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I have written my first few lines so many times until I am embarrassed to say how many. The hook should draw them in but it must also deliver on a promise AND connect to the resolution….. My brain hurts.
just a small correction, Tolkien did in fact write about his world before the Hobbit, but the Hobbit being a more contained tale with only references to his older lore is probably one reason why he was able to publish it
Also, the Hobbit wasn't supposed to be in his main fantasy world, but the popularity of it made him reconsider and merge the two worlds. So he was open to change his world for good reasons.
This might be your best video yet. Absolutely spot-on with the constant re-writes of the first chapter and comparing one's own first drafts to already published books. I can totally relate.
I ve only writen anything once so far. The world inside my head has been brewing for more then 5 years and your videos made me bring a story within come to paper.
Loving the videos. They're opening my mind to many things in the process of writing and what are the mistakes I'm making that are stopping me from finishing my novel, especially the videos like this I'm definitely the one that's been planning for too long, it's time to write
Glad to hear the video was helpful for you. Best of luck with your writing, and don't worry - MANY writers have been stuck in the planning process before - me too, way too much 🙂
I fall into the Planning Paradox every time I start a story. I set out to plan out every detail of the story, then end up losing interest in it once I finish the outline. I'm going to try the Scene Map method, because I really need to change something before I drive myself insane. Great video!
Thank you for the feedback, glad it seemed helpful to you. I know the feeling about planning too much and losing interest by the way. The scene map approach did help for me because it left room for discovery while providing enough substantial guidance. I'm not a pantser/discovery writer so I do like to have some structure in advance. Just gotta find the right balance 🙂
I started with the planning (paradox) as my interest was just to make a world with its history, races, cultures, languages, cities, alphabets, gods, goddesses, etc. Then I made an outline for a story inside the world and I have written a bit* of the first draft. * other things dictated my time and energy for a while, but now I'm back at it.
Right after watching this video I realized I was falling the research trap as I was researching tons of stuff on herbalism, alchemy, medieval warfare, armor, weapons, armies, logistics, siege warfare, okay you get the idea. In addition to coming up with new ideas and even the world building maze. This helps me a lot too!
Yeah I was trying to find out what sort of herbs were used for medieval battlefield medicines and what sort of crystals were said to have healing properties by medieval alchemists. Alchemy and herbalism are big in my setting (I have you to thank for the herbalism from your how to do a female character video!). I also wanted to be realistic as one can be in a magical world with medieval military logistics and warfare. I was jumping back and forth between my research, my world building notes, and my story. So your tips and advice have helped a lot! Hopefully, one day, you’ll do a Discord channel!
Regarding TBD, it does sometimes matter to do (relatively) in-depth research ahead of time, because it will change the outcome you want for the story. Easier to explain with an example: I have a character who gets a punctured lung, but survives thanks to medical intervention, but it's a close call and builds tension. How said character gets injured, how far from proper medical treatment, who's on hand to render what assistance, all have an effect on whether the character makes it. And a major character living or dying obviously impacts the story a lot. But I did make the mistake of researching in too much depth. You just need to know enough about the scenario to ensure that the outcome you desire is plausible, and then you can fill in the gaps later.
I'm not a writer, but I've always liked The lord of the rings, zelda, fable, and I started a story in my head that I've been trying to write at some point but I haven't started and this just gave me the courage to just tell the story, without needing to worry about any barrier, that'll come with revisions.
Such a comment means a lot, really, so thank you. As I continue repeating in many instances, I just want to help people tell their stories, no matter what they want to do that for 🙂
I got stuck on my book and believed I’d never complete it. I was researching spacecraft, air pressure, and how the atmosphere of different planets would affect the ship. I wholly believed that because I couldn’t figure this stuff out, my readers would be disappointed in its believability. Eventually I decided to stop researching and just write and it was the best decision I made in my book and probably one of my flagship chapters.
@TheTaleTinkerer yeah, it’s one of the few traits I have (aside from creativity) that make me think I could pull it off as a writer. My new hang up is that a friend told me “Everyone has one good book in them.” It was meant to be encouraging but now I’m wondering if this is my one good book. Like always, the answer is to shut up and write. 😝
If you're already working on one of them and it actually sounds and feels interesting, try finishing that one after writing down whatever key details you already have for the other ideas. Then revisit them later 🙂
My house is full of half written stories, and notebook after notebook of random scenes. Sometimes when I reread them I like them. Other time's I think, "What was wrong with me that day?"😂
I make mine 30 books long and still ongoing and I'm trying to get to an end so I can foreshadow things, but I just keep getting ideas... And now it's so long I get frustrated...
You're planning a 30 books long series? Did I get that right? That would certainly be a huge task even for the most experienced writers in the world. Maybe the scope is just too much to tackle at once? 🙂
Oof, a lot of these feel painfully relevant. I have rewritten my first chapters numerous times, been distracted by new projects, and spent too much time world building and researching. Not to mention generally worrying that the basic idea is too derivative, oh and getting stuck on a sentence for days due to not being happy with the wording. Is that a clean sweep?
If you think about ending the series, yeah probably. But he did prove more than once though that he can actually finish things - and at high quality on top of it 🙂
✍ Level up your fantasy writing and worldbuilding skills for free! Join hundreds of writers getting weekly tips, tricks, and inspiration delivered straight to their inbox every Friday. Claim your spot in our growing fantasy community: thetaletinkerer.com/newsletter
I have written my first few lines so many times until I am embarrassed to say how many. The hook should draw them in but it must also deliver on a promise AND connect to the resolution….. My brain hurts.
@@Lorna-JWB I know the feeling. Personally, I would focus on getting the full first draft done first, then go back to see what opening line fits 🙂
just a small correction, Tolkien did in fact write about his world before the Hobbit, but the Hobbit being a more contained tale with only references to his older lore is probably one reason why he was able to publish it
That and the fact it took him 17-19 years.
Also, the Hobbit wasn't supposed to be in his main fantasy world, but the popularity of it made him reconsider and merge the two worlds. So he was open to change his world for good reasons.
This might be your best video yet. Absolutely spot-on with the constant re-writes of the first chapter and comparing one's own first drafts to already published books. I can totally relate.
Thank you for the kind feedback - glad to hear the video resonated with you 🙂
I ve only writen anything once so far. The world inside my head has been brewing for more then 5 years and your videos made me bring a story within come to paper.
Loving the videos. They're opening my mind to many things in the process of writing and what are the mistakes I'm making that are stopping me from finishing my novel, especially the videos like this I'm definitely the one that's been planning for too long, it's time to write
Glad to hear the video was helpful for you. Best of luck with your writing, and don't worry - MANY writers have been stuck in the planning process before - me too, way too much 🙂
I fall into the Planning Paradox every time I start a story. I set out to plan out every detail of the story, then end up losing interest in it once I finish the outline. I'm going to try the Scene Map method, because I really need to change something before I drive myself insane. Great video!
Thank you for the feedback, glad it seemed helpful to you. I know the feeling about planning too much and losing interest by the way. The scene map approach did help for me because it left room for discovery while providing enough substantial guidance. I'm not a pantser/discovery writer so I do like to have some structure in advance. Just gotta find the right balance 🙂
I started with the planning (paradox) as my interest was just to make a world with its history, races, cultures, languages, cities, alphabets, gods, goddesses, etc. Then I made an outline for a story inside the world and I have written a bit* of the first draft.
* other things dictated my time and energy for a while, but now I'm back at it.
Great to hear you are back at it - best of luck with getting to the finish line 🙂
Right after watching this video I realized I was falling the research trap as I was researching tons of stuff on herbalism, alchemy, medieval warfare, armor, weapons, armies, logistics, siege warfare, okay you get the idea. In addition to coming up with new ideas and even the world building maze. This helps me a lot too!
Glad to hear the video helps - I call it a success if just one person is able to avoid some of these pitfalls sooner - or even at all :-)
Yeah I was trying to find out what sort of herbs were used for medieval battlefield medicines and what sort of crystals were said to have healing properties by medieval alchemists. Alchemy and herbalism are big in my setting (I have you to thank for the herbalism from your how to do a female character video!). I also wanted to be realistic as one can be in a magical world with medieval military logistics and warfare. I was jumping back and forth between my research, my world building notes, and my story. So your tips and advice have helped a lot! Hopefully, one day, you’ll do a Discord channel!
Relevant and Supportive Comment to feed the Algorangim
Regarding TBD, it does sometimes matter to do (relatively) in-depth research ahead of time, because it will change the outcome you want for the story.
Easier to explain with an example: I have a character who gets a punctured lung, but survives thanks to medical intervention, but it's a close call and builds tension. How said character gets injured, how far from proper medical treatment, who's on hand to render what assistance, all have an effect on whether the character makes it. And a major character living or dying obviously impacts the story a lot.
But I did make the mistake of researching in too much depth. You just need to know enough about the scenario to ensure that the outcome you desire is plausible, and then you can fill in the gaps later.
I'm not a writer, but I've always liked The lord of the rings, zelda, fable, and I started a story in my head that I've been trying to write at some point but I haven't started and this just gave me the courage to just tell the story, without needing to worry about any barrier, that'll come with revisions.
Such a comment means a lot, really, so thank you. As I continue repeating in many instances, I just want to help people tell their stories, no matter what they want to do that for 🙂
I got stuck on my book and believed I’d never complete it. I was researching spacecraft, air pressure, and how the atmosphere of different planets would affect the ship. I wholly believed that because I couldn’t figure this stuff out, my readers would be disappointed in its believability.
Eventually I decided to stop researching and just write and it was the best decision I made in my book and probably one of my flagship chapters.
Sounds great that you managed to pull yourself out of it and get something tangible on the page as a result 🙂
@TheTaleTinkerer yeah, it’s one of the few traits I have (aside from creativity) that make me think I could pull it off as a writer. My new hang up is that a friend told me “Everyone has one good book in them.” It was meant to be encouraging but now I’m wondering if this is my one good book.
Like always, the answer is to shut up and write. 😝
Great video!
Glad to hear that, thank you 🙂
The new idea syndrome. I currently have five stories I am working on, ugh.
If you're already working on one of them and it actually sounds and feels interesting, try finishing that one after writing down whatever key details you already have for the other ideas. Then revisit them later 🙂
My house is full of half written stories, and notebook after notebook of random scenes. Sometimes when I reread them I like them. Other time's I think, "What was wrong with me that day?"😂
Definitely pick something from the first batch to write then 🙂
I make mine 30 books long and still ongoing and I'm trying to get to an end so I can foreshadow things, but I just keep getting ideas... And now it's so long I get frustrated...
You're planning a 30 books long series? Did I get that right? That would certainly be a huge task even for the most experienced writers in the world. Maybe the scope is just too much to tackle at once? 🙂
Oof, a lot of these feel painfully relevant. I have rewritten my first chapters numerous times, been distracted by new projects, and spent too much time world building and researching. Not to mention generally worrying that the basic idea is too derivative, oh and getting stuck on a sentence for days due to not being happy with the wording. Is that a clean sweep?
Welcome to the club - I've been there. Being aware of it is a great first step to overcoming it though - at least it was for me 🙂
The story of my life 😅
A new day is always a chance to do things differently 🙂
George R.R Martin is THE MASTER of course😅😂🙃
If you think about ending the series, yeah probably. But he did prove more than once though that he can actually finish things - and at high quality on top of it 🙂