I write very slowly because my life is ridiculously busy (and I tend to write a fairly polished first draft, so it just takes me longer). I started a high fantasy draft back in late March and by November I was only at 25k words, but these last few weeks, I’ve gotten out an additional 5k words, so I’m standing at 30k words. If I could get another 5k done by the end of the month, I would be happy!
same. SAME! nowadays I'm just happy when i manage to squeeze writing in at all. you are doing AMAZING and i'm so excited for u and your high fantasy book!
honestly i love these vlogs because they're really motivating and also stress the importance of finding little pockets of your day dedicated just for you to work on your project, which i definitely need!! i was super intrigued by your index card brainstorming session and would love to see content about the different tools you use to brainstorm/plan novels!
Love your videos, Lynn! The writing and craft oriented ones are really motivating. And genuinely not boring at all! 🫶 The slumpy parts also feel less dire knowing that everyone has the same highs and lows throughout this process. 🤭 So excited for your projects. They both sound so deliciously atmospheric.
thank you so much, that's so nice to hear!! i always feel bad when nothing terribly exciting is happening in my writing life, but... that's the nature of it haha. I can't wait to share those projects with everyone someday!
the youtube analytics dopamine addiction omg too true... i'm so guilty of that. your word count output always impresses me so much! one day i will figure out how to comfortably hit 1-2k a day but for now i'm the slowest writer on the planet lol
it's ruining my life (i say as I check my analytics right as we speak) - ahh thank you!! tbh i think you're way more consistent than me so it balances out!
i always love your vlogs - hearing you talk about your work and how honest you are with the experience reminds me that we are not alone in this hobby that can feel so isolating sometimes, and it just inspires me to write as well :) - Also I really like what you've been putting out! I love a mix of chatty vlogs and cinematic ones
I love these vlogs because I often find I’m trying to squeeze writing in between work and school, just a hundred words here and there, but I can watch/listen to these on public transport or whilst doing school assignments or just when I’m too burnt out to write and still feel connected to that part of creativity and get inspired! Thank you so much 💗
also - female rage songs I’d recommend are ‘dream girl evil’ by Florence and the machine, ‘everybody supports women’ by Sofia Isella and (though technically sung and written by a man) ‘NFWMB’ by hozier ( lots of biblical and mythological imagery presenting women as powerful and terrifying )
writing challenges with word count goals always have sm pressure, when creativity isn't so easily quantified! so glad to see you having sm fun with project crypts💕 more female rage!!!
I really enjoy watching your writing vlogs, Lynn! I feel like the 'boring' parts of your vlogs are still much more interesting than mine 🤣 I was able to accomplish finishing the first draft of my dystopian sci-fi novel this month and right now I'm taking a bit of a break before tackling revisions!
i super relate to needing to not check my word count too much if i want a healthy relationship with my writing spoiler for anyone reading the comments before finishing the video, but even though you didn't hit the goal, 7k in just 4 days is still super impressive! it probably takes me a whole month to get that much lol i'm still trying to get back into the habit of writing consistently but i've always been a fairly slow writer
checking word count is genuinely such a problem for me-I almost want to turn off the word counter on Docs somehow, tbh. thank you so much!! any amount of words is good, and there is nothing wrong with being a slower writer
First off love your vlogs, I don’t find them repetitive and it’s SO helpful when you talk through your struggles and wins. Second I wanted to suggest another music option for you. I’m also writing a gothic fantasy and I love writing and brainstorming to the Bloodborne Original Soundtrack by SIE Sound Team. One of my all time favorite video games and it has some of the best dark orchestral music I’ve ever found!
The discussion about content creator brain vs writer brain was so relatable, sometimes they are just not on the same page 😅 but rest assured this vlog was so enjoyable per usual! Easier said than done bc I have the same thoughts about my vlogs, but try not to overthink it too hard, we love just hearing your thoughts ❤
I just started writing a small town drama/romance story, Project Satellite, after a horrible attempt at a ya fantasy last year. I think my goal count could be 5k words by the end of November. I’ve had these characters in my mind for a couple of years now and need to see what happens with them!
I’m sorry for the late comment again! I love non-linear writing! Sometimes I do that, too. When I saw the title, I thought it meant you were going to write 10K in 2 days and was SO impressed by that tenacity. However, I’m still amazed that you wrote more than 7K in 4 days! That’s really good! I know what you mean about word based goals, but I think it can work when you are drafting (at least it did for me). I love your cinematic b roll vlogs AND your chatty vlogs! Your vlogs always have a specific aesthetic with your editing style that I appreciate! Congratulations on all the progress you made on Project Crypts! And hi, kitty! 😻
My goal this month was to either put words into uni stuff or fiction every day, and I've fallen a bit short of that, especially this week which has been bonkers and overwhelming for reasons I can't expand on. But what I was doing that distracted me from writing did leave me inspired to get back to it tomorrow.
hi!!!! i would love to see what you do to inspire and cultivate your writing thats not writing. like what you do for lil breaks or like special lil activities you do to help out your writing if you do that?? ive been writing more and i notice when i do chore breaks or walking my pet as a break, i get a lot more done writing wise.
Ooh this is a great idea for a full-length video, but I'll answer this super quickly as well! Some of the most inspirational non-writing things for me: - Meditating - Travel (full-length trips if feasible; if not, just a little day trip to a nearby town or a new area works as well!) - Hiking, camping, spending time in nature - Observing people + the world around me - Getting to know new people or spending times with those I already have established connections with The first one and the last ones are mostly what I would do in smaller breaks!
I just finished act 1 of my third draft! I think I’m going to spend the rest of this month combing through the act and really getting it to a place where I’m happy with it before moving forward
Firstly, I am envious of your ability to knock out so many words so quickly, and your ability to wear turtlenecks 😂 (I stretch the heck out of those necks). But re: writing vlogs: I love getting behind the scenes looks into your thinking process and writing progress like you feature here (and whatever you’re willing to share about your work)! Like, French chapter titles for Moths, amazing. Feral lead with lots of female rage, love it. All my goals for the months went out the window with life disruptions but I think I’m finding a better balance with how much of my free time I spend writing vs reading vs living, which at the end of the day, is probably pretty important 😅
haha I stretch out the necks over time too-the curse of turtlenecks :') thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement, Jenn! I love sharing little bits and pieces about my work but always wondered if people 'cared,' so i'm very glad to see that. life disruptions are so real, and that balance is so finnicky, i'm happy you're finding balance though!! tysm for watching
That is such a smart idea to make a note about injuries I feel like I need to implement that since I use Google docs a lot and I also beat up my characters a lot whoops
I'd love for you to talk about how to handle the endings of more understated books that aren't epic sanderlanche style endings. How can something feel satisfying without having to be insane reveal after insane reveal with a ton of action as well.
I draft like a fiend to make up for the fact that I am ter-ri-ble at editing and have no brain for it. I want to get 80k on my current project by the end of the year, and I'm on track at just under 48k. The current project is a big tournament fantasy based on an arc in a D&D game I've been playing, so trying to shave off context and reinvent plotlines has been a fun challenge. And videos like these are always so lovely, Lynn. I love your editing and style. It's fun to settle in and catch up and see how your projects are going.
Do you go to work and school? How do you balance that with writing? I work and go to school and can never find time to write? I have so many questions. Like are you majoring in creative writing? Do you live with your parents? I’m just curious because I’m currently entering the workforce and I find it hard to pursue being a published author and stay afloat at the same time. Maybe you could make a video on balancing school, work, and writing?
Hi! I've made a video on work/school/writing/life balance before, but it was some time ago so it's a bit outdated. Yes, I work part-time (1 'normal' job, and RUclips, which is about 50% of my income) and I'm also in school, studying education. My living situation has fluctuated a lot over the past 4-5 years, but for the time being I am fortunate enough to live with my partner's family (temporary), so my living expenses are low, which is a huge privilege I do not take for granted. I've been working at least part time since I was a teenager so unfortunately the best answer I have for you is that I just kind of got used to finding little pockets of time to write. My RUclips channel has also helped me a lot in this regard, because I can 'multitask' now. I also learned not to pay attention to what other writers are doing/comparing my output to theirs. I hope this was helpful!
thank you for the input! i have some editing videos planned for the near future, but i'll def keep this in mind once crypts is in the editing stage as well
sometimes! sometimes it burns me out. it's all about balance-I do like doing a bit of a writing challenge in november because everyone is doing stuff around this time!
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I write very slowly because my life is ridiculously busy (and I tend to write a fairly polished first draft, so it just takes me longer). I started a high fantasy draft back in late March and by November I was only at 25k words, but these last few weeks, I’ve gotten out an additional 5k words, so I’m standing at 30k words. If I could get another 5k done by the end of the month, I would be happy!
same. SAME! nowadays I'm just happy when i manage to squeeze writing in at all. you are doing AMAZING and i'm so excited for u and your high fantasy book!
A video on the flashcard method would be awesome! And 7K words in four days is incredible!
Thank you for the input, I'll definitely prioritize that one!!
honestly i love these vlogs because they're really motivating and also stress the importance of finding little pockets of your day dedicated just for you to work on your project, which i definitely need!! i was super intrigued by your index card brainstorming session and would love to see content about the different tools you use to brainstorm/plan novels!
this is really encouraging to hear-thank you so much!! i will definitely pan an index card brainstorming video for the future
Love your videos, Lynn! The writing and craft oriented ones are really motivating. And genuinely not boring at all! 🫶 The slumpy parts also feel less dire knowing that everyone has the same highs and lows throughout this process. 🤭 So excited for your projects. They both sound so deliciously atmospheric.
thank you so much, that's so nice to hear!! i always feel bad when nothing terribly exciting is happening in my writing life, but... that's the nature of it haha. I can't wait to share those projects with everyone someday!
the youtube analytics dopamine addiction omg too true... i'm so guilty of that. your word count output always impresses me so much! one day i will figure out how to comfortably hit 1-2k a day but for now i'm the slowest writer on the planet lol
it's ruining my life (i say as I check my analytics right as we speak) - ahh thank you!! tbh i think you're way more consistent than me so it balances out!
i always love your vlogs - hearing you talk about your work and how honest you are with the experience reminds me that we are not alone in this hobby that can feel so isolating sometimes, and it just inspires me to write as well :) - Also I really like what you've been putting out! I love a mix of chatty vlogs and cinematic ones
thank you so much Mik!! inspiration and solidarity are definitely my main goals in regards to my content, so that is truly so wonderful to hear.
I love these vlogs because I often find I’m trying to squeeze writing in between work and school, just a hundred words here and there, but I can watch/listen to these on public transport or whilst doing school assignments or just when I’m too burnt out to write and still feel connected to that part of creativity and get inspired! Thank you so much 💗
also - female rage songs I’d recommend are ‘dream girl evil’ by Florence and the machine, ‘everybody supports women’ by Sofia Isella and (though technically sung and written by a man) ‘NFWMB’ by hozier ( lots of biblical and mythological imagery presenting women as powerful and terrifying )
writing challenges with word count goals always have sm pressure, when creativity isn't so easily quantified! so glad to see you having sm fun with project crypts💕 more female rage!!!
I was so happy when I realised that I’m not the only person who writes non linearly. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 enjoyed this a lot.
I think there are tons of us out there! tysm for watching :)
your hair is always so pretty!! omg i should write i haven't written in like a month AHHH THAT DESK!! love this vlog sm
aw thank you so much kelley!! it's so unruly sometimes but i've grown to like it more
I really enjoy watching your writing vlogs, Lynn! I feel like the 'boring' parts of your vlogs are still much more interesting than mine 🤣 I was able to accomplish finishing the first draft of my dystopian sci-fi novel this month and right now I'm taking a bit of a break before tackling revisions!
i super relate to needing to not check my word count too much if i want a healthy relationship with my writing
spoiler for anyone reading the comments before finishing the video, but even though you didn't hit the goal, 7k in just 4 days is still super impressive! it probably takes me a whole month to get that much lol i'm still trying to get back into the habit of writing consistently but i've always been a fairly slow writer
checking word count is genuinely such a problem for me-I almost want to turn off the word counter on Docs somehow, tbh.
thank you so much!! any amount of words is good, and there is nothing wrong with being a slower writer
First off love your vlogs, I don’t find them repetitive and it’s SO helpful when you talk through your struggles and wins. Second I wanted to suggest another music option for you. I’m also writing a gothic fantasy and I love writing and brainstorming to the Bloodborne Original Soundtrack by SIE Sound Team. One of my all time favorite video games and it has some of the best dark orchestral music I’ve ever found!
The discussion about content creator brain vs writer brain was so relatable, sometimes they are just not on the same page 😅 but rest assured this vlog was so enjoyable per usual! Easier said than done bc I have the same thoughts about my vlogs, but try not to overthink it too hard, we love just hearing your thoughts ❤
AGREED. Honestly I'd love to pick your brain on that topic sometime! tysm for watching and supporting, i appreciate you sm
I love your vlogs and don't find them boring at all! Your talks about your story and your triumphs/struggles make it all so relatable 💛
ahh thank you so, so much!!
I just started writing a small town drama/romance story, Project Satellite, after a horrible attempt at a ya fantasy last year. I think my goal count could be 5k words by the end of November. I’ve had these characters in my mind for a couple of years now and need to see what happens with them!
I love that project code name, and small town stories have my whole heart. excited for you, happy writing!
I’m sorry for the late comment again! I love non-linear writing! Sometimes I do that, too. When I saw the title, I thought it meant you were going to write 10K in 2 days and was SO impressed by that tenacity. However, I’m still amazed that you wrote more than 7K in 4 days! That’s really good! I know what you mean about word based goals, but I think it can work when you are drafting (at least it did for me). I love your cinematic b roll vlogs AND your chatty vlogs! Your vlogs always have a specific aesthetic with your editing style that I appreciate! Congratulations on all the progress you made on Project Crypts!
And hi, kitty! 😻
It was sooo interestesting to hear about your process :) And Crypts sounds cool!
My goal this month was to either put words into uni stuff or fiction every day, and I've fallen a bit short of that, especially this week which has been bonkers and overwhelming for reasons I can't expand on. But what I was doing that distracted me from writing did leave me inspired to get back to it tomorrow.
Also yes to a walkthrough of you scene card process!!
hi!!!! i would love to see what you do to inspire and cultivate your writing thats not writing.
like what you do for lil breaks or like special lil activities you do to help out your writing if you do that??
ive been writing more and i notice when i do chore breaks or walking my pet as a break, i get a lot more done writing wise.
Ooh this is a great idea for a full-length video, but I'll answer this super quickly as well! Some of the most inspirational non-writing things for me:
- Meditating
- Travel (full-length trips if feasible; if not, just a little day trip to a nearby town or a new area works as well!)
- Hiking, camping, spending time in nature
- Observing people + the world around me
- Getting to know new people or spending times with those I already have established connections with
The first one and the last ones are mostly what I would do in smaller breaks!
I just finished act 1 of my third draft! I think I’m going to spend the rest of this month combing through the act and really getting it to a place where I’m happy with it before moving forward
Congrats on finishing act 1!!
thank you 🫶 your vids always give me a burst of inspiration so ty for sharing your journey!!
Firstly, I am envious of your ability to knock out so many words so quickly, and your ability to wear turtlenecks 😂 (I stretch the heck out of those necks).
But re: writing vlogs: I love getting behind the scenes looks into your thinking process and writing progress like you feature here (and whatever you’re willing to share about your work)! Like, French chapter titles for Moths, amazing. Feral lead with lots of female rage, love it.
All my goals for the months went out the window with life disruptions but I think I’m finding a better balance with how much of my free time I spend writing vs reading vs living, which at the end of the day, is probably pretty important 😅
haha I stretch out the necks over time too-the curse of turtlenecks :')
thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement, Jenn! I love sharing little bits and pieces about my work but always wondered if people 'cared,' so i'm very glad to see that.
life disruptions are so real, and that balance is so finnicky, i'm happy you're finding balance though!! tysm for watching
Love a challenge! 😊
That is such a smart idea to make a note about injuries I feel like I need to implement that since I use Google docs a lot and I also beat up my characters a lot whoops
It's such a small thing but it's been such a gamechanger!! I beat up my characters too and it's hard to keep track sometimes, haha
Crypts sounds so interesting! Can’t wait for the day I can read it 😊
I'd love for you to talk about how to handle the endings of more understated books that aren't epic sanderlanche style endings. How can something feel satisfying without having to be insane reveal after insane reveal with a ton of action as well.
ooh this is one I would have to chew on for a bit for sure before delivering a video on it-great suggestion!
that's still a lot of words!! proud of you!! :)
Thank you CK!
I draft like a fiend to make up for the fact that I am ter-ri-ble at editing and have no brain for it. I want to get 80k on my current project by the end of the year, and I'm on track at just under 48k. The current project is a big tournament fantasy based on an arc in a D&D game I've been playing, so trying to shave off context and reinvent plotlines has been a fun challenge.
And videos like these are always so lovely, Lynn. I love your editing and style. It's fun to settle in and catch up and see how your projects are going.
i love your outfit and jewellery pairings!
Do you go to work and school? How do you balance that with writing? I work and go to school and can never find time to write? I have so many questions. Like are you majoring in creative writing? Do you live with your parents? I’m just curious because I’m currently entering the workforce and I find it hard to pursue being a published author and stay afloat at the same time. Maybe you could make a video on balancing school, work, and writing?
Hi! I've made a video on work/school/writing/life balance before, but it was some time ago so it's a bit outdated.
Yes, I work part-time (1 'normal' job, and RUclips, which is about 50% of my income) and I'm also in school, studying education. My living situation has fluctuated a lot over the past 4-5 years, but for the time being I am fortunate enough to live with my partner's family (temporary), so my living expenses are low, which is a huge privilege I do not take for granted.
I've been working at least part time since I was a teenager so unfortunately the best answer I have for you is that I just kind of got used to finding little pockets of time to write. My RUclips channel has also helped me a lot in this regard, because I can 'multitask' now.
I also learned not to pay attention to what other writers are doing/comparing my output to theirs. I hope this was helpful!
@ thanks! I’ll definitely take a look at your video!
i would love a video about how you use scene cards!
Yes please
i'd be interested in vlogs where you're going back and editing, i find the drafting vlogs fun too though and don't find them repetitive personally
thank you for the input! i have some editing videos planned for the near future, but i'll def keep this in mind once crypts is in the editing stage as well
Will crypts be a series or a standalone?
in my ideal world, it would be a duology!
Paris Paloma is like all feminine rage imo 😂 Bea Miller can be too. Stela Cole is unapologetic about being a woman. Devon Cole can be good too
ooh thank you so much for the recs, Bea Miller is one I know but the other two are new to me!!
Does creating a challenge for yourself help? Because if it does I need it 😂. I'm a game dev and have been missing dead lines
sometimes! sometimes it burns me out. it's all about balance-I do like doing a bit of a writing challenge in november because everyone is doing stuff around this time!
What camera do you use? The image is so crisp!!
It's an older canon m50!