This was incredibly inspirational. For those of us reworking the same projects over and over again, unable and unwilling to let go of something we perceive we've put 'so much work' into, it's really eye opening to see how you've been unafraid to keep trying new things and move on when necessary. Every one of those 'failures' led to a later success, which is all that matters in the end. As always, the speed at which you write (well) has me in awe. I think it's time to revisit how you are so successful at getting words down this quickly:)
I do feel like in my journey, if a project feels worth it, I’ll keep working on it. But when it doesn’t anymore is when I’m ready to put it down. But I do get the scariness of not wanting to abandon work that you’ve already put in. But I often feel encouraged my the excitement I have for something new. Haha it’s all down to Chris Fox’s book on writing 5,000 words an hour. I dont write that fast! But it had some helpful tips that did increase my writing speed a lot.
your videos have been extremely helpful in learning the whole craft of writing and applying it to my own work. you make it SUPER relatable and digestible, and seem less daunting than it can be.
Failure is such a strong word lol. all these projects sound amazing in theory and all somehow got you to the successes you had. So, these are all your success babies and all ideas that could somehow influence future books as you publishing changes daily. Ans if the wind blows any of them to publishers, I'd read them haha
Haha yes failure as a word is more of a click bait term than anything, they were definitely more like stepping stones or learning experiences. Because definitely some could be something in the future. I’m glad you’d read them!
I completely understand and respect you not wanting to pick up Not the Chosen One again, BUT if you ever do I will read the heck out of it, I adore the concept so much and the world sounds so interesting.
Maybe one day I’ll have some time to properly research in the actual Caribbean and learn how to do high fantasy decently and can try again. There were a lot of things I did like a lot about it. We’ll see!
Wow! I don’t think they are failures at all! They helped you learn how to write and develop the projects you would eventually publish. I have several novellas I wrote that are like that (from the same universe). But they taught me so much about writing. I love portal fantasy, but I actually really appreciate that you recognized it was out of your lane and didn’t end up pursuing it. I feel like that’s important for any marginalized group and I have to say, as a wheelchair user who has seen many offensive books published, even by non-white authors, I really admire your integrity with this. I’d love to get sensitivity readers for the side marginalized characters in my PhD dissertation novel, but I would never write a main character whose marginalized background I didn’t share. I shelved a project similar on an emotional level to MONSTER IN THE MIRROR. In 2019, I wrote a thriller TV drama pilot about a group of disabled vigilantes who try to take down a eugenics institution and as cool as that sounds, I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to handle revising it (it has to do with sexual assault of the disabled MC), so I shelved it. My mental health is better for it! I have a TV pilot (that I do use as a writing sample) called THE PACK, but it has nothing to do with werewolves. It’s kind of a Red Riding Hood retelling. Thank you for sharing your process with your shelved stories. I hope you come back to the first book in the Horror Trio or pursue another YA horror idea in the future. 🥰 Such an inspiring video! 🫶
They definitely aren’t, the failures is more a click bait-y title than anything haha. Because I definitely did learn a lot from the experiences and I’m glad you did too from your novellas! And yeah, I’m so so glad that I didn’t go forward with that project in the end. I definitely have a preference for writing within my marginalization after that. I’m glad your mental health is better for having shelved that project! It really is hard when you’re digging into personal struggles. Sometimes you’re ready for something, like when I wrote Delicious Monsters. But sometimes another topic is still too much. And you gotta protect your mental health! That’s so funny that your red riding hood retelling was called the pack too!! And yeah, I hope to get back to horror in some way down the line, whether through repurposing or doing something new
It's very nice to see how far you've come! And to learn about the projects you've been building your writer's journey on! Creative path is like a Hallmark movie - ever inevitably romantic! God bless the author!
Ohh definitely, I feel you about triggering yourself with the diet culture piece. I have an idea where I want to write a book critiquing diet culture, but I realize that I need to be VERY healed before I take this on. I hope that the idea can work its way in other places in your work!
Yeahhh, it’s rough to take on when you’re still in the process of unpacking and healing. I feel like I was on my way (I still feel that I’m on my way haha) but was not far enough in that healing journey to be writing all that. But maybe someday! I hope you can too someday!
Thank you so much for this video. I'm currently in a massive rut, as I'm near the end of querying but I haven't been able to outline my "next thing" due to the fear of making the wrong decisions in the outline or on my next projects. It always makes me feel less alone when I see others dealing with these issues as well! Thank you for highlighting "failures" beside your successes 💛
I’m glad the video could help you feel less alone! I totally get that, especially when you’re coming off of potentially shelving something, the idea of moving onto something else and having the same experience can be so daunting. But you can do it! You never know what idea will end up working out.
Amazing Video-I appreciate you doing it. I've started so many projects and ideas, but over a decade later, I still haven't completed one full draft of a novel. This gives me hope that they can be a hidden gem somewhere in the multiple stories I've started 😅
I’m sure there is a hidden gem! And I also feel like it’s especially hard to complete your first novel. I feel like it’s the first major hurdle and I wish you the best in getting there!
Thank you for sharing your inspirational story. I'm in awe of your limitless imagination. I don't feel as bad now if I decide to shelve my first YA manuscript which I overqueried.
I feel you, I overqueried my second book before I realized it was problematic. It’s not a fun time but I think my main comfort is that being able to take something from that project into new work. I’m sure you’ll have gained something from it even if you decide to shelve
This was such a nice video! I am also obsessed with doppelgänger stories. Every book of mine seems to have some element of a twin/shadow shelf. I blame Inuyasha. I’ve been hooked ever since.
Omg maybe Inuyasha is where I obsession developed too haha I never even thought of that but I watched it heavily as a kid 😂 it’s such a fun concept and I feel it’s just naturally unsettling
I'd suggest just moving the simulation reveal to the third act. If it gets revealed toward the end, as you're ramping up to the climax, you can mix the external (pre-simulation) climax with the simulation related "comeuppance" That's basically why Cabin in the Woods works because the reveal happens just as the characters get plucked out from that world and end up in the government facility for that third act climactic showdown. If they had done it as a midpoint shift, the movie would have had the same pacing issue as yours did! Another suggestion: Find a midpoint shift that makes the simulation reveal at the end of the book ironic or more compelling somehow. (BTW, even knowing the twist, I'd love to read The Newlyweds. It's still interesting to me. Ditto on the doppelgangers!)
Haha yes I did but I appreciate your comment!! I think even if I moved the simulation I still would have struggled with maintaining the stakes. That’s where I got stuck and decided I’d just rather rewrite than try to fix it again 😅
the light witch sounds sooo up my alley. if it ever got fixed and published i would love to read it!! i do like that you were able to step back and realize that it was problematic (thats not something a lot of authors can do). i do know that you are excellent with diverse representation and i think this project has a lot of potential.
I’m glad I was able to take that step back too! It’s hard and quite frankly I was really embarrassed and ashamed, but I also learned a lot. There really are some fun elements in there so maybe one day I’ll be able to figure something out
Thank you so much for sharing this! As a new writer who has only finished one book, it stressed me out so much to think about shelving this much material - but I really appreciate your positive attitude and the wisdom that came from all these learning experiences! ❤
I totally get that. It’s so rough when you’ve put in so much work, but I do find it helpful to realize that I can always come back to those books or use something from them for something else. Then it feels more like repurposing than losing work
@16:52 Honestly I’d say young adult sci-fi is really only given its due when it’s dystopian. Because most popular YA dystopians are science fiction when dystopians were so popular but it seems more difficult to sell sci-fi when it’s not dystopian. (Which makes me nervous as my first novel is a YA sci-fi novel that isn’t really dystopian 😅)
Yeah it’s very odd, and then it feels like the industry doesn’t even really acknowledge that dystopian IS sci-fi. But you have to write what makes you happy! I did a fantasy/sci-fi genre blend for my first published book which was apparently a hard sell and it worked out somehow haha
You kept talking about wanting to do dopplegangers and I thought you were going to say that the twist in The Newlyweds was that their dopplegangers were wrecking havoc as them. 😂 This was such an interesting video and seeing the process of when and why you stopped working on the various projects.
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This was incredibly inspirational. For those of us reworking the same projects over and over again, unable and unwilling to let go of something we perceive we've put 'so much work' into, it's really eye opening to see how you've been unafraid to keep trying new things and move on when necessary. Every one of those 'failures' led to a later success, which is all that matters in the end. As always, the speed at which you write (well) has me in awe. I think it's time to revisit how you are so successful at getting words down this quickly:)
I do feel like in my journey, if a project feels worth it, I’ll keep working on it. But when it doesn’t anymore is when I’m ready to put it down. But I do get the scariness of not wanting to abandon work that you’ve already put in. But I often feel encouraged my the excitement I have for something new.
Haha it’s all down to Chris Fox’s book on writing 5,000 words an hour. I dont write that fast! But it had some helpful tips that did increase my writing speed a lot.
your videos have been extremely helpful in learning the whole craft of writing and applying it to my own work. you make it SUPER relatable and digestible, and seem less daunting than it can be.
I’m so glad!! That’s definitely how I hope the videos come across so it’s great to know that’s how you’re receiving them ☺️
Failure is such a strong word lol. all these projects sound amazing in theory and all somehow got you to the successes you had. So, these are all your success babies and all ideas that could somehow influence future books as you publishing changes daily. Ans if the wind blows any of them to publishers, I'd read them haha
Haha yes failure as a word is more of a click bait term than anything, they were definitely more like stepping stones or learning experiences. Because definitely some could be something in the future. I’m glad you’d read them!
As always, we like before we watch!!🔥🔥🔥
I completely understand and respect you not wanting to pick up Not the Chosen One again, BUT if you ever do I will read the heck out of it, I adore the concept so much and the world sounds so interesting.
Maybe one day I’ll have some time to properly research in the actual Caribbean and learn how to do high fantasy decently and can try again. There were a lot of things I did like a lot about it. We’ll see!
Wow! I don’t think they are failures at all! They helped you learn how to write and develop the projects you would eventually publish. I have several novellas I wrote that are like that (from the same universe). But they taught me so much about writing.
I love portal fantasy, but I actually really appreciate that you recognized it was out of your lane and didn’t end up pursuing it. I feel like that’s important for any marginalized group and I have to say, as a wheelchair user who has seen many offensive books published, even by non-white authors, I really admire your integrity with this. I’d love to get sensitivity readers for the side marginalized characters in my PhD dissertation novel, but I would never write a main character whose marginalized background I didn’t share.
I shelved a project similar on an emotional level to MONSTER IN THE MIRROR. In 2019, I wrote a thriller TV drama pilot about a group of disabled vigilantes who try to take down a eugenics institution and as cool as that sounds, I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to handle revising it (it has to do with sexual assault of the disabled MC), so I shelved it. My mental health is better for it!
I have a TV pilot (that I do use as a writing sample) called THE PACK, but it has nothing to do with werewolves. It’s kind of a Red Riding Hood retelling.
Thank you for sharing your process with your shelved stories. I hope you come back to the first book in the Horror Trio or pursue another YA horror idea in the future. 🥰
Such an inspiring video! 🫶
They definitely aren’t, the failures is more a click bait-y title than anything haha. Because I definitely did learn a lot from the experiences and I’m glad you did too from your novellas!
And yeah, I’m so so glad that I didn’t go forward with that project in the end. I definitely have a preference for writing within my marginalization after that.
I’m glad your mental health is better for having shelved that project! It really is hard when you’re digging into personal struggles. Sometimes you’re ready for something, like when I wrote Delicious Monsters. But sometimes another topic is still too much. And you gotta protect your mental health!
That’s so funny that your red riding hood retelling was called the pack too!!
And yeah, I hope to get back to horror in some way down the line, whether through repurposing or doing something new
It's very nice to see how far you've come! And to learn about the projects you've been building your writer's journey on! Creative path is like a Hallmark movie - ever inevitably romantic! God bless the author!
I’m happy you enjoyed learning about all the projects! And I hadn’t thought of that re: the creative path, that’s a fun way to look at it
Ohh definitely, I feel you about triggering yourself with the diet culture piece. I have an idea where I want to write a book critiquing diet culture, but I realize that I need to be VERY healed before I take this on. I hope that the idea can work its way in other places in your work!
Yeahhh, it’s rough to take on when you’re still in the process of unpacking and healing. I feel like I was on my way (I still feel that I’m on my way haha) but was not far enough in that healing journey to be writing all that. But maybe someday! I hope you can too someday!
Thank you so much for this video. I'm currently in a massive rut, as I'm near the end of querying but I haven't been able to outline my "next thing" due to the fear of making the wrong decisions in the outline or on my next projects. It always makes me feel less alone when I see others dealing with these issues as well! Thank you for highlighting "failures" beside your successes 💛
I’m glad the video could help you feel less alone! I totally get that, especially when you’re coming off of potentially shelving something, the idea of moving onto something else and having the same experience can be so daunting. But you can do it! You never know what idea will end up working out.
Amazing Video-I appreciate you doing it. I've started so many projects and ideas, but over a decade later, I still haven't completed one full draft of a novel. This gives me hope that they can be a hidden gem somewhere in the multiple stories I've started 😅
I’m sure there is a hidden gem! And I also feel like it’s especially hard to complete your first novel. I feel like it’s the first major hurdle and I wish you the best in getting there!
Thank you for sharing your inspirational story. I'm in awe of your limitless imagination. I don't feel as bad now if I decide to shelve my first YA manuscript which I overqueried.
I feel you, I overqueried my second book before I realized it was problematic. It’s not a fun time but I think my main comfort is that being able to take something from that project into new work. I’m sure you’ll have gained something from it even if you decide to shelve
This was such a nice video! I am also obsessed with doppelgänger stories. Every book of mine seems to have some element of a twin/shadow shelf. I blame Inuyasha. I’ve been hooked ever since.
Omg maybe Inuyasha is where I obsession developed too haha I never even thought of that but I watched it heavily as a kid 😂 it’s such a fun concept and I feel it’s just naturally unsettling
I'd suggest just moving the simulation reveal to the third act. If it gets revealed toward the end, as you're ramping up to the climax, you can mix the external (pre-simulation) climax with the simulation related "comeuppance" That's basically why Cabin in the Woods works because the reveal happens just as the characters get plucked out from that world and end up in the government facility for that third act climactic showdown. If they had done it as a midpoint shift, the movie would have had the same pacing issue as yours did! Another suggestion: Find a midpoint shift that makes the simulation reveal at the end of the book ironic or more compelling somehow. (BTW, even knowing the twist, I'd love to read The Newlyweds. It's still interesting to me. Ditto on the doppelgangers!)
ETA. Whoops should have finished the video before commenting. Just realized you reworked the book altogether!
Haha yes I did but I appreciate your comment!! I think even if I moved the simulation I still would have struggled with maintaining the stakes. That’s where I got stuck and decided I’d just rather rewrite than try to fix it again 😅
I have been looking for good doppelgänger stories I hope you publish one I’m sure it’ll be great.
I hope so too! One day 🤞🏾
this is very refreshing to see, thanks for sharing Liselle
Happy to! Thanks for watching!
Needed this topic!
Liselle for the record if you decide to unshelf any or all of those books I would buy them❤ Thank you for sharing your journey.
Awww thank you! Maybe one of them will come off the shelf one of these days
the light witch sounds sooo up my alley. if it ever got fixed and published i would love to read it!! i do like that you were able to step back and realize that it was problematic (thats not something a lot of authors can do). i do know that you are excellent with diverse representation and i think this project has a lot of potential.
I’m glad I was able to take that step back too! It’s hard and quite frankly I was really embarrassed and ashamed, but I also learned a lot. There really are some fun elements in there so maybe one day I’ll be able to figure something out
Thank you so much for sharing this! As a new writer who has only finished one book, it stressed me out so much to think about shelving this much material - but I really appreciate your positive attitude and the wisdom that came from all these learning experiences! ❤
I totally get that. It’s so rough when you’ve put in so much work, but I do find it helpful to realize that I can always come back to those books or use something from them for something else. Then it feels more like repurposing than losing work
@16:52 Honestly I’d say young adult sci-fi is really only given its due when it’s dystopian. Because most popular YA dystopians are science fiction when dystopians were so popular but it seems more difficult to sell sci-fi when it’s not dystopian.
(Which makes me nervous as my first novel is a YA sci-fi novel that isn’t really dystopian 😅)
Yeah it’s very odd, and then it feels like the industry doesn’t even really acknowledge that dystopian IS sci-fi. But you have to write what makes you happy! I did a fantasy/sci-fi genre blend for my first published book which was apparently a hard sell and it worked out somehow haha
I remember you talking about several of these projects! It's great to see what happened to them. You really are a productivity ho! 😂
Hahaha I def am 🤣 glad I could play catch up/update on all these projects
You kept talking about wanting to do dopplegangers and I thought you were going to say that the twist in The Newlyweds was that their dopplegangers were wrecking havoc as them. 😂
This was such an interesting video and seeing the process of when and why you stopped working on the various projects.
Hahaha that would have been a better twist! I’m glad you liked the video!!