Keep up the pacing in your life and follow ya boi on Twitter and Instagram twitter.com/TimHickson1 instagram.com/tim_hickson_hfm/ I swear I'm like super funny. Look, I tried to make it a pun of some kind and it just wasn't working. ~ Tim
@@etooamill9528 It's quite popular, the most popular story structure right now is the Hero's Journey, I believe. The Journey is so popular that there's a theory it's obligatory in modern storytelling. Nothing's right and nothing's wrong in storytelling, just that there are things that are *more not right* and *more not wrong* than others. Doing a story in the Three-Act Structure can still definitely be done horribly, and not using the Structure can still hypothetically produce a great story, but the Structure is still going to produce better stories on average than something that throws it out the window.
@@nikitamalikov6683 good to know, I started to fear that any other form would create a monstruosity of a story and I was getting quite bored with the three act structure and wanted to try new things. I have to build from nothing since I have zero examples of stories that do not have the three act structure but now I have some hope for something decent to come out of this project
“The pacing was kinda off in places” “ the pacing was all over the place.” “Bitch where dem pacing at?” Yes yes, but how do I…not do that?! How internet?! HOW?!?!?!
Like those people who said "you need to flip your drawing because if you don't and you flip it after you finished drawing, it's bad" Like yeah but why tho
subtext... like uncle Iroh and tea: tea leaves come from the earth fire extracts the flavor water carries the flavor and air cools it to drinking temperature no one in show talks about this but Iroh mentions tea so much I'm surprised I never noticed
I personally think Sokka making his sword is a much better subtextual example of the same idea. It even follows the Avatar Cycle. Sokka starts with shoveling earth and ore into the smelter, and then burning the coals, he stokes the flames with air bellows, and then quenches the steel with water. It shows that even though Sokka has never, and will never bend an element, he still masters them, and must learn the spiritual aspects of each element to be a swordsman.
One thing with pacing that might be worth discussing/experimenting with: having the characters affected by the pacing as much as the reader. Think of a character-driven, action-filled story and how a given character maybe isn't able to properly process events happening around them because they can't find a moment to rest and collect themselves. In this instance, both character and reader are experiencing the story at breakneck speeds and it's only during a slow paced, quiet moment where they can finally take a breath and really think about what's happened. - Again, this is mostly a food-for-thought moment, but I thought it'd be an interesting idea to put out there.
This is 100% true, and if the characters never stop to be affected by something, or move on too quickly, it makes me care about it less. This can happen in dramas as well, where characters take hit after emotional hit until they can't realistically absorb them anymore and it turns into a soap opera.
@@lykander9906 I would say that you'd probably need to have that kind of pacing in mind from the start. Having a character finally have a moment to breath after who knows how long and really be able to process what's happening can be a powerful moment, but it needs a build up that's planned out to be effective.
Big Lebowski. Allow me an example of how breathing-scenes are necessary. Scene. The Dude and Walter mess up a ransom-money transaction, damaging The Dude’s car, passing a false ransom to the kidnappers, and severely testing The Dude’s patience with Walter’s bullshit. The consequences are that the kidnappers may kill the victim upon finding Walter’s package is full of underwear, and if the victim is brought to harm, the victim’s spouse Jeffery Lebowski will spake ruin upon The Dude’s life. On the “upside”, they still have the real ransom money in the back of The Dude’s car. Next scene. The Dude, Walter, and Donny (an NPC), are out bowling. Walter and Donny are business-as-usual, totally unaffected by the events that just transpired. But The Dude isn’t bowling, he sits absolutely despondent, stewing on the failure and its immediate consequences to himself and the victim. The phone that Jeffery Lebowski gave him rings throughout but The Dude dares not answer or even acknowledge it. Next scene. They exit the bowling alley, and The Dude finally starts yelling at Walter trying to make the latter give one iota of a shit about the situation. Walter proudly mocks The Dude for being so paranoid, as Walter thinks the whole ransom is a hoax; and Walter is proud that he saw through the ruse and nabbed the ransom money for themselves, the money sitting in the Dude’s car for the taking. Their argument is interrupted when they find that the Dude’s car has been stolen. Now. Imagine if scene #2 was removed. Scene #2 bears no plot significance, doesn’t move anything forward, just The Dude sitting blankly while his friends bowl. Most editors would be tempted to cut from “...the kidnappers speed away with the false package” straight to “The Dude is yelling at Walter.” But the Coen Brothers hold on the eventless middle scene. The scene where you’re forced to sit and think about what just happened, and think about what the consequences will be. So that when the Dude starts yelling at Walter all the way in the next scene, you’re on The Dude’s page and can appreciate how much he cares. If the scene was skipped, The Dude would come across as more whiny and the situation overall less important.
I was thinking the same thing. So many movies have random slower paced scenes and they are super needed for both the audience and characters to digest what is happening and how it affects them. For whatever reason, the scene where Hawkeye brings the Avengers to his home in Age of Ultron comes to mind, and the film really needed it because every character had just gone through really traumatic visions and they also lost track of Ultron. Some might say it "brings the story to a screeching halt" but I value these scenes because non-stop action isn't inherently a good thing; it can actually bog down the story as much as intermittent slow scenes can in some cases.
I love that you used the Iroh Prison scene for subtext. That is literally how I get myself into the mindset of writing subtle moments. "Zuko is on the outside, but he is is the one in the cage."
@Dalmaron The First I'm a bad procrastinator as well, that's why I gave myself an hour bracket, or basically a "work time". Works for some, not for all.
Dalmaron The First you know what? You’re right. I WILL do it. No more off putting. I’ll be starting tomorrow after I binge one piece. For research purposes of course.
I have a three point rule. Everything that is written need to drive the story further, develope a character or expand the worldbuilding. As long as it is related to those three things it stays. And by limiting myself to this the writing develops itself with unexpected progress as the characters or the world act.
I agree that nothing should be written if it doesn't do any of these three things. I'd also add that focusing for too long just on worldbuilding or character development can feel boring or unrewarding to the reader.
I apply the same rule (but with a flow chart) with great unexpected result Here is my mindset when I need to process/guess what is to prioritize in the next "chapter/scene/paragraph/sentence". The reader came for the story, but the story only appears through the advancement of the plot. The plot only advances through the actions of the characters (the narrator being Almighty God character of every story ever written) and the characters are only shaped and formed through the world they emerge from. Worldbuilding => Characters => Plot. That is the natural flow chart of things. (wether plot driven or character driven story, the flow chart remains the same) Plot => Characters => Worldbuidlidng That is priority interest flow chart of the reader. By processing those two sequences together, it permits the author to never lose control on the pacing of his/her storytelling.
@@rushalias8511 And plot progression, worldbuilding, dialogue, characters, plot and sub-plots, writing an ending and beginning, character development. 😭
Honestly, I don't think really believe shorter sentences can ever help increase the dramatic tension of a scene, because to me that just sounds silly and is probably a gross exaggeration. Wait, no no no don't-!
@@seandabest4329 Read thrillers and horror books and compare them to other genres. I don't know why you think it's silly but that's just ridiculous. Any good writer of suspense will tell you the same.
@@mischarowe maybe it was too subtle, but I was making a joke proving the effectiveness of short sentences in horror by first making a really really long sentence supposedly criticising the idea put forth, followed up by a short unfinished sentence that might raise tension if used in a story to therefore prove that what you said was true. Like you, I was also taught about the effectiveness of short sentences by my literature teacher. Among other things.
You can easily write a long and tense piece, but like everything you need to be able to write it well. You can follow so the rules in the world but still end up with bad writing
I really appreciate your emphasis on the value on using a variety of pacing and subtext throughout our work, especially not to discredit slow pacing or longer, complex, and more poetic styles, which I find is often abandoned out of the belief that we must at all times be focused on action. I also like how you are encouraging us to not abuse or rely on any one style. And with most things, immediate gratification does not compare to how grand and more satisfying lingering tension and waiting in hopeful expectation makes the arrival of what we're yearning for Wonderful and such analytical content, always so enjoyable and useful - thank you so very much for your efforts!
"immediate gratification does not compare to how grand and more satisfying lingering tension and waiting in hopeful expectation makes the arrival of what we're yearning for" It's not called the climax for nothing! OOOOOOOOO
Ooooh I’ve been wondering about this. I’ve always heard “pacing is important!” in writing but it’s never been this clear and insightful before. Thanks ^w^
Your point about subtext answers a question I get often from fantasy readers: "what ever happened to Eragon?" It was well written and interesting, solid world building as well but it fell away as soon as you put it down. I realized that it, unlike so many other stories with staying power, it had little to no subtext, it wasn't really dicectable. It's trope and plot driven, not theme driven.
It may not have had much subtext because everything was explained pretty plainly, but it had a lot of interesting character moments imo. The ending had actually touched me more than other books I've read at that time. I just don't understand the hate Eragon is getting on this channel
I'm dealing with a pacing problem in my own novel right now. The book is really strong from 15% in and onward, but before that several readers felt disconnected from characters and events, waiting for "stuff to begin". I didn't know what to do. There were obviously important things happening in those first 15%. I couldn't just skip it - that would make no sense. I thought about how to cut it down to "get over the boring stuff", but then recently I realized a few issues. 1) Because I as a writer was so focused on getting to that thing that happens 15 % in, I was rushing to get there. This showed up in my pacing. ironically, it meant I wasn't diving deep into the scenes and characters, which left the reader feeling turned off. 2) I realized I hadn't spent enough time thinking about alternative stuff that could've happened. Characters were acting as if the 15% scene was inevitable. it wasn't. So I'm doing an edit of the beginning now, making the characters consider more angles and acting accordingly. Even though the 15% mark is still the same, characters are getting there in much more clever ways. Also, I'm taking my sweet time getting there. I'm making myself take interest in the beginning, allowing things to require more description/feeling/dialogue/action than originally. And I think it's working. By going for a fast pace in my earlier drafts, I made the reader feel as though the beginning was irrelevant. And how could they otherwise? I wrote it, in a way, feeling that it was.
I feel that badly. Starting is always the hardest for me because while **I** know what the main plot us going to be and how the world functions, how do I set the stage so when things start the audience can follow? Like, say it's a war story in a fictional world, you don't want to info dump "here are the kingdoms, here is why they are fighting, here is where we begin, and here is our cast!" Like, it could work? But it seems like a lot to get through before it starts. But if you rush to get to that first major point, then the audience might feel lost in the who, how, and why. 😰
This!! I've done this to myself so many times. "This part is boring, so let's just hurry the reader through to get to the good stuff" Which leaves the reader feeling both bored and rushed- totally disconnected from characters in places that had the opportunity to be clever, charming, interesting, and really had potential to pull the reader further into the story, if I hadn't disconnected MYSELF from it from the get-go. My usual fix is to write indulgently. If I delve in, feeling interested and excited, I'm usually inviting the reader to do the same. If you're bored, chances are, your readers are too. And to quote Jerry Jenkins: "Boring readers is the cardinal sin of writing." But I'm glad to see other people have this same problem 🥹
I don't really like to comment on youtube, but I'll make an exception here. I love all "On writing" videos, but this one stands out to me, it's so helpful and easy to understand. You can explain technical things so well, and I feel that getting pacing right is very difficult but it doesn't get enough attention. So thank you for making a video on this topic! Love your channel, keep up the good work :) (Edit: spelling)
You have my greatest appreciation for what you do. I must say you have been an invaluable aid to my writing and worldbuilding. I can't thank you enough. I hope you continue making videos for a long time and it will be my absolute pleasure to continue watching and learning from them. (Is that too much...? Nah...)
Your ability to so eloquently articulate these things astounds me. So often, when I am asked how to master pacing, my gut reaction is, either you intrinsically "get it" or you don't, but it's not like that at all. Pacing is so much like every other aspect of writing; it can be understood and developed as a skill. Excellent video! Thank you!
After watching this, I went back through my manuscript and broke it down into scenes to figure out which scenes were crucial to moving the plot and which scenes weren't important to the story. Thanks so much for the advice!
This explains so much about why I have difficulty with a book I'm reading! I'm currently stuck in a large flashback! And I care but I just can't get invested! Now I know why!!! Thank you almighty Tim!
Even though I am not a writer, as a Dungeon Master I feel like this video was very important to me! Pacing is important no matter what type of story telling you do in my opinion. Thanks for making the video!
I have really been struggling with the pacing of my story, especially since I'm writing a book series, rather than a single novel. It's been a struggle to work out a story that's going to span 8 books, but I think your technique talks help a lot with the simple things like that. You're amazing at explaining everything so well, so thank you for everything you do. My story idea would still be stuck on the first novel plot if I didn't get to watch any of your On Writing Videos. I can't become a Patron, but I hope you know that you've really inspired people with these. Thank you and stay nerdy!
Actually what's ironic is that you will never achieve anything yet you're watching a video meant to help those who will. Get back to work, my unemployment checks don't write themselves.
"Keep the story moving" - Stephen King Ah yes, Stephen King of "IT is just light reading" fame. Stephen King of "I'm making this once scene stretch out for 40 pages" repute.
Ha! Even though this comment is two years old, I just had to reply. I know EXACTLY the scene you're referring to. It's the scene I stopped reading the book because I simply couldn't get through it.
Dude you have no idea how valuable this has been for me! This has been my hardest obstacle in my writing and this video has helped me immensely. Keep up the amazing work!
This is something that I hadn't seriously considered in my writing in a meaningful way. It was always in the back of my mind but it was fantastic to explore this topic. Thank you for making this video. Now that I am starting to write again I will definitely check out the rest of your videos to help hone my techniques.
The short version is "Get a treadmill". It will save you money in the long run on carpets, and they come with trays and cup-holders now, so you don't even have to risk dropping the phone or pad (tablet?) or spilling your morning coffee. ;o)
You're crazy if you think this wont be seen as much. The literal moment I saw it I was hyped. I've been script writing for a decade and I love this channel for info and insight as much as I love Rocket Jump and Studio Bible. Pacing is one of my biggest issues in writing and to properly iron out the flow of a story with proper dialogue and world building is just key for a writer. As someone who primarily focuses on action and comedy this sort of break down is immensely helpful. The only thing I think I disagreed on was when you spoke about "sometimes the writer doesn't trust the reader". This is just untrue. Of all the writers I've encountered this is always the case. You have to shoot your shot and hope the reader has been paying attention or they likely wont follow your story anyway. Keep these On writing videos coming!
I've been focusing on my new book a lot recently and I really feel the pacing overall is very good for the story I'm telling. The story centres on two characters and I feel each chapter tries to help the reader understand and invest in them.
So I had a day today where I completely disassociated at work and felt like I was drunk or high. Watching your videos on writing acted as kind of a grounding experience, and it helped me feel connected to my body and my tasks again. Unrelated to writing but I know you care about mental health and I figured you'd like knowing that even when you're just talking about writing or worldbuilding, you still help.
Hey Tim. Appreciate every time you throw me something from your "On writing" Stuff on my ears :D Your insight is very helpful, especially in the last six months, playing nanny for over 20 aspiring Worldbuilders and Writers. Keep making those. I really appreciate them ^^
I've been waiting for a video on pacing for a while now. My first book flowed really well, but it was a standalone, so it was not too difficult to figure out. My second book, however, is the first in a five-part series and it was hard to get to a point where I felt it flowed at all, let alone lead into another four books. I will definitely be giving it a little more educated scrutiny now. Thanks!
I just started a new book and was struggling to get the feel I wanted, turns out it was my pacing that was kinda off. Thank you for the video! It helped a lot
Me, two minutes in: so.. it's key to show your character's and your narrators emotions? Me, after it: ...Okay okay and also remember your readers and main goals. I love your vids man. As someone who's always drawing/reading/writing, I feel a lot better knowing what I'm doing (and so far I seem to be doing okay for a person still in high school with no editting team)
Honestly i really love watching those technical videos, they are super interesting and very well explained (and i get most of it even though my first labguage isn't even english), so well done, i hope you do more of those !
I really enjoy the more technique on writing videos, they're extremely useful, and have improved my writing in ways I didn't realize it could. Thank you!
Timely video. I just finished my third manuscript and am loving the constructive feedback I've been getting from my readers. Thanks for this. By the way, Tim, you look to be in better health.
The best trick to effective pacing I learned was from the creators of soundtrack. Never connect your sequences/plot points with the words "and" and "then". Instead, out for "but" and "therefore". It helps make scenes matter more through their connectedness.
Every video you put out on world building and story telling changes how I read books and watch movies/shows. I feel like I’m enjoying books in particular more and more. Thank you for sharing all your hard work and insights.
I really enjoy those "technical" videos of yours. That's the kind of content I'm looking for, and your method for delivering complex information in a pedagogical way is brilliant. Continue making those, they are among the best of their kind on youtube. That was very instructive.
Regarding subtext, this is where a lot of hidden work comes into play. As a writer I define local corporations, political history, individual backstories that might end up largely edited out... Yet having done all work beforehand will bleed thriugh into your work, everything is connected to something else. The readers will notice and be curious. If you don't want to waste it, have a Tolkien-esque appendix or two.
dude I like your videos too much most of the technical writing stuff is so abstract I have a hard time understanding, but you put it in easier terms and comparisons and examples and metafors and purposes and its SOOO GOOOD ty so much
Thank you for posting this! Pacing is always what keeps me up at night when trying to write. I was just despairing that my pacing is too slow, but since I'm writing for the younger audience I feel slightly better. The way pacing ties into the structure of the story is also super helpful, helps me think about what is important to the story and characters.
I really needed to hear that about the side quest and how to handle such things when they don't move the story along with the main plot. And thanks for the distinction between a side quest and a side plot. Very helpful.
Subtext is really the most underrated part of writing. Or even just interacting with people. You have to leave space for the recipient to interpret and understand things in their own mind. If the words aren't on the page, and the reader has to consciously bring them up in his/her mind, it makes their impact 3x stronger. It's the difference between showing and telling. That "ahhhh" moment of internal understanding the reader has "so that's why X is doing Y" is immensely more satisfying and more powerful when it's not verbalized and the reader understands on his/her own, because it means he/she is experiencing it emotionally while reading/watching/speaking etc... bottom line is, if you can make the words/feelings/ideas pop up in the reader without explicitly verbalizing them in the text, you win.
I like the way you did your summary on this when better than normal. Giving us one point at a time (with the corresponding visual prominent) helps us (or at least me) remember the whole flow and keep it in our minds (or at least my mind).
Absolutely adoring this video! I love the references you use and the passages you select to illustrate your points. Then again, your technical videos are my favorites!
I really loved this! I already kind of knew most of this - I consume a lot of media (too much, probably) - but it's helpful to have it put to words so succinctly; the bullet points at the end are always useful.
oh the bit about subtext was really helpful. the opening of my story I'm planning to be very slow, but there is also meant to be a lot of subtext (to show the mc's mental/emotional struggles); reassures me it won't be so dull! edit: also love the rain visual/sounds at the end, puts me in a calm writing mood
You mentioned that we may not like this video cause it's more technical, but that is exactly why I like it because it helps with a more obscure part of writing. Seriously no one covers this. Thank you.
A fast, exciting and bit out of place hook? Prepares for the general quirkier tone of the channel, and gives some levity to keep people entertained for a somewhat heavy, yet extremely important topic ahead. Seems like a good choice for me.
Like the Tron clips. More seriously, this video will be really helpful as I draft my novel. Thank you so much. Pacing is a difficult concept for me, and you've explained a lot.
I absolutely prefer the technique videos!! I love all your videos but it’s so nice to have someone actually discuss technique in detail rather than refer to it here and there.
Thank you for this video (and your videos in general), it's always interesting to understand how stories are developed. There is one thing I don't neccessarily agree on: I am able to predict lot's of plots. LOTS of plots. So I actually love sidequests, if they hold a social value. Life also isn't straight and I dislike it if I can see the author's intentions while reading his/her book all too clear.
So I know I'm super late, but I gotta say I loved this one. A long video about technique rather than tropes, that has advice for more genres than just fantasy or science fiction. This one has definitely helped me the most so far with the novel I am working on. Thanks!
I watched this right after writing a chapter of my story,and I'm happy to say I'm still happy with it XD it did start off a bit strained,the sentences cutting it a bit too short,which is a flaw I'm working on,but it wasn't that bad,and toward the end,when I felt more inspired,it went in a completely different direction then I'd expected,but I really love it because of that,and how it's still serving it's purpose to slowly rise the tension for the next chapter,which is going to delve into the main plot much more
Good video! Good to hear that pacing doesn't always have to be fast. A few years ago, I feel like every author writing about writing was giving advice that one's book should be fast-paced. Something I haven't seen talked about in depth on RUclips yet (though I might just not have found it yet) is the topic of how to give the reader information, in what order to present it, etc. deciding what will be a revelation and when, and how to apply that. If you're up for it, I'd love to see a video about this!
Hey man. Thank you so much for what you do. I'm an aspiring writer who wishes to become an author and much more. I have so many stories and a series I want to put out there into the world. It's like I brainstormed ideas for so long and I tried to put them all together and it didn't sound right. Then I realized "oh. I just need to learn how to write a story properly!" now I'm watching basically every video you put out (at least try to anyway lol). Once again I thank you for being so kind as to post informational vids about writing. love your stuff. keep it up!
Thank you SO much for this video, I've been thinking myself in circles for months trying to pin down why my story didn't feel right or exciting. While I was watching this you made me realize that I wasnt putting my MC on the track to the 'big thing'. Having someone lay it out in such simple terms really helped me, so thank you again!
I know, comment of a 4 year old video that will never get read, but I really like the more technical videos. It's interesting for me, as a reader, to hear about how writers think about stories and writing.
Hello Future Me, you have several helpful insights in this video. I like your discussion of the slow burn of tension building in a slower paced book/section. I would love another video just about Subplots and SideQuests and side characters. They may contribute to a main story in subtle ways, or be genre dependent. 7:16 Your discussion of the WXYZ layers of sidequest obstacles is exactly the problem with the middle of the Last Jedi. (Finn must go to Canto to v - find a codebreaker so he can w- break into Snoke's ship in order to x- disable the tracker so y- the resistance ships can escape so that z- when Rey returns to them she won't be in danger. That's a big pacing quagmire to slog through.)
![On Writing: Magic Systems and Handling Power Escalation [ Mistborn l Last Airbender l Naruto ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PlwBjNkHC50/mqdefault.jpg)
![On Writing: Magic Systems and Handling Power Escalation [ Mistborn l Last Airbender l Naruto ]](/img/tr.png)
Keep up the pacing in your life and follow ya boi on Twitter and Instagram
twitter.com/TimHickson1
instagram.com/tim_hickson_hfm/
I swear I'm like super funny. Look, I tried to make it a pun of some kind and it just wasn't working.
~ Tim
You should seriously consider watching hunterxhunter 2011, everything you said about good pacing, HxH does it perfectly
Yes! This is what i needed to know how to do, i don't know how to pace my stories!
Is the three act structure obligatory or is it just the most popular?
@@etooamill9528 It's quite popular, the most popular story structure right now is the Hero's Journey, I believe. The Journey is so popular that there's a theory it's obligatory in modern storytelling. Nothing's right and nothing's wrong in storytelling, just that there are things that are *more not right* and *more not wrong* than others. Doing a story in the Three-Act Structure can still definitely be done horribly, and not using the Structure can still hypothetically produce a great story, but the Structure is still going to produce better stories on average than something that throws it out the window.
@@nikitamalikov6683 good to know, I started to fear that any other form would create a monstruosity of a story and I was getting quite bored with the three act structure and wanted to try new things. I have to build from nothing since I have zero examples of stories that do not have the three act structure but now I have some hope for something decent to come out of this project
Yay, a person who actually EXPLAINS pacing instead of repeating "you have to pace your stuff" in one of 95 different ways without explaining.
YES!!!!!
I had no idea that there were people who would just do just that.
250th like
“The pacing was kinda off in places”
“ the pacing was all over the place.”
“Bitch where dem pacing at?”
Yes yes, but how do I…not do that?!
How internet?! HOW?!?!?!
Like those people who said "you need to flip your drawing because if you don't and you flip it after you finished drawing, it's bad"
Like yeah but why tho
"In the middle of characters doing thin-" *||*AD PLAYS*||* "things."
Can't tell if I love or hate how well that was timed.
Both, both is good.
Read this, then i got to this part😂
@@abigailwintersinkdrinker4097 same
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Beginning: apologizes for wearing a different shirt
Rest of video: is a cartoon
My thoughts exactly 😂
subtext... like uncle Iroh and tea:
tea leaves come from the earth
fire extracts the flavor
water carries the flavor
and air cools it to drinking temperature
no one in show talks about this but Iroh mentions tea so much I'm surprised I never noticed
I personally think Sokka making his sword is a much better subtextual example of the same idea. It even follows the Avatar Cycle. Sokka starts with shoveling earth and ore into the smelter, and then burning the coals, he stokes the flames with air bellows, and then quenches the steel with water. It shows that even though Sokka has never, and will never bend an element, he still masters them, and must learn the spiritual aspects of each element to be a swordsman.
@@Tmanowns wow this and the original comment both blew my mind🤯🤯
@@Tmanowns whoa!!!!
I love this! Never thought of it before!
One thing with pacing that might be worth discussing/experimenting with: having the characters affected by the pacing as much as the reader. Think of a character-driven, action-filled story and how a given character maybe isn't able to properly process events happening around them because they can't find a moment to rest and collect themselves. In this instance, both character and reader are experiencing the story at breakneck speeds and it's only during a slow paced, quiet moment where they can finally take a breath and really think about what's happened.
-
Again, this is mostly a food-for-thought moment, but I thought it'd be an interesting idea to put out there.
This is 100% true, and if the characters never stop to be affected by something, or move on too quickly, it makes me care about it less. This can happen in dramas as well, where characters take hit after emotional hit until they can't realistically absorb them anymore and it turns into a soap opera.
@@lykander9906 I would say that you'd probably need to have that kind of pacing in mind from the start. Having a character finally have a moment to breath after who knows how long and really be able to process what's happening can be a powerful moment, but it needs a build up that's planned out to be effective.
I actually want to try to do that with my writing. It sounds like it'd be great if executed properly.
Big Lebowski. Allow me an example of how breathing-scenes are necessary.
Scene. The Dude and Walter mess up a ransom-money transaction, damaging The Dude’s car, passing a false ransom to the kidnappers, and severely testing The Dude’s patience with Walter’s bullshit. The consequences are that the kidnappers may kill the victim upon finding Walter’s package is full of underwear, and if the victim is brought to harm, the victim’s spouse Jeffery Lebowski will spake ruin upon The Dude’s life. On the “upside”, they still have the real ransom money in the back of The Dude’s car.
Next scene. The Dude, Walter, and Donny (an NPC), are out bowling. Walter and Donny are business-as-usual, totally unaffected by the events that just transpired. But The Dude isn’t bowling, he sits absolutely despondent, stewing on the failure and its immediate consequences to himself and the victim. The phone that Jeffery Lebowski gave him rings throughout but The Dude dares not answer or even acknowledge it.
Next scene. They exit the bowling alley, and The Dude finally starts yelling at Walter trying to make the latter give one iota of a shit about the situation. Walter proudly mocks The Dude for being so paranoid, as Walter thinks the whole ransom is a hoax; and Walter is proud that he saw through the ruse and nabbed the ransom money for themselves, the money sitting in the Dude’s car for the taking. Their argument is interrupted when they find that the Dude’s car has been stolen.
Now. Imagine if scene #2 was removed. Scene #2 bears no plot significance, doesn’t move anything forward, just The Dude sitting blankly while his friends bowl. Most editors would be tempted to cut from “...the kidnappers speed away with the false package” straight to “The Dude is yelling at Walter.”
But the Coen Brothers hold on the eventless middle scene. The scene where you’re forced to sit and think about what just happened, and think about what the consequences will be. So that when the Dude starts yelling at Walter all the way in the next scene, you’re on The Dude’s page and can appreciate how much he cares. If the scene was skipped, The Dude would come across as more whiny and the situation overall less important.
I was thinking the same thing. So many movies have random slower paced scenes and they are super needed for both the audience and characters to digest what is happening and how it affects them. For whatever reason, the scene where Hawkeye brings the Avengers to his home in Age of Ultron comes to mind, and the film really needed it because every character had just gone through really traumatic visions and they also lost track of Ultron.
Some might say it "brings the story to a screeching halt" but I value these scenes because non-stop action isn't inherently a good thing; it can actually bog down the story as much as intermittent slow scenes can in some cases.
I love that you used the Iroh Prison scene for subtext. That is literally how I get myself into the mindset of writing subtle moments.
"Zuko is on the outside, but he is is the one in the cage."
Further demonstrated when Iroh busts himself out of prison; he was never trapped in the first place.
Whenever you upload I’m reminded that I have not touched my writing since January.
BerserkTheKid I relate to this on a spiritual level.
@Dalmaron The First I'm a bad procrastinator as well, that's why I gave myself an hour bracket, or basically a "work time". Works for some, not for all.
Dalmaron The First you know what? You’re right. I WILL do it. No more off putting. I’ll be starting tomorrow after I binge one piece. For research purposes of course.
I have some advice count to five and when you hit five just get up and do it. This is a strategy i do for alot of things works for me
I was in the same situation, but I came back to it last week.
I have a three point rule.
Everything that is written need to drive the story further, develope a character or expand the worldbuilding.
As long as it is related to those three things it stays. And by limiting myself to this the writing develops itself with unexpected progress as the characters or the world act.
Also: The more, the merrier. If a scene does multiple things, all the better.
I agree that nothing should be written if it doesn't do any of these three things. I'd also add that focusing for too long just on worldbuilding or character development can feel boring or unrewarding to the reader.
Agreed, you need to switch between them to keep up the pace and have things fresh and interesting. And as the other one said, the more the merrier.
I apply the same rule (but with a flow chart) with great unexpected result
Here is my mindset when I need to process/guess what is to prioritize in the next "chapter/scene/paragraph/sentence".
The reader came for the story, but the story only appears through the advancement of the plot. The plot only advances through the actions of the characters (the narrator being Almighty God character of every story ever written) and the characters are only shaped and formed through the world they emerge from.
Worldbuilding => Characters => Plot.
That is the natural flow chart of things. (wether plot driven or character driven story, the flow chart remains the same)
Plot => Characters => Worldbuidlidng
That is priority interest flow chart of the reader.
By processing those two sequences together, it permits the author to never lose control on the pacing of his/her storytelling.
I agree with this! On another note, I rarely see other people around me spell it as "develope".
Oof. Pacing, an obstacle that every writer must go through to make a story.
Alongside writer's block and exposition
@@rushalias8511 And plot progression, worldbuilding, dialogue, characters, plot and sub-plots, writing an ending and beginning, character development. 😭
@@mariapazgonzalezlesme dont forget the most difficult feat of all. Writing the first chapter and paragraph.
@@rushalias8511 No. The most hard part of everything is WRITING.
69th like, nice.
Advice my 11th grade English teacher told me will never be forgotten: shorter sentences invoke more tension.
I was writing a horror, btw.
Honestly, I don't think really believe shorter sentences can ever help increase the dramatic tension of a scene, because to me that just sounds silly and is probably a gross exaggeration.
Wait, no no no don't-!
@@seandabest4329 Read thrillers and horror books and compare them to other genres.
I don't know why you think it's silly but that's just ridiculous. Any good writer of suspense will tell you the same.
@@mischarowe maybe it was too subtle, but I was making a joke proving the effectiveness of short sentences in horror by first making a really really long sentence supposedly criticising the idea put forth, followed up by a short unfinished sentence that might raise tension if used in a story to therefore prove that what you said was true. Like you, I was also taught about the effectiveness of short sentences by my literature teacher.
Among other things.
@@seandabest4329 Ah. Gotcha. :)
You can easily write a long and tense piece, but like everything you need to be able to write it well. You can follow so the rules in the world but still end up with bad writing
*was the beginning a Monty Python reference*
Also I definitely need this video, so thanks!
Yeah, monty python was my first reaction too. Great gag.
I feel ashamed that I missed the reference, thanks
My favorite joke in Holy Grail. The question mark at the end of that answer is by far the funniest part of that scene.
I really appreciate your emphasis on the value on using a variety of pacing and subtext throughout our work, especially not to discredit slow pacing or longer, complex, and more poetic styles, which I find is often abandoned out of the belief that we must at all times be focused on action. I also like how you are encouraging us to not abuse or rely on any one style. And with most things, immediate gratification does not compare to how grand and more satisfying lingering tension and waiting in hopeful expectation makes the arrival of what we're yearning for
Wonderful and such analytical content, always so enjoyable and useful - thank you so very much for your efforts!
"immediate gratification does not compare to how grand and more satisfying lingering tension and waiting in hopeful expectation makes the arrival of what we're yearning for"
It's not called the climax for nothing! OOOOOOOOO
Just bought your book, can't wait to read it!
JacobDragon I was just going to start a who has bought his book thread. But you beat me to it, well done.👍
@@Haannibal777 XD nice.
“Some call me... Tim...”
-Tim and Tim... also Tim...
Ooooh I’ve been wondering about this. I’ve always heard “pacing is important!” in writing but it’s never been this clear and insightful before. Thanks ^w^
Emoticon spotted ^-^ i hope you have a pleasant day
Your point about subtext answers a question I get often from fantasy readers: "what ever happened to Eragon?" It was well written and interesting, solid world building as well but it fell away as soon as you put it down. I realized that it, unlike so many other stories with staying power, it had little to no subtext, it wasn't really dicectable. It's trope and plot driven, not theme driven.
Dang, now I need to reread Eragon to see that for myself (but maybe just the fact that I need to reread it is already proof??)
It may not have had much subtext because everything was explained pretty plainly, but it had a lot of interesting character moments imo. The ending had actually touched me more than other books I've read at that time.
I just don't understand the hate Eragon is getting on this channel
@@mechavos4066 yeah as a fifth grader, I LOVED Eragon and Eldest's plot twist shakes me to this day (Murtagh was my favorite character in Eragon lol)
I'm dealing with a pacing problem in my own novel right now. The book is really strong from 15% in and onward, but before that several readers felt disconnected from characters and events, waiting for "stuff to begin". I didn't know what to do. There were obviously important things happening in those first 15%. I couldn't just skip it - that would make no sense. I thought about how to cut it down to "get over the boring stuff", but then recently I realized a few issues.
1) Because I as a writer was so focused on getting to that thing that happens 15 % in, I was rushing to get there. This showed up in my pacing. ironically, it meant I wasn't diving deep into the scenes and characters, which left the reader feeling turned off.
2) I realized I hadn't spent enough time thinking about alternative stuff that could've happened. Characters were acting as if the 15% scene was inevitable. it wasn't.
So I'm doing an edit of the beginning now, making the characters consider more angles and acting accordingly. Even though the 15% mark is still the same, characters are getting there in much more clever ways. Also, I'm taking my sweet time getting there. I'm making myself take interest in the beginning, allowing things to require more description/feeling/dialogue/action than originally. And I think it's working. By going for a fast pace in my earlier drafts, I made the reader feel as though the beginning was irrelevant. And how could they otherwise? I wrote it, in a way, feeling that it was.
I feel that badly. Starting is always the hardest for me because while **I** know what the main plot us going to be and how the world functions, how do I set the stage so when things start the audience can follow? Like, say it's a war story in a fictional world, you don't want to info dump "here are the kingdoms, here is why they are fighting, here is where we begin, and here is our cast!" Like, it could work? But it seems like a lot to get through before it starts. But if you rush to get to that first major point, then the audience might feel lost in the who, how, and why. 😰
This!! I've done this to myself so many times.
"This part is boring, so let's just hurry the reader through to get to the good stuff"
Which leaves the reader feeling both bored and rushed- totally disconnected from characters in places that had the opportunity to be clever, charming, interesting, and really had potential to pull the reader further into the story, if I hadn't disconnected MYSELF from it from the get-go.
My usual fix is to write indulgently. If I delve in, feeling interested and excited, I'm usually inviting the reader to do the same. If you're bored, chances are, your readers are too. And to quote Jerry Jenkins: "Boring readers is the cardinal sin of writing."
But I'm glad to see other people have this same problem 🥹
I don't really like to comment on youtube, but I'll make an exception here. I love all "On writing" videos, but this one stands out to me, it's so helpful and easy to understand. You can explain technical things so well, and I feel that getting pacing right is very difficult but it doesn't get enough attention. So thank you for making a video on this topic! Love your channel, keep up the good work :)
(Edit: spelling)
I can tell you Tim, as an aspiring writer, your technique videos are my favorites!
Well, and the world building videos
The Sidequest Problem.
Everyone- That's insane! Who designed the game this way?!
Kirito-You don't play a lot of RPGs do you?
Lol, damnit, wasn't expecting an SAO Abridged reference here.
Another man of culture I see.
At least Kayaba had a valid excuse for that
You have my greatest appreciation for what you do. I must say you have been an invaluable aid to my writing and worldbuilding. I can't thank you enough. I hope you continue making videos for a long time and it will be my absolute pleasure to continue watching and learning from them. (Is that too much...? Nah...)
Your ability to so eloquently articulate these things astounds me. So often, when I am asked how to master pacing, my gut reaction is, either you intrinsically "get it" or you don't, but it's not like that at all. Pacing is so much like every other aspect of writing; it can be understood and developed as a skill. Excellent video! Thank you!
After watching this, I went back through my manuscript and broke it down into scenes to figure out which scenes were crucial to moving the plot and which scenes weren't important to the story. Thanks so much for the advice!
This explains so much about why I have difficulty with a book I'm reading!
I'm currently stuck in a large flashback! And I care but I just can't get invested! Now I know why!!!
Thank you almighty Tim!
Even though I am not a writer, as a Dungeon Master I feel like this video was very important to me! Pacing is important no matter what type of story telling you do in my opinion. Thanks for making the video!
I come back to this video every once in a while for refreshers. At some point I'll recall it all beat for beat.
I have really been struggling with the pacing of my story, especially since I'm writing a book series, rather than a single novel. It's been a struggle to work out a story that's going to span 8 books, but I think your technique talks help a lot with the simple things like that. You're amazing at explaining everything so well, so thank you for everything you do. My story idea would still be stuck on the first novel plot if I didn't get to watch any of your On Writing Videos. I can't become a Patron, but I hope you know that you've really inspired people with these. Thank you and stay nerdy!
The sheer irony of watching this on my default 2x speed
Actually what's ironic is that you will never achieve anything yet you're watching a video meant to help those who will. Get back to work, my unemployment checks don't write themselves.
"Some call me.... Tim."
Me: "Oh, you have that problem too?"
Another great video. I’d be lost without your videos.
"Keep the story moving" - Stephen King
Ah yes, Stephen King of "IT is just light reading" fame. Stephen King of "I'm making this once scene stretch out for 40 pages" repute.
Ha! Even though this comment is two years old, I just had to reply. I know EXACTLY the scene you're referring to. It's the scene I stopped reading the book because I simply couldn't get through it.
THAT scene is 40 pages?!
Dude you have no idea how valuable this has been for me! This has been my hardest obstacle in my writing and this video has helped me immensely. Keep up the amazing work!
This is something that I hadn't seriously considered in my writing in a meaningful way. It was always in the back of my mind but it was fantastic to explore this topic. Thank you for making this video. Now that I am starting to write again I will definitely check out the rest of your videos to help hone my techniques.
I thought this was going to be about when you walk back and forth while trying to come up with ideas and how to get the most out of that.
The short version is "Get a treadmill".
It will save you money in the long run on carpets, and they come with trays and cup-holders now, so you don't even have to risk dropping the phone or pad (tablet?) or spilling your morning coffee. ;o)
Definitely worthy of a video.
LMTO YES XD
Should have talked about Breaking Bad. Vince is a writer who is an absolute master of mixed pacing.
David B or even Quentin Tarantino who often has good scene pacing but terrible narrative pacing
Just rewatched it, and oh my gosh it is so intense and well paced
You're crazy if you think this wont be seen as much. The literal moment I saw it I was hyped. I've been script writing for a decade and I love this channel for info and insight as much as I love Rocket Jump and Studio Bible. Pacing is one of my biggest issues in writing and to properly iron out the flow of a story with proper dialogue and world building is just key for a writer. As someone who primarily focuses on action and comedy this sort of break down is immensely helpful. The only thing I think I disagreed on was when you spoke about "sometimes the writer doesn't trust the reader". This is just untrue. Of all the writers I've encountered this is always the case. You have to shoot your shot and hope the reader has been paying attention or they likely wont follow your story anyway. Keep these On writing videos coming!
I've been focusing on my new book a lot recently and I really feel the pacing overall is very good for the story I'm telling. The story centres on two characters and I feel each chapter tries to help the reader understand and invest in them.
So I had a day today where I completely disassociated at work and felt like I was drunk or high. Watching your videos on writing acted as kind of a grounding experience, and it helped me feel connected to my body and my tasks again. Unrelated to writing but I know you care about mental health and I figured you'd like knowing that even when you're just talking about writing or worldbuilding, you still help.
Hey Tim. Appreciate every time you throw me something from your "On writing" Stuff on my ears :D
Your insight is very helpful, especially in the last six months, playing nanny for over 20 aspiring Worldbuilders and Writers. Keep making those. I really appreciate them ^^
I've been waiting for a video on pacing for a while now. My first book flowed really well, but it was a standalone, so it was not too difficult to figure out. My second book, however, is the first in a five-part series and it was hard to get to a point where I felt it flowed at all, let alone lead into another four books. I will definitely be giving it a little more educated scrutiny now. Thanks!
I just started a new book and was struggling to get the feel I wanted, turns out it was my pacing that was kinda off. Thank you for the video! It helped a lot
0:05 can't tell you how long I've been waiting for Tim to do this line.
Me, two minutes in: so.. it's key to show your character's and your narrators emotions?
Me, after it: ...Okay okay and also remember your readers and main goals.
I love your vids man. As someone who's always drawing/reading/writing, I feel a lot better knowing what I'm doing (and so far I seem to be doing okay for a person still in high school with no editting team)
Honestly i really love watching those technical videos, they are super interesting and very well explained (and i get most of it even though my first labguage isn't even english), so well done, i hope you do more of those !
I really enjoy the more technique on writing videos, they're extremely useful, and have improved my writing in ways I didn't realize it could. Thank you!
I love when someone can put into words what I myself understand but can’t describe. It really clarifies the idea for me. Thank you! Great video.
Timely video. I just finished my third manuscript and am loving the constructive feedback I've been getting from my readers. Thanks for this. By the way, Tim, you look to be in better health.
The best trick to effective pacing I learned was from the creators of soundtrack.
Never connect your sequences/plot points with the words "and" and "then". Instead, out for "but" and "therefore". It helps make scenes matter more through their connectedness.
Tim, you always come through with the best content on this series man. We love and appreciate you, brother 💯
Every video you put out on world building and story telling changes how I read books and watch movies/shows. I feel like I’m enjoying books in particular more and more. Thank you for sharing all your hard work and insights.
I really enjoy those "technical" videos of yours. That's the kind of content I'm looking for, and your method for delivering complex information in a pedagogical way is brilliant. Continue making those, they are among the best of their kind on youtube. That was very instructive.
Regarding subtext, this is where a lot of hidden work comes into play. As a writer I define local corporations, political history, individual backstories that might end up largely edited out...
Yet having done all work beforehand will bleed thriugh into your work, everything is connected to something else. The readers will notice and be curious.
If you don't want to waste it, have a Tolkien-esque appendix or two.
i appreciate you going into writing of other genres! would love to see more!
dude I like your videos too much most of the technical writing stuff is so abstract I have a hard time understanding, but you put it in easier terms and comparisons and examples and metafors and purposes and its SOOO GOOOD ty so much
I'll have to rewatch and take notes! :) This was really really interesting and very helpful - especially the part on subtext!
I just got your book. I'm so excited to sit down and read it.
Just read your book (very helpful!), I can't wait for the second!
Thanks for referencing/mentioning "The Rest Of Us Just Live Here", really liked that book!
Thank you for posting this! Pacing is always what keeps me up at night when trying to write. I was just despairing that my pacing is too slow, but since I'm writing for the younger audience I feel slightly better. The way pacing ties into the structure of the story is also super helpful, helps me think about what is important to the story and characters.
I really needed to hear that about the side quest and how to handle such things when they don't move the story along with the main plot. And thanks for the distinction between a side quest and a side plot. Very helpful.
I'm a Brazilian law student and I learn so much from your videos! Thank you so much
Subtext is really the most underrated part of writing. Or even just interacting with people. You have to leave space for the recipient to interpret and understand things in their own mind. If the words aren't on the page, and the reader has to consciously bring them up in his/her mind, it makes their impact 3x stronger. It's the difference between showing and telling. That "ahhhh" moment of internal understanding the reader has "so that's why X is doing Y" is immensely more satisfying and more powerful when it's not verbalized and the reader understands on his/her own, because it means he/she is experiencing it emotionally while reading/watching/speaking etc... bottom line is, if you can make the words/feelings/ideas pop up in the reader without explicitly verbalizing them in the text, you win.
I like the way you did your summary on this when better than normal. Giving us one point at a time (with the corresponding visual prominent) helps us (or at least me) remember the whole flow and keep it in our minds (or at least my mind).
Absolutely adoring this video! I love the references you use and the passages you select to illustrate your points. Then again, your technical videos are my favorites!
Wicked. Pacing has recently been a concern for me. I love the technique stuff! Wouldn't mind more of it.
Simplify, focus, combine characters, and hop over detours are some good principles right there
8:43
I really loved this! I already kind of knew most of this - I consume a lot of media (too much, probably) - but it's helpful to have it put to words so succinctly; the bullet points at the end are always useful.
These technique videos are my favorites of yours!
One of your best videos, Tim. I'm watching it from time to time to remind myself of all the useful details you provide
oh the bit about subtext was really helpful. the opening of my story I'm planning to be very slow, but there is also meant to be a lot of subtext (to show the mc's mental/emotional struggles); reassures me it won't be so dull! edit: also love the rain visual/sounds at the end, puts me in a calm writing mood
You mentioned that we may not like this video cause it's more technical, but that is exactly why I like it because it helps with a more obscure part of writing. Seriously no one covers this. Thank you.
Wow, I didn't realize how much I needed this video in my life! Great insight as usual! :)
Great video! Pacing is probably one of the most important sliders on the writing dashboard.
This is great! It’s really important to talk about technical stuff like pacing. I feel like I understand it better now.
I appreciate that this video gives appreciation to slower pacing and more emotional stories.
Is distracting us with swords all part of your video's pacing?
I'm going with 'yes'.
A fast, exciting and bit out of place hook? Prepares for the general quirkier tone of the channel, and gives some levity to keep people entertained for a somewhat heavy, yet extremely important topic ahead.
Seems like a good choice for me.
Like the Tron clips.
More seriously, this video will be really helpful as I draft my novel. Thank you so much. Pacing is a difficult concept for me, and you've explained a lot.
Cheers for this, mate.. I’ve just been following the eight point plot plan or Harmon’s story circle for a few chapters each.
I absolutely prefer the technique videos!! I love all your videos but it’s so nice to have someone actually discuss technique in detail rather than refer to it here and there.
Thank you for this video (and your videos in general), it's always interesting to understand how stories are developed.
There is one thing I don't neccessarily agree on:
I am able to predict lot's of plots. LOTS of plots. So I actually love sidequests, if they hold a social value. Life also isn't straight and I dislike it if I can see the author's intentions while reading his/her book all too clear.
You’re straight up the best writing advice source I’ve ever seen-on RUclips or otherwise.
So I know I'm super late, but I gotta say I loved this one. A long video about technique rather than tropes, that has advice for more genres than just fantasy or science fiction. This one has definitely helped me the most so far with the novel I am working on. Thanks!
As a writer I found this to be a well paced and informative video.
thank you, pacing, like the quiet between the notes in music, changes everything, so get into technique as much as you want
This is by far my favorite video of yours. I can say tell I'm going to be rewatching this a few times.
I watched this right after writing a chapter of my story,and I'm happy to say I'm still happy with it XD it did start off a bit strained,the sentences cutting it a bit too short,which is a flaw I'm working on,but it wasn't that bad,and toward the end,when I felt more inspired,it went in a completely different direction then I'd expected,but I really love it because of that,and how it's still serving it's purpose to slowly rise the tension for the next chapter,which is going to delve into the main plot much more
Just bought "On Writing and World Building". Can't wait to read it!
Good video! Good to hear that pacing doesn't always have to be fast. A few years ago, I feel like every author writing about writing was giving advice that one's book should be fast-paced.
Something I haven't seen talked about in depth on RUclips yet (though I might just not have found it yet) is the topic of how to give the reader information, in what order to present it, etc. deciding what will be a revelation and when, and how to apply that. If you're up for it, I'd love to see a video about this!
Hey man. Thank you so much for what you do. I'm an aspiring writer who wishes to become an author and much more. I have so many stories and a series I want to put out there into the world. It's like I brainstormed ideas for so long and I tried to put them all together and it didn't sound right. Then I realized "oh. I just need to learn how to write a story properly!" now I'm watching basically every video you put out (at least try to anyway lol). Once again I thank you for being so kind as to post informational vids about writing. love your stuff. keep it up!
Thank you SO much for this video, I've been thinking myself in circles for months trying to pin down why my story didn't feel right or exciting. While I was watching this you made me realize that I wasnt putting my MC on the track to the 'big thing'. Having someone lay it out in such simple terms really helped me, so thank you again!
Honestly, I especially love your technique videos!! Can't wait to see more! I am hoping to support you on Patreon soon! :)
This video does a great job bridging the gap between fun to watch and educational. Nice job Tim :))
i love the technique videos personally. tropes are fun, but this is so much more useful.
15:35 *ad starts playing* I refuse to believe that’s a coincidence.
It's not, creators choose when their ads play
I know, comment of a 4 year old video that will never get read, but I really like the more technical videos. It's interesting for me, as a reader, to hear about how writers think about stories and writing.
I read it don’t worry
Great video, fantastic information. You're helping the seeds which I've been carrying for decades begin to take root. Thank you...
Hello Future Me, you have several helpful insights in this video. I like your discussion of the slow burn of tension building in a slower paced book/section. I would love another video just about Subplots and SideQuests and side characters. They may contribute to a main story in subtle ways, or be genre dependent.
7:16 Your discussion of the WXYZ layers of sidequest obstacles is exactly the problem with the middle of the Last Jedi. (Finn must go to Canto to v - find a codebreaker so he can w- break into Snoke's ship in order to x- disable the tracker so y- the resistance ships can escape so that z- when Rey returns to them she won't be in danger. That's a big pacing quagmire to slog through.)
Personally I prefer the techniques videos more than tropes. I think this video was excellent, thank you
That opening bit is literally my favorite joke in Holy Grail.