“Write the book you want to read” has got to be one of the best creative quotes for people to follow. It can easily apply to any creative work that is meant to be shared with others
I love reading my book but reading it while checking for every little detail is so painful 😭 I'm currently taking a break from editing and watching RUclips instead lol
It's funny how you mentioned nobody will think you're crazy for writing a horror, as that actually happened to me. I wrote a short horror story in a creative writing class, and the teacher had me go see a doctor because of it. Happily, I was neither crazy nor depressed.
Same here I wrote a story that my teacher tried to suspend me for. It was about someone who became a zombie but was trapped in there own mind and goes insane from constantly eating people
@@leigh-anjohnson apparently not. I like to write horror stories from unconventional perspectives ( I wrote a typical slasher story but from the perspective of the “dumb blonds” cat) and it upsets people.
Timestamps: 2:46 - 1. Outlines Work 3:49 - 2. No one cares 4:49 - 3. Mingle 6:08 - 4. Delete ‘em 6:56 - 5. We don’t know what we don’t know 7:41 - 6. Do the research 8:42 - 7. Learn the reason 9:43 - 8. Delete filler 10:21 - 9. Do the work 11:24 - 10. The source matters :3 yw!!
Outlining your work or just having a general sense for the plot is HUGE for writing. I made the mistake of not doing this, and I encountered it's problems very early on. However, instead of going back and revising, I just pushed through and now most of what I wrote are now removed.
I usually like to have some general plot line - like understanding what the A point, and what point B will be, and some kind of way between them. But I also like when some parts of the story are hidden and appear step by step on the writing journey. But I thing it`s really depends on person.
I think even starting with a 1 page synopsis of the book and a logline will help you as a writer to understand the story better. Usually people ask you the question : What is your book about ? If you don't know how to say it in one-two sentences then you have a problem. As a writer you need to be prepared for that question and you need to learn how to sell, writing is an art but also a business.
I usually don't have a well-defined outline, but I start out knowing what my climax and ending are, and usually with a very good sense for at least one of the characters.
I hear outlining on many vlogs. My problem is I can't "feel" the story through an outline. I see this happens, that happens and then something else happens, but I don't know if those events will make for a good story until I write it and the characters make those events happen and you see those events through their eyes. My hats off to those who can outline and do it correctly.
I began reading Shut Up And Write The Book and I wanna THANK YOU, Jenna ♡ I'm just in the structure part and I started visualizing my story AS I WAS READING... like I wasn't paying attention to the words because my mind was wandering like it hadn't in a long time. It's too soon to say if I'll be able to write it, but just feeling unstuck was already worth the money
One bit of advice I've been given from literary professors, successful authors and even giants in the field has been "a good writer can make ANYTHING work". That goes for filter words, purple prose, cardboard characters and even info dumps 'cause *as you know...* "a good writer can make ANYTHING work".
Can't be more true. I mean, the whole first chapter in the Lord of the Rings is one massive info dump where literally nothing is going on. And his book is still read and loved after 70 years.
On #2, sometimes it's best to just... not let people in your personal life read your work until it's released for this reason. Ever so often I run into someone who's thinking about scraping their manuscript because a friend or family member told them it doesn't seem like "something they'd write". That's not really feedback, it's a comment on how well that person knows the writer, and its understandably demoralizing. My mom was surprised I still write because I never talk about it, because when I do, her feedback is "why do you have to write horror/fantasy/whatever? I don't like that. Why can't you write something where everyone gets along? You know how Umbrella Academy is funny? You should write that." I've just come to accept that my friends and family are not my target audience.
...how do you write something where everyone gets along anyway? Also, what genre(s) do you write, and is any of it published? I need new reading material.
This is a really great comment. I've been struggling with the fact that I've told all my family about my ambitions to be a writer, but when I finally do get my work published, it will likely contain things I don't feel comfortable sharing with them. But I can't even entertain the thought of censoring myself so as not to make my family uncomfortable. I write for myself and other people who have been through the things I have.
Hi I'm a new subscriber. I'm 12 years old and I'm writing a book called Once upon a last breath. it's a romance book about two ghosts falling in love. i have been writing this book for a while and I'm really excited to publish it. thank you for this video it's a huge help.
"She was mesmerized as the dancers twirled across the stage." "Mesmerized by the dancers twirling across the stage, she did not even notice Dona had left until the show was over." Clearly showing she was watching them & gives you a bit of insight into how she is feeling/mindset at the same time.
This is telling and the second one is passive voice. Show what mesmerized means, for example, she can't tear her gaze away, she gets goosebumps, wonder coursed through her etc. Even better if you can make the reader feel mesmerized when they read about the dance
My first novel was SF. I was actually on a writer's board and one guy tried to make it personal. "Well, would YOU have sex with an alien?" With the support of other writers/reviewers, I was able to respond, "I married a man, didn't I?" Support counts.
My current WIP is YA Fantasy. I once asked my writing group if a character would die faster by being encased in ice or dragon stomach acid. Someone replied, "Actually, they would probably suffocate before either of those things would kill the character." This added a layer of complication for how to get my character out of a dire situation, as you can imagine... It also goes to show you that writer friends are invaluable!
readers shouldn’t be so sensitive. nothing should be censored, and if someone writes something that unintentionally offends someone, then they shouldn’t be offended in the first place because there’s no intent. People just need to grow the hell up.
The benefit of outlining is the biggest lesson I've learned (the hard way) in my writing journey. When you're less experienced, it feels cool to say you're a pantser and not realize that pantsers also have a deep understanding of their stories before writing them. It just manifests in a different way. To craft a good book, you have to know enough of the story before you write it. Otherwise, obviously, it's gonna be a mess.
I've been watching your videos even before you even started to promote the savior's champion. I always come to your videos when I seek guidance, I am so happy to have been here to support all of your projects. I cannot thank you enough for all your help Jenna. I will be waiting for your next book!
Within five minutes of starting your great book, I changed the start of my bogged down story. With a change of one aspect, my story is flowing freely now.
8:43 It's important to understand the difference between a good adverb and a bad one. As a lingusitics nerd, I feel I need to preface this by pointing out that adverbs aren't inherently good or bad and attaching a value judgement to a part of speech is kind of silly, but really the "good" or "bad" refers more to how well the adverb in question fits the flow of the reading and contributes to the narrative. A well used adverb does not reinforce the meaning of the verb, but instead changes its context in the narrative. For example, "she frowned sadly" is a poor use of an adverb because the reader understands that frown=negative emotion. But saying "she smiled sadly" is a good use of an adverb because you have changed the image in the reader's mind, and that's the mark of a good use of an adverb. A good adverb should be used to convey something that the context of the verb does not, and that adverb-verb combination should not be replaceable by a single verb with the same meaning (e.g., don't use "said loudly" when you could just use "shouted.")
Hi Jenna! I just had to say how much I adore you and love all your advice! I pre-ordered SUAWTB and am a little ways in and following along with the digital workbook! I also got the apple book for The Savior’s Champion yesterday and have not been able to put it down! Congratulations on all your success! Can’t wait to see more from you!
I've been talking about writing a book about my life and it's nearly been a year with absolutely NOTHING! This "nothing" led me to you and after watching, I'm overwhelmed, but your expertise is valuable. I just have to get it done. Thanks for dropping this content.
Just purchased your book on amazon. When I tell you this gave me everything I needed to get over the humps of finishing my book. I got the blueprint. Your book is an angel. Every new writer needs it.
I didn't realize how bad filter words were until I read The Infinite and The Divine, a Warhammer 40k book. It's a fun as Hell book, but my GOD, the filter words! It was like someone describing the actions to me as they happen rather than me actually witnessing or experiencing the actions, so it just killed the immersion. Before that, I was wondering to myself if I would even notice filter words if they hadn't been pointed out to me by other writers, and I still don't know the answer to that, but I know about them now, and I hate them. They need to be stomped out like little nasty bugs. Also, loving the new book! Only about 35% through it, and it already got me doing practice writing with thought dumps and templates! I love how practical and cleanly organized the structure of the book is.
rather than killing your darlings, i'm fond of cryogenically freezing them in a separate document. oftentimes i can paste bits and pieces back in or rewrite them.
my advice to write a book is to write character profiles, then a short story for them, then have them interact in whatever way vibes with you, then stitch the stories together
This video is a perfect example of why I follow Jenna. Her emotion towards the beginning shows her passion for writing and this topic shows how much she cares about the writing community. As someone still working on my debut novel, I cannot express how valuable this information is. Thank you for all you do, Jenna!!! You rock!🤘❣❣
Yeah, I didn’t have an outline…I got half a chapter in before I hit a block and that is when Jenna kindly reminded me of one of the best ways to get through writer’s block…outline, outline, outline. All through a short that I couldn’t swipe from until about 10 plays later due to doing things away from my phone.
3: Writer friends help. I am in loads of different communities and groups and like, if I have an idea, I throw it to the hive mind and they will let me know if it works or not. I know a lot of people bypass this feature, but I must say, it is a handy function. I say I had over 200 ideas last year and only 10 worked. I am glad they are around, it sure saves some awkward misunderstandings.
In my story my characters go on a series of adventures as kids growing up, but as they go through the places they start to see the world and how the rulers are basically making the world a worse place. The first 2 adventures are short and serve as a wake up call for them to take want to take action basically. So I'm not sure if they would count as filler.
Congrats on the new book. I got my pre-ordered copy yesterday. I told myself I would take my time and only read one or two chapters at a time. So, after 4 chapters, I had to stop. I was taking notes, using the workbook and reading all at once. I already have a better grasp of my story in just one day. Thanks for writing the book.
After writing my first draft, I was thankful that I had an idea of where I was going at least. I never wrote an outline, but I had a clear direction for the where the story was heading. The issue was getting there because a lot of it bloated the story. A 56 page chapter is not the best idea. Even with all the fluff, I feel an outline or a defined sense of direction is helpful to not only finish the draft but also see how you can flesh it out. I'm basically planning to rewrite the book to flesh out the concepts, fix the plot holes, and make it better. I am currently taking a break from it because I'm not sure how to go about the second draft, but also for my mental health and to put myself back in the training wheels during school. Currently in Wales studying abroad for creative writing courses.
All very good advices. Write what you'd like to read is maybe my favourite. That's what got me to write crime fiction: I was trying my luck on "high" literature and not going anywhere. Then I saw that I spent a lot of my free time reading crime fiction and, while enjoying a lot of it, thought I could write something of my own, with my own twist on the genre.
I'm so particular about everything I ever do (writing or otherwise) that I can't imagine not outlining, and I marvel at the fact that people can even attempt it, let alone end up with a decent final product.
I have had a few stories living in my head for years now and I never knew how to start, but I think your book on audio sounds like a good plan! (And an Outline! LOL)
In my experience very few published authors write by the seat of their pants. As you discovered, pantsing just creates work down the line. Of course some outlines can be very scanty indeed, and sometimes they're held in the head rather than written down. I think the trick is not feeling constrained by the outline, so you can freely go off-script if needed.
Jenna without her hair off to the side = our world shattering 😂 Thanks for the epic tips Jenna. They are fantastic and helpful as always. Although, some of us are pre-ordered book waiting room which will have more awesome advice. Anyone else eagerly waiting theirs?
As a light skinned, black man who's been called white chocolate his entire life, I find people getting offended about comparing skin color to foods extremely silly. Considering most people I know call brown skin caramel makes this funnier. People find everything offensive LoL
Hey I'm early (for once) ! I use this opportunity to thank you Jenna. Your videos helped a lot when I had doubt or needed help. They're still useful of course and I note your advice. Plus it helped me improve my english. Thank you very much Jenna.
I'm working on my debut book. I was going to do horror but I'm going to start with 15th century fantasy that will twist into a new genre steadily as the book goes on.
One thing: People, or at least me, think about the author all throughout the book. Not in a judgemental way necessarily, sometimes its just "ha! Great pun" and sometimes it's a full analysis of the plot up to there. I'm always thinking about the author. My rule of thumb is "if it's in the book, the author wanted it there"
I made a throwaway book just to motivate me to write an actual book soooo im a def check this book thats gonna tell me not to procrastinate lol while i procrastinate, joking aside I agree with all your points/advice
I use to not outline and i still dont really. I write my charexters names, their aperences, plot, how much chaoters i want, and if i come uo with somthing i want to write in the book i out it in the outline. I write my books as they go and i work on what i can work on. If one of my wip isnt getting anywhere because i cant get anything i move onto another one of my wip then eventually i get insiration on the differnt one and go write on that one.
Im currently writing a dnd style fluff romance. A tiefling girl leaves behind her abusive paladin family and goes to live and work at a library. She becomes a regular at a fallen Assaimars cafe. Yes I know I can make my own species and stuff and these things are probably copywriter but at this point I'm writing for fun and besides fanfic is how we got the amazing kyoshi books.
Started reading it yesterday (starting from the chapter on the dreaded self-edit, since I'm currently editing my first novel and 5 novellas) OMG I LOVE IT!!! 😁🤗☺ I love how-to books that are informative but fun and funny! Your humor leaps off the page 🙂☺ well worth buying - so, Shut Up and Buy the Book!! ☺☺
Does it count, if you watch youtubers on how to write a book? Regarding adverbs I used "pointed feverishly" to describe a character's action, is that a good use or bad use of "ly"?
I would double down on the point about making sure your source of advice is a quality source. A lot of forums, I'd say almost all of them, are full of unreliable people that are good at sounding like expert opinions. Just because it's in a book does not mean it's a better quality source, I've seen some that have had some pretty awful advice, especially marketing advice.
Jenna, I love ya, and I'll add to number 8 for ya-to kill your darlings, you first need to consider the backbone structure of your story-your character arc before you even write! So many of us forget about the trajectory of our story and only focus on plot, your external events-those don't matter if they don't matter to your character! So you need to not only first fix plot events that are meant for your character and not for the plot's benefit(because it can and will change), and any filler boils down to whatever doesn't have character agency and/or not developing your novel worthy characters over the course of your story. So remember, don't just slash whatever seems like filler-slash whatever is completely irrelevant to your character!
Preach. Plot is just plot, it's not the story. I think it's easier to bend plot around the characters than characters around the plot. And with easier I mean that I feel the results are better.
It's best to stick to what you want to write and stick to that. I love sci-fi action, so I'm in all about that. However I'm getting into childerns books as well. 😊
Hi jenna! I am a panster/outliner. Sometimes I become a panster when im stuck on where to take the story and thats why i came so far in doing a outline, although the outline isn't perfect and it needs work. Pansting helps me figure out where to go with the story and coming up with story ideas. 😊
Outline actual scene details as you go. That's a key piece of advice in discovery writing. However, set the road map for where to go in the outline by creating the character arc and plot structure.
Dear Jenna, In one of your videos you state that E-books need their own ISBNS. Do you still stick to this statement? and if so, where do you put them on the cover? Cheers! a fan!
When you say, "if it doesnt further the plot then delete it." How strict is that in regards to character building? If I were to have an entire chapter dedicated to the backstory of a character, not my protagonist, but the events portrayed were vital to understanding said character as a person, their personality and motivations... Would that still be a "delete it" scenerio. I ask because I do have a chapter dedicated to a secondary character in my novel. I find the chapter to be emotional and moving and, as stated above, vital to understanding him. I know I could layer that chapter into the story throughout, but the problem is I have many characters and I dont want to repeat the same character building methods. As well as I already have bits of his development sprinkled throughout, I just have a lot to say about him. None of it is useless such as what he had for breakfast on a particular day, its all to further an understanding of him and/or relationships he has with other vital characters.
Proofread your own novel - does it bog down the pace to a crawl right before things get good? Or is it just a deeper insight into a character's mind during some down time? Does it even need to be a chapter's length? How long are your chapters? How do the little actions reflect on his character? These are questions you need to ask yourself - and you need an editor too
Would filter words work if the viewpoint character has a limited ability to perceive what they are trying to see or hear? As in, it calls attention to how it is all that they are able to see and hear.
If they can't perceive it, don't describe it. If the sound is muffled, describe it as muffled. No need to put the POV character between the reader and the writing.
I've used them when the action was relevant in the context. Using Jenna's example, it's not the same to write "She saw dancers twirling across the stage" and "She observed the dancers twirling across the stage". Depending on context, the PoV character could be plotting something, trying to not drift asleep, or just lost in all the twirling going on. It is something that's better used with caution, though. It's easy to overuse
"Seductively whispered" would you say this is an example that would be usable due to the descriptive word adding another layer to the manor in which they quietly spoke? Or would you say break it down so something like "His/Her words gently wrapped around me until I forgot we were standing in the middle of ______" I know I still have the ly 😂🤣 oh well I tried some options that might be ok.
I am struggling so hard with category for my current book. It's an animal fiction book and I want it to be YA (originally, adult or new adult). It handles some pretty dark topics, lots of death, tackles s**cide, and other things ... but man, I don't know if YA or adult animal fiction really exists? Most if not all, including things like Watership down, are considered middle grade and they handle some pretty dark stuff. Like it baffles me to no end watership down is considered /middle grade/??? I know YA or even adult animal fiction is something a lot of people want (myself included), even if it wouldn't be/isn't the most popular genre. I worry I'm putting myself in a corner by writing a dark, serious animal fiction book
I write as I think, outlines don't really do so good for me, because it's hard to write the middle/connection between 2 plots and I've been stuck since Thanksgiving
I pantsed through the first draft of my novel. After reading it, I realized it was horrible lmaoo. Much like Jenna, I was eager to write the story, but clearly that wasn’t enough. Currently working on the outline for it and it’s going much better. I even swapped one of the side characters for the main character, he was just more interesting lol.
I’m writing my first book and I am wondering what website/application is good to use for writing and publishing? I am using Reedsy, and so far I like it. Does anyone else like Reedsy?
People I need help! I want character A to befriend character B who hurt character A (the events are like a book year apart and character A found character B on deaths doorstep and stripped of all power character B originally had and character A spared character B and this is pretty much why they became 'friends') because character A thought character B changed but character B later betrays character A. I like how this is set up for now but I want other opinions!
I got to add to your filler point. Don't confuse filler with pacing. If removing an unnecessary moment helps moves the story along, great, but if you remove too many moments that allow readers to slow down and enjoy your characters, you'll have a rushed story and boring npcs. In the end, it's all about balance
WOOOOOOOOOO, book release! Congratulations, Jenna! Now then, regular format... 1. I'm going to TRY, I promise. I'm a pantser, or however you spell that, BUUUUUUT, yes, writer's block is a huge problem for me. I've ben going back and cleaning chapters up, but there comes a certain point in the story where I LITERALLY have no idea where it goes after that. The kids get into their second new environment in the course of three months...and then what? Ironically, the one character I struggle most to write (I'm 32, and she's 14, so we don't have much in common: do I go and research child psychology?) is the one giving me the LEEAST blockage in this instance. She's away from her home and her parents, and she's freaking the f*ck out, especially since she (wrongly) sees herself as the cause of all her current problems. Nope, that would be their abusive father ,but Kayla's one of those "it's always and unironically my fault" people. Probably from all the gaslighting. 2. Currently doing just that. 3. Where are we online, please...? I have ONE writer friend IRL. 4. I've been going through on my rewrites and getting rid of these. This really is a pro tip. 5. I think I need one of these, because I'm white, and while, yes, I am Woke, I REALLY don't want to offend anyone, especially considering half of my book's cast is BIPOC. Hell, the hero of the entire series is Indigenous, but I don't get into his actual culture until book two. Which gives me time to research. Anyone know anything about the Seminoles? I mean the ones still living in Florida. I know about the diaspora: the ones forced off their land into Oklahoma. I also know they were among VERY few Nations whose children were not subjected to the residential "schools", because the men had literal wars, and resulting genocides, to defend the children. Genocide NOT GOOD, and trust me, when my boy finds out, he loses his shit. 6. New adult, realistic fiction, MOSTLY a romance thing, at least for book one, but it's also a coming-of-age story for the bulk of the main cast. 7. YOU helped ME do my job, by the way, Jenna. I literally just explained about this to one of my students two days ago. I said to them that they can always use a stronger word instead: "run quickly" is redundant, because running already implies, so "sprint" or "fly" or "bolt" work better. So thanks for that. You're a good teacher. 8. (Rolls up into a ball)...though yes, I've done it, too. 9. CURRENTLY...my editor is my best friend. She's a published author and a far more experienced writer than I am. But editing specifically is not her on-paper job, and I'm also not paying her .Yeah, I MIIIIIIIIIGHT want to find someone else. But does a thing have to have a price tag attached to it to be reputable? The Communist in me says hell no, but Capitalism being what it is, I don't think Canada or America agree with me. Y'all say Canadians are a bunch of Socialists, and nope, sorry, we're just as bad for Capitalism as you guys are. Except we hold the knife to your back, not to your face (i.e. we're sneakier with our political shit than you guys are). For example, a lot of Indigenous reserves (you guys call them reservations) still don't have clean water up here, either. Is this the 21st century, or is it not? But we pretend to support Reconciliation. 10. Why do you think I come here every week? Not to mention my own English degree, and writer's craft credits. But that's purely theoretical, rather than on-the-ground. I hones to Gods need more on-the-ground experience.
Jenna's advice is usually pretty good but she oversimplified the pantser vs plotter thing. Plotting doesn't work for everyone. And even those that do plot are on a varying spectrum. I consider myself a 35%, 65% pantser. A loose outline gives me plenty of wiggle room for new ideas. I think one good way to start to at least know the general ending. Good guys win, bad guys lose but you can always change the way in which in happens.
A tip: Don’t overwork yourself over your story. Recently I got super hyped over my story. I thought about it all day and lost sleep over it, and the next day I did not want to write at all. I was tired of the characters, the storyline, etc. And I’m still kinda annoyed with my story right now So don’t go crazy over your story. You’re wasting all of your energy 😐
I feel the struggle friend 😢 Also yeah that last joke just made me not want to read any more of her novels tbh even Fifty Shades of Grey was a bestseller Don't mean it's well-written 😂😂
I think it’s necessary to get multiple sensitivity readers - not just because one person can’t possibly cover all marginalised groups that might appear in the story, but also because they’re not free from subjective views either. As an example, there’s an interview between Trevor Noah, an African comedian, and a black British interviewer. She criticises him for comparing skin colour to chocolate, calling his younger brother dark chocolate, himself milk chocolate (cause his father had light skin) and people with fair skin white chocolate. It’s a very interesting argument, having those people who grew up in different societies who both (most likely) experienced racism for their skin colours have such different perspectives on such a comparison as a part of jokes. (Trevor definitely experienced racism, having grown up under the apartheid system, but I don’t know her well, so I’m just guessing.) It just shows that the experiences and opinions within one group are not necessarily homogeneous, which should be kept in mind when hiring sensitivity readers.
This is so important, thank you so much for mentioning this! I've done some amateur sensitivity reading in the past for friends and colleagues and the preferential selection bias is real: so many writers pick specific people to read their work ahead of time and give them the specific monolithic opinion they are looking for. True sensitivity reading should cover more than the monolith 💗
Write the book you want to read because during editing you're going to end up reading it 100 times!
Yes!
“Write the book you want to read” has got to be one of the best creative quotes for people to follow. It can easily apply to any creative work that is meant to be shared with others
I lovvvvvve to read my book, but I have a hard time writing it 😂
Oh damn, hadn't thought of that! 😮
I love reading my book but reading it while checking for every little detail is so painful 😭 I'm currently taking a break from editing and watching RUclips instead lol
It's funny how you mentioned nobody will think you're crazy for writing a horror, as that actually happened to me. I wrote a short horror story in a creative writing class, and the teacher had me go see a doctor because of it. Happily, I was neither crazy nor depressed.
Sounds like a terrible creative writing teacher
Same here I wrote a story that my teacher tried to suspend me for. It was about someone who became a zombie but was trapped in there own mind and goes insane from constantly eating people
@@jacobdavis3359 Do these teachers not know what fiction is?
@@leigh-anjohnson apparently not. I like to write horror stories from unconventional perspectives ( I wrote a typical slasher story but from the perspective of the “dumb blonds” cat) and it upsets people.
@@jacobdavis3359 I'm very curious about your stories with these unique perspectives. Sounds like you have your own niche.
Timestamps:
2:46 - 1. Outlines Work
3:49 - 2. No one cares
4:49 - 3. Mingle
6:08 - 4. Delete ‘em
6:56 - 5. We don’t know what we don’t know
7:41 - 6. Do the research
8:42 - 7. Learn the reason
9:43 - 8. Delete filler
10:21 - 9. Do the work
11:24 - 10. The source matters
:3 yw!!
Not all heroes wear capes
thank you!
not all heros wear capes thank you so much dude
Outlining your work or just having a general sense for the plot is HUGE for writing. I made the mistake of not doing this, and I encountered it's problems very early on. However, instead of going back and revising, I just pushed through and now most of what I wrote are now removed.
I usually like to have some general plot line - like understanding what the A point, and what point B will be, and some kind of way between them. But I also like when some parts of the story are hidden and appear step by step on the writing journey. But I thing it`s really depends on person.
I think even starting with a 1 page synopsis of the book and a logline will help you as a writer to understand the story better. Usually people ask you the question : What is your book about ? If you don't know how to say it in one-two sentences then you have a problem. As a writer you need to be prepared for that question and you need to learn how to sell, writing is an art but also a business.
I usually don't have a well-defined outline, but I start out knowing what my climax and ending are, and usually with a very good sense for at least one of the characters.
@@anacebotari8604 Mm. Good advice.
I hear outlining on many vlogs. My problem is I can't "feel" the story through an outline. I see this happens, that happens and then something else happens, but I don't know if those events will make for a good story until I write it and the characters make those events happen and you see those events through their eyes. My hats off to those who can outline and do it correctly.
I began reading Shut Up And Write The Book and I wanna THANK YOU, Jenna ♡ I'm just in the structure part and I started visualizing my story AS I WAS READING... like I wasn't paying attention to the words because my mind was wandering like it hadn't in a long time.
It's too soon to say if I'll be able to write it, but just feeling unstuck was already worth the money
Congratulations!!! I just finished my first draft of my WIP and it felt amazing! So glad to be a part of this writing community.
Yay! Congratulations!
One bit of advice I've been given from literary professors, successful authors and even giants in the field has been "a good writer can make ANYTHING work".
That goes for filter words, purple prose, cardboard characters and even info dumps 'cause *as you know...* "a good writer can make ANYTHING work".
Can't be more true. I mean, the whole first chapter in the Lord of the Rings is one massive info dump where literally nothing is going on. And his book is still read and loved after 70 years.
On #2, sometimes it's best to just... not let people in your personal life read your work until it's released for this reason. Ever so often I run into someone who's thinking about scraping their manuscript because a friend or family member told them it doesn't seem like "something they'd write". That's not really feedback, it's a comment on how well that person knows the writer, and its understandably demoralizing. My mom was surprised I still write because I never talk about it, because when I do, her feedback is "why do you have to write horror/fantasy/whatever? I don't like that. Why can't you write something where everyone gets along? You know how Umbrella Academy is funny? You should write that." I've just come to accept that my friends and family are not my target audience.
...how do you write something where everyone gets along anyway? Also, what genre(s) do you write, and is any of it published? I need new reading material.
This is a really great comment. I've been struggling with the fact that I've told all my family about my ambitions to be a writer, but when I finally do get my work published, it will likely contain things I don't feel comfortable sharing with them. But I can't even entertain the thought of censoring myself so as not to make my family uncomfortable. I write for myself and other people who have been through the things I have.
Hi I'm a new subscriber.
I'm 12 years old and I'm writing a book called Once upon a last breath.
it's a romance book about two ghosts falling in love. i have been writing this book for a while and I'm really excited to publish it. thank you for this video it's a huge help.
ur such an inspiration
Is it done?
yo that sounds so good!! I would totally read that! Keep going!
"She was mesmerized as the dancers twirled across the stage."
"Mesmerized by the dancers twirling across the stage, she did not even notice Dona had left until the show was over."
Clearly showing she was watching them & gives you a bit of insight into how she is feeling/mindset at the same time.
This is telling and the second one is passive voice. Show what mesmerized means, for example, she can't tear her gaze away, she gets goosebumps, wonder coursed through her etc.
Even better if you can make the reader feel mesmerized when they read about the dance
My first novel was SF. I was actually on a writer's board and one guy tried to make it personal. "Well, would YOU have sex with an alien?" With the support of other writers/reviewers, I was able to respond, "I married a man, didn't I?" Support counts.
Most of us are unlikely to go on a Heroe's Journey.
That's what books are for
My current WIP is YA Fantasy. I once asked my writing group if a character would die faster by being encased in ice or dragon stomach acid. Someone replied, "Actually, they would probably suffocate before either of those things would kill the character."
This added a layer of complication for how to get my character out of a dire situation, as you can imagine...
It also goes to show you that writer friends are invaluable!
You are now my favorite superhero for the day.
There's like... no difference between men and women apart from external treatment but ok ig.
I think I would responded something like this: Sure, I'd rather sleep with an alien than you.
readers shouldn’t be so sensitive. nothing should be censored, and if someone writes something that unintentionally offends someone, then they shouldn’t be offended in the first place because there’s no intent. People just need to grow the hell up.
The benefit of outlining is the biggest lesson I've learned (the hard way) in my writing journey. When you're less experienced, it feels cool to say you're a pantser and not realize that pantsers also have a deep understanding of their stories before writing them. It just manifests in a different way. To craft a good book, you have to know enough of the story before you write it. Otherwise, obviously, it's gonna be a mess.
I've been watching your videos even before you even started to promote the savior's champion. I always come to your videos when I seek guidance, I am so happy to have been here to support all of your projects. I cannot thank you enough for all your help Jenna. I will be waiting for your next book!
Within five minutes of starting your great book, I changed the start of my bogged down story. With a change of one aspect, my story is flowing freely now.
8:43 It's important to understand the difference between a good adverb and a bad one. As a lingusitics nerd, I feel I need to preface this by pointing out that adverbs aren't inherently good or bad and attaching a value judgement to a part of speech is kind of silly, but really the "good" or "bad" refers more to how well the adverb in question fits the flow of the reading and contributes to the narrative. A well used adverb does not reinforce the meaning of the verb, but instead changes its context in the narrative. For example, "she frowned sadly" is a poor use of an adverb because the reader understands that frown=negative emotion. But saying "she smiled sadly" is a good use of an adverb because you have changed the image in the reader's mind, and that's the mark of a good use of an adverb. A good adverb should be used to convey something that the context of the verb does not, and that adverb-verb combination should not be replaceable by a single verb with the same meaning (e.g., don't use "said loudly" when you could just use "shouted.")
Hi Jenna! I just had to say how much I adore you and love all your advice! I pre-ordered SUAWTB and am a little ways in and following along with the digital workbook! I also got the apple book for The Savior’s Champion yesterday and have not been able to put it down! Congratulations on all your success! Can’t wait to see more from you!
Yeah. I've re-written almost my entire first act (of a Paranormal Romance) about 4 times so far.
MINE COMES IN THIS SATURDAY I CANT WAIT TO BINGE READ YOUR BOOK
I've been talking about writing a book about my life and it's nearly been a year with absolutely NOTHING! This "nothing" led me to you and after watching, I'm overwhelmed, but your expertise is valuable. I just have to get it done. Thanks for dropping this content.
Just purchased your book on amazon. When I tell you this gave me everything I needed to get over the humps of finishing my book. I got the blueprint. Your book is an angel. Every new writer needs it.
I didn't realize how bad filter words were until I read The Infinite and The Divine, a Warhammer 40k book. It's a fun as Hell book, but my GOD, the filter words! It was like someone describing the actions to me as they happen rather than me actually witnessing or experiencing the actions, so it just killed the immersion.
Before that, I was wondering to myself if I would even notice filter words if they hadn't been pointed out to me by other writers, and I still don't know the answer to that, but I know about them now, and I hate them. They need to be stomped out like little nasty bugs.
Also, loving the new book! Only about 35% through it, and it already got me doing practice writing with thought dumps and templates! I love how practical and cleanly organized the structure of the book is.
rather than killing your darlings, i'm fond of cryogenically freezing them in a separate document. oftentimes i can paste bits and pieces back in or rewrite them.
my advice to write a book is to write character profiles, then a short story for them, then have them interact in whatever way vibes with you, then stitch the stories together
This video is a perfect example of why I follow Jenna. Her emotion towards the beginning shows her passion for writing and this topic shows how much she cares about the writing community. As someone still working on my debut novel, I cannot express how valuable this information is. Thank you for all you do, Jenna!!! You rock!🤘❣❣
Yeah, I didn’t have an outline…I got half a chapter in before I hit a block and that is when Jenna kindly reminded me of one of the best ways to get through writer’s block…outline, outline, outline. All through a short that I couldn’t swipe from until about 10 plays later due to doing things away from my phone.
Learning about filter words was very helpful.
3: Writer friends help. I am in loads of different communities and groups and like, if I have an idea, I throw it to the hive mind and they will let me know if it works or not. I know a lot of people bypass this feature, but I must say, it is a handy function. I say I had over 200 ideas last year and only 10 worked. I am glad they are around, it sure saves some awkward misunderstandings.
In my story my characters go on a series of adventures as kids growing up, but as they go through the places they start to see the world and how the rulers are basically making the world a worse place. The first 2 adventures are short and serve as a wake up call for them to take want to take action basically. So I'm not sure if they would count as filler.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!! Love your energy!
Congrats on the new book. I got my pre-ordered copy yesterday. I told myself I would take my time and only read one or two chapters at a time. So, after 4 chapters, I had to stop. I was taking notes, using the workbook and reading all at once. I already have a better grasp of my story in just one day. Thanks for writing the book.
CONGRATULATIONS JENNA! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😂🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
After writing my first draft, I was thankful that I had an idea of where I was going at least. I never wrote an outline, but I had a clear direction for the where the story was heading. The issue was getting there because a lot of it bloated the story. A 56 page chapter is not the best idea. Even with all the fluff, I feel an outline or a defined sense of direction is helpful to not only finish the draft but also see how you can flesh it out. I'm basically planning to rewrite the book to flesh out the concepts, fix the plot holes, and make it better. I am currently taking a break from it because I'm not sure how to go about the second draft, but also for my mental health and to put myself back in the training wheels during school. Currently in Wales studying abroad for creative writing courses.
I love the title! 💜💜💜💜💜
All very good advices. Write what you'd like to read is maybe my favourite. That's what got me to write crime fiction: I was trying my luck on "high" literature and not going anywhere. Then I saw that I spent a lot of my free time reading crime fiction and, while enjoying a lot of it, thought I could write something of my own, with my own twist on the genre.
I'm so particular about everything I ever do (writing or otherwise) that I can't imagine not outlining, and I marvel at the fact that people can even attempt it, let alone end up with a decent final product.
Thank you for you this!❤
I loved your debut novel! I still have it on my shelf! I remember back in my tumblr days, asking you about it & you answered so quickly and kindly!
I have had a few stories living in my head for years now and I never knew how to start, but I think your book on audio sounds like a good plan! (And an Outline! LOL)
Thank you! You're awesome Jenna!
My book just arrived today! I can't wait to start reading it!
In my experience very few published authors write by the seat of their pants. As you discovered, pantsing just creates work down the line. Of course some outlines can be very scanty indeed, and sometimes they're held in the head rather than written down. I think the trick is not feeling constrained by the outline, so you can freely go off-script if needed.
2:45 until video start, your welcome.
Jenna without her hair off to the side = our world shattering 😂
Thanks for the epic tips Jenna. They are fantastic and helpful as always. Although, some of us are pre-ordered book waiting room which will have more awesome advice. Anyone else eagerly waiting theirs?
The only yt channel that I hit the like button before watching the video
This was amazing to listen to and very informative! Thank you!
As a light skinned, black man who's been called white chocolate his entire life, I find people getting offended about comparing skin color to foods extremely silly. Considering most people I know call brown skin caramel makes this funnier. People find everything offensive LoL
I just got the notification that Shut Up and the Write The Book is on the way!!
My copy should arrive today! :)
Hey I'm early (for once) ! I use this opportunity to thank you Jenna. Your videos helped a lot when I had doubt or needed help. They're still useful of course and I note your advice. Plus it helped me improve my english. Thank you very much Jenna.
I need writer friends. Where can I find some?
I ordered shut up and write the book yesterday and I will definitely be reading it when it comes in the mail thank you so much Jenna! 😃
I just received the book, it's excellent so far!
Hurray!!
7:24 I don't understand how that's offensive.
6:53 filter words helped me realize why my rewrite wasn’t flowing.
Thank you! 🙂
I'm working on my debut book. I was going to do horror but I'm going to start with 15th century fantasy that will twist into a new genre steadily as the book goes on.
One thing:
People, or at least me, think about the author all throughout the book. Not in a judgemental way necessarily, sometimes its just "ha! Great pun" and sometimes it's a full analysis of the plot up to there. I'm always thinking about the author.
My rule of thumb is "if it's in the book, the author wanted it there"
I made a throwaway book just to motivate me to write an actual book soooo im a def check this book thats gonna tell me not to procrastinate lol while i procrastinate, joking aside I agree with all your points/advice
I use to not outline and i still dont really. I write my charexters names, their aperences, plot, how much chaoters i want, and if i come uo with somthing i want to write in the book i out it in the outline. I write my books as they go and i work on what i can work on. If one of my wip isnt getting anywhere because i cant get anything i move onto another one of my wip then eventually i get insiration on the differnt one and go write on that one.
Im currently writing a dnd style fluff romance. A tiefling girl leaves behind her abusive paladin family and goes to live and work at a library. She becomes a regular at a fallen Assaimars cafe. Yes I know I can make my own species and stuff and these things are probably copywriter but at this point I'm writing for fun and besides fanfic is how we got the amazing kyoshi books.
Started reading it yesterday (starting from the chapter on the dreaded self-edit, since I'm currently editing my first novel and 5 novellas) OMG I LOVE IT!!! 😁🤗☺ I love how-to books that are informative but fun and funny! Your humor leaps off the page 🙂☺ well worth buying - so, Shut Up and Buy the Book!! ☺☺
Does it count, if you watch youtubers on how to write a book? Regarding adverbs I used "pointed feverishly" to describe a character's action, is that a good use or bad use of "ly"?
Amazing video! Love from Pakistan. What an amazing way of speaking and guiding. My sincerest youtuber!!
I would double down on the point about making sure your source of advice is a quality source. A lot of forums, I'd say almost all of them, are full of unreliable people that are good at sounding like expert opinions. Just because it's in a book does not mean it's a better quality source, I've seen some that have had some pretty awful advice, especially marketing advice.
Haven't had time to start reading it but I start my vacation on Sunday so I'm gonna read it there :D
already have "shut Up and write the book" on my wishlist on audible
Jenna, I love ya, and I'll add to number 8 for ya-to kill your darlings, you first need to consider the backbone structure of your story-your character arc before you even write! So many of us forget about the trajectory of our story and only focus on plot, your external events-those don't matter if they don't matter to your character! So you need to not only first fix plot events that are meant for your character and not for the plot's benefit(because it can and will change), and any filler boils down to whatever doesn't have character agency and/or not developing your novel worthy characters over the course of your story. So remember, don't just slash whatever seems like filler-slash whatever is completely irrelevant to your character!
Preach. Plot is just plot, it's not the story. I think it's easier to bend plot around the characters than characters around the plot. And with easier I mean that I feel the results are better.
It's best to stick to what you want to write and stick to that. I love sci-fi action, so I'm in all about that. However I'm getting into childerns books as well. 😊
AAAHAAAAA I feel so called out on a lot of this XD But it's good to hear and know
Just curious, would a sensitivity editor have said 'children killing children' in hunger games is a no go?
Hi jenna! I am a panster/outliner. Sometimes I become a panster when im stuck on where to take the story and thats why i came so far in doing a outline, although the outline isn't perfect and it needs work. Pansting helps me figure out where to go with the story and coming up with story ideas. 😊
Outline actual scene details as you go. That's a key piece of advice in discovery writing. However, set the road map for where to go in the outline by creating the character arc and plot structure.
@@gamewriteeye769 yeah I just love experimenting by writing and it's a great way to strengthen my imagination , thanks for the tips.
@@vultureiraq1168 Your welcome. We pantsers do what we do to generate ideas and make our authentic characters!
Love your advice so much Jenna so helpful I learn so much your the best teacher ❤
Dear Jenna, In one of your videos you state that E-books need their own ISBNS. Do you still stick to this statement? and if so, where do you put them on the cover? Cheers! a fan!
Great❤❤
When you say, "if it doesnt further the plot then delete it." How strict is that in regards to character building? If I were to have an entire chapter dedicated to the backstory of a character, not my protagonist, but the events portrayed were vital to understanding said character as a person, their personality and motivations... Would that still be a "delete it" scenerio. I ask because I do have a chapter dedicated to a secondary character in my novel. I find the chapter to be emotional and moving and, as stated above, vital to understanding him. I know I could layer that chapter into the story throughout, but the problem is I have many characters and I dont want to repeat the same character building methods. As well as I already have bits of his development sprinkled throughout, I just have a lot to say about him. None of it is useless such as what he had for breakfast on a particular day, its all to further an understanding of him and/or relationships he has with other vital characters.
Proofread your own novel - does it bog down the pace to a crawl right before things get good? Or is it just a deeper insight into a character's mind during some down time? Does it even need to be a chapter's length? How long are your chapters? How do the little actions reflect on his character?
These are questions you need to ask yourself - and you need an editor too
Thank you Jenna! -Silvia NY
Would filter words work if the viewpoint character has a limited ability to perceive what they are trying to see or hear? As in, it calls attention to how it is all that they are able to see and hear.
If they can't perceive it, don't describe it. If the sound is muffled, describe it as muffled. No need to put the POV character between the reader and the writing.
@@BrandonVout Thanks. I was just curious on watching; I don’t know if I would have ever written that way.
I've used them when the action was relevant in the context. Using Jenna's example, it's not the same to write "She saw dancers twirling across the stage" and "She observed the dancers twirling across the stage". Depending on context, the PoV character could be plotting something, trying to not drift asleep, or just lost in all the twirling going on. It is something that's better used with caution, though. It's easy to overuse
"Seductively whispered" would you say this is an example that would be usable due to the descriptive word adding another layer to the manor in which they quietly spoke?
Or would you say break it down so something like "His/Her words gently wrapped around me until I forgot we were standing in the middle of ______" I know I still have the ly 😂🤣 oh well I tried some options that might be ok.
Bought Savior's Champ and Shut up! CAN'T WAIT TO READ!!!
I am struggling so hard with category for my current book. It's an animal fiction book and I want it to be YA (originally, adult or new adult). It handles some pretty dark topics, lots of death, tackles s**cide, and other things ... but man, I don't know if YA or adult animal fiction really exists? Most if not all, including things like Watership down, are considered middle grade and they handle some pretty dark stuff. Like it baffles me to no end watership down is considered /middle grade/???
I know YA or even adult animal fiction is something a lot of people want (myself included), even if it wouldn't be/isn't the most popular genre. I worry I'm putting myself in a corner by writing a dark, serious animal fiction book
I write as I think, outlines don't really do so good for me, because it's hard to write the middle/connection between 2 plots and I've been stuck since Thanksgiving
I pantsed through the first draft of my novel. After reading it, I realized it was horrible lmaoo. Much like Jenna, I was eager to write the story, but clearly that wasn’t enough. Currently working on the outline for it and it’s going much better. I even swapped one of the side characters for the main character, he was just more interesting lol.
I’m writing my first book and I am wondering what website/application is good to use for writing and publishing? I am using Reedsy, and so far I like it. Does anyone else like Reedsy?
Pre-orderinf SUAWTB WAs the best money I've spent in recent months. As we say in BrPt, Jenna is never cold bc she's covered by being right.
Jenna... I got the audiobook version of Shut Up and and Write the book. 👍👍
Also, remember that when looking for an editor, negative reviews can save you a lot of money or make you realize you've found a good editor.
I am getting ur book soon ❤
I just give up on the finding a person to talk to, no one irl or online. Ill just be shocked by the shortcomings once its 1K+ pages...
People I need help! I want character A to befriend character B who hurt character A (the events are like a book year apart and character A found character B on deaths doorstep and stripped of all power character B originally had and character A spared character B and this is pretty much why they became 'friends') because character A thought character B changed but character B later betrays character A. I like how this is set up for now but I want other opinions!
I got to add to your filler point. Don't confuse filler with pacing. If removing an unnecessary moment helps moves the story along, great, but if you remove too many moments that allow readers to slow down and enjoy your characters, you'll have a rushed story and boring npcs. In the end, it's all about balance
You repeat the first ‘tip’ in every video… outlining isn’t for everyone
WOOOOOOOOOO, book release! Congratulations, Jenna! Now then, regular format...
1. I'm going to TRY, I promise. I'm a pantser, or however you spell that, BUUUUUUT, yes, writer's block is a huge problem for me. I've ben going back and cleaning chapters up, but there comes a certain point in the story where I LITERALLY have no idea where it goes after that. The kids get into their second new environment in the course of three months...and then what? Ironically, the one character I struggle most to write (I'm 32, and she's 14, so we don't have much in common: do I go and research child psychology?) is the one giving me the LEEAST blockage in this instance. She's away from her home and her parents, and she's freaking the f*ck out, especially since she (wrongly) sees herself as the cause of all her current problems. Nope, that would be their abusive father ,but Kayla's one of those "it's always and unironically my fault" people. Probably from all the gaslighting.
2. Currently doing just that.
3. Where are we online, please...? I have ONE writer friend IRL.
4. I've been going through on my rewrites and getting rid of these. This really is a pro tip.
5. I think I need one of these, because I'm white, and while, yes, I am Woke, I REALLY don't want to offend anyone, especially considering half of my book's cast is BIPOC. Hell, the hero of the entire series is Indigenous, but I don't get into his actual culture until book two. Which gives me time to research. Anyone know anything about the Seminoles? I mean the ones still living in Florida. I know about the diaspora: the ones forced off their land into Oklahoma. I also know they were among VERY few Nations whose children were not subjected to the residential "schools", because the men had literal wars, and resulting genocides, to defend the children. Genocide NOT GOOD, and trust me, when my boy finds out, he loses his shit.
6. New adult, realistic fiction, MOSTLY a romance thing, at least for book one, but it's also a coming-of-age story for the bulk of the main cast.
7. YOU helped ME do my job, by the way, Jenna. I literally just explained about this to one of my students two days ago. I said to them that they can always use a stronger word instead: "run quickly" is redundant, because running already implies, so "sprint" or "fly" or "bolt" work better. So thanks for that. You're a good teacher.
8. (Rolls up into a ball)...though yes, I've done it, too.
9. CURRENTLY...my editor is my best friend. She's a published author and a far more experienced writer than I am. But editing specifically is not her on-paper job, and I'm also not paying her .Yeah, I MIIIIIIIIIGHT want to find someone else. But does a thing have to have a price tag attached to it to be reputable? The Communist in me says hell no, but Capitalism being what it is, I don't think Canada or America agree with me. Y'all say Canadians are a bunch of Socialists, and nope, sorry, we're just as bad for Capitalism as you guys are. Except we hold the knife to your back, not to your face (i.e. we're sneakier with our political shit than you guys are). For example, a lot of Indigenous reserves (you guys call them reservations) still don't have clean water up here, either. Is this the 21st century, or is it not? But we pretend to support Reconciliation.
10. Why do you think I come here every week? Not to mention my own English degree, and writer's craft credits. But that's purely theoretical, rather than on-the-ground. I hones to Gods need more on-the-ground experience.
Jenna's advice is usually pretty good but she oversimplified the pantser vs plotter thing. Plotting doesn't work for everyone. And even those that do plot are on a varying spectrum. I consider myself a 35%, 65% pantser. A loose outline gives me plenty of wiggle room for new ideas. I think one good way to start to at least know the general ending. Good guys win, bad guys lose but you can always change the way in which in happens.
A tip:
Don’t overwork yourself over your story. Recently I got super hyped over my story. I thought about it all day and lost sleep over it, and the next day I did not want to write at all. I was tired of the characters, the storyline, etc. And I’m still kinda annoyed with my story right now
So don’t go crazy over your story. You’re wasting all of your energy 😐
I need to make writer friends😭 Can't do half of these..
Also the last piece of advice; she's SO "subtle"🤣
I feel the struggle friend 😢
Also yeah that last joke just made me not want to read any more of her novels tbh even Fifty Shades of Grey was a bestseller
Don't mean it's well-written 😂😂
Shut up and write the ebook is not available in my country store ... what should i do ?
I literally cannot write without an outline, all of my books' life is written there ;-;
Where do I make writer friends at
But Jenna, If I write romance, IIII'm going to think I'm cheesy.
I think it’s necessary to get multiple sensitivity readers - not just because one person can’t possibly cover all marginalised groups that might appear in the story, but also because they’re not free from subjective views either.
As an example, there’s an interview between Trevor Noah, an African comedian, and a black British interviewer. She criticises him for comparing skin colour to chocolate, calling his younger brother dark chocolate, himself milk chocolate (cause his father had light skin) and people with fair skin white chocolate. It’s a very interesting argument, having those people who grew up in different societies who both (most likely) experienced racism for their skin colours have such different perspectives on such a comparison as a part of jokes. (Trevor definitely experienced racism, having grown up under the apartheid system, but I don’t know her well, so I’m just guessing.)
It just shows that the experiences and opinions within one group are not necessarily homogeneous, which should be kept in mind when hiring sensitivity readers.
This is so important, thank you so much for mentioning this! I've done some amateur sensitivity reading in the past for friends and colleagues and the preferential selection bias is real: so many writers pick specific people to read their work ahead of time and give them the specific monolithic opinion they are looking for. True sensitivity reading should cover more than the monolith 💗