PREPTOBER WRITING WORKSHOP | 3 Quick Writing Exercises to Prepare for Nanowrimo
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- Опубликовано: 11 июл 2024
- Plotting! Worldbuilding! Character development! I decided to go back into my arsenal of writing workshop exercises and share the three I’ve found to be the most helpful for writers in the early brainstorm worldbuilding kinda plotting out an idea phase of writing a novel. These are quick, easy, and fun exercises to prepare for Nanowrimo!
Stuff I use as a full time writer/author (that you may have spotted in this video!) (affliate links are afoot):
WRITING/WORK STUFF
Alphasmart Neo2. Highly highly recommend. amzn.to/3cStKui
Adjustable laptop desk. I LOVE this thing. Typing with my arms at an angle has drastically reduced elbow/wrist pain. amzn.to/2OYh0tX
Clever Fox planner. I’ve used a few planners and this is my fav. Lots of space for mind-mapping and brainstorming, daily to-do lists, space for goal setting. amzn.to/3vNmk3Z
Best writing pens, hands down. I use them every time I revise a book. amzn.to/311nRoP
Acer monitor. I kind of hate the word gamechanger but this really was that kind of purchase. amzn.to/3vH71Kh
Brother laser printer. I won’t lie, this thing is a behemoth. But I’ve had it since 2017 and I think I’ve had maybe one paper jam? It works great, it’s super consistent, A++ for printing manuscripts. amzn.to/3tzIvZE
Macbook Air. Doesn’t really need my recommendation. amzn.to/2OUCaJx
COFFEE STUFF
Ninja coffee maker. I freaking love this thing! It has a “speciality” setting that’ll make...not espresso, but pretty dang close. There’s a milk frother attached if you want to get fancy with your drink. amzn.to/31533Nu
Cold brew pitcher. I have two of these on constant rotation in the fridge. Don’t judge me. amzn.to/3cSKVM9
Zulay milk frother. (Yes, I take my coffee seriously.) amzn.to/3r7DDJu
VIDEO MAKING STUFF
Canon G7X Mark iii camera. The autofocus does tick me off sometimes, but in manual mode it’s perfect, and I love the flip up screen (ie, you can see yourself as you film) and the fact that there’s a mic port. amzn.to/3r9BfCb
Savage studio lights. I mostly use these for ‘talking head’ videos. amzn.to/3r7G6Un
Ubeesize 10” ring light. That’s the little guy sitting on my desk. I mostly use it for vlogging. amzn.to/31hqpzD
JJC mini tripod. amzn.to/3feXxjJ
Rode clip mic. amzn.to/2OSaLb2
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Check out my free Create Dynamic Characters course, a quick writing workshop that'll help you create a protagonist who transforms AND find an organic plot for your novel in just 20-30 minutes! michelleschustermancourses.th...
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From Premise to Plot: A Guide to Plotting
My FIRST First Draft Checklist
My Revision Game Plan
The Query Formula
Download 'em all here: www.michelleschusterman.com/f...
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BLACK LIVES MATTER. To my fellow white authors: we have to show up every day. We have to speak out. We have to make it clear to the Black authors and creators in our community that we are here for them. Silence is not an option. Please check out this Google Doc for hundreds of resources on how you can support, donate, and learn--not just in February, not just when another senseless tragedy due to racism occurs, but every single day from right now moving forward: docs.google.com/document/u/0/...
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FREE virtual writing conference alert! I'm giving a talk on plotting a mystery at the Escape the Plot Forest Summit, along with over 20 other awesome authors. This is a four-day plot masterclass, and it starts October 22nd. Get your free pass here! forest.plotsummit.com/?sc=C1XKZzE8&ac=japqlguw
Another super video. I liked everyone else's comments, because they are all so true! And I clicked on the link under Black Lives Matter, and it took me to a page that said it was no longer listed. Thought you might like to know. Here in Canada, I've noticed a huge uptick in advertisements featuring all colours of faces, and I love it. It's much more representative of the world in which we live. Despite all the whoa in the world, I really believe things are going in the right direction and getting better all the time. Thanks, again, Michelle.
Ohhh thank you SO much for letting me know, Heather! I'll see if I can find an updated link today and make that change.
OMG that character identity list blew my mind!!! Im gonna have so much fun with that one...
Your videos are so informative & entertaining, Michelle. Much appreciated :-)
Thanks so much, Sio!! I hope it's helpful!
That identities bit totally helped explain this thing I've had trouble understanding for years. Each book I read kept making the character growth/journey a three act structure like the plot, which has always made zero sense to me. Telling me something has three parts, whether three acts, or "beginning, middle, and end" is like telling me the obvious "your book has to start, then you gotta cram some stuff after that start--lets call it the middle, and they you gotta end it". This from the viewpoint of a literal thinker, so I read that and am like "duh". So books having told me I have to make my character grow just the same makes my mind try and make the leap in mental acrobatics, only to fall and faceplant, wondering what I did wrong.
But telling me "what trait does the character see as important now vs later" makes so much more sense! I can feel their attachment to thinking "I want to be a good friend" then going through their story, finding that turning point near the middle and realising "I need to be better family, because a friend you can unfriend, but family will always be there." All the other traits are still there, each changing in importance and each likely helping them to get to this point, but you're right, there will be one that's always top of mind for the character, and we gotta keep it in mind for ourselves while writing out their story.
Ooooh this is making me want to go through all my characters and implement this!
Thank you so much! You're helping not only me, but my characters grow! (And my story, but goodness, I've written so much on just one aspect of this video I have a feeling if I try and include the rest, I'll probably discover the RUclips comment section cut off point!😂)
Oohh, that's so interesting, K. I can see how the 3 act structure would seem 'duh' in that context. Thinking about identities (and postulates) in this way was really a gamechanger for me too. I'm excited that this is giving you new ideas for your characters!!
@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor not for the first time, I'm glad I tried that first video of yours that was suggested. You've been helping me grow in my writing and my view of how I can do it. (Sprints for one thing, being something I'm actually finding I need rather just waiting for a moment when I feel like writing. And ambience. I remembered you using that in your vlogs, and I decided to check some out on RUclips and found its also something I've been missing. Specifically sounds if rain that always made me feel cozy enough to get in the zone, as well as the sound of a crackling fire, which I realised why it was I was only doing most of my writing in the colder months, because the sound of a fire as the same as rain for me, that cozy cocoon I needed. Now I don't have to wait for either!☺)
Also, thank you for that shout out during the writing sprint. You've made my week. ❤
@@kanashiiookami6537 Thank you for being there!! :) And YES to the ambience - I've found it especially helpful during quarantine, since I can't write anyplace other than my apartment. I'm definitely going to use those fireplace vids when it gets cold here!
I love all your exercises but I think these are among my favorites. ♥️ I'm also using your dynamic characters course for my NaNo Prep. Thank you so much for all the value you add to this community!
Aw, thank you so much, Jessica! I'm happy this was helpful - and I hope you're enjoying the course!
Oh my gods the three minute setting free write is such an amazing idea!!! Thank you very much for your ideas and sharing your knowledge with us!! Taking the time to film and edit these videos! You are so kind! Thank you, your advice is always so helpful!!!!
Thank you, Jojo!! I hope these exercises help you out! :)
These exercises are so helpful! Thank you! Great video as always
Thanks so much, Beatrix! I'm so happy they helped!
Woah! I love these exercises! I'm definitely going to try them out! Thank you!
Thanks so much, Bayley! I hope they're helpful!
I love your videos. They're always short, to the point, and super informative and fun; for someone who gets distracted super easily when thinking creatively, this is a blessing from the Gods, haha.
Awesome exercises, thank you for sharing!
Wow, thank you so much!! I'm so glad you're finding this so helpful! :)
I'm so glad RUclips recommended this video to me. All these exercises sound fantastic and I plan to do them to prep for NaNo. I've always struggled with the characters before I start writing and that character list just changed things for me. Thanks!
I'm glad too, Crystal! :D I'm so happy these exercises were helpful for you. I hope Nano prep is going well!!
Love the exercises, you always give such good advice!
Thanks so much, Joey! :)
Such amazing advice! I love how broad and big picture these are!
Thank you so much, Bethany!! :)
These are great! I'm excited to use the setting exercise for my new project. There are several cities that I need to create before November. Scratch that-I'm going to use all of these exercises. Thanks for sharing these!
Yay, I"m so happy this was helpful!! Thanks for watching, Caitlin! :)