I'm here because of your video on why fantasy leaves you homesick, which made me cry a bunch of times, so when your book is published I'm absolutely going to buy it.
I found this channel through your fantasy homesickness video, it’s inspiring to hear you spent over a decade on this story, and putting so much effort and heart into it! I will definitely buy a copy when this book is published!
Wow, I respect the fact that you've been working on this so long! That shows commitment and discipline. Some people just want to throw something together in a few months and expect it to be perfect on the first try. I also respect that you've done multiple drafts. That shows that you are willing to learn and grow. Some people seem to get offended at any suggestion of changing anything. I look forward to continuing the journey!
It's always interesting to me, to see and listen to what others listen to for music, or musical inspiration. I checked out each of those you listed, and with the exception of Ludvico, none of them matched the way you appear to me, or sound as you speak. I always gain an immediate image or perception of someone when I meet them, or watch a video they've made, and invariably their music tastes always surprise me. It's not at all what I would envision they would like to listen to. It's like a song where the feeling of the music doesn't match the lyrics at all. At least that's the way it is for me. At first my initial impression of your story sounded like a Tolkienesque type of work, but your description in this video reminds me more of something like Raymond Feist would write. When you first start out doing something like this, you start out as a writer. If you stay with it long enough however, and the characters and world they live in become more 3 dimensional to you, you gradually transform from a writer into a story teller. You're no longer writing about characters. You're now telling stories about people you know, about the things they've done and things that have happened to them. You know this world. It has depth and dimension, images and sounds, with places that are familiar to you because in your mind and emotions, you've been there and know them well. I look forward to seeing how this develops, and how it goes for you.
Watching this video and finally learning so much tea on Project Amaranth after a really long day is the perfect way to unwind!!! The way you framed the video felt like being in a seminar with you lol, thank you for answering my question!! I also want to say how much I resonated with your advice to learn from other writers and their books, nowadays I don't really read like I used to but whenever I get around to a book it amazes me so much how well the writer is able to articulate emotions and get us to be so invested ( I have a feeling that's gonna be Project Amaranth!)
As someone who just finished (possibly the final) draft of a novel, I have to say this was incredibly motivating. Hearing you discuss the craft and the dedication you've poured into this story really moved me.
Within the first 15 seconds, I felt beguiled and drawn into your introductory video. Now, about three-quarters of the way through it, I felt that I must needs communicate that I fully subscribed... 🙂 Later on, I'll see to copying and accessing the link for beta-reader application... Your story premise thoroughly intrigues me -- it seems to employ solid (i.e. reliable) tropes, yet doing so with what I feel seems an unmistakable singularity. Atop of that, I sense a careful, immersive (and I'll hazard to hope aloud, enchanting?) worldbuilding that easily could rival Judith Tarr, Patrick Rothfuss, Steve Dickson, Ursula Le Guin, Mercedes Lackey, or (one of my favorite-favorites) Guy Gavriel Kay... BtW( for whatever it's worth): I'm adding this video to my playlist on-and-about writing... so when I feel inclined to throw in the towel on my own authorial aspirations, I'll rewatch it, in order stoke/re-stoke my own fires!💙🤍💙🫶🏽🤘🏽💫
I’m big into listening to movie soundtracks-mind you I’m working with dark fantasy. So Trevor morris has some pieces I love. And of course Dune and the Witcher I like hearing about that aspect of writing and how can impact it! Thanks for being transparent about your book. I wish you luck
I signed up for your newsletter right after watching this, as I am quite excited to follow along on your journey and (hopefully!) be one of your beta readers. I checked my email last night but didn't see anything, so I figured you must not have sent it out yet..... I'm so glad I checked my spam!! Oh how technology betrays us. 😅 In any case, I'm a relative newcomer to this channel, but I'm so glad I've found it. I've gone back and watched a few videos, and each one exudes a warmth and gentleness that just draws in one's soul. 💙
We are very similar. My story is around 500 pages. I have self published a series in the past and am considering traditionally publishing this passion project While it’s a dark epic fantasy, I’ve also been inspired by some songs that helped establish the tone. So that resonated with me
I love hearing about how long this story has been with you and how it's changed over the years! 💜I've been working on a fantasy series since I was 12 (it's practically unrecognizable from what I wrote when I was 12 though, as it should be 😅) and I thought I was the only one who held onto a story idea for so long. It's such a special feeling to know characters for that long and watch them grow and change with you. I honestly couldn't let go of it at this point if I wanted to. Can't wait for your book to find it's place in the world!
Hi Olivia! I have never clicked on a video so fast! You helped get me out of a major slump, and I'm working on a high fantasy novel as well. I'm really inspired not only by your imagination but your spiritual and philosophical outlook in life. I wish you the absolute best on your journey :)
I'm super excited!!! It's weird because athough I've never read it yet, I'm already in love with Amaranth! I'm just so in awe with the way you describe your passion into making it. If ever it comes out, how can we, possible readers from Southeast Asia, get ahold of the book? 😊 Here in the Philippines, there are only two major book stores that sell international books and sadly, most are booktok romances 😢 I was hoping you'd have like a webisite for international readers to buy from
Omg your book sounds so cool! I'm definitely buying it as soon as it's published! Your answer to my question definitely helped. You're on my list of favorite authortubers ❤️✨👑
This is so vicariously cathartic. I'm working on my own fiction project that I've been imagining for the past 4 years, and even though it's insanely different from yours, I find it so relatable. The way the story matures and blooms alongside you, the desire to write something original that you wish existed and the urge to share it with the world, and taking inspiration from music, these are all familiar to me. Seeing you progress with your project is immensely inspiring and motivating for me.
You have such a lovely, calming voice and way of speaking and explaining things. Your story also sounds like something I would love to read, I like especially that you mentioned dealing with grief and hope. Stories are what have always helped me to process my own emotions around these things, and I appreciate the way you spoke about it. I’m excited to be on this journey with you! ♥️
I loved hearing about your process! I love high fantasy, and a multi series? Pleeeease. I loved hearing about the characters! Signed up to be a beta-reader! 🤞🫶
Thank you for answering my question! Those POVs sound great. I seriously can't wait to read your book! And to the statement that it is a character driven novel with great arcs....*Gimli voice:* Yes!!! Also, the story behind your novel is so encouraging. As someone who has been writing the same book since she was twelve, it was great to hear that others take a "long time" to write too. Thank you for inspiring us writers!
Ahhhh, I love this! 💛 There's something magical in those stories we work on for years and years...it's why we can't let them go. I can't wait to read your story someday.
I'm so excited and happy for you!! I'll definitely buy your book as soon as it's ready for that lol it sounds really exciting! I also love it when writers share what songs inspire their stories/characters; right now my main "theme song" for TRA (Rilien and Talis in particular) is Pretty Lies by Written By Wolves - first verse is for Rilien, the second verse is for Talis. I also just want to quickly say thank you for inspiring me to continue working on my own novels, your videos on your own progress has helped give me my motivation when I've needed it a lot :3
LOVED the beginning!!! gave me such good feels about your story. signed up for your newsletter so i can maybe be a beta reader! i relate to the "if i just keep at it long enough, maybe one day i'll be a good enough writer to tell the story how it should be told." it sounds like you've succeeded at telling your story (^:
I'm so glad I found your channel some months ago, even though I was just accidentely following the aesthetic of your thumbnails😄It appears, that the whole moodboard and the music related to your book resonates with me so much! (I'm IN LOVE with "Without you" and most of Ludovico's music) - at this point I'm convinced that if I have a chance to read your book, this will be an amazing experience! Glad I had an opportunity to follow your journey a little bit, your approach of doing things is very inspirationalWish you all the best with your career as a writer🤗
Hey Olivia! Your book sounds awesome, I'd love to check it out. Also, I applaud you for trying to go with traditional publishing. It was my dream too; I tried for a year to get an agent and didn't make it, so it wasn't in God's plan, but I knew that my book being published at all was more important than it being traditionally published. So I did it myself! I still believe you can do it! But also recognize you have options and your work is important. Reach out if you wanna talk self publishing at all ✌️🙂
Haha i met you today for the first time but i have fallen in love with your book. Idk why i find it so interesting, like genuenly soo interesting. I love watching this type of video but all the books are usually books that i wouldn't ever read cause for me in order to read a book it has to be something that i would write (or imagine) and even u you didn't say much of the story (which i really understand) i really felt the vibe. Like dk how to explain it but i felt the vibe of the book. Like i could imagine the book. I love writing but i would never publish a books cause i just do it to de-stress me. I am not very good at english (as its not my first language) so thats why i cant even apply to be a beta reader which i would LOVE to. I am learning different languages including english just so i can read all the books that i would like, in its original translation and understand them as the writer does.
Best of luck with your novel. (I tried writing some high fantasy, myself, but gave up: it was too hard to be original for me. Instead, I ended up writing a WWII-related novel) I'm still not sure whether to go independently-published or find a publisher. Anyway, I love fantasy... [Nesbit, Lewis, Tolkien, LeGuin, Donaldson, etc, etc, etc....all the biggies...] and know how frustrating ... and how exhilarating... it is to write.
hey i am also struggling with writing fantasy for entirely different reasons (i got lost in my own sauce and nothing is remotely sensical rn) but i just wanted to pass on what someone told m which is nothing has been unique or original for a lot of storytelling, hell we still use ideas and themes first written by shakespeare or fairytales from centuries ago, so don't worry about making something original and focus on making it fun, interesting and memorable! Its way more fun to write without agonising over that anyway
So I'm still working on my second novel of a series. I just don't know how to get it published without money. I think it could be the best novel in years. I also want to know how I can listen to your book.
I love your world building and consistentancy. I would like the opportunity to be a beta reader for you. As an avid book reader with a variety of genre interests, it would be wonderful. Cheers! -Nancy
Totally off topic: I love your earrings and I know that my wife would too. I don’t suppose that you remember where you got them? Edit: I think that I may have found them(or something similar) on Etsy. Thanks for inspiring a gift!
idk f you have any tips or are interesting in doing that kind of thing but i'm trying to write a fantasy book myself and i'm really struggling with it just like, thematically lmao, books don't have to have themes or messages or whatever but i think they stick with you way more when they do and my fave books are very thematic so i would like to be able to have that but i feel very lost in the sauce rn lmao
Hey Katie! This is such a great question. I once read a piece of writing advice from Neil Gaiman where he said you should "Write down everything that happens in the story, and then in your second draft make it look like you knew what you were doing all along." I think that advice applies to finding themes in your work, too. Your story already has themes hiding in it somewhere (every story does!) so the more you work on it, the more those themes will shine through the narrative. But I get it...it's hard, and I totally relate to feeling "lost in the sauce." 😂 But you can do it. Just trust your story and keep writing! 💛
Hi Olivia, I accidentally deleted your newsletter's email! How can I apply for being a beta reader? I already signed up before but I don't know if I needed to do an extra step via the email I received
Hey Irene! I sent out an email last week with the link to the beta reader application. Did you receive that one? If so, all you have to do is click the link and fill out the application, and you're good to go!
Great question! No, I'm not very fond of postmodernism, personally. I'd consider my book more romantic, in the vein of classic fantasy. Thanks for asking!
I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re a little bit of a maladaptive daydreamer. Especially with how much music influences you, and how you see where the story takes you intuitively (versus having it planned out before hand). It’s a label that describes people with a hyper-active imagination, whose daydreams are a lot more intense and vivid than normal 😊
@@olivia.grace.cook. It's only maladaptive if it interferes with daily life, but I think it has a lot in common with people who create stories, in any medium, and spend a lot of time living in that world. The film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty features it heavily. It's a Ben Stiller film but not a goofy comedy, and it's my feel-good motivational inspiration.
Hey Olivia , really nice video ! I was wondering if I could help you with more Quality Editing in your videos and also make a highly engaging Thumbnail and also help you with the overall youtube strategy and growth ! Pls let me know what do you think ?
I'm here because of your video on why fantasy leaves you homesick, which made me cry a bunch of times, so when your book is published I'm absolutely going to buy it.
Same
Me three!
Ditto this whole message
Saaaaame!!!!
Sameee!!
I found this channel through your fantasy homesickness video, it’s inspiring to hear you spent over a decade on this story, and putting so much effort and heart into it! I will definitely buy a copy when this book is published!
Thanks so much, Harry! I appreciate it!
18:48 "If you show up for your story, your story will show up for you." Honestly some top-tier writing advice right there
Wow, I respect the fact that you've been working on this so long! That shows commitment and discipline. Some people just want to throw something together in a few months and expect it to be perfect on the first try. I also respect that you've done multiple drafts. That shows that you are willing to learn and grow. Some people seem to get offended at any suggestion of changing anything. I look forward to continuing the journey!
This is my favorite type of vid I love hearing about people’s wips
5Mins into this video & I’m READY to get my
hands on this book😍💯❤️sounds SO good😮💨🙏🏼
It's always interesting to me, to see and listen to what others listen to for music, or musical inspiration. I checked out each of those you listed, and with the exception of Ludvico, none of them matched the way you appear to me, or sound as you speak. I always gain an immediate image or perception of someone when I meet them, or watch a video they've made, and invariably their music tastes always surprise me. It's not at all what I would envision they would like to listen to. It's like a song where the feeling of the music doesn't match the lyrics at all. At least that's the way it is for me.
At first my initial impression of your story sounded like a Tolkienesque type of work, but your description in this video reminds me more of something like Raymond Feist would write.
When you first start out doing something like this, you start out as a writer. If you stay with it long enough however, and the characters and world they live in become more 3 dimensional to you, you gradually transform from a writer into a story teller. You're no longer writing about characters. You're now telling stories about people you know, about the things they've done and things that have happened to them. You know this world. It has depth and dimension, images and sounds, with places that are familiar to you because in your mind and emotions, you've been there and know them well.
I look forward to seeing how this develops, and how it goes for you.
Watching this video and finally learning so much tea on Project Amaranth after a really long day is the perfect way to unwind!!! The way you framed the video felt like being in a seminar with you lol, thank you for answering my question!! I also want to say how much I resonated with your advice to learn from other writers and their books, nowadays I don't really read like I used to but whenever I get around to a book it amazes me so much how well the writer is able to articulate emotions and get us to be so invested ( I have a feeling that's gonna be Project Amaranth!)
As someone who just finished (possibly the final) draft of a novel, I have to say this was incredibly motivating. Hearing you discuss the craft and the dedication you've poured into this story really moved me.
Way to go on finishing your novel, Alexito!!! That's incredible! 🙌
Respect for how long you've been working on your book. I've been working on mine for roughly seven years. Tough going but enjoyable and memorable.
your passion shines through and you look so happy speaking about the project, that magic is what makes me write as well ☺
Within the first 15 seconds, I felt beguiled and drawn into your introductory video. Now, about three-quarters of the way through it, I felt that I must needs communicate that I fully subscribed... 🙂
Later on, I'll see to copying and accessing the link for beta-reader application...
Your story premise thoroughly intrigues me -- it seems to employ solid (i.e. reliable) tropes, yet doing so with what I feel seems an unmistakable singularity.
Atop of that, I sense a careful, immersive (and I'll hazard to hope aloud, enchanting?) worldbuilding that easily could rival Judith Tarr, Patrick Rothfuss, Steve Dickson, Ursula Le Guin, Mercedes Lackey, or (one of my favorite-favorites) Guy Gavriel Kay...
BtW( for whatever it's worth):
I'm adding this video to my playlist on-and-about writing... so when I feel inclined to throw in the towel on my own authorial aspirations, I'll rewatch it, in order stoke/re-stoke my own fires!💙🤍💙🫶🏽🤘🏽💫
I’m big into listening to movie soundtracks-mind you I’m working with dark fantasy. So Trevor morris has some pieces I love. And of course Dune and the Witcher
I like hearing about that aspect of writing and how can impact it! Thanks for being transparent about your book. I wish you luck
Ahhh, I love this!!! Thank you, Abby! 🙌 💛 (Also the seminar line made me laugh out loud. 🤣)
I signed up for your newsletter right after watching this, as I am quite excited to follow along on your journey and (hopefully!) be one of your beta readers. I checked my email last night but didn't see anything, so I figured you must not have sent it out yet..... I'm so glad I checked my spam!! Oh how technology betrays us. 😅
In any case, I'm a relative newcomer to this channel, but I'm so glad I've found it. I've gone back and watched a few videos, and each one exudes a warmth and gentleness that just draws in one's soul. 💙
Thanks so much, David! 🙌
We are very similar. My story is around 500 pages.
I have self published a series in the past and am considering traditionally publishing this passion project
While it’s a dark epic fantasy, I’ve also been inspired by some songs that helped establish the tone. So that resonated with me
Would love to beta read. I do critiques and editing.
I love hearing about how long this story has been with you and how it's changed over the years! 💜I've been working on a fantasy series since I was 12 (it's practically unrecognizable from what I wrote when I was 12 though, as it should be 😅) and I thought I was the only one who held onto a story idea for so long. It's such a special feeling to know characters for that long and watch them grow and change with you. I honestly couldn't let go of it at this point if I wanted to. Can't wait for your book to find it's place in the world!
Thank you so much, McKenna! I cannot WAIT to read more of your work. 💛
Hi Olivia! I have never clicked on a video so fast! You helped get me out of a major slump, and I'm working on a high fantasy novel as well. I'm really inspired not only by your imagination but your spiritual and philosophical outlook in life. I wish you the absolute best on your journey :)
Lark, thank you so much for sharing this! I can't wait to read your high fantasy novel someday. 💛
Omg the editing is so cinematic!! This story sounds so interesting and twelve years is so impressive!!!
as an aspiring writer, this is so cool to see. wishing the best for you and project amaranth :))
oh wow this is incredible!! can't wait for this!! 🥲 cheering you on!! ✨ you're such a classy, elegant woman. really been enjoying your content!! xoxo
I'm super excited!!! It's weird because athough I've never read it yet, I'm already in love with Amaranth! I'm just so in awe with the way you describe your passion into making it. If ever it comes out, how can we, possible readers from Southeast Asia, get ahold of the book? 😊 Here in the Philippines, there are only two major book stores that sell international books and sadly, most are booktok romances 😢 I was hoping you'd have like a webisite for international readers to buy from
I'm so excited for you to read it!!! I'm not sure yet how the logistics will work, but I'll do everything I can to make sure it gets to you. 💛
Omg your book sounds so cool! I'm definitely buying it as soon as it's published! Your answer to my question definitely helped. You're on my list of favorite authortubers ❤️✨👑
Thank you so much! ❤️
This is so vicariously cathartic. I'm working on my own fiction project that I've been imagining for the past 4 years, and even though it's insanely different from yours, I find it so relatable. The way the story matures and blooms alongside you, the desire to write something original that you wish existed and the urge to share it with the world, and taking inspiration from music, these are all familiar to me. Seeing you progress with your project is immensely inspiring and motivating for me.
You have such a lovely, calming voice and way of speaking and explaining things. Your story also sounds like something I would love to read, I like especially that you mentioned dealing with grief and hope. Stories are what have always helped me to process my own emotions around these things, and I appreciate the way you spoke about it. I’m excited to be on this journey with you! ♥️
Thanks so much for being here, Julie! 💛
I loved hearing about your process! I love high fantasy, and a multi series? Pleeeease. I loved hearing about the characters! Signed up to be a beta-reader! 🤞🫶
Thank you so much, Jess! 💛 🫶
Thank you for answering my question! Those POVs sound great. I seriously can't wait to read your book! And to the statement that it is a character driven novel with great arcs....*Gimli voice:* Yes!!!
Also, the story behind your novel is so encouraging. As someone who has been writing the same book since she was twelve, it was great to hear that others take a "long time" to write too. Thank you for inspiring us writers!
We love the Gimli voice~
Ahhhh, I love this! 💛 There's something magical in those stories we work on for years and years...it's why we can't let them go. I can't wait to read your story someday.
This sounds amazing. I cant wait to continue hearing about your journey and buying the book as soon as its out
I am so excited for this book to come out! This sounds very much like a book I would love, and we all know the world needs more high-quality fantasy.❤
Thank you! 🥹 I'm so excited for you to read it someday.
I'm so excited and happy for you!! I'll definitely buy your book as soon as it's ready for that lol it sounds really exciting! I also love it when writers share what songs inspire their stories/characters; right now my main "theme song" for TRA (Rilien and Talis in particular) is Pretty Lies by Written By Wolves - first verse is for Rilien, the second verse is for Talis. I also just want to quickly say thank you for inspiring me to continue working on my own novels, your videos on your own progress has helped give me my motivation when I've needed it a lot :3
LOVED the beginning!!! gave me such good feels about your story. signed up for your newsletter so i can maybe be a beta reader!
i relate to the "if i just keep at it long enough, maybe one day i'll be a good enough writer to tell the story how it should be told." it sounds like you've succeeded at telling your story (^:
YES! Thank you Miranda!!! 💛
Wonderful things come in plain packaging. It will be interesting to see what blooms.
Yay!!! Loved this video. Thanks for telling us more about your book, Olivia! I’m
so excited to watch your journey continue to unfold.
Very exciting, thanks for sharing! All the best with your novel :)
You’re amazing
I'm so glad I found your channel some months ago, even though I was just accidentely following the aesthetic of your thumbnails😄It appears, that the whole moodboard and the music related to your book resonates with me so much! (I'm IN LOVE with "Without you" and most of Ludovico's music) - at this point I'm convinced that if I have a chance to read your book, this will be an amazing experience! Glad I had an opportunity to follow your journey a little bit, your approach of doing things is very inspirationalWish you all the best with your career as a writer🤗
Ahhh, I love this! Thank you so much, Sianna. 💛
Hey Olivia! Your book sounds awesome, I'd love to check it out. Also, I applaud you for trying to go with traditional publishing. It was my dream too; I tried for a year to get an agent and didn't make it, so it wasn't in God's plan, but I knew that my book being published at all was more important than it being traditionally published. So I did it myself! I still believe you can do it! But also recognize you have options and your work is important. Reach out if you wanna talk self publishing at all ✌️🙂
That's so kind of you to offer, thank you! I appreciate that. And congratulations on self-publishing your book! What an incredible accomplishment. 💛
Haha i met you today for the first time but i have fallen in love with your book. Idk why i find it so interesting, like genuenly soo interesting. I love watching this type of video but all the books are usually books that i wouldn't ever read cause for me in order to read a book it has to be something that i would write (or imagine) and even u you didn't say much of the story (which i really understand) i really felt the vibe. Like dk how to explain it but i felt the vibe of the book. Like i could imagine the book. I love writing but i would never publish a books cause i just do it to de-stress me. I am not very good at english (as its not my first language) so thats why i cant even apply to be a beta reader which i would LOVE to.
I am learning different languages including english just so i can read all the books that i would like, in its original translation and understand them as the writer does.
YES!!!! 🙌 You can feel the vibe! This makes me so happy. 💛
Best of luck with your novel. (I tried writing some high fantasy, myself, but gave up: it was too hard to be original for me. Instead, I ended up writing a WWII-related novel) I'm still not sure whether to go independently-published or find a publisher. Anyway, I love fantasy... [Nesbit, Lewis, Tolkien, LeGuin, Donaldson, etc, etc, etc....all the biggies...] and know how frustrating ... and how exhilarating... it is to write.
hey i am also struggling with writing fantasy for entirely different reasons (i got lost in my own sauce and nothing is remotely sensical rn) but i just wanted to pass on what someone told m which is nothing has been unique or original for a lot of storytelling, hell we still use ideas and themes first written by shakespeare or fairytales from centuries ago, so don't worry about making something original and focus on making it fun, interesting and memorable! Its way more fun to write without agonising over that anyway
Amaranth is also a thing from The Elder Scrolls games, its a cool name!
No way! I didn't know that.
Good luck with it. Personally I'd have gone with web but there you go, what do I know?
So I'm still working on my second novel of a series. I just don't know how to get it published without money. I think it could be the best novel in years. I also want to know how I can listen to your book.
I love your world building and consistentancy. I would like the opportunity to be a beta reader for you. As an avid book reader with a variety of genre interests, it would be wonderful.
Cheers!
-Nancy
Thank you so much, Nancy!
Also, just curious, are there any found family tropes in your novel?
YES!!!
@@olivia.grace.cook. I'm so glad to hear that! It's my favorite trope of all time!
My story grapples with losing all hope after my MCs sister is captured encouragements love and so much more
12 years in the making is worth a read...
Totally off topic: I love your earrings and I know that my wife would too. I don’t suppose that you remember where you got them?
Edit: I think that I may have found them(or something similar) on Etsy. Thanks for inspiring a gift!
Yes, of course! I bought them on Etsy from a shop called CaitlynMinimalist (I think they were called "starburst"). ✨
idk f you have any tips or are interesting in doing that kind of thing but i'm trying to write a fantasy book myself and i'm really struggling with it just like, thematically lmao, books don't have to have themes or messages or whatever but i think they stick with you way more when they do and my fave books are very thematic so i would like to be able to have that but i feel very lost in the sauce rn lmao
Hey Katie! This is such a great question. I once read a piece of writing advice from Neil Gaiman where he said you should "Write down everything that happens in the story, and then in your second draft make it look like you knew what you were doing all along." I think that advice applies to finding themes in your work, too. Your story already has themes hiding in it somewhere (every story does!) so the more you work on it, the more those themes will shine through the narrative. But I get it...it's hard, and I totally relate to feeling "lost in the sauce." 😂 But you can do it. Just trust your story and keep writing! 💛
Hi Olivia, I accidentally deleted your newsletter's email! How can I apply for being a beta reader? I already signed up before but I don't know if I needed to do an extra step via the email I received
Hey Irene! I sent out an email last week with the link to the beta reader application. Did you receive that one? If so, all you have to do is click the link and fill out the application, and you're good to go!
Hi Olivia, I've been reading a lot of postmodern works here lately. Would you consider your upcoming book a postmodern work?
Great question! No, I'm not very fond of postmodernism, personally. I'd consider my book more romantic, in the vein of classic fantasy. Thanks for asking!
12 years?! Damn.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re a little bit of a maladaptive daydreamer. Especially with how much music influences you, and how you see where the story takes you intuitively (versus having it planned out before hand). It’s a label that describes people with a hyper-active imagination, whose daydreams are a lot more intense and vivid than normal 😊
This would explain a lot tbh 🤔
@@olivia.grace.cook. It's only maladaptive if it interferes with daily life, but I think it has a lot in common with people who create stories, in any medium, and spend a lot of time living in that world.
The film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty features it heavily. It's a Ben Stiller film but not a goofy comedy, and it's my feel-good motivational inspiration.
Hey Olivia , really nice video ! I was wondering if I could help you with more Quality Editing in your videos and also make a highly engaging Thumbnail and also help you with the overall youtube strategy and growth ! Pls let me know what do you think ?
Stop. I’m not even through the intro and I’m emotional lol
💛 🥹
Nah 12 years? That's crazy