So many channels tell us writers HOW to write. I love your channel because you don’t. You give us the principles and the tools we need but leave the method and formula up to us. That’s so refreshing. I hope you know just how much this channel has helped me on my writing journey. Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to leave this comment. It really means a lot to me to hear how much my videos have helped you. Good luck on your writing journey! And thank you for watching!
The reframing of conflict as a byproduct of character motivations is something I've heard a lot of people talk about but the way you described the actual, underlying process of writing it is so refreshing! I finally feel like I understand HOW conflict emerges from the structure of a story.
I cannot stress enough how helpful your videos are. The way you explain things in a straightforward, level tone is so relaxing and informative at the same time. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU
Thank you very much! It's really very encouraging to know that my videos are helpful. I have fun making them so it's even more wonderful to hear that they're helpful, too, thank you! And thank you for watching!
Excited to watch this one. Out of all of the story and writing channels I've followed recently, you probably have the best vibe and style. You might already know, but you have the ability to grow this and make this your living if you decide you want that. The content is really good. Excited to see more.
Thank you! I hope you find this video helpful. And thank you for your supporting encouragement, it's lovely to read. I'm definitely excited to make more videos!
I'm working on a novel and have been watching a lot of advice videos and columns that made me feel like I'm doing it 'wrong'. Your videos are a huge breath of fresh air, in how it cuts through the noise and explains things clearly! Your videos gave me the tools and confidence I need to get unstuck, and keep writing!
Thank you so much for commenting! It's so encouraging to hear that my videos have been helping you so much. It really makes my day, truly! I wish you the best of luck on your novel! Thank you for watching!
Oh Wow! I was not expecting this to have been posted only 4 hours ago - stumbled upon this video and it was EXACTLY what I needed. I'm in the process of writing my next book (in a different genre entirely from my debut) and needed help with driving the story forward organically. THANK YOU
i'm not a writer i just make stupid youtube video but these videos are gems, i'm out here writing notes and stuff, you talk about this so interestingly and passionately please don't stop
This is so good! I’ve been looking for someone who explains storytelling in an organic way and doesn’t try to tell me how to write or what my process is supposed to look like. The way you break things down is so easy to follow and makes way more sense than all these vague terms, structures and definitions of how your story is supposed to fit into this ‘mold’. I really hope more writers and creators will find your channel! 📝
This topic was great timing and so clearly explained! The mystery of conflict is no more and I’m so relieved that I don’t have to ‘shoe horn in’ different types just for the sake of it 😊. I got so excited when you mentioned the up coming video in complex stories 😃, that what I’m struggling with at the moment, how to weave all my elements together. Hope you are feeling better, great to see you back ❤
Thank you very much! Yes I am feeling much better, thank you! I am looking forward to making the complex story structure video, but I fear it will probably be a monster of a video!
@ I’m so glad you’re better. I like the idea of a monster video 😉. Your videos have injected so much more enjoyment into my writing, thank you for that. For once, I feel like I kinda know what il doing lol 😂
It was such a pleasant surprise to see that your demonstration was identical to what I had gone through when plotting my project. After all, I applied the principles of mini arcs. And as you said, the conflict was naturally produced when planning narrative goals. Before committing to my project, I had been watching writing videos instead of actually getting things done, and when I tried to, I just stared at a blank document. It was your channel that helped me finally fill that ugly void. For helping me begin my journey, thank you, truly.❤
This was such a joy to read! I'm so glad that my videos have helped you get through those particularly frustrating blank-page phases. I really think that this and the mini-arcs are very intuitive. Once you start thinking of stories in this way, the rest of the structure comes together very naturally. I wish you the best of luck going forward! I hope my videos can continue to help you!
That's wonderful! I think that's such an important thing for a writer to learn. It's so easy to get caught up in everything we're "supposed" to be doing and thinking as we write. But doing the thinking ourselves is the path to becoming truly great writers, I believe. Thank you for watching!
Yet another brilliant video! I feel like I’m finally opening my eyes to what story structure really looks like and it’s seriously invaluable. I’m curious if you have any works published or if you’re planning to, I’d love to read how you implement these tips in your own writing. It’s okay if you don’t, I just always enjoy your demonstration stories and can only imagine what a fully fleshed out version of one would look like. Thanks again!
Thank you very much! I'm a tireless supporter of the structural approach to stories, so I'm particularly heartened to hear that it's been resonating with you as well. I do not have anything published. I've been writing all my life but I've only recently seriously considered publication. I'm about halfway done with a novel that I hope to publish. I divide most of my time between this channel and these videos, and that novel. Thank you very much for watching, and for your interest in my own writing. I hope to be able to present something to all of you in the near future!
The pallete allegory is amazing! Specially to avoid relying on conflicts that arise "by chance" within a scene (and now that I think about it, it helps a lot in maintaining a cohesive sense of progression and interactive elements)
You've honed your craft well enough to describe life and not preach it. That's 1% stuff. Thank you for your stuff always waiting to hear from your videos what you have to offer.
THANK YOU SO MUCH !!! this video was so helpful and it cleared up plenty of problems i've been having with my writing. i've read and watched so many writing advice that emphasized conflict and how it's an _obligation_ that i, as a writer, must insert to make my story worthwhile. and as you said it made my story feel very inorganic and artificial. you put it so simply and eloquently and your concept of mini arcs as well as conflict is so intuitive that i was so giddy getting more ideas for my story while watching your video. instant subscription from me and i'll definitely be watching the rest of your videos !
Ah! I loved reading that you were getting inspired, that really made my whole afternoon! I find that thinking about stories this way really is so intuitive. I personally feel less of a strain on my mind, like I'm no longer forcing it to accept things that don't quite make sense. I'm so glad my video helped you so much! Thank you for watching, and thank you for your support!
This was an amazing video, thank you! I did have a question, though. What do you mean at 9:50 by "conflict for the sake of conflict?" I get that you're trying to say simply adding conflict for no reason is bad, but you later go on to add conflict for no reason into your example at the end with the old man. He is resistance which causes conflict. What about him isn't random "conflict for the sake of conflict"? Thanks!
The old man was conflict serving to resist that arc's narrative goal (obtain the clue). He was built into the structure of that arc. Had I then added, say, a tornado or something that had nothing to do with obtaining the clue, that would have been conflict that didn't resist the narrative goal, just random conflict for the sake of conflict. Conflict for the sake of conflict is random non-structural conflict that just serves to add some sense of discomfort or difficulty. It's a problem if it isn't built into the structure of the story or arc. I hope that's clearer! Thank you for watching!
For a long time I wanted to write but ended up finding ways to avoid it, not that I'm good or anything but I think of it as a hobby because I have tons of those until I decided to go through with it and try again just four months ago and most of the time I feel like I don't know what I'm doing mostly because of the writing content I consume which ends up mudding the waters for me more than clearing or being any help. Until I came across your content and it felt like finding water in the desert, one thing I really like is how you simplify and cut to the chase without all the fancy terms. Much love and respect ❤🙌keep these videos coming 🙌❤️ Oh and there's a typo in your channel description you should probably fix: (pull up a chair) I believe it was.
Wow, thank you so much for this. I do have to laugh, this weekend I was talking to one of our most successful local writers, he told me when he gets bored with his writing he adds a random trouble or eating. I had to make him repeat that. But your information makes so much sense because you’re just saying write better. And here I was thinking all day yesterday, yeah I have to send my character off to eat. Thank you so much for the wise information.
Another stellar video! I'm in awe at how simple you made it. Where did you learn all of this stuff? It boggles my mind that here you are dropping very intuitive and helpful writing advice that I have literally not heard in the heaps of writing books and videos I have consumed for years before finding your channel. I also love the demonstrations you do at the end. Writing is a practical craft, but can be hard to follow someone's example if they don't explain what they're thinking or what they're focusing on. These sections are some of the most valuable sections of your videos. So much so, that I wonder if you'd consider doing capstone videos where you put 'everything we've learned thus far' into practice. I think those videos would be really valuable. Please keep doing what you're doing!
Your explanations are always so clear you're clearing up my head better than any other author on youtube. I have so much advice cluttering my head when I write it trips me up to no end. Also I am once again complementing your taste and examples 🤭 I'm glad NiF is still around and Beyond Evil is the closest I have come to witnessing a perfect show.
Thank you! My biggest goal with every video is to make the concept as clear and simple as humanly possible. I, too, spent way too much time wading through a swamp of conflicting advice from too many sources. I have to agree with you about Beyond Evil. I've watched a lot from all over the world, and I don't think I've ever seen anything that close to perfect. I watched it for the first time last winter, maybe I'm due for a rewatch...
Oh I loved The Guest. Flower of Evil was also pretty incredible. It was almost perfect, too. I was in tears at various points in that one, especially the ending.
@@The-Second-Story Do NOT get me started on that final exorcism in the ocean. Good grief, what a ride. I spent a solid 30 minutes staring at the ceiling after that finale. I'm half way through Flower of Evil right now! I am utterly hooked. You clearly have exquisite taste 👌
Thank you! I'm so glad it's been so helpful! (I've found that if you look for "soup bowls" you can find what are essentially gigantic coffee cups, many of which even include saucers...)
D*mn, Hilary. These videos are pure gold. Excellent presentation of these concepts. Your 'style' 🙂works very well for me. So glad I found you. Very early in my new WIP and these have arrived at the perfect time.
I like your structural approach as I find it able to able to stories and narratives in general, that can be made outside of a purely written form. And these opics in particular are something I was thinking of lately, as I went to prepare a small DnD oneshot, as my first try to being a DM. I can chose a general goal to achieve and the things that will get in the way of the players, but I don't actually want to decide how those conflicts are faced and overcome. That's the fun part for players to decide. But to make the oneshot truly interesting, figuring out the conflicts will be key. In DnD, it's easy to throw some monsters encounter and call it a day. Some adventure narratives do allow that easily, but for something a little more story heavy, that woud get boring way too fast. I hadn't realized tension was mostly due to style. I believed if the reader felt apprehension about whether or not the conflict could be resolved, you'd have tension. Meaning it will be about how the abilities of the character and the danger are presented. So I though it was more about exposing those elements and making them believable. If balanced right, I thought tension would naturally happen. Is there more to it? Or is that wrong? How does style come into play with this? (sorry if these are dumb questions or I'm totally misunderstanding something)
If I could like this ten times, I would like this ten times ten times ten, and then I would like it again. I appreciate the gist in general, super appreciate the caution towards steering style, and am personally grateful besides to have another axis to be cognisant of when writing. This is the chief difference between my World, about which I have no doubts at all, and my side gig… which became comparatively more immediately ‘successful’ (in that people read it and generally seem to like it). But I now have a better idea of why it’s problematic to write in a way my other works just aren’t: my other stories have an ironclad basis that is narrow in scope and complete in focus, with the conflict inherent to it from conception to ending: often fully encapsulated within the title itself. My side project is…. Not so, and it is for a very simple reason: while that conflict is baked into the title and continues to be the source… it is also much broader and is absent the literal years of preliminary setup my other stories first necessitated. So… the conflict may still well apply, but I haven’t explored the subject in a fraction so much depth, and it reflects in the tension: that it isn’t a riveting read, just a ‘bit of fun’. Thank you for the video, I hope you are having a lovely day.
This concept was far easier to tackle than I thought it'd be. Once again, you've really helped me understand more about storytelling! (You've been my go-to for writing advice haha) I'm hoping to see a video about world-building sooner or later. One question I have about it is should I do the worldbuilding before or during the first draft? I've been wanting to write a fantasy story but I'm not sure how to start with it. Do I consider the plot-relevant things first and whatnot and go from there?
Ah, that's so good to hear, I'm so glad I was able to get the concept across in a way that was clear and understandable! I do really, really want to do a video(s) on worldbuilding. I love that part of storytelling so much. Just for right now, though, I will say that doing some worldbuilding first is going to help you but you will be doing a LOT more while you're writing your first draft. And you'll want to keep detailed notes to ensure you maintain consistency. There are a million different approaches to worldbuilding, so just try not to overthink the process too much. I do really want to make a video about this in the near future, thank you for the suggestion!
Great video, well done. There is something I would add though that seems to separate great stories from good or okay ones. That is, the great stories find ways of making the conflict challenge the protagonist's LIE (that is to say the "false" belief they need to overcome to complete their character arc). As the character moves closer to the final climax, the conflicts they face will challenge the protagonist's LIE more and more until at the final climax, the conflict will force the protagonist to face that LIE head on to complete their character arc. [SPOILERS for Aladdin and The Godfather part I] An example of a positive character arc when this happens is Disney's cartoon Aladdin, when the challenges Aladdin faces forced im more and more to face his LIE that "he can only find love and happiness by pretending to be an idealised version of himself (Prince Ali)." This escalates until at the end he confronts and overcomes this LIE and frees the genie, giving up his dream of being a prince and marrying his true love. An example of a negative character arc when this happens is The Godfather, where Michael Corleone faces conflicts that push him to face his LIE that his father is evil and he would never become a villain like him, until at the very end, the climatic final conflict forces Michael to become something maybe even worse than his father. The ultimate Godfather. Great stories find ways to make the conflicts challenge the protagonist's LIE and push them towards their character arcs.
Very interesting video. I'm trying to create the base for a story idea I'm having and this is an issue I've wondered a lot about. Somehow trying to push some conflict into my story just didn't feel right with what i want to do with my story, so it's been a bit of a block trying to find something that works and with what you explained, i realized that some of it is already there Regarding character goal, how precise do you get? Is "solve key mystery" good enough? One show i sometimes think about regarding this is dirk gentlys holistic detective agency. For several episodes it's not really clear what's going on, but it's the same for the characters and somehow it's still very engaging. Some characters do have very clear goals, but other main characters feel like they are just going with the randomness. However the overall narrative does feel like there's a clear goal that's set already in the first few minutes
You have to remember when you're studying other stories, especially mysteries, that even though you the audience don't know what's going on, the writer definitely does. Mysteries or investigations make it a little less necessary to ensure the audience knows the overall goal at all times. Because the goal might give away too much. But you the writer need to know. Especially with overall goals. The characters might not yet know enough to know what goal they're going to eventually form. But that doesn't mean they don't have smaller goals in the mini-arcs leading up to that point. Those smaller goals and those smaller arcs are what allows the story to be engaging even if the audience doesn't yet know what's going on. That said, you the writer need to know what that ultimate goal is. If your character's ultimate goal is to solve a murder, but it takes a little bit for him to even know that a murder has been committed, you the writer still need to know that. Because you need to build the action leading up to the murder in a very deliberate way, so the character's actions don't seem too random. Does that make sense? If you know he's eventually going to have to solve a murder then you will be better able to guide the story there. And you can use mini-arcs to build the whole story, but especially the build up to the part where the ultimate goal is clear to the character. That will make it more engaging to the audience. I hope that helps! Thank you for watching!
I'm probably going to do that one next, since it was the other choice in the poll. I look forward to it, as well. It's such a fun, interesting topic. Thanks for watching!
Is it possible to have a section of a story or chapter without conflict? Like those cozy genre stories or parts of slice of life anime.. I'm just curious
I suppose it's possible, but I do think even stories like that have conflict. For instance if a character who owns a coffee shop comes into the shop one morning to find that his coffee maker doesn't work, he now has the goal to fix it. Maybe his budget is the resistance, or time (if it's going to take days to find the right part) etc. Maybe a young woman has a mini-arc with a goal to make a beautiful dinner for her family. The resistance is really minor, maybe just limited ingredients. If it's cozy then the amount of resistance will probably be a lot less and there will be very little tension. But I'd guess that most or all of the time there is "conflict" in one form or another. Thank you for watching!
As far as balancing conflict, this sounds good in regards to a hero or heroine, but what about an anti-hero? Part of the fun of anti-heroes is just how dismal their predicament is, and providing them with some kind of harmony seems to me to undermine the attraction to anti-heroes in the first place. Am I wrong? Is there a way to not overload an anti-hero with conflict and yet somehow give them enough that they can have heroic moments without being too goody two shoes?
Are you referring to a morally gray protagonist? (I think of anti-heroes as something different from morally gray characters) I think giving bleak, troubled characters some kind of harmony is an incredibly effective way to really highlight their misery, if that's something you, the writer, want to do. Show the reader the light in that character's life and then show the character still alone in the dark in spite of it, often by their own choice. More than that, it can give that character something to lose. As a really simple example, think of Bruce Wayne and Alfred. But ultimately it's up to you. I'm not the boss. You can withhold any and all light or harmony from your character if you want to. That's all up to you, at the end of the day. (Thanks for watching!)
@@The-Second-Story Yes, I am referring to morally grey protagonists who typically act out of self-fulfillment or necessity, and not from a heroic motivation, but who, nonetheless, perform heroic acts (though they wouldn't refer to themselves as heroic). I think I have some ideas of how to accomplish what I asked in my original question, but I'm concerned that showing too much light undermines the mood of the story (there isn't much light in this character's life to begin with, and the society they live in pretty much forbids it). But maybe I'm overthinking it. I'll watch the video again, and then again.
@kahwigulum You could also think of it like something that lessens the resistance, so a strength or a person they can rely on to help in a pinch, even if it's not necessarily a friend. It doesn't have to be "light," it could just be something that makes them more able to push against the resistance to their goal.
Steohen King said he has the heart of a little boy . . . "I keep it in a jar on my desk." You, have a skull. Does this supporting character have a name? :)
Of course it isn't complicated. Why do you think the drama genre dominates the Netflix and Hulu polls? Because it's easy to write, plot holes can just be paved over with ease and it produces a cheap yet ecstatic sensation for the asinine reader/viewer. If you overload the peasant's brain with drama, they'll get addicted without a second thought. They won't even be able to explain what they like about it; only the reality resounds, as an echo, that they're plainly addicted to chaos. Because people who like drama programs tend to also not like animation or surrealism. Life is less about meaning and more about reaction to them. And reacting is so easy. Our entire culture is based on id-iocy - the act of operating only from the reactive *id* part of the mind.
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So many channels tell us writers HOW to write. I love your channel because you don’t. You give us the principles and the tools we need but leave the method and formula up to us. That’s so refreshing. I hope you know just how much this channel has helped me on my writing journey. Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to leave this comment. It really means a lot to me to hear how much my videos have helped you. Good luck on your writing journey! And thank you for watching!
Yesss I freaking love her and all her uploads
She makes writing very comprehensive ❤
This exactly! All of her uploads have been superb! She's been giving the tools, not the instruction manual, to better writing!
Oh my, frfr I'll probably check her other videos after this
MY SHOW IS ONN
I'm not the only one who makes an evening of watching Hillary's new videos! 😁
The reframing of conflict as a byproduct of character motivations is something I've heard a lot of people talk about but the way you described the actual, underlying process of writing it is so refreshing! I finally feel like I understand HOW conflict emerges from the structure of a story.
I'm so glad I could explain it in a way that was understandable and clear. I'm never completely sure... Thank you for watching!
SHE IS SO AWESOME!
I never clicked on a video so fast in my life. This is exactly what I needed right now.
I cannot stress enough how helpful your videos are. The way you explain things in a straightforward, level tone is so relaxing and informative at the same time. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU
Thank you very much! It's really very encouraging to know that my videos are helpful. I have fun making them so it's even more wonderful to hear that they're helpful, too, thank you! And thank you for watching!
Fully agree!!!
Excited to watch this one. Out of all of the story and writing channels I've followed recently, you probably have the best vibe and style.
You might already know, but you have the ability to grow this and make this your living if you decide you want that. The content is really good. Excited to see more.
Thank you! I hope you find this video helpful. And thank you for your supporting encouragement, it's lovely to read. I'm definitely excited to make more videos!
I'm working on a novel and have been watching a lot of advice videos and columns that made me feel like I'm doing it 'wrong'. Your videos are a huge breath of fresh air, in how it cuts through the noise and explains things clearly! Your videos gave me the tools and confidence I need to get unstuck, and keep writing!
Thank you so much for commenting! It's so encouraging to hear that my videos have been helping you so much. It really makes my day, truly! I wish you the best of luck on your novel! Thank you for watching!
Your interludes featuring multiple poses and lots of coffee keep me rolling.
Oh Wow! I was not expecting this to have been posted only 4 hours ago - stumbled upon this video and it was EXACTLY what I needed. I'm in the process of writing my next book (in a different genre entirely from my debut) and needed help with driving the story forward organically. THANK YOU
Ah, what perfect timing! I hope this can help you with your new book. Good luck and happy writing! Thank you for watching!
i'm not a writer i just make stupid youtube video but these videos are gems, i'm out here writing notes and stuff, you talk about this so interestingly and passionately please don't stop
I intend to keep making videos as long as people keep watching them! Thank you!
I watched one of your videos a while back but dont renemver which one. Probably the infinity
Perfect timing, I just finished rewatching your other videos for the third time, so grateful for your content!
Same, anytime I just get stuck i just go and rewatch the videos
This is so good! I’ve been looking for someone who explains storytelling in an organic way and doesn’t try to tell me how to write or what my process is supposed to look like.
The way you break things down is so easy to follow and makes way more sense than all these vague terms, structures and definitions of how your story is supposed to fit into this ‘mold’.
I really hope more writers and creators will find your channel! 📝
This topic was great timing and so clearly explained! The mystery of conflict is no more and I’m so relieved that I don’t have to ‘shoe horn in’ different types just for the sake of it 😊. I got so excited when you mentioned the up coming video in complex stories 😃, that what I’m struggling with at the moment, how to weave all my elements together. Hope you are feeling better, great to see you back ❤
Thank you very much! Yes I am feeling much better, thank you! I am looking forward to making the complex story structure video, but I fear it will probably be a monster of a video!
@ I’m so glad you’re better. I like the idea of a monster video 😉. Your videos have injected so much more enjoyment into my writing, thank you for that. For once, I feel like I kinda know what il doing lol 😂
39:20 of pure knowledge. Thank you!
Thank YOU for watching!
@The-Second-Story you are so welcome!!
It was such a pleasant surprise to see that your demonstration was identical to what I had gone through when plotting my project. After all, I applied the principles of mini arcs. And as you said, the conflict was naturally produced when planning narrative goals.
Before committing to my project, I had been watching writing videos instead of actually getting things done, and when I tried to, I just stared at a blank document. It was your channel that helped me finally fill that ugly void.
For helping me begin my journey, thank you, truly.❤
This was such a joy to read! I'm so glad that my videos have helped you get through those particularly frustrating blank-page phases. I really think that this and the mini-arcs are very intuitive. Once you start thinking of stories in this way, the rest of the structure comes together very naturally. I wish you the best of luck going forward! I hope my videos can continue to help you!
I found your first video on pacing in my FYP, you've helped my story a bunch. THANK YOU!
I'm so glad my videos have been helping with your story! Good luck with your writing, and thanks for watching!
You are like the calmest author who gives such good tips. I love it. I can keep on watching you for hours. It calms my mind.✨
Oh I didn't realize my videos could also be calming, that's so nice to hear! Thank you!
I like watching you because you inspire me to think for myself
That's wonderful! I think that's such an important thing for a writer to learn. It's so easy to get caught up in everything we're "supposed" to be doing and thinking as we write. But doing the thinking ourselves is the path to becoming truly great writers, I believe. Thank you for watching!
I think good conflict is also related to honesty in writing - being real, digging deep, unflinching in facing our deepest fears or shadows.
Yet another brilliant video! I feel like I’m finally opening my eyes to what story structure really looks like and it’s seriously invaluable.
I’m curious if you have any works published or if you’re planning to, I’d love to read how you implement these tips in your own writing. It’s okay if you don’t, I just always enjoy your demonstration stories and can only imagine what a fully fleshed out version of one would look like. Thanks again!
Thank you very much! I'm a tireless supporter of the structural approach to stories, so I'm particularly heartened to hear that it's been resonating with you as well.
I do not have anything published. I've been writing all my life but I've only recently seriously considered publication. I'm about halfway done with a novel that I hope to publish. I divide most of my time between this channel and these videos, and that novel.
Thank you very much for watching, and for your interest in my own writing. I hope to be able to present something to all of you in the near future!
Ty sm for doing my request 😭🙏🏿
New Second Story let's gooooo!!!
The pallete allegory is amazing! Specially to avoid relying on conflicts that arise "by chance" within a scene (and now that I think about it, it helps a lot in maintaining a cohesive sense of progression and interactive elements)
Your simplicity in making something most teachers have made complex, is incredible. I suddenly feel lightheaded about this.
Thank you so much 🙏🏼
I'm really glad I was able to make it so clear and understandable! Thank you very much for watching!
You've honed your craft well enough to describe life and not preach it. That's 1% stuff. Thank you for your stuff always waiting to hear from your videos what you have to offer.
THANK YOU SO MUCH !!! this video was so helpful and it cleared up plenty of problems i've been having with my writing. i've read and watched so many writing advice that emphasized conflict and how it's an _obligation_ that i, as a writer, must insert to make my story worthwhile. and as you said it made my story feel very inorganic and artificial. you put it so simply and eloquently and your concept of mini arcs as well as conflict is so intuitive that i was so giddy getting more ideas for my story while watching your video.
instant subscription from me and i'll definitely be watching the rest of your videos !
Ah! I loved reading that you were getting inspired, that really made my whole afternoon! I find that thinking about stories this way really is so intuitive. I personally feel less of a strain on my mind, like I'm no longer forcing it to accept things that don't quite make sense. I'm so glad my video helped you so much! Thank you for watching, and thank you for your support!
This was an amazing video, thank you!
I did have a question, though. What do you mean at 9:50 by "conflict for the sake of conflict?" I get that you're trying to say simply adding conflict for no reason is bad, but you later go on to add conflict for no reason into your example at the end with the old man. He is resistance which causes conflict. What about him isn't random "conflict for the sake of conflict"?
Thanks!
The old man was conflict serving to resist that arc's narrative goal (obtain the clue). He was built into the structure of that arc. Had I then added, say, a tornado or something that had nothing to do with obtaining the clue, that would have been conflict that didn't resist the narrative goal, just random conflict for the sake of conflict. Conflict for the sake of conflict is random non-structural conflict that just serves to add some sense of discomfort or difficulty. It's a problem if it isn't built into the structure of the story or arc. I hope that's clearer! Thank you for watching!
SO EXCITED TO SEE FROM U 🖤🖤🖤
Thank you! Had some major aha moments even after all the craft books I’ve crammed!🎉
Oh I love those aha moments! I'm so glad I could help provide a few! Thank you for watching (and for commenting!)
For a long time I wanted to write but ended up finding ways to avoid it, not that I'm good or anything but I think of it as a hobby because I have tons of those until I decided to go through with it and try again just four months ago and most of the time I feel like I don't know what I'm doing mostly because of the writing content I consume which ends up mudding the waters for me more than clearing or being any help. Until I came across your content and it felt like finding water in the desert, one thing I really like is how you simplify and cut to the chase without all the fancy terms. Much love and respect ❤🙌keep these videos coming 🙌❤️
Oh and there's a typo in your channel description you should probably fix: (pull up a chair) I believe it was.
Wow, thank you so much for this. I do have to laugh, this weekend I was talking to one of our most successful local writers, he told me when he gets bored with his writing he adds a random trouble or eating. I had to make him repeat that. But your information makes so much sense because you’re just saying write better. And here I was thinking all day yesterday, yeah I have to send my character off to eat. Thank you so much for the wise information.
Oooh, been excited for the next instalment! Thank you 😊
Thank you so so much
More illuminating excellence. Thank You.
Another stellar video! I'm in awe at how simple you made it. Where did you learn all of this stuff? It boggles my mind that here you are dropping very intuitive and helpful writing advice that I have literally not heard in the heaps of writing books and videos I have consumed for years before finding your channel.
I also love the demonstrations you do at the end. Writing is a practical craft, but can be hard to follow someone's example if they don't explain what they're thinking or what they're focusing on. These sections are some of the most valuable sections of your videos. So much so, that I wonder if you'd consider doing capstone videos where you put 'everything we've learned thus far' into practice. I think those videos would be really valuable.
Please keep doing what you're doing!
Thank you!
Sincerely thank you so much for all your videos!
i love your videos, they really help me with writing
Another great video. Thank you for putting these together!
Your explanations are always so clear you're clearing up my head better than any other author on youtube. I have so much advice cluttering my head when I write it trips me up to no end.
Also I am once again complementing your taste and examples 🤭 I'm glad NiF is still around and Beyond Evil is the closest I have come to witnessing a perfect show.
Thank you! My biggest goal with every video is to make the concept as clear and simple as humanly possible. I, too, spent way too much time wading through a swamp of conflicting advice from too many sources.
I have to agree with you about Beyond Evil. I've watched a lot from all over the world, and I don't think I've ever seen anything that close to perfect. I watched it for the first time last winter, maybe I'm due for a rewatch...
@@The-Second-Story I think I, too, might be due a rewatch. Besides 2018's The Guest, it's the only show to ever leave me in tears after the finale.
Oh I loved The Guest. Flower of Evil was also pretty incredible. It was almost perfect, too. I was in tears at various points in that one, especially the ending.
@@The-Second-Story Do NOT get me started on that final exorcism in the ocean. Good grief, what a ride. I spent a solid 30 minutes staring at the ceiling after that finale.
I'm half way through Flower of Evil right now! I am utterly hooked. You clearly have exquisite taste 👌
I also need to rewatch The Guest...
I'm so envious! I wish I could rewatch Flower of Evil for the first time. I hope you enjoy that one!
Yet another excellent video that is so helpful! Thank you for posting these!
Thank you for watching them! I'm just glad they've been so helpful! That makes all the work more than worth it!
I really appreciate your help.
Thank you so much. This educate me 🙇
Finally, it's out. Been waiting for this video since forever
I want that coffee cup, lol. Just the right size.
Thank you for sharing your insight. It's extraordinarily helpful.
Thank you! I'm so glad it's been so helpful!
(I've found that if you look for "soup bowls" you can find what are essentially gigantic coffee cups, many of which even include saucers...)
Amazing as usual
YEAH I was waiting EVERYDAY for your video
YOU ARE SO AWESOME!
thank you for another great and incredibly helpful video, red headed knowledge goddess
This is lifechangingly useful advice!! Thank you!! Commenting for the algorithm gods 😂❤
Thank you! (And thank you for your support, it really means a lot!)
D*mn, Hilary. These videos are pure gold. Excellent presentation of these concepts. Your 'style' 🙂works very well for me. So glad I found you. Very early in my new WIP and these have arrived at the perfect time.
Thank you! I'm glad you found my videos at such a perfect time! Good luck your WIP, and thank you for watching!
I agree when I think of my story conflict Is already baked in the conflict is the mountain of resistance in between my characters and their goal
I like your structural approach as I find it able to able to stories and narratives in general, that can be made outside of a purely written form. And these opics in particular are something I was thinking of lately, as I went to prepare a small DnD oneshot, as my first try to being a DM. I can chose a general goal to achieve and the things that will get in the way of the players, but I don't actually want to decide how those conflicts are faced and overcome. That's the fun part for players to decide.
But to make the oneshot truly interesting, figuring out the conflicts will be key. In DnD, it's easy to throw some monsters encounter and call it a day. Some adventure narratives do allow that easily, but for something a little more story heavy, that woud get boring way too fast.
I hadn't realized tension was mostly due to style. I believed if the reader felt apprehension about whether or not the conflict could be resolved, you'd have tension. Meaning it will be about how the abilities of the character and the danger are presented. So I though it was more about exposing those elements and making them believable. If balanced right, I thought tension would naturally happen. Is there more to it? Or is that wrong? How does style come into play with this? (sorry if these are dumb questions or I'm totally misunderstanding something)
I've been waiting for you Mrs. Story
If I could like this ten times, I would like this ten times ten times ten, and then I would like it again.
I appreciate the gist in general, super appreciate the caution towards steering style, and am personally grateful besides to have another axis to be cognisant of when writing.
This is the chief difference between my World, about which I have no doubts at all, and my side gig… which became comparatively more immediately ‘successful’ (in that people read it and generally seem to like it).
But I now have a better idea of why it’s problematic to write in a way my other works just aren’t: my other stories have an ironclad basis that is narrow in scope and complete in focus, with the conflict inherent to it from conception to ending: often fully encapsulated within the title itself.
My side project is…. Not so, and it is for a very simple reason: while that conflict is baked into the title and continues to be the source… it is also much broader and is absent the literal years of preliminary setup my other stories first necessitated.
So… the conflict may still well apply, but I haven’t explored the subject in a fraction so much depth, and it reflects in the tension: that it isn’t a riveting read, just a ‘bit of fun’.
Thank you for the video, I hope you are having a lovely day.
I’ve been bing watching your videos thank you truly for these gold nuggets of info❤❤
Thank you! I'm really glad they've been so helpful! Thank you so much for watching!
Another great video. Thanks!!!!
Your channel is awesome, keep posting!
Thank you very much! I'll keep making videos as long as people keep watching them!
Most applicable advice, at least to me
This concept was far easier to tackle than I thought it'd be. Once again, you've really helped me understand more about storytelling! (You've been my go-to for writing advice haha)
I'm hoping to see a video about world-building sooner or later. One question I have about it is should I do the worldbuilding before or during the first draft? I've been wanting to write a fantasy story but I'm not sure how to start with it. Do I consider the plot-relevant things first and whatnot and go from there?
Ah, that's so good to hear, I'm so glad I was able to get the concept across in a way that was clear and understandable!
I do really, really want to do a video(s) on worldbuilding. I love that part of storytelling so much. Just for right now, though, I will say that doing some worldbuilding first is going to help you but you will be doing a LOT more while you're writing your first draft. And you'll want to keep detailed notes to ensure you maintain consistency. There are a million different approaches to worldbuilding, so just try not to overthink the process too much. I do really want to make a video about this in the near future, thank you for the suggestion!
You are amazing and useful for me. Very nice and Thanks
Great video, well done. There is something I would add though that seems to separate great stories from good or okay ones. That is, the great stories find ways of making the conflict challenge the protagonist's LIE (that is to say the "false" belief they need to overcome to complete their character arc). As the character moves closer to the final climax, the conflicts they face will challenge the protagonist's LIE more and more until at the final climax, the conflict will force the protagonist to face that LIE head on to complete their character arc.
[SPOILERS for Aladdin and The Godfather part I]
An example of a positive character arc when this happens is Disney's cartoon Aladdin, when the challenges Aladdin faces forced im more and more to face his LIE that "he can only find love and happiness by pretending to be an idealised version of himself (Prince Ali)." This escalates until at the end he confronts and overcomes this LIE and frees the genie, giving up his dream of being a prince and marrying his true love.
An example of a negative character arc when this happens is The Godfather, where Michael Corleone faces conflicts that push him to face his LIE that his father is evil and he would never become a villain like him, until at the very end, the climatic final conflict forces Michael to become something maybe even worse than his father. The ultimate Godfather.
Great stories find ways to make the conflicts challenge the protagonist's LIE and push them towards their character arcs.
Very interesting video.
I'm trying to create the base for a story idea I'm having and this is an issue I've wondered a lot about. Somehow trying to push some conflict into my story just didn't feel right with what i want to do with my story, so it's been a bit of a block trying to find something that works and with what you explained, i realized that some of it is already there
Regarding character goal, how precise do you get? Is "solve key mystery" good enough? One show i sometimes think about regarding this is dirk gentlys holistic detective agency. For several episodes it's not really clear what's going on, but it's the same for the characters and somehow it's still very engaging. Some characters do have very clear goals, but other main characters feel like they are just going with the randomness. However the overall narrative does feel like there's a clear goal that's set already in the first few minutes
You have to remember when you're studying other stories, especially mysteries, that even though you the audience don't know what's going on, the writer definitely does. Mysteries or investigations make it a little less necessary to ensure the audience knows the overall goal at all times. Because the goal might give away too much. But you the writer need to know. Especially with overall goals. The characters might not yet know enough to know what goal they're going to eventually form. But that doesn't mean they don't have smaller goals in the mini-arcs leading up to that point. Those smaller goals and those smaller arcs are what allows the story to be engaging even if the audience doesn't yet know what's going on. That said, you the writer need to know what that ultimate goal is. If your character's ultimate goal is to solve a murder, but it takes a little bit for him to even know that a murder has been committed, you the writer still need to know that. Because you need to build the action leading up to the murder in a very deliberate way, so the character's actions don't seem too random. Does that make sense? If you know he's eventually going to have to solve a murder then you will be better able to guide the story there. And you can use mini-arcs to build the whole story, but especially the build up to the part where the ultimate goal is clear to the character. That will make it more engaging to the audience.
I hope that helps! Thank you for watching!
I love how sassy you are with the coffee lol
Good stuff. Many thanks.
Oh hiiiii my queen is back
thank you queen 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks for the video. Will love to hear your take on dialogue when you get the chance.
I'm probably going to do that one next, since it was the other choice in the poll. I look forward to it, as well. It's such a fun, interesting topic. Thanks for watching!
❤
Love your channel!
Thank you!
Subscribed 🎉 as I sense your explanation doesn't push my brain into Limbo.
Thank you very much for your support!
YES ANOTHER VIDEO FROM HILARY DROPPED LETS GO
liking asap 🔥🔥
Is it possible to have a section of a story or chapter without conflict? Like those cozy genre stories or parts of slice of life anime.. I'm just curious
I suppose it's possible, but I do think even stories like that have conflict. For instance if a character who owns a coffee shop comes into the shop one morning to find that his coffee maker doesn't work, he now has the goal to fix it. Maybe his budget is the resistance, or time (if it's going to take days to find the right part) etc. Maybe a young woman has a mini-arc with a goal to make a beautiful dinner for her family. The resistance is really minor, maybe just limited ingredients. If it's cozy then the amount of resistance will probably be a lot less and there will be very little tension. But I'd guess that most or all of the time there is "conflict" in one form or another.
Thank you for watching!
@The-Second-Story Appreciate you
YAY NEW VIDEO
As far as balancing conflict, this sounds good in regards to a hero or heroine, but what about an anti-hero? Part of the fun of anti-heroes is just how dismal their predicament is, and providing them with some kind of harmony seems to me to undermine the attraction to anti-heroes in the first place. Am I wrong? Is there a way to not overload an anti-hero with conflict and yet somehow give them enough that they can have heroic moments without being too goody two shoes?
Are you referring to a morally gray protagonist? (I think of anti-heroes as something different from morally gray characters) I think giving bleak, troubled characters some kind of harmony is an incredibly effective way to really highlight their misery, if that's something you, the writer, want to do. Show the reader the light in that character's life and then show the character still alone in the dark in spite of it, often by their own choice. More than that, it can give that character something to lose. As a really simple example, think of Bruce Wayne and Alfred. But ultimately it's up to you. I'm not the boss. You can withhold any and all light or harmony from your character if you want to. That's all up to you, at the end of the day.
(Thanks for watching!)
@@The-Second-Story Yes, I am referring to morally grey protagonists who typically act out of self-fulfillment or necessity, and not from a heroic motivation, but who, nonetheless, perform heroic acts (though they wouldn't refer to themselves as heroic). I think I have some ideas of how to accomplish what I asked in my original question, but I'm concerned that showing too much light undermines the mood of the story (there isn't much light in this character's life to begin with, and the society they live in pretty much forbids it). But maybe I'm overthinking it. I'll watch the video again, and then again.
@kahwigulum You could also think of it like something that lessens the resistance, so a strength or a person they can rely on to help in a pinch, even if it's not necessarily a friend. It doesn't have to be "light," it could just be something that makes them more able to push against the resistance to their goal.
your videos make me want to drink coffee
I absolutely support this!
Steohen King said he has the heart of a little boy . . . "I keep it in a jar on my desk."
You, have a skull. Does this supporting character have a name? :)
He does indeed! That's Otto, my desk skull. He's been with me for many, many years. Quite happy to see him getting some love as well!
@@The-Second-Story Love it! He talks to you, doesn't he? I get it. ")
That I will neither confirm nor deny!
hello ottoo
Of course it isn't complicated. Why do you think the drama genre dominates the Netflix and Hulu polls? Because it's easy to write, plot holes can just be paved over with ease and it produces a cheap yet ecstatic sensation for the asinine reader/viewer.
If you overload the peasant's brain with drama, they'll get addicted without a second thought. They won't even be able to explain what they like about it; only the reality resounds, as an echo, that they're plainly addicted to chaos.
Because people who like drama programs tend to also not like animation or surrealism. Life is less about meaning and more about reaction to them.
And reacting is so easy. Our entire culture is based on id-iocy - the act of operating only from the reactive *id* part of the mind.