this month and was feeling pretty down about it. But thanks to you I realised I have now only 97 left to collect this year ! Thanks a lot :)
@@ShadowRaven66669 I stopped at 12 rejections but for a good reason: I got enough writing jobs to live right now ! (screen writing for a documentary, a video game and other small stuff). But the countdown to 100 will continue once I finish these contracts 😉 So yeah, I strongly advise following this tip
"Let the readers be the judge of quality." This one nugget set me free, and is the main reason I'm a professional author today. Yes, there's plenty of hard work that went into it, but it once I left go of self-criticism I found success. I listen to feedback from readers who've paid for my work. I also use earnings to judge the merits of the book. However, I'll be the first to note I write genre fiction with the main goal of entertaining my readers. Therefor this metric makes sense for me and my process, but might not work for everyone.
Any advice on how to do that? I...have trouble finishing a novel (despite one unfinished novel alone having like 800-900 pages...) partly because I am never satisfied.
@@MrBrachiatingApe The War of Art, is an excellent book that can help with mindset issues. I keep a full list of resources on my website: www.nakbaldron.com/writer-resources/ Beyond that, force yourself to publish. Even a short story. Just pick something, publish, and listen to feedback from readers. At the core, it sounds like you're holding your work against some theoretical perfect book that no author will ever make. Including yourself. Readers want a finished story that can make them feel something. Everything beyond that is bonus. If you have an unfished novel after 900 pages, it might be time to set that aside and just start a new book.
Im getting there with the "aim for rejection" advice. Recently I got another form letter rejection, and it didn't sting as much as it did before. It was just... "Ah well, next." I am extremely sensitive, so I feel that was a huge step forward. Thank you for making this video.
My problem is that my projects grow until they are overwhelming. A short story, turns into a novella, turns into a novel, turns into a series, turns into a series of series', then I make it too big and burn myself out. Thank you fot another excelent, I really love your style!
I like James Altucher's advice on the subject of achieving success. Briefly stated, he says that we must take one step each day, and focus on just that one thing we need to do different. Many small daily changes (read actions) add up and makes all the difference. Maybe that can help you with your writing projects. ☺️
@@Ivan1234772 In City Slickers it was "The Theory of One". you chase one cow until you catch her. Don't get distracted by a cow that comes closer and try to catch her. There's always a closer cow. You chase one because she'll get tired and then you can catch her and deal with her. If you spend ten seconds going after every cow in the herd you'll be tired and they won't be branded.
I agree that writing like a business feels cold. More than "treat writing like a business", I believe a better advice (and the one you meant to give) is: "treat writing as if you were dying tomorrow and the fate of the whole world and everyone you love depended on you passing the secrets only you know in the form of a book."
This is not only my favorite video of yours, but one of my favorite videos on the entire site of RUclips. This is exactly the kind of advice I'm always hawking in the game industry to students and others trying to get into game development. This is universally applicable advice, and you did a wonderful job framing it. Thank you~
Not a piece of advice per se, but these lines from one of my favorite writers, Ruskin Bond, assured me that writing about the simpler things did not make me less of a writer - "As a writer, I have difficulty in doing justice to momentous events, the wars of nations, the politics of power; I am more at ease with the dew of the morning, the sensuous delights of the day, the silent blessings of the night, the joys and sorrows of children, the strivings of ordinary folk and, of course, the ridiculous situations in which we sometimes find ourselves."
Soorya Prakash I often catch myself struggling with this. Sometimes I feel like my story is too small, too unimportant, and I get disheartened. What’s ironic is that I set out to write smaller since grand and epic stuff always ends up overwhelming me and I rarely connect with it
@@bpsara I can totally understand :) Whenever I feel conflicted about the importance of my story, I remember these lines from the beautiful book, The Choice, written by Edith Eger (an Auschwitz survivor). "...there is no hierarchy in suffering. There's nothing that makes my pain worse or better than yours, no graph on which we can plot the relative importance of one sorrow versus another." I think this applies in writing and stories as much as it applies in suffering and life :)
Writing is an artistic expression. It's pointing out the (sometimes tiny) grains of truth in life that are easily overlooked. The truth is present everywhere. From (Tolstoy) the Napoleonic war to (Hemingway) a tiny, clean cafe. Don't belittle a grain of truth just because it's in a tiny spot.
"Let the characters tell the story." - Nina, my writter when I only did illustrations for her writting in our graphic novels. Now I am working to create my own original work with her advice in mind.
@@gutenbird It seems to work more on the microscale or scene to scene rather than dictating the entire plot. What I took from the advice was to craft the character is based on their backstory and what I needed to send a message but allow them to have some semblance of autonomy with how they would react to each other and certain circumstances. I would find myself putting buy characters in a setting and noticing that they might feel inclined towards something I hadn't considered until I put myself in their shoes. Not sure if that makes much sense but it does to me.
That makes more sense, DamienZshadow. Unfortunately, that’s not what novice writers hear whenwhen they’re given that terrible piece of advice. Because, what makes it terrible is: it comes without specifics. It’s like telling an obese person to “Stop eating.” The advice is so vapid, it ends up being bad advice. And, as writers, we should be ashamed of misleading our fellow writers by something we’ve written - especially when it comes to something as important as our craft.
@@AdmoreMethod I appreciate that but while it isn't something that I adopted, I don't necessarily see it as being bad advice even if taken more literally. To my understanding, it seems like it's more appropriate for pantsers that is rather than plotters which my friend is more of. Me, I'm a plotter but she likes seeing where the story will go more organically and some people just write that way.
Amen!! Set a attainable goal of “aiming for 💯 rejections” because they contain seeds of eventual acceptance. Simply brilliant! Rejections are not failures, they are feedbacks!
Great writing advice all around. I run a writer's group on Facebook and (surprisingly) it's envy I see most often come up as a stumbling block. It leads to despair and a jaded view of the publishing industry. I advise those struggling with the green-eyed monster of literary jealousy to not let the success of others get you down. If I feel I can, I'll start to advise these authors expressing their envy to write a congratulatory letter or think of someone they know who would like a book by this other author and to then recommend them. The best writing advice I got (from where, IDK) and that I have given for years is to not wait until you feel the Muse or in the mood to write. The Muse comes most often to those who are already working hard at their craft. If you want to get into the flow state of creativity, you need to push into. Flow is an active state of being; you can't passively wait for it if you want to truly tap it.
I suffer from perfectionism, which I am having to confront as I work on my first (ever) manuscript. The best advice for me, is to give myself permission for the first draft to not be very good. Revising, getting feedback and keeping an open mind to the possibilities of what my story CAN be will make me a better writer.
What helped me was repeating to myself "First drafts are supposed to be shitty, they just need to be done". It didn't get rid of the perfectionism so much as shifted my internal definition of what "perfect" is for first drafts.
Thanks for #3. I've struggled with depression and anxiety my whole life, and I often beat myself up for being "behind" my peers. I need to remember to be kind to myself and stop comparing myself to others. We've all had different challenges on our journey and different opportunities. The best I can do is keep working on myself and celebrating my successes and those of people around me.
More people should know about this channel!!! This isn't just for writers, but it's for anyone's personal growth as well. I love your videos, and your content is just wholesome--rich with perspectives I didn't even truly realize til today. I'll wait for that bell to ring in my notification! Thank you for your work, Diane. You are Godsent.
Thank you so much it's going to change my life too. The best writing advice I have got- Write to express not to Impress. U cannot edit a blank paper. A writer needs to fight self doubt everyday,it's natural,accept ,trust and keep writing.
Personally, Neil Gaiman's "Just finish things" hit close to home when I first heard it, especially combo'd with Brandon Sanderson's lectures showing that outlining can be not just viable, but *fun* (I thought it felt like a chore, so I forced myself to be a "pantser" when I really needed those short-term goals that outlines give). Finishing had always been an issue with me - I have depression, and issues with long-term projects are common among people with depression, so I also kinda always just blamed things on it. But stopping to think about Gaiman's words made me realize how right he was, and I've since finished writing my first novella, have outlined a novel that I'm currently writing, and already started outlining a third one.
There’s something about doing sprints, even if it’s just by myself, that really motivates me to get words on the page. I wrote more last year during my first NaNoWriMo than I had in the past several years combined because of the the little timer function.
Yes! I hadn't written in years, then I came across an article that announced National Write a Novel Month last November. I challenged a friend who wanted to write but wasn't. I then thought I should walk my own big talk, if I was going be opening my big mouth. It took two months until I finished the book. I published it on Amazon and there it sits. A few friends bought it and I bought a few copies. It's the first book I ever actually published. They say you are your own worst critic. Though the book was rushed and you can tell, plus there's plenty things in it that violate all the good rules and writing advice, there's still some pretty good things about it. I don't think it's my best story, either. However, after putting some space and time between all my fretting and working on it, I re-read it with a fresher perspective and thought, you know what, this isn't so bad, there's some pretty good stuff in there. The feedback from my friends, two of them school teachers who deal with issues like the kids in my book were facing, was positive and they encouraged me to keep writing more. The momentum I had started me on writing a sequel. But life happens and I stopped writing on it. It's been months, but I've finally restarted on it. Maybe there will be a trilogy, who knows? So far, the only draconian editor I've had to deal with is myself. I never expected it to sell, since I never sent it into a big publishing company who has more promotion power than I do. But it's out there, a real book. It's a weird but cool feeling. I'm happy there is something like Write a Novel Month to kick people (me) into gear. Writing for a month helps create a daily habit for writing. Whether it's good or bad and full of mistakes... go for it. Experiment with ideas! Supercharge yourself! I wrote a book!
@@ican384 @i can Hi. My apologies for taking so long to see your response and question. The notification was in my spam folder. My book (now books) are called, Light From a Shining Star, and Darkness of a Shining Star, by Conjure Companion. (My pseudonym for my writing projects.) They're on Amazon Kindle and Paperback versions. I'm still in the process of working on the last two books in that series. Book Two grew too big, and into Book Three, and then into Book Four. Now onto working on rewrites for those. But first, I got distracted by another fantasy story I'm working on now. I'm using the same idea of speed writing through it as before with 'Light...'. Hopefully it will be ready soon, about another month. ? Good luck with your adventures.
On the one hand I've sat with ideas for probably a decade or more and realized I didn't have the proper ending until then. On the other hand it makes sense that a knuckled-up ghostwriter like your friend would do so well, it's easier to keep the big picture in mind when you wrote it all yesterday.
I love this video! At 62 I have only just found creative writing in the past year and so I am foraging the internet for any good advice on writing that I can get. I find so many YT videos on writing simply exhausting with the speed some speak and the way they rattle through things such that you are pausing every few minutes to get what they said and I don't think I'm slow on uptake! I have just found your YT channel and love all of your gently worded, clearly illustrated tips and advice and your method of delivery, and most of all your honesty about being a writer. I think as a new creative writer, you kind of get the concept, especially from some writing courses I have taken, that it's all fluffy, romantic and an arty thing you do between your 'other' life and the stuff you write about these days should be fluffy, spiritual and arty in order to succeed. And it's not, it's real work as you say and real life. I started writing just for me, really as a relief from anger and hurt but also to educate myself being so bored with retirement but I did feel it was all too late to become a 'real' writer. Then someone said to me 'don't set goals, set intentions'. Now I intend to be a 'writer', whatever that takes, or whatever people say, or even don't say! Thank you for the valuable advice.
Thank-you for this. Again, you have a sensible, intelligent and empathetic approach that is well thought through and helpful. All the best with your continuing career Diane.
Self-editing is my ace in the hole. It makes me research story facts, ideas, and grammar skills. Character development and world development are my main goals. I like to be a guide on a cool adventure.
One way I've found to deal with envy is to express it in a positive way towards the person, framed as encouragement. Saying "Oh my god, that's amazing! I'm so jealous!" is quite liberating in my experience.
What writing advice changed my life? "We have all the same amount of time in our lives. Do something grand with yours." Bob Procter .... & .... "Write with your heart and the rest will follow." - My grandmother.
Diane, you are pure joy! Can’t put it any simpler and could easily go on and on about how much better the world is with you in it! You are a blessing to us all. I have NO doubt that you will achieve all you set out to do and then some. Thank you for sharing your passion. Thank you for connection. Your spirit is contagious. Much love from the Magic City.
I'd say "write one scene per day" that's 800 words, starting with setting and characters, moving through action and development, and finishing with wrap-up and omnition (foreshadow future scenes).(*) At 40 words per minute that's twenty minutes of writing.(**) It doesn't have to be stuff you'll ever submit, but that's okay too; it frees the creative side. One evening with friends and alcohol and laughter write down scene headings on business cards. Things like "kill someone", "Shopping", "Chase Scene", "Vampire", "Mad Scientist Taunt's Hero", "Bedroom", "Resisting Arrest", "Argument", "horse race", "dark night of the soul", and other crazy headings. On your own, if when you sit at your keyboard to add to your story and nothing hits the screen for five minutes, pull a scene from the hat and write it in one hour (including dialog re-writes and other simple edits). It tends to spark the creative juices and then you can jump into your important story and pound out a couple of scenes. Love the idea of "achieve 100 rejections in a year"! (*) Letters make words, words make sentences, sentences make paragraphs, paragraphs make scenes, scenes make stories. Learn the structure! It isn't restrictive, it's blood, bones, and skin. How you arrange them is the soul of your story, but if a nose is twelve inches long it's a foot. (**) if you can't type 40 words per minute by touch, that should be an early goal. It's the difference between walking and driving.
I've been writing for about two years now. No previous background in fiction. I did the usual writing excuses and other advice. Your channel is by far the best, the most earnest, and also helpful. lot of times writing excuses devolves into them joking or making political statements that eat away at their tiny run time, and I will watch two or three about the topic I want to learn about and feel like I've gotten nothing. Each of your videos leaves me with 2-4 things, and any more than that would just blur together. Thanks a thousand. Congratz on producing such reliable content.
I really agreed with your advice to stop treating writing as a hobby, because it is like a shield we hide to say,: "oh no, I couldnt finish that tale or book because this or that", excuses slow you down, your own excuses, we must be brave and risk it all...
I wish I had had this kind of direction when I was young and beginning in writing. Young writers nowadays, with the Internet and RUclips, etc, have it SO much better than pre-Internet.
"Turn off your inner editor..." Still can't do that entirely yet, but I know I tend to try and edit while writing and it not only slows me down, it discourages me from writing consistently.
This is my aunt who's younger than me. And she's not even a writer! Just a student who struggles on writing essays. She says she feels insecure with her writing and edits every time she finishes a sentence, sometimes not even a sentence yet. So I told her to not look back and just type what your think as quick as you can, if you can't remember a word put an emoji and come back to it but don't look back. Often you lose what you wanted to write if you dwell too long on a sentence or part. After you've put all you can think of and nothing comes anymore: go back, read, and laugh if it sounds like shit lol. I often look at it like a reader - I didn't write any of it, so I criticize with colorful words while correcting them like a snob. Oh and I put it in a ridiculous font no one would even use to publish. All of this so things are too quick for regrets and I lose the tension like I'm being tested, this way I feel like I'm just writing down groceries or reenacting an event very badly. I dunno how much this will help but it's the best I could give to my aunt when her deadline is so near. Notice how I edited this shit after hastily posting it without rereading?
When my brother heard my story first he wasn't happy about it, he said it was typical. I was so down, but then I thought outside the box, this is not enough. I felt it myselfThis is not the limit I can grow, this is not my best. Something worth it is coming if I stay in the track and I am still on the way. He really helped me when I thought he was hurting me. Imagine if he told the story I wrote was nice....
Best advice I ever heard was; what makes a writer? Answer, someone who writes-- as opposed to talks about writing, watches tv or wants to write etc--Simple, but for me, also profound enough to get me motivated!
The best advice I’ve gotten so far was a quote from a movie a few years “prepare for the worst, hope for the best” and it has applied beautifully, not only in my writing but pretty much everything else.
Dedicating the first 12-minutes of each morning to the 'practice of writing' slowly improved my overall writing, to the point, after 5-years, i was no longer afraid to say i was a writer - i admit i will never be a good writer, nor a great one, but every day i will be a better one
From a writer who was first a published composer and arranger, collect rejections is brilliant!! All of these are amazing. Subbed about three minutes in. I've been watching many channels and this became my favorite immediately.
You know the video is good when you come back years later to watch it again, and that is the case with most of your videos. I know you talked about “the green monster” in this one, and to me that is an alien concept. I fear people who feel envy, because I don’t understand it myself. But your explanation here was very helpful for me to understand. It comes from a place of frustration because “why things don’t work out even when I put a lot of effort, but it works for this other person over there?” I think it’s the first time I understand this beyond “evil people being evil people.” Thank you for this high level of sincerity and self awareness. It’s thanks to you and the work that you put into your videos that i learned how to do my own thing at my own pace for RUclips, and i’m still improving those video scripting skills. Thank you for what you do.
Thank you so much for this kind and thoughtful comment, Dal! I always appreciate your perspective, and I'm glad to hear you don't experience envy yourself, as it can be a destructive emotion, obviously. But you're right that those feelings often stem from inward frustration that's unfairly reflected outward at others. I admire your sincerity and self-awareness as well, and I look forward to your future videos! :)
Nice tips. I was a struggling illustrator without any illustration success. I openly wondered to a friend how I would ever break into the business if no one would give me the chance. A friend looked me in the eye and said, “if no one would let me illustrate their book I should just write my own.” So I did. I loved writing as much as drawing and I’m still getting rejections. But I love it so I’ll keep going.
So I work shopped my first short story the other day. The group was split between those that hated my main character and those that loved the vibe and attitude of the brash protaganist. I finally revealed that it was a trueish account of my life. They were surprised. My most harsh critics asked for more of my story. So there it is, we see the world through a dim view, the real story is much deeper. Thanks for sharing your story.
You are like the relationship guru of story telling!!!! Where were you ten years ago!? My mind seems more indepth from your one video, than whatever I learned in college! Thanks ma'am
Finally, a great writing RUclips channel. Sick to death of all the cheap hacks that use it as one big advertisement. Really love your voice as well, very calming and helps me learn (I have the attention span of a 12 week old puppy).
Regarding rejection: My experience over 30 years of submitting tells me that getting a personal note from an editor means you are an excellent writer. I hope you realize how fortunate you have been to get personal notes from editors! The vast majority of us receive form rejections with no feedback. I suppose it depends on your writing skill. But I just had enough arrogance to think I might bring you down to earth a bit. Thanks for all your advice!
Watching this made me think a lot about what I want. I've always been fond of writing stories but sometimes, I just wanted to give up. No one really tells me they liked it or I'd rarely ever receive compliments (maybe due to my shyness of not letting them read it) though, being a writer is both a blessing and a curse. We all need to just DO it. No matter if it's unfinished or probably boring. Yet, at the end of the day, you're a writer and it's within you. No one would make it like you would, no one would write it the way you do. So i guess keep on trying and writing. We'll all get there. And, i really love your channel. Thanks for inspiring a lot of people/writers.
Thank you for sharing these precious tidbits of your personal trials and triumphs on your writing journey, Diane. Writing is such an isolated, private, and deeply personal means of trying to be seen, seeking acceptance, and attempting to communicate what you value about the world that even among other artist who do what you do, it is difficult to find one person who genuinely understands what you go through because of your compulsion to write. Because of this, disappointments and doubts are the facets of our journeys that are most readily understood by those with whom we share our troubles, so one of most common things we do as writers, is to gripe. As usual, you have found ingenious solutions to these most difficult aspects of the writing journey in ways that forego griping; opting instead to put us in control of that awfulness, without getting negative. It is a good and sound strategy you are proffering here; if it were theater, I could easily imagine them voicing the sum of the moral: "Rejection? Rejection! where is thy sting?" ... "tasty tasty feedback" indeed! 😊
It's never too late. But don't let your fear keep you back either. I wasted about 10 years because I thought I couldn't do it. Now I have written a fantasy epic 330k words. :P I could do it. I wish I had known that 10 years ago. XD But better late than never. :)
@@SysterYster Wow, 330k words, well done. I'm barely at 60k. I don't try to compare, it's not a bad thing for any of us. It's just that you had quite the inspiration. ^^
@@Kenkenny82 Thank you! There's nothing "barely" about 60k! That's a lot. :) I'm just insane and a total overwriter. XD The story was 350k, but I have shortened it a bit. Still working on that. :P But yes, I was, and still am, very inspired about this book. :) I've wanted to write it for some 10-15 years. Started last year. It's the best thing I've ever done!
4th advice: know if you’re writing for writers or writing for readers, are you writing competitively to impress other writers who will only read your work to find what’s wrong with it, or are you writing to impress readers who would enjoy what you enjoy. It use to always be about the readers opinion, but now it’s about the writers opinion, some times to a point of checking boxes and tallying scores. With the internet every industry has turned into a master class agency, where the great secrets of access are disseminated by the ones above the bottle neck. People below start to lose sight of why they’re doing it in the first place. It doesn’t have to be so complicated. Are you writing for you, or writing for someone else, does your story need to be told or does it need to be liked? Are you in this for the story or for the glory. There’s nothing wrong with either, and ideally both possibilities can be aligned and balanced. It’s just something lost on most people, myself for a while, until I realized, things like book submissions are really good for so many reasons, but you can’t expect someone who spends their life trying to write a better book than you to just read your work, those are not readers, they writers, consultants at best. Believe it or not the majority of client bases for art music writing etc are not artists musicians and writers, yet we come to tutorial videos like this and over the course of months and years we submerge ourselves in what we think is the full writing world, when we’re only in one specialized pocket, the writers teaching writers to write for writers world. You shouldn’t feel it necessary to make fans of your peers as much as making fans of your readers. If your book is published over half the consumer base will be people who’ve never seen a video like this or care. I’ll leave it with this because this point is too nuanced to make articulately. Unless one of my writing friends wants to help “perfect” it ☺️, it’s like this, imagine you’re a musician finding videos on how to make music, your goal is impress people so they enjoy your music and become your fan, but you always watch tutorials of musicians critiquing other musicians, so you’ve come to find what’s important, mixing mastering little effects here and there etc, yet none of those aspects will be noticed by the actual music listeners, the ones who don’t make music who just listen to it. Yes of course, if you meet all the expectations of the musician, your music may be better suited for the unknowing listeners enjoyment, but it’s become perverse. I’m getting more tired of writing this as I go and yes I’m aware that this itself, has been a lot of bad writing. Rough draft right? Hope I’ve not offended anyone, the answer to the original question is balance in both. Story and glory, readers and writers.
I make music and write. This is exactly how I feel. I went to a music school. The teacher was "technically" the most skilled musician. To him, only classical and jazz music was good music. But his work was only digestible for other critiques/like minded people and not for the mass market. Just like how writers having studied creative writing and only write to impress other literary critics. They're not writing to the readers.
@@Maidaseu a wonderful example, thanks for adding that my friend. Sorry for the time it took you to realize that’s what was going on but if it’s any consolation it took me like ten years to realize that was a thing! Blessings to you in all creative endeavors, intuition intuition intuition!!!
This was VERY instructional and stimulating. I had put my writing efforts aside because of the numerous non-responses by editors to my novel idea. I'm getting the writing bug again and in my maturity my ego is less sensitive. 😉 Thank you for the great advice!
Thank you I needed this video. I use to produce and submit several stories but then I stopped. I became over critical of my work. This video helped me refocus on getting back to submitting pieces.
The absolute best, I mean "hands down", the best writing advice ever, the piece of advice that can't be compared with, touched or reconned with, the one that'll save even the world's worst writer, they could make a living as an author is................wait for it............."keep writing" by the one and only you!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!! Keep writing!!!!!!! All day everyday 💖 thanks for that!!!!
I like the part about keeping at it and submitting and seeing rejection as a part of the process to become better or to direct my work more appropriately. I remember what Stephen King said about his rejection slips being put on a nail in the wall. When they filled that nail, he got a bigger nail, but he didn't stop.
Being kind to those you envy actually applies really well as general life advice. It was something I started doing in middle school, when someone I had a crush on (from afar) started dating someone else. I resented their girlfriend at first, but then I realized that it really wasn't fair to feel so negatively about someone who hadn't done me any real wrong and was just living her life. So, whenever I felt the jealousy welling up, I would try to think of something that seemed nice about her. I realized that I often liked her fashion sense, so if she was wearing a dress I liked I'd give her a compliment, putting a voice to the positive feeling. I never really got to know her or developed any particular affection for her beyond those little compliments, but the resentment just kind of evaporated.
This was great. I wonder though...don't you guys worry about someone stealing your work? I really loved this and I feel like this touches on why I love reading and writing so much...it is making me a better person by revealing myself to myself and at the same time expanding my consciousness. I feel like I am finding this higher truth...the phrase "the more I learn the less I know" makes a lot of sense to me now!
I LOVE you Diane Callahan! I've been on a slump the past month or so with my writing, but having heard these words, I just wanna raiseIio on oo a middle finger to all my excuses and just get on with the work. Also, your theme music is FANTASTIC! Thank you so much for sharing all this gold.
WHY havent you got more likes? You are special. Ingvar followed you for years and always watch one of your videos when i get stuck. Like this time ... well, on with the writing! 😁 THANK YOU.
This channel has become one of my favorites of all times, it´s great content, wonderful advice, what else can you ask? The best advice I have ever get is, write simple, don´t try to make an elaborate text that looks fake, write as if you were telling the story to a friend. Borges used to write very elaborated and confusing stories at first, but over time, his work was simpler and more powerful. That advice change the way I see what I do.
One thing extremely helpful for me was to put my writing on a timer or stop watch: 10 minutes; 30 minutes; One hour. Set a clear goal you can accomplish and inevitable once you break through the inertia you end up writing far longer than the time you set for yourself. I set an hour, typically write beyond that, take a break at some point, and then set the timer again. It typically gets me to four hours, easy.
Such an inspiring video 😄 I did the oposite persuing my dream about writing. I have written since I was 8, learned the art more technically this past 2 years, and finally sat with a script I wanted to publish. Realised it was an hobby, and that my wants and needs have nothing to do with making it in the industry. I could be so much more creative with more than just the writing. And I wanted to meet the people buying it, talk to them and show them whats in my head. I want to work outside the frame of the industry. I learned a long time ago that fighting to be seated at a table never really turned out good. Just sit at one that is empty and have people joining you 😄 writing is my hobby, and treating it as so gives me the opportunity to reach all my dreams with it while starting out. I love sharing my stories the way I want to tell them. I aim for them to be an enjoyable experience for the reader, while still be something outside of traditional publishing. And I am learning so much. Now my creativity is more free, I have the energy and will to expand in my writing/drawing and I work (mostly) without resistance. Money or not, it brings me joy 😊 good luck with everything in your journey, and know I get so inspired when listening to someone going down this road with such passion. I have/had that in another field of work, and it is the most thrilling and exiting thing, just be careful about the burnout. Re-charging is just as important as beeing productive
(kind of) Paraphrasing what you said: 1) Understand the difference between what you like to write and what people want to read. Unless you understand this, you may keep on writing stuff that no one wants to read. This has nothing to do with the quality of your writing. And you can only learn this by getting people's reaction to your writing. 2) Do what you do best. And don't try to force it. Different people do different things for a living. If you want to do something for a living, do what you do best. Writing can be an assembly line. Some people are creative. Some people like to proof read. Some people like to re-write. A finish carpenter may install molding for a living; but if she tries to build an entire house for a living, she may starve. If you can grammar-police, but you're not creative, good luck trying to do word production 8 hours a day. 3) Understand the 20/80 rule. Like, 20% of the people in real estate (or whatever) make 80% of the money. In sports, it may be the 1/99 rule. Understand the (maybe) 10/90 rule for writing, and don't beat yourself up. And stop hating.
Well, mesh that with giving yourself a little time, prior to the writing session, to free your brain while your body does something else. I find that the moments to go over an upcoming writing session are: in the shower; while washing dishes; taking a walk; lying down but not while particularly tired; maybe playing certain types of simple, low-thought, repetitive puzzle games. Frees up your brain to go over some of the ideas and get them in place before you sit down, which makes the session easier.
I retired and believed I would write more. I didn't. I had multiple unfinished manuscripts. Then, during quarantine, my nephew died in a car accident and I was asked to make a video for the memorial service. I was so sad at the loss and by the fact that I couldn't mourn with my family. I worked long and hard on the script and video. That experience, with all its implications, got me writing again. Life is too short to leave it without doing what you love.
Beautifully said. It sounds like your nephew was well loved and that you shared a lot of happy memories together, if you had enough footage to put together a video. I hope that you can honor his memory in your other writings as well, if you wish. Thank you for sharing your story.
You can check out my behind-the-scenes notes for this video on my Ko-fi page! ko-fi.com/Blog/Post/Behind-the-Scenes-Writing-Advice-That-Changed-My-X8X11H2ND UPDATE: My "holy fuck" horror short story mentioned in the video is up on the _Tales to Terrify_ podcast! talestoterrify.com/episodes/455-jonathan-duckworth-diane-callahan/ Read an adapted text version of this video on my Medium blog: quotidianwriter.medium.com/writing-advice-that-changed-my-life-3e10e764211e
I would love to read your blog because I find this video positive and very helpful to apply in my writing. Very very helpful key points. P.S. At 10:00 - I taught I taw a putty tat! and that kitty took that coin in, very thoroughly designed high-quality toy with cute cardboard details, kitty bank. I think I saw a cute little cuddly putty tat in there took the coin in> I personally share, First of all - walking, exercise as a daily routine into nature and at least 3.5 miles walk in the morning sun can ease your circulation, tension, and also your thoughts and bring you down to the bottom of it. It's not only the SUnlight's energy, that nourishes the system but the walking that eases the circulation and relaxes the brain activity for coming peacefully to work. I walk to the park that is a spacious open grass field, I enjoy sitting on for a moment. Walking in nature is always preferable. Second, I found It can make you easier to record while you're talking then speech-to-text it with editing or just write it down later. Third, I found it very helpful, is write in response or as a reply to other's valuable content adding value and dimension to already existing knowledge, diversity, and opinion. For example equation of time, will focus your strength and observation in that particular field and keep connecting with facts. It can develop into a thorough thesis about ideas and facts connected with images, videos, and appropriate research references from the internet. For me as introvert writing comes naturally to me with a plethora of the past research library at my disposal and internet searching skills at my expertise,. it's only the head that I can't clear with so much chaos and chatter. Fourth, Keep the distraction minimum, meditate for the day and feel what the focus should be for the day, and focus on that only. Majorly, write it down on a notebook or a piece of paper before you move to the Computer or device you may use. Writing down on a paper connects you more with your intuition because not only do you see your own hand, but it's a more natural way of writing, that connects you directly with your medium. IT can be just a 400-word reply or a thorough research analysis of anything debunking a science theory! :o Lastly, keep a feelings journal! or Journal to records the feelings, where you put down how you felt that day, how your day's been. For me, I like to write how I felt good, bad, or neutral for that day about whatever I did or could accomplish for that matter and what I want to do further without any regrets, and it's amazing how it can increase your positivity towards your goals! I wrote how I felt good writing about that particular story from imagination and it increased my neutrality! What I don't like is rushing through the process, as it spoils everything. I like to give it time and let it come through as naturally as possible with most of the elements taking solid shape into a complete piece. I'm going to write a brief thesis on how to write down stories. from imagination - from the heart and let it take shape. - Sandeep Singh
I got these two advices from a friend of mine: no one is going to write it for you, only you are going to write your story, & Story writing is about editing, editing, and editing until a complete stranger can read your book and completely comprehend what you are trying to say through your story
Great video! :) Good tips. I'm in the editing phase of my first book right now. And I'd like to add one thing to your tips. Marketing. I hate marketing, I think it's hard and I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. But I recently started doing it anyway. So far it's just a small homepage and an Instagram account. But their sole purpose is to show people that "Hey! I'm writing a book. It'll be done soon. When it comes out, be sure to buy it so you don't miss out." And it does feel fake, and wrong and weird to market something that's not done yet. BUT, when it IS done, you already have a following that'll be interested in your work. And even if not all of them will buy your book, some of them might, and they might tell others. So do that too. Show people, tell people about your book. Maybe only 1 out of 100 will be interested, but that's still better than none. Also, if you have a following already, and you're aiming to publish traditionally, they'll be more likely to risk a new author if they know you have a following. ;)
Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" was life-changing to me. I was in a slump as a writer and as a person so I wanted to just... lay my head down and let life do whatever it wanted with me. But her book made me want to reconsider what I could do for myself & my own happiness. It helped me want to give life another shot. I owe that woman my life.
Best advice I ever received came from my brother. He said either do it or shut up about doing it.
Brothers are wonderful, aren't they? :P
DAMN that is powerful!
oh, so sorry. How long have you been silent? :D
Your brother is a genius.
I’m my own brother
Best writing advice: Eyes on your own paper. Don't compare yourself to anyone. Keep your focus on what you're doing and don't worry about anyone else.
May I see some of your work ?
What do you do if you had what amounts to a complusion, to write, but seem to have imagination esp. as you age- some writers say, "everybody has a story" - I'm not sure I do and I'd rather not write memoir. I want to write a mystery novel, stories of the macabre, a novel which expands "a person's sense of what it means to be human, to be alive, to to use a corny phrase, shed light on the human condition- I am a "lit snob" with high standards- I don't want to self publish- like Diane discusses in this post-
"Just shut up- seems harsh but then again I am no kid- I think it is TERRIFIC somebody on here published in her 50's- if you have the talent, age isn't an issue- Namaste from A Bookworm in Canada
The advice that really helped me to write my novels was, “Don’t depend on colourful words to make your writing attractive, the story has to be good enough to stand on its own.”
Colorful words in writing should be a spice, lightly sprinkled over a superb story. If there are too many of them, the taste of the story will feel off, regardless whether it's good or bad.
That’s just common sense.
D Frazier I’ve made a living as a writer for 20 years so far. Before that, I was a discerning reader. I didn’t have to watch writing videos or read about writing well to write well. I didn’t even take writing courses until I had worked as a writer for 10 years. I just paid close attention to the writing that worked well for me as a reader. Then I built my writing accordingly. Common sense.
D Frazier And ... ?
On the other hand, most good stories have been told, many times. The telling of a story is as important as the story itself. Contemporary fiction is full of books stripped of character by advice like that. After all, all words have 'color.' Painting everything in the same color is rarely a good idea.
Thank you for saying "some debut at 65." I'm struggling to become an author at 58.
You're gonna be a great author I'm sure. Just dont give up😊
Good luck
Hi! You can do it :)
Remember also Frank McCourt and the Angela´s ashes, he wrote that when he was 66.
So glad u shared. I’m right w you. Just starting at 50. 🙏🏾
writing is a cool profession. It's not like sports, where you hit your peak at 20-30, and then, due to physical setbacks, you can never be as good. It's a life long skill, you can start whenever. People who say you need to start as a kid are lying. Van gogh didn't start painting until he was 27. Good luck!!!
My best rejection letter ever came from Marion Zimmer Bradley on a story I sent to her Sword & Sorceress collection. I KNEW the story was too long (about 10,000 words ? Maybe it was less, but certainly well over guidelines) as opposed to 1500, but I sent it anyhow. She loved it, she wrote, but it was just too long. She couldn't suggest a way to shorten it, but she believed in my vision and recommended I make it a full length novel. Rejection or not, I felt honored to receive a personal reply, as proof that yeah, my writing was just not that crappy.
LOL in my professional life as a telemarketer, bosses often ask if I'm capable of dealing with the challenge of day-in-day out rejection. LOL "I'm a writer," I answer. I deal with rejection as a constant in my life. But every once and again, I get a yes.
Best Writing Advice I've received? "Keep Writing." (Diane Callahan)
"You're going to feel like hell
if you wake up some day and
you never wrote the stuff that
is tugging on the sleeves of your heart."
Author Anne Lamott
“People can read. So the hard part is over. Now write. “ - Michael Whiteley
Oh, this wins it.
"Better done than perfect."
Yes. I agree. I'm a published author - but when I was a child, I lived with my mom and stepfather. He was a Vietnam vet and merchant marine. So he ran our household like an Army drill sergeant. Like a "tight ship" (he often said that, too). Three inches of water in the bath; or a 3 - minute shower. . . every 3 days, max. White glove tests were performed routinely on my room. And if you failed one of those "tests" ... never mind, you just didn't want to do that.
If you did the dishes (and I was 7 when I learned to do them daily), they had to be spotless. He would run his index finger over each dish or plate when you were done; and if you "missed" a spot, even if it was not visible to the human eye, you'd have to do them all over again. _Including_ all the clean ones. This list goes on and on. And everything _always_ had to be up to "snuff" - but one thing he always said was, "no half-ass jobs." That stuck in my mind; I can hear it to this day. And he very much meant it. You didn't "get away with" anything, in that household. You _would_ be caught; and there _would_ be a high penalty to pay for your laxness or transgression.
So ... between my perfectionist mother and my perfectionist stepfather, I grew up to be a budding perfectionist, myself. It was like "get an A in class - or don't even try." It's one of the things I've really struggled with. I'm _still_ learning that it's okay to learn and not know everything; it's okay to grow; it's okay if my writing isn't "perfect" the first time around. It really did a number on my writing; because I never felt free to make "mistakes." I was published for the first time at age 17 - but I was also ultra hard on myself - and still am.
I don't know if I'll ever quite be able to shake off my childhood "indoctrination" (which really _was_ quite like an indoctrination; I've only told part of the story here and a very small part at that), but I'm learning every day that it's okay to just focus on learning and growing as a writer (and as a human being) - without expectation of being perfect at whatever I'm trying at that time.
I'm not really sure why I typed all this, lol. Your comment just reminded me of something I needed to say, I guess. Sending much love and many blessings! 🤍🌹🕊
@@siadawn Sounds like your father ruled your family with an iron head.
I'm 48 and just editing my first novel. I'm glad I got it done.
Protip: finish everything you start. Then challenge yourself to write more in less time. Get all the suck out. Write four or five novels. One of them MIGHT actually be good. Then write five more.
"Finish everything you start."
(looks at over two dozen open chapterfics)
I'm trying as fast as I can! I just start things faster than I complete things T_T
@@Arkylie you should probably stay in the idea generation phase for a bit longer and ask yourself if this really is "the one", then you will start to have fewer stories, but they will have more flesh
@@nikolajmadsen1002 That's possible, I suppose, but I generate ideas very, very quickly. Like, I'm putting off starting a new fic until I've closed down several of my existing fics -- and my Muse decided to dream up and flesh out an entire new Jotunheim tale even though I'm decidedly not starting that fic for months yet.
The idea has a good start to it, lots of flesh, and I spent a couple of days working out Jotnar genetics, which led to some truly interesting places (like how my foundational ideas ended up inadvertently making female Jotnar inherently stronger than male Jotnar in physical power or magic or both, leading to the idea that their strongest military forces are peopled with women).
If I restricted myself from writing and posting these stories, I imagine I'd end up with dozens upon dozens of stories all champing at the bit to get posted, and I doubt I could make myself Notfic the majority of them to pare down my "actual writing" to just the most interesting ones.
I do think, however, that I ought to dedicate a few (nonconsecutive) months out of the year to specifically pinning down one fic that's close to completion and just finishing it, and then another -- closing down the ones that are not so open-ended as my big ones.
@@Arkylie yeah, it sounds great with the idea of having some months where you focus on completing one story, and then you can just go wild after that and write everything you want
I saw that advice in a game development advice video and it's just as relevant here
Write daily, even if it's just 50 words. Set a goal. Then set a mini-goal.
It lies in the channel name, doesn't it? :) I've been jotting down my thoughts (diary style) in notebooks for many years, but taking the step to write full fiction is something I struggle with. At least I've developed the habit of writing anything at all, even if it's not every day (yet).
@@KimStennabbCaesar If you love it, do it. Just write, and don't second guess yourself. First drafts are usually bad. They are there to get the story on paper. Keep writing!😁💗
@@KimStennabbCaesar maybe use your thoughts as a writing prompt? and then you can flesh it out I wish every luck with their stories!
I’m only 14, and I definitely don’t expect to be a professional author anytime soon, especially since the characters I’m currently very passionate about are not my own (fanfiction’s great, y’all), and the quality of my writing, although steadily improving, definitely has a long way to go, but a major problem for me is that I treat my writing like a hobby, even though it technically is for now. I definitely don’t want to keep making half-baked stories that I abandon after a short spout of inspiration, followed by self-criticism and procrastination. It seems unfair to make a story that someone may love with all of their heart, or even just appreciate slightly, and want to see how it continues, and then just stop it because I stopped caring. Most of my writing happens on impulse, but especially the half finished stories that I decide aren’t good enough to continue. I definitely don’t want to force myself to continue a story that I don’t like, if only because it would show in the quality of my writing, but I definitely think that trying to look at it as a thing that needs to be done will help immensely with finishing stories I am passionate about. (Sorry if I end up sounding pretentious or something, I just wanted to tell you that you helped put me on the right track)
I'm a fanfiction writer as well! Though, I have written my own original fiction work (though it's not completed, I'm in the process of reworking the whole story and world). I've heard numerous times that being in a writing group helps you with your writing and opens up opportunities in the future. What fandom do you write in? I'd like to check out some of your work and give you some suggestions if you'd like them?
Ficcers of the world unite! I use my fic to experiment with ideas before I use them for my own stuff. That said, my fic is as dear to me as my own work and I put as much effort into it as my own work
@@astrothsknot I think I actually put more effort into fics than I am on doing my novel rework. That said, yesterday I got a really good idea for a book but I can't necessarily write it in fanfiction since it's a werewolf book. XD
i was 14 only a few months ago, and i have over 100 drafts of stories that are left unfinished. i feel you, although my only advice is just have a solid plot, one that excites you to write the ending. because from that new and shiny plot, you will write with newfound inspiration. and then you will have another spout of inspiration, and another, and another. hobbies are fun girl, you cant procrastinate a hobby either. don't think of writing as a product you want to make to please other people. write it as if you are putting your wildest thoughts on paper and make as much mess as you can and dont be sorry about it.
Honestly, it's better to finish a bad story than to never finish anything due to self doubt. But finishing the story will also help develop your skills in a different way as well much more than an endlessly repeated excerise of opening lines and call to adventures. Don't worry if it's fan fiction. Don't worry if it's not an original; plot, character, story world, or genre. People enjoy a good story regardless of if it's stolen or not. Just give credit where it's due. As far as professionalism and a job in writing. There are ways to make money via social media, but you could also print out copies of your writing and ask a teacher to edit, and then start selling copies of your work around school. Writing is never going to be a 9-5 Monday to Friday kind of job. So it's not something that you will ever make money in a traditional way either way. If anything, try putting up audio versions of your stories on RUclips and see if you can't make anything from google AdSense.
I had three rejections this month and was feeling pretty down about it. But thanks to you I realised I have now only 97 left to collect this year ! Thanks a lot :)
Update?
@@ShadowRaven66669 I stopped at 12 rejections but for a good reason: I got enough writing jobs to live right now ! (screen writing for a documentary, a video game and other small stuff). But the countdown to 100 will continue once I finish these contracts 😉
So yeah, I strongly advise following this tip
"Let the readers be the judge of quality."
This one nugget set me free, and is the main reason I'm a professional author today.
Yes, there's plenty of hard work that went into it, but it once I left go of self-criticism I found success. I listen to feedback from readers who've paid for my work. I also use earnings to judge the merits of the book. However, I'll be the first to note I write genre fiction with the main goal of entertaining my readers. Therefor this metric makes sense for me and my process, but might not work for everyone.
Any advice on how to do that? I...have trouble finishing a novel (despite one unfinished novel alone having like 800-900 pages...) partly because I am never satisfied.
@@MrBrachiatingApe The War of Art, is an excellent book that can help with mindset issues.
I keep a full list of resources on my website:
www.nakbaldron.com/writer-resources/
Beyond that, force yourself to publish. Even a short story. Just pick something, publish, and listen to feedback from readers.
At the core, it sounds like you're holding your work against some theoretical perfect book that no author will ever make. Including yourself. Readers want a finished story that can make them feel something. Everything beyond that is bonus.
If you have an unfished novel after 900 pages, it might be time to set that aside and just start a new book.
Im getting there with the "aim for rejection" advice. Recently I got another form letter rejection, and it didn't sting as much as it did before. It was just... "Ah well, next." I am extremely sensitive, so I feel that was a huge step forward.
Thank you for making this video.
A lot of writers are sensitive; it's step one in being perceptive. Choosing what to be sensitive about makes sense.
@suny123boy1 "it's not a right fit for us at this time."
Love this! You quoted one of my favorites, "The race is long and in the end, it's only against yourself."
My problem is that my projects grow until they are overwhelming. A short story, turns into a novella, turns into a novel, turns into a series, turns into a series of series', then I make it too big and burn myself out.
Thank you fot another excelent, I really love your style!
The exact same thing happens to me.
I like James Altucher's advice on the subject of achieving success. Briefly stated, he says that we must take one step each day, and focus on just that one thing we need to do different. Many small daily changes (read actions) add up and makes all the difference. Maybe that can help you with your writing projects. ☺️
@@Ivan1234772 In City Slickers it was "The Theory of One". you chase one cow until you catch her. Don't get distracted by a cow that comes closer and try to catch her. There's always a closer cow. You chase one because she'll get tired and then you can catch her and deal with her. If you spend ten seconds going after every cow in the herd you'll be tired and they won't be branded.
I can relate to that
Write an outline.
I agree that writing like a business feels cold. More than "treat writing like a business", I believe a better advice (and the one you meant to give) is: "treat writing as if you were dying tomorrow and the fate of the whole world and everyone you love depended on you passing the secrets only you know in the form of a book."
Yes but to be fair that is really hard to remember compared to “treat writing like a business,”
(I’m only joking, you make a good point)
Personally, that advice would freeze me so completely I'd never write again.
@@shicklite
Honestly, I'm the same way. Not everyone works good under pressure like that. XD
This is not only my favorite video of yours, but one of my favorite videos on the entire site of RUclips. This is exactly the kind of advice I'm always hawking in the game industry to students and others trying to get into game development. This is universally applicable advice, and you did a wonderful job framing it. Thank you~
While I’m not a writer, I really like the idea of building up a collect of rejections, that’s just an awesome mindset shift.
Thanks.
Not a piece of advice per se, but these lines from one of my favorite writers, Ruskin Bond, assured me that writing about the simpler things did not make me less of a writer - "As a writer, I have difficulty in doing justice to momentous events, the wars of nations, the politics of power; I am more at ease with the dew of the morning, the sensuous delights of the day, the silent blessings of the night, the joys and sorrows of children, the strivings of ordinary folk and, of course, the ridiculous situations in which we sometimes find ourselves."
Soorya Prakash I often catch myself struggling with this. Sometimes I feel like my story is too small, too unimportant, and I get disheartened. What’s ironic is that I set out to write smaller since grand and epic stuff always ends up overwhelming me and I rarely connect with it
@@bpsara I can totally understand :) Whenever I feel conflicted about the importance of my story, I remember these lines from the beautiful book, The Choice, written by Edith Eger (an Auschwitz survivor).
"...there is no hierarchy in suffering. There's nothing that makes my pain worse or better than yours, no graph on which we can plot the relative importance of one sorrow versus another."
I think this applies in writing and stories as much as it applies in suffering and life :)
This is absolutely lovely!
Writing is an artistic expression.
It's pointing out the (sometimes tiny) grains of truth in life that are easily overlooked.
The truth is present everywhere. From (Tolstoy) the Napoleonic war to (Hemingway) a tiny, clean cafe.
Don't belittle a grain of truth just because it's in a tiny spot.
"Let the characters tell the story." - Nina, my writter when I only did illustrations for her writting in our graphic novels.
Now I am working to create my own original work with her advice in mind.
DamienZshadow hope that works for you. Seems like the characters should not have that kind of control.
@@gutenbird It seems to work more on the microscale or scene to scene rather than dictating the entire plot. What I took from the advice was to craft the character is based on their backstory and what I needed to send a message but allow them to have some semblance of autonomy with how they would react to each other and certain circumstances. I would find myself putting buy characters in a setting and noticing that they might feel inclined towards something I hadn't considered until I put myself in their shoes. Not sure if that makes much sense but it does to me.
That makes more sense, DamienZshadow. Unfortunately, that’s not what novice writers hear whenwhen they’re given that terrible piece of advice.
Because, what makes it terrible is: it comes without specifics. It’s like telling an obese person to “Stop eating.”
The advice is so vapid, it ends up being bad advice. And, as writers, we should be ashamed of misleading our fellow writers by something we’ve written - especially when it comes to something as important as our craft.
@@AdmoreMethod I appreciate that but while it isn't something that I adopted, I don't necessarily see it as being bad advice even if taken more literally. To my understanding, it seems like it's more appropriate for pantsers that is rather than plotters which my friend is more of. Me, I'm a plotter but she likes seeing where the story will go more organically and some people just write that way.
Pieces of writing advice that changed my life: this channel
Why do all your videos come out at the exact moment I need them most?
Thank you!
Amen!! Set a attainable goal of “aiming for 💯 rejections” because they contain seeds of eventual acceptance. Simply brilliant! Rejections are not failures, they are feedbacks!
Great writing advice all around. I run a writer's group on Facebook and (surprisingly) it's envy I see most often come up as a stumbling block. It leads to despair and a jaded view of the publishing industry. I advise those struggling with the green-eyed monster of literary jealousy to not let the success of others get you down. If I feel I can, I'll start to advise these authors expressing their envy to write a congratulatory letter or think of someone they know who would like a book by this other author and to then recommend them.
The best writing advice I got (from where, IDK) and that I have given for years is to not wait until you feel the Muse or in the mood to write. The Muse comes most often to those who are already working hard at their craft. If you want to get into the flow state of creativity, you need to push into. Flow is an active state of being; you can't passively wait for it if you want to truly tap it.
Holy crap! USEFUL writing advice. No banal crap, no worn platitudes. Real advice pointing to real results.
"Don't tell, show," "Write what you know," "Have a specific person in mind to write to."
Having a specific person on mind to write to is great advice. As a book reviewer I enjoy reading work seemingly tailored to me!
I suffer from perfectionism, which I am having to confront as I work on my first (ever) manuscript. The best advice for me, is to give myself permission for the first draft to not be very good. Revising, getting feedback and keeping an open mind to the possibilities of what my story CAN be will make me a better writer.
Adrienne Holliday I have the same problem. It’s a constant battle with myself to move forward.
What helped me was repeating to myself "First drafts are supposed to be shitty, they just need to be done". It didn't get rid of the perfectionism so much as shifted my internal definition of what "perfect" is for first drafts.
I think it was Jane Smiley that said, "Every first draft is perfect, because all a first draft had to do is exist."
Thanks for #3. I've struggled with depression and anxiety my whole life, and I often beat myself up for being "behind" my peers. I need to remember to be kind to myself and stop comparing myself to others. We've all had different challenges on our journey and different opportunities. The best I can do is keep working on myself and celebrating my successes and those of people around me.
More people should know about this channel!!! This isn't just for writers, but it's for anyone's personal growth as well. I love your videos, and your content is just wholesome--rich with perspectives I didn't even truly realize til today. I'll wait for that bell to ring in my notification! Thank you for your work, Diane. You are Godsent.
Thank you so much it's going to change my life too.
The best writing advice I have got-
Write to express not to Impress.
U cannot edit a blank paper.
A writer needs to fight self doubt everyday,it's natural,accept ,trust and keep writing.
Personally, Neil Gaiman's "Just finish things" hit close to home when I first heard it, especially combo'd with Brandon Sanderson's lectures showing that outlining can be not just viable, but *fun* (I thought it felt like a chore, so I forced myself to be a "pantser" when I really needed those short-term goals that outlines give). Finishing had always been an issue with me - I have depression, and issues with long-term projects are common among people with depression, so I also kinda always just blamed things on it. But stopping to think about Gaiman's words made me realize how right he was, and I've since finished writing my first novella, have outlined a novel that I'm currently writing, and already started outlining a third one.
There’s something about doing sprints, even if it’s just by myself, that really motivates me to get words on the page. I wrote more last year during my first NaNoWriMo than I had in the past several years combined because of the the little timer function.
Yes! I hadn't written in years, then I came across an article that announced National Write a Novel Month last November. I challenged a friend who wanted to write but wasn't. I then thought I should walk my own big talk, if I was going be opening my big mouth.
It took two months until I finished the book. I published it on Amazon and there it sits. A few friends bought it and I bought a few copies. It's the first book I ever actually published.
They say you are your own worst critic. Though the book was rushed and you can tell, plus there's plenty things in it that violate all the good rules and writing advice, there's still some pretty good things about it. I don't think it's my best story, either. However, after putting some space and time between all my fretting and working on it, I re-read it with a fresher perspective and thought, you know what, this isn't so bad, there's some pretty good stuff in there.
The feedback from my friends, two of them school teachers who deal with issues like the kids in my book were facing, was positive and they encouraged me to keep writing more.
The momentum I had started me on writing a sequel. But life happens and I stopped writing on it. It's been months, but I've finally restarted on it. Maybe there will be a trilogy, who knows?
So far, the only draconian editor I've had to deal with is myself. I never expected it to sell, since I never sent it into a big publishing company who has more promotion power than I do. But it's out there, a real book. It's a weird but cool feeling.
I'm happy there is something like Write a Novel Month to kick people (me) into gear. Writing for a month helps create a daily habit for writing. Whether it's good or bad and full of mistakes... go for it. Experiment with ideas! Supercharge yourself!
I wrote a book!
@@sequoialove584 what's your book ???
@@ican384
@i can
Hi. My apologies for taking so long to see your response and question. The notification was in my spam folder.
My book (now books) are called, Light From a Shining Star, and Darkness of a Shining Star, by Conjure Companion. (My pseudonym for my writing projects.) They're on Amazon Kindle and Paperback versions.
I'm still in the process of working on the last two books in that series. Book Two grew too big, and into Book Three, and then into Book Four. Now onto working on rewrites for those.
But first, I got distracted by another fantasy story I'm working on now. I'm using the same idea of speed writing through it as before with 'Light...'. Hopefully it will be ready soon, about another month. ?
Good luck with your adventures.
On the one hand I've sat with ideas for probably a decade or more and realized I didn't have the proper ending until then. On the other hand it makes sense that a knuckled-up ghostwriter like your friend would do so well, it's easier to keep the big picture in mind when you wrote it all yesterday.
Found this channel last night. I'm totally hooked. So much rubbish and bad advice for writers on the web, I appreciate this channel so very much.
I love this video! At 62 I have only just found creative writing in the past year and so I am foraging the internet for any good advice on writing that I can get. I find so many YT videos on writing simply exhausting with the speed some speak and the way they rattle through things such that you are pausing every few minutes to get what they said and I don't think I'm slow on uptake! I have just found your YT channel and love all of your gently worded, clearly illustrated tips and advice and your method of delivery, and most of all your honesty about being a writer. I think as a new creative writer, you kind of get the concept, especially from some writing courses I have taken, that it's all fluffy, romantic and an arty thing you do between your 'other' life and the stuff you write about these days should be fluffy, spiritual and arty in order to succeed. And it's not, it's real work as you say and real life. I started writing just for me, really as a relief from anger and hurt but also to educate myself being so bored with retirement but I did feel it was all too late to become a 'real' writer. Then someone said to me 'don't set goals, set intentions'. Now I intend to be a 'writer', whatever that takes, or whatever people say, or even don't say! Thank you for the valuable advice.
Thank-you for this. Again, you have a sensible, intelligent and empathetic approach that is well thought through and helpful. All the best with your continuing career Diane.
You have a beautiful voice, Diane. I can listen to you speak endlessly. Thank you for sharing, your voice and your knowledge.
Self-editing is my ace in the hole. It makes me research story facts, ideas, and grammar skills. Character development and world development are my main goals. I like to be a guide on a cool adventure.
One way I've found to deal with envy is to express it in a positive way towards the person, framed as encouragement. Saying "Oh my god, that's amazing! I'm so jealous!" is quite liberating in my experience.
Let's get a round of applause for this awesome channel. I'm so f'ing inspired right now.
What writing advice changed my life? "We have all the same amount of time in our lives. Do something grand with yours." Bob Procter .... & .... "Write with your heart and the rest will follow." - My grandmother.
Yep. I also read the 100 rejections post and I agree - it completely changed my perspective.
Diane, you are pure joy! Can’t put it any simpler and could easily go on and on about how much better the world is with you in it! You are a blessing to us all. I have NO doubt that you will achieve all you set out to do and then some. Thank you for sharing your passion. Thank you for connection. Your spirit is contagious. Much love from the Magic City.
Thank you so much, Kevin! This comment warmed my heart. Keep writing! :)
I'd say "write one scene per day" that's 800 words, starting with setting and characters, moving through action and development, and finishing with wrap-up and omnition (foreshadow future scenes).(*) At 40 words per minute that's twenty minutes of writing.(**) It doesn't have to be stuff you'll ever submit, but that's okay too; it frees the creative side. One evening with friends and alcohol and laughter write down scene headings on business cards. Things like "kill someone", "Shopping", "Chase Scene", "Vampire", "Mad Scientist Taunt's Hero", "Bedroom", "Resisting Arrest", "Argument", "horse race", "dark night of the soul", and other crazy headings. On your own, if when you sit at your keyboard to add to your story and nothing hits the screen for five minutes, pull a scene from the hat and write it in one hour (including dialog re-writes and other simple edits). It tends to spark the creative juices and then you can jump into your important story and pound out a couple of scenes.
Love the idea of "achieve 100 rejections in a year"!
(*) Letters make words, words make sentences, sentences make paragraphs, paragraphs make scenes, scenes make stories. Learn the structure! It isn't restrictive, it's blood, bones, and skin. How you arrange them is the soul of your story, but if a nose is twelve inches long it's a foot.
(**) if you can't type 40 words per minute by touch, that should be an early goal. It's the difference between walking and driving.
Love it
I've been writing for about two years now. No previous background in fiction. I did the usual writing excuses and other advice. Your channel is by far the best, the most earnest, and also helpful. lot of times writing excuses devolves into them joking or making political statements that eat away at their tiny run time, and I will watch two or three about the topic I want to learn about and feel like I've gotten nothing. Each of your videos leaves me with 2-4 things, and any more than that would just blur together. Thanks a thousand. Congratz on producing such reliable content.
Thank you for watching and for your kind words about my videos! Comments like yours always remind me why making these is worth it. Keep writing. :)
I really agreed with your advice to stop treating writing as a hobby, because it is like a shield we hide to say,: "oh no, I couldnt finish that tale or book because this or that", excuses slow you down, your own excuses, we must be brave and risk it all...
I wish I had had this kind of direction when I was young and beginning in writing. Young writers nowadays, with the Internet and RUclips, etc, have it SO much better than pre-Internet.
"Turn off your inner editor..."
Still can't do that entirely yet, but I know I tend to try and edit while writing and it not only slows me down, it discourages me from writing consistently.
Same. It’s like my brain is arguing with my brain.
I would love to have some tips on how to do that 😞
@@Arinaretina the best I've come so far is setting up a word goal, and then once I hit it I'll allow myself to edit.
This is my aunt who's younger than me. And she's not even a writer! Just a student who struggles on writing essays. She says she feels insecure with her writing and edits every time she finishes a sentence, sometimes not even a sentence yet. So I told her to not look back and just type what your think as quick as you can, if you can't remember a word put an emoji and come back to it but don't look back. Often you lose what you wanted to write if you dwell too long on a sentence or part.
After you've put all you can think of and nothing comes anymore: go back, read, and laugh if it sounds like shit lol. I often look at it like a reader - I didn't write any of it, so I criticize with colorful words while correcting them like a snob. Oh and I put it in a ridiculous font no one would even use to publish. All of this so things are too quick for regrets and I lose the tension like I'm being tested, this way I feel like I'm just writing down groceries or reenacting an event very badly.
I dunno how much this will help but it's the best I could give to my aunt when her deadline is so near.
Notice how I edited this shit after hastily posting it without rereading?
When my brother heard my story first he wasn't happy about it, he said it was typical. I was so down, but then I thought outside the box, this is not enough. I felt it myselfThis is not the limit I can grow, this is not my best. Something worth it is coming if I stay in the track and I am still on the way. He really helped me when I thought he was hurting me.
Imagine if he told the story I wrote was nice....
Best advice I ever heard was; what makes a writer? Answer, someone who writes-- as opposed to talks about writing, watches tv or wants to write etc--Simple, but for me, also profound enough to get me motivated!
This is the best writing channel on YT! Every one of these videos is a slice of fried gold.
The best advice I’ve gotten so far was a quote from a movie a few years “prepare for the worst, hope for the best” and it has applied beautifully, not only in my writing but pretty much everything else.
love the "aim for rejection" advice :)
Dedicating the first 12-minutes of each morning to the 'practice of writing' slowly improved my overall writing, to the point, after 5-years, i was no longer afraid to say i was a writer - i admit i will never be a good writer, nor a great one, but every day i will be a better one
Finally a new video! I was dying to see another video of yours! These videos are gold
From a writer who was first a published composer and arranger, collect rejections is brilliant!!
All of these are amazing. Subbed about three minutes in. I've been watching many channels and this became my favorite immediately.
You know the video is good when you come back years later to watch it again, and that is the case with most of your videos.
I know you talked about “the green monster” in this one, and to me that is an alien concept. I fear people who feel envy, because I don’t understand it myself. But your explanation here was very helpful for me to understand. It comes from a place of frustration because “why things don’t work out even when I put a lot of effort, but it works for this other person over there?” I think it’s the first time I understand this beyond “evil people being evil people.” Thank you for this high level of sincerity and self awareness.
It’s thanks to you and the work that you put into your videos that i learned how to do my own thing at my own pace for RUclips, and i’m still improving those video scripting skills. Thank you for what you do.
Thank you so much for this kind and thoughtful comment, Dal! I always appreciate your perspective, and I'm glad to hear you don't experience envy yourself, as it can be a destructive emotion, obviously. But you're right that those feelings often stem from inward frustration that's unfairly reflected outward at others. I admire your sincerity and self-awareness as well, and I look forward to your future videos! :)
Writing is hard, especially for amatuers. Keeping your motivation is the challenge and this video really motivates me.
Thank you.
Nice tips. I was a struggling illustrator without any illustration success. I openly wondered to a friend how I would ever break into the business if no one would give me the chance. A friend looked me in the eye and said, “if no one would let me illustrate their book I should just write my own.” So I did. I loved writing as much as drawing and I’m still getting rejections. But I love it so I’ll keep going.
So I work shopped my first short story the other day. The group was split between those that hated my main character and those that loved the vibe and attitude of the brash protaganist. I finally revealed that it was a trueish account of my life. They were surprised. My most harsh critics asked for more of my story. So there it is, we see the world through a dim view, the real story is much deeper. Thanks for sharing your story.
You are like the relationship guru of story telling!!!!
Where were you ten years ago!?
My mind seems more indepth from your one video, than whatever I learned in college! Thanks ma'am
Finally, a great writing RUclips channel. Sick to death of all the cheap hacks that use it as one big advertisement. Really love your voice as well, very calming and helps me learn (I have the attention span of a 12 week old puppy).
Regarding rejection: My experience over 30 years of submitting tells me that getting a personal note from an editor means you are an excellent writer. I hope you realize how fortunate you have been to get personal notes from editors! The vast majority of us receive form rejections with no feedback. I suppose it depends on your writing skill. But I just had enough arrogance to think I might bring you down to earth a bit. Thanks for all your advice!
My personal favorites are both from my mom - "I prefer a tight five pages over a loose ten", and "nobody can tell your story except you".
Watching this made me think a lot about what I want. I've always been fond of writing stories but sometimes, I just wanted to give up. No one really tells me they liked it or I'd rarely ever receive compliments (maybe due to my shyness of not letting them read it) though, being a writer is both a blessing and a curse. We all need to just DO it. No matter if it's unfinished or probably boring. Yet, at the end of the day, you're a writer and it's within you. No one would make it like you would, no one would write it the way you do. So i guess keep on trying and writing. We'll all get there.
And, i really love your channel. Thanks for inspiring a lot of people/writers.
Thank you for sharing these precious tidbits of your personal trials and triumphs on your writing journey, Diane.
Writing is such an isolated, private, and deeply personal means of trying to be seen, seeking acceptance, and attempting to communicate what you value about the world that even among other artist who do what you do, it is difficult to find one person who genuinely understands what you go through because of your compulsion to write.
Because of this, disappointments and doubts are the facets of our journeys that are most readily understood by those with whom we share our troubles, so one of most common things we do as writers, is to gripe.
As usual, you have found ingenious solutions to these most difficult aspects of the writing journey in ways that forego griping; opting instead to put us in control of that awfulness, without getting negative.
It is a good and sound strategy you are proffering here; if it were theater, I could easily imagine them voicing the sum of the moral: "Rejection? Rejection! where is thy sting?" ... "tasty tasty feedback" indeed! 😊
"It's never too late to start" Was one of the advice that helped me start writing.
It's never too late. But don't let your fear keep you back either. I wasted about 10 years because I thought I couldn't do it. Now I have written a fantasy epic 330k words. :P I could do it. I wish I had known that 10 years ago. XD But better late than never. :)
@@SysterYster Wow, 330k words, well done. I'm barely at 60k. I don't try to compare, it's not a bad thing for any of us. It's just that you had quite the inspiration. ^^
@@Kenkenny82 Thank you! There's nothing "barely" about 60k! That's a lot. :) I'm just insane and a total overwriter. XD The story was 350k, but I have shortened it a bit. Still working on that. :P But yes, I was, and still am, very inspired about this book. :) I've wanted to write it for some 10-15 years. Started last year. It's the best thing I've ever done!
@@SysterYster Well done, you sure have something there. I wish you good luck for everything to come.
@@Kenkenny82 Thank you. And same to you! :)
The rejection advice and all it entails is so good...
4th advice: know if you’re writing for writers or writing for readers, are you writing competitively to impress other writers who will only read your work to find what’s wrong with it, or are you writing to impress readers who would enjoy what you enjoy. It use to always be about the readers opinion, but now it’s about the writers opinion, some times to a point of checking boxes and tallying scores. With the internet every industry has turned into a master class agency, where the great secrets of access are disseminated by the ones above the bottle neck. People below start to lose sight of why they’re doing it in the first place. It doesn’t have to be so complicated. Are you writing for you, or writing for someone else, does your story need to be told or does it need to be liked? Are you in this for the story or for the glory. There’s nothing wrong with either, and ideally both possibilities can be aligned and balanced. It’s just something lost on most people, myself for a while, until I realized, things like book submissions are really good for so many reasons, but you can’t expect someone who spends their life trying to write a better book than you to just read your work, those are not readers, they writers, consultants at best. Believe it or not the majority of client bases for art music writing etc are not artists musicians and writers, yet we come to tutorial videos like this and over the course of months and years we submerge ourselves in what we think is the full writing world, when we’re only in one specialized pocket, the writers teaching writers to write for writers world. You shouldn’t feel it necessary to make fans of your peers as much as making fans of your readers. If your book is published over half the consumer base will be people who’ve never seen a video like this or care. I’ll leave it with this because this point is too nuanced to make articulately. Unless one of my writing friends wants to help “perfect” it ☺️, it’s like this, imagine you’re a musician finding videos on how to make music, your goal is impress people so they enjoy your music and become your fan, but you always watch tutorials of musicians critiquing other musicians, so you’ve come to find what’s important, mixing mastering little effects here and there etc, yet none of those aspects will be noticed by the actual music listeners, the ones who don’t make music who just listen to it. Yes of course, if you meet all the expectations of the musician, your music may be better suited for the unknowing listeners enjoyment, but it’s become perverse. I’m getting more tired of writing this as I go and yes I’m aware that this itself, has been a lot of bad writing. Rough draft right? Hope I’ve not offended anyone, the answer to the original question is balance in both. Story and glory, readers and writers.
Brilliant advice and well said.
@@QuotidianWriter thank you, you’re the best ❤️
I make music and write. This is exactly how I feel.
I went to a music school. The teacher was "technically" the most skilled musician. To him, only classical and jazz music was good music. But his work was only digestible for other critiques/like minded people and not for the mass market. Just like how writers having studied creative writing and only write to impress other literary critics. They're not writing to the readers.
@@Maidaseu a wonderful example, thanks for adding that my friend. Sorry for the time it took you to realize that’s what was going on but if it’s any consolation it took me like ten years to realize that was a thing! Blessings to you in all creative endeavors, intuition intuition intuition!!!
“Is there a law on thinking? Then there is no law on writing “ - Michael Whiteley
This was VERY instructional and stimulating. I had put my writing efforts aside because of the numerous non-responses by editors to my novel idea. I'm getting the writing bug again and in my maturity my ego is less sensitive. 😉 Thank you for the great advice!
You can do it, Shae! Thank you for your kind words as well. Keep writing! :)
Thank you I needed this video. I use to produce and submit several stories but then I stopped. I became over critical of my work. This video helped me refocus on getting back to submitting pieces.
The absolute best, I mean "hands down", the best writing advice ever, the piece of advice that can't be compared with, touched or reconned with, the one that'll save even the world's worst writer, they could make a living as an author is................wait for it............."keep writing" by the one and only you!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!! Keep writing!!!!!!! All day everyday 💖 thanks for that!!!!
Omg I love the “set rejection goals” advice!!! Thank you!!!!
I like the part about keeping at it and submitting and seeing rejection as a part of the process to become better or to direct my work more appropriately. I remember what Stephen King said about his rejection slips being put on a nail in the wall. When they filled that nail, he got a bigger nail, but he didn't stop.
Being kind to those you envy actually applies really well as general life advice. It was something I started doing in middle school, when someone I had a crush on (from afar) started dating someone else. I resented their girlfriend at first, but then I realized that it really wasn't fair to feel so negatively about someone who hadn't done me any real wrong and was just living her life. So, whenever I felt the jealousy welling up, I would try to think of something that seemed nice about her. I realized that I often liked her fashion sense, so if she was wearing a dress I liked I'd give her a compliment, putting a voice to the positive feeling. I never really got to know her or developed any particular affection for her beyond those little compliments, but the resentment just kind of evaporated.
This was great. I wonder though...don't you guys worry about someone stealing your work? I really loved this and I feel like this touches on why I love reading and writing so much...it is making me a better person by revealing myself to myself and at the same time expanding my consciousness. I feel like I am finding this higher truth...the phrase "the more I learn the less I know" makes a lot of sense to me now!
I LOVE you Diane Callahan! I've been on a slump the past month or so with my writing, but having heard these words, I just wanna raiseIio on oo a middle finger to all my excuses and just get on with the work. Also, your theme music is FANTASTIC! Thank you so much for sharing all this gold.
YOU CAN DOOOO IIIIT!!!
WHY havent you got more likes? You are special. Ingvar followed you for years and always watch one of your videos when i get stuck. Like this time ... well, on with the writing! 😁 THANK YOU.
"Quantity isn't the point quality is the point" Jerry. B. Jenkins
This channel has become one of my favorites of all times, it´s great content, wonderful advice, what else can you ask? The best advice I have ever get is, write simple, don´t try to make an elaborate text that looks fake, write as if you were telling the story to a friend. Borges used to write very elaborated and confusing stories at first, but over time, his work was simpler and more powerful. That advice change the way I see what I do.
These are all great! Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Diane! Please keep helping us being better writers 💕💕
One thing extremely helpful for me was to put my writing on a timer or stop watch: 10 minutes; 30 minutes; One hour. Set a clear goal you can accomplish and inevitable once you break through the inertia you end up writing far longer than the time you set for yourself. I set an hour, typically write beyond that, take a break at some point, and then set the timer again. It typically gets me to four hours, easy.
Such an inspiring video 😄 I did the oposite persuing my dream about writing. I have written since I was 8, learned the art more technically this past 2 years, and finally sat with a script I wanted to publish. Realised it was an hobby, and that my wants and needs have nothing to do with making it in the industry. I could be so much more creative with more than just the writing. And I wanted to meet the people buying it, talk to them and show them whats in my head. I want to work outside the frame of the industry. I learned a long time ago that fighting to be seated at a table never really turned out good. Just sit at one that is empty and have people joining you 😄 writing is my hobby, and treating it as so gives me the opportunity to reach all my dreams with it while starting out. I love sharing my stories the way I want to tell them. I aim for them to be an enjoyable experience for the reader, while still be something outside of traditional publishing. And I am learning so much. Now my creativity is more free, I have the energy and will to expand in my writing/drawing and I work (mostly) without resistance. Money or not, it brings me joy 😊 good luck with everything in your journey, and know I get so inspired when listening to someone going down this road with such passion. I have/had that in another field of work, and it is the most thrilling and exiting thing, just be careful about the burnout. Re-charging is just as important as beeing productive
(kind of) Paraphrasing what you said:
1) Understand the difference between what you like to write and what people want to read.
Unless you understand this, you may keep on writing stuff that no one wants to read. This has nothing to do with the quality of your writing. And you can only learn this by getting people's reaction to your writing.
2) Do what you do best. And don't try to force it.
Different people do different things for a living. If you want to do something for a living, do what you do best.
Writing can be an assembly line. Some people are creative. Some people like to proof read. Some people like to re-write. A finish carpenter may install molding for a living; but if she tries to build an entire house for a living, she may starve.
If you can grammar-police, but you're not creative, good luck trying to do word production 8 hours a day.
3) Understand the 20/80 rule. Like, 20% of the people in real estate (or whatever) make 80% of the money. In sports, it may be the 1/99 rule. Understand the (maybe) 10/90 rule for writing, and don't beat yourself up. And stop hating.
This is the most practical and the best advice I have ever heard and I have been down the internet rabbit hole for quite a while now.
"Action comes before inspiration." Solutions to writing problems will come through writing, not through sitting around waiting for inspiration to hit.
Well, mesh that with giving yourself a little time, prior to the writing session, to free your brain while your body does something else. I find that the moments to go over an upcoming writing session are: in the shower; while washing dishes; taking a walk; lying down but not while particularly tired; maybe playing certain types of simple, low-thought, repetitive puzzle games. Frees up your brain to go over some of the ideas and get them in place before you sit down, which makes the session easier.
I retired and believed I would write more. I didn't. I had multiple unfinished manuscripts. Then, during quarantine, my nephew died in a car accident and I was asked to make a video for the memorial service. I was so sad at the loss and by the fact that I couldn't mourn with my family. I worked long and hard on the script and video. That experience, with all its implications, got me writing again. Life is too short to leave it without doing what you love.
Beautifully said. It sounds like your nephew was well loved and that you shared a lot of happy memories together, if you had enough footage to put together a video. I hope that you can honor his memory in your other writings as well, if you wish. Thank you for sharing your story.
8:33 "my mentality shifted." The key to success with just about anything.
You can check out my behind-the-scenes notes for this video on my Ko-fi page! ko-fi.com/Blog/Post/Behind-the-Scenes-Writing-Advice-That-Changed-My-X8X11H2ND
UPDATE: My "holy fuck" horror short story mentioned in the video is up on the _Tales to Terrify_ podcast! talestoterrify.com/episodes/455-jonathan-duckworth-diane-callahan/
Read an adapted text version of this video on my Medium blog: quotidianwriter.medium.com/writing-advice-that-changed-my-life-3e10e764211e
why not just turn it into an ebook and sell it on Amazon Diane???
ruclips.net/video/jatRGuIqD-g/видео.html
I love reading books
I would love to read your blog because I find this video positive and very helpful to apply in my writing. Very very helpful key points.
P.S. At 10:00 - I taught I taw a putty tat! and that kitty took that coin in, very thoroughly designed high-quality toy with cute cardboard details, kitty bank. I think I saw a cute little cuddly putty tat in there took the coin in>
I personally share,
First of all - walking, exercise as a daily routine into nature and at least 3.5 miles walk in the morning sun can ease your circulation, tension, and also your thoughts and bring you down to the bottom of it. It's not only the SUnlight's energy, that nourishes the system but the walking that eases the circulation and relaxes the brain activity for coming peacefully to work. I walk to the park that is a spacious open grass field, I enjoy sitting on for a moment. Walking in nature is always preferable.
Second, I found It can make you easier to record while you're talking then speech-to-text it with editing or just write it down later.
Third, I found it very helpful, is write in response or as a reply to other's valuable content adding value and dimension to already existing knowledge, diversity, and opinion. For example equation of time, will focus your strength and observation in that particular field and keep connecting with facts. It can develop into a thorough thesis about ideas and facts connected with images, videos, and appropriate research references from the internet. For me as introvert writing comes naturally to me with a plethora of the past research library at my disposal and internet searching skills at my expertise,. it's only the head that I can't clear with so much chaos and chatter.
Fourth, Keep the distraction minimum, meditate for the day and feel what the focus should be for the day, and focus on that only. Majorly, write it down on a notebook or a piece of paper before you move to the Computer or device you may use. Writing down on a paper connects you more with your intuition because not only do you see your own hand, but it's a more natural way of writing, that connects you directly with your medium.
IT can be just a 400-word reply or a thorough research analysis of anything debunking a science theory! :o
Lastly, keep a feelings journal! or Journal to records the feelings, where you put down how you felt that day, how your day's been. For me, I like to write how I felt good, bad, or neutral for that day about whatever I did or could accomplish for that matter and what I want to do further without any regrets, and it's amazing how it can increase your positivity towards your goals! I wrote how I felt good writing about that particular story from imagination and it increased my neutrality!
What I don't like is rushing through the process, as it spoils everything. I like to give it time and let it come through as naturally as possible with most of the elements taking solid shape into a complete piece. I'm going to write a brief thesis on how to write down stories. from imagination - from the heart and let it take shape.
- Sandeep Singh
Great first time I am inspired for rejection and I think it's positive
Thanks for a lovely post.. Liked your advice on treating writing as a business not a hobby and aim for 100 rejections. Thanks once again
I got these two advices from a friend of mine: no one is going to write it for you, only you are going to write your story, & Story writing is about editing, editing, and editing until a complete stranger can read your book and completely comprehend what you are trying to say through your story
I am not lying when I say that this video has changed my whole life, my perspective towards it. Both as a 17 year old writer and a human being ❤️
I'm glad to hear it! Keep writing! :)
I love your channel. It is a bright shining light in the sea of RUclipsrs that I feel sometimes go more negative than inspiring. Thank you!
Great video! Collecting rejections is now my plan for 2021. Thank you!
Great video! :) Good tips. I'm in the editing phase of my first book right now. And I'd like to add one thing to your tips. Marketing. I hate marketing, I think it's hard and I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. But I recently started doing it anyway. So far it's just a small homepage and an Instagram account. But their sole purpose is to show people that "Hey! I'm writing a book. It'll be done soon. When it comes out, be sure to buy it so you don't miss out." And it does feel fake, and wrong and weird to market something that's not done yet. BUT, when it IS done, you already have a following that'll be interested in your work. And even if not all of them will buy your book, some of them might, and they might tell others. So do that too. Show people, tell people about your book. Maybe only 1 out of 100 will be interested, but that's still better than none. Also, if you have a following already, and you're aiming to publish traditionally, they'll be more likely to risk a new author if they know you have a following. ;)
Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" was life-changing to me. I was in a slump as a writer and as a person so I wanted to just... lay my head down and let life do whatever it wanted with me. But her book made me want to reconsider what I could do for myself & my own happiness. It helped me want to give life another shot. I owe that woman my life.
Out of topic: I really love the visuals in your video along with your commentary voice! So pretty and calming.