I'm V A Winter, an indie author writing about the people that history vilifies, misrepresents, and forgets. On this channel, I vlog about my writing process, the books I'm reading, and talk about representation in literature and culture.
Oops, I didn't think I'd write a comment on almost every video you make. Description is my weak point. Definitely. You said a lot that made me think. I have so much to edit in the future. At this point I'm looking forward to it. Years ago, when I was writing really short stories (not the way you use in english a short story.. something like drabble?), editing and polishing were my favorites. (it is difficult to translate thoughts that "do not conform to the rules for me".... (if you manage to finish reading, it will become clear, I hope). Example (english= finnish): Novel= Romaani, Novella= Pienoisromaani, Short story = Novelli (direct translation, by word to word would be "lyhyt tarina", And if "lyhyt tarina" would be translated as a "short story", it would be longer than finnish short story... kind of...) and I don't know how short is drabble, is it too short or too long :D Sorry for getting off topic so I better focus about tomorrow and go to sleep.
Dialpgue punctuation marks are different in english than finnish (we also write the names of the languages with a small initial letter). We would write it: "I'm hungry," Liv said: "Let's get something to eat." I have to struggle with how to cut off longer dialogue sections so that people have time to breathe. Also my speech simulation, ergo (? wierd word, does anyone even use it?) dialogue, might be too much like people's actually speak. But it's because when the characters don't want to talk about certain things, they try by all means to distract the other person without going into topics that are unpleasant to them. Well, this is something that needs to be edited and polished many times in my manuscript.
I just came back from the festival. Now, finally, I'm writing a comment on your video with the after energy from the festivals. ... And the long answer disappeared a moment ago almost completely into bit space... a bit frustrated... ... I once decided to write my current story first because I felt it was the "easiest" of the stories in my head. Anyway, my story is about two lonely outsiders who become friends. The second, bigger main character is quiet, shy and introverted. Another slightly smaller main character covers his insecurities by being wild and fierce, but he is cute. The story includes elements of fantasy. I have a lot of doubts about the story. Since the biggest main character is quiet and makes herself smaller in the company of others, is she an interesting enough character when the other one is so loud? At least in the beginning, she shrinks herself. But I need to find something that makes the character stand out more. In a way, I have found, but does it appear as strong to others? I also wonder if the plot is enough. Secondly, I don't want the side characters to "just wait in the closet" until they are needed to push the main characters forward, so they actually have their own hero journeys that are not followed closely. Therefore, these characters, through their "secret" agenda, come to disturb the characters and therefore the subtext becomes important. Some may think that these parts of the story are unnecessary, but I think the whole thing is thinned out if their journey is left out. It's also hard for me to explain and defend certain elements when the story isn't ready, so I can show the reasons why there is what's there. And I have a lot of doubts myself about the journeys and so on. I have also struggled after the darkest moment of the second main character. The first main characters darkest moment is also coming soon. I feel like I've lost the power to write. It has barely progressed at all for over two weeks. Anyway, I understand what you were talking about in the video. Time to go to bed now that I've typed this twice. I'll watch the other videos later.
Absolutely wonderful video. This is spot on for writing description. The goal is never to force YOUR vision of the world to the reader, but to allow them to build the world in THEIR image. Give them a few seeds, but only where necessary. And bonus points if you can do it in a way that makes the reader believe you DID write all the description they see in their head. Usually, my description involves things that will be relevant to plot, things that are foreign to the reader (such as a fantasy race or feature), and things that define the characters or tone in the setting. When readers put in the imaginative work with only a little nudge from the writer, they are far more likely to get completely immersed and have an emotional connection with the story. It then becomes THEIR story as well, and that is the ultimate compliment to a writer (in my opinion, of course). I've been practicing and studying the art and craft of writing daily for the past 38 years and this video is probably the best one I have seen on this topic. VERY well done! Your examples are lovely, and I will absolutely be looking for your book when it is out!
Do you mean the voice on the page? So your style, in a sense? If so, honestly, a lot of it is practice. Reading widely, in different genres and styles. I've personally also found reading (and writing) poetry helpful, as poetry uses language in interesting ways. Practice a lot, and analyse the books and work that you're reading, look at the sentences you like and think about what the author/writer is doing. I might do a video on this at some point 🤔
I actually hate English commas. Here in Finland there are different rules and I try very hard not to use commas when I write in English :D Because we have a lot more of them here and I tend to use subordinate clauses more than people usually do. So it is said that when writing in English, if you are in doubt about using a comma, don't use it. I doubt it all the time. :D But your explanation was more enlightening than I have previously received.
Commas are difficult to use even for native English speakers. I find learning about how punctuation is used in other languages really interesting. :) I'm glad my explanation helped, though I feel like I could write an entire book on commas!
I've been to a writing workshop at the workers' institute, where we have to read some of the texts of other group members and give a feedback. There was a lady whose genre of text was not what I read myself. Its tempo was slow for my taste and there was too little action. It wasn't written for readers like me. So it wasn't my cup of coffee. However, I read it so many times that I came up with something to say. Something in which she has succeeded, something to develop more and so on. I was quite proud of what I achieved. However, I spent several hours with her text. When it was my turn to get feedback the next time, the lady said that she doesn't like apostrophes in dialogue, but the text was good. And nothing else. I started to wonder if she even read my text. I was quite disappointed. But you never know what to get. Some people come there just to get other people's feedbacks, without giving anything to them. Of course, there are also people who also pay attention to feedback (five persons). But I don't have a bigger opinion on whether it should be paid for or not. It depends on what you want and need. That course / workshop also costs €86 per season (10 days). I have one friend who also writes (she is not in the workshop). She's often asked me to read her texts, but when I asked for a back-burner in May (because that's how it goes) she wasn't excited about it. But I know I will be nice and read the text again and give her the feedback, altough I'm not going to rush it.
It's certainly a contentious debate for some people. I posted a video on my own RU-vid channel, discussing my reasons for why I might not be able to hire an editor, and why it might not be the best route for other authors, going through everything from the fact my book would be unlikely to earn that money back to the fact I had multiple books I wanted to publish and would need to pay for. My ultimate sentiment was that, if I could afford it, I'd pay for an editor, because I value the work they do, but that, if I couldn't afford it, I'd rather release an okay book than not release one at all. Many authors in a similar boat to mine felt seen by my commentary, but one author called me dangerous - he accused me of "handing out tide pods" to other vulnerable writers who would take my advice. He'd published one book, and it's my guess that he, having spent the $2000 on an editor, or gone the traditional route, felt threatened in a sense. After all, if my book did well without "paying my dues," it would mean, in a sense, he'd wasted his own money. That's just my guess, but suffice it to say that some people feel very strongly about this. Just for expressing my concerns around the affordability of editing (and even the practicality of spending $2000 on something, even if I did have the money, on something unlikely to earn that money back) I was called dangerous! Like you, I didn't grow up with a lot of money, even with family support, so I have learned to be very cautious with the money I do have. Sorry for the rant, but this is a great discussion and I wish more people would talk about this.
It is a difficult discussion, and I think as long as we're having a balanced, nuanced discussion, and not telling anyone else how to write/edit/produce their books, then all opinions are valid. As I said in the video, unfortunately, there's a lot of elitism in the industry, and it's a wide-spread issue. Those who have always had the money, often can't understand those who don't/never have. It's a similar thing to snobbery in literature, which is another thing I can't stand. The idea that we 'shouldn't' read certain books because they're not 'high-brow' enough. It's infuriating. At the end of the day, it's down to the readers to decide whether a book is good or not, whether they want to buy it/read it. If it's good, no reader will ever know whether it was professionally edited or not. Thank you for your comment on this. And good luck with your writing and books :)
@@vawinter Couldn’t agree more! The snobbery in literature also bothers me - just the other day I had someone tell me a couple books I liked were “trash,” to “get off BookTok,” and find a “good” romance book when I mentioned a couple books I liked in a discussion.
This is very interesting video. No such research has been done in the field of literature in Finland. Only and only the cinema students do research every summer on the representation of Finnish films. About a year ago one male (I think he was some kind of gatekeeper position) wrote an opinion peace and said that we don't have a working-class writers in Finland who writes about working-class people. Thing is that he haven't read fantasy and YA. He haven't recognized a craftsmen work in fantasy and maybe working class writers want a little escape form the reality and they prefer write fantasy. At least two writers I follow on social media. But it was rare conversation in here, because we rarely recognize classes in Finland although we have many social classes. But it is new thing so people might rather discuss is it real or imagination than about it. I have heard from few writers/ authors that it is possible to do indie publishing in Finland, but if it is almost impossible to even get sold books through traditional publishing, because no one have the money to marketing and newspapers or tv won't do litterature criticism, book tips nor other stories. Even bookstores do not stock all traditionally published books. Because they value only certain type of books, you know, what serious white men and women who have right thoughts are writing about. Although we have vivid genre litterature, bookstores prefer to fill their shelves with serious and respected Finnish adult litterature and translated English genre litterature (or not translated, I'm sure you know that we are a small language group, so there are people who don't read books in Finnish at all, even though it is their mother tongue). So how is it possible to sell indie books here when you don't hear about them. Anyway these are just some random thoughts while watching your video. And your website looked really great.
That's really interesting about representation in Finland - as well as a lack of working class writers, or a lack of knowledge of working class writers. That's definitely my area of passion within literature, so it's really interesting to hear about it from another country's perspective. I haven't had the opportunity to do a really deep dive into it yet, but I think even in the English-speaking world, there's maybe more working class writers in the fantasy genre. Maybe because, as you say, we like to escape the world and imagine a different/better one. I'd love to go back to university and do some real research into all this. Maybe one day! And I have heard that self-publishing can be more difficult in non-English languages, because I suppose you have a naturally smaller audience. It sounds like, from what you've said, you have less genre fiction in Finnish? Or perhaps it's less well-marketed/stocked? Thank you for your thoughts and comments :) Always appreciated!
@@vawinter "And I have heard that self-publishing can be more difficult in non-English languages, because I suppose you have a naturally smaller audience." Exactly. "It sounds like, from what you've said, you have less genre fiction in Finnish? Or perhaps it's less well-marketed/stocked?" Of course, the volume on offer is smaller, but compared to the size of the language group, it is abundant and high-quality. So I would say, the last one. And if book does well by marketing it a new way, critics will not accept the marketing and write about it widely and loudly. I have noticed that when I try to write more complex ideas in English, it becomes difficult. You have to say things so differently. Even for Finnish taste, my sentences are too long and rambling :D
We also had a quite hot spring and 2 periods in the summer. The last one just ended. I think it's been 26-29 degrees and I live on the coast so it's cooler here. For many years, the summers have been so dry that the grasses turn yellow and the leaves start to fall from the trees. It's not normal. But I can understand your feelings, because a steady gray rain is not fun if it is not a thunderstorm. It's nice that you can write at your own home. I have bad ergonomics at home, so I always have to go to the library, cafe or similar place to write. I agree with you about the traditional publishing and editors, although I don't know if it's the same here. It feels frustrating to read or hear that who can't tell what is good or bad writing or literature. After all, it is always words from people who have always been able to tell what is good or bad. All the readers aren't the one same person. I shouldn't talk about my writing at all, because I always get to hear in a side sentence or something about how I might be doing things wrong. After that, I always have to remind myself of Bowie's words so that I don't just stop, how he thinks it's terribly dangerous for an artist to fulfill other people's expectations. However, I don't imagine that I am an artist yet, even though I have participated in six photo group exhibitions. Next February will be the seventh and later next year will be the eighth. Altough I wrote my first story at the age of 9 and have been in all kinds of hobby circles, I can hardly even be called a writer yet. (There isn't right translation about the word I would use in finnish, it's not a writer, it's much less than a writer but in english there isn't a such a word.) Well I should try to go cafe to write.
I don't imagine that going for a long time without rain is enjoyable either. It's cloudy and really humid here this morning as I write this. At least it's stopped raining though. I do like going to coffee shops to write. I just live too far away to go regularly. You sound like an artist to me :) Having photos in exhibitions is quite an achievement! Well done! In English, for me, you would also qualify as a writer, because you write. And that's enough. :)
I think you are pretty hard on yourself. Your writing speed is amazing. My message are that you should trust yourself, the process and the fact, that life happens and you will still finish your books. Trust me :) How do you relax and have something else to think about besides work and your writing? Of course you don't have to answer me, but I hope that you will give yourself some time to just relax.
I'm a big poetry & magic realism nerd, but I certainly enjoy all speculative fictions. I guess I earn my 'living' as a critic - odd qualms... I look forward to following your reading/writing adventures. Hope the short story finds a vibrant audience out there in the big wide world.
I think it's normal to be terrified rejection. Haha, you described very well how wrong you can do everything when writing. Allso what I have heard is that I write too much lines... Is that what you called it... characters talking each other? But personally I prefer to read action. And dialogue is action. It's easier to write subtext on that way. At least as I learn to do it better. But I think I will have to read to learn from the following authors: Fred Vargas (About 80% of her books contain dialogue, I don't write that much dialogue) and Diana Wynne Jones (I heard that in her writing is humorous and so are mine) and as a subtext learning I have to read The Golden Hat by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I think.
Writing is hard, no doubt about it. Dialogue is characters talking to each, yes. I struggle with subtext, it's something I'm still working on understanding and implementing into my own writing. Learning from reading others is the best way to learn. I haven't read any of the books you've mentioned. I'll certainly have to check on Fred Vargas - 80% dialogue sound really interesting. :)
I think doubt is normal, definitely! And certainly when you’re in the process. And it’s where having a second pair of eyes on your work helps. Which hopefully is a part I’ll get to later in the year 😬
I noticed when I write two scenes at the same time, I am able to switch to the other scene when I am stuck. And when I get to the point where I am stuck the other scene I switch back the first scene and usually the feeling of stuck is gone. And last time when I wrote about word counts, those numbers are not one to one with English. We don't have words like "a", "the", "in", "to" "at" and so on. In Finnish, prepositions are inside the word. And in a fact we have also lots of compound words. There is an example, which is one word in Finnish and a whole long sentence in English. of course, in normal language there is no need to say so. But anyway, when I say that I have wrote over 20k to my story, it is definitely more words in English. How much, I can't answer :D But if I want to write "It was raining." I can write just "Satoi." I don't know why I wanted to explain this :D Anyway, because I live in small language area, it is very common here that authors do two jobs. They don't get enough money just writing. Well a very few of them get decent payment. I don't know why I told this... but anyway I better go to sleep now.
That's really interesting about your language. 'Satoi' for 'it's raining'...there's something I really like about that. Thank you for sharing. :) And I think being able to write in a non-linear way must help with getting stuck. My brain won't seem to do that. It's like there's a film in my head, and I have to follow it along in order. I guess we're all wonderfully different. :)
I think it is natural to change own opinion over the years. people develope and their opinions along with them. (I don't claim that some opinions are better than the others.) I wrote about 13000 words 2022 fall and whole year of 2023. Now in 3 months I have wrote over 5000 words. Yes I know, not much, but still much more than before. Thing is that my home isn't best place to write, because I don't have good enough place to write. I need proper chair and table to do so. During these 3 months I have organized only 6 times time and space to write a few hours. I´m little bit afraid, because April and May I have so much non-writing programs that it will affects to my writing. I have practically said yes to everything that anyone has suggested. It feels at the moment that there are too many people in my schedule and there should be more time to people if I see my mom. I have to learn to say no because this is too much. I need more space to myself. And I nee to focus more to say no :)
It's difficult when you don't have time/space to write as much as you want. I'm lucky that I live alone, and so I can create that space for myself. Though the 5:30am wake ups to get writing done on work days are not fun. :/ I think boundaries are really important, and it sounds as though you're working on finding your own. I hope you can find a balance that you're happy with. Sometimes we go through seasons in life where we don't write much and that's okay too. Last summer was one of those for me. But the seasons always change. :) It's good to hear from you again. :) Thanks for the comment.
Don’t know why people are so confused. The definition of Magical Realism is in the description. Magic that happens in the real world. Great recommendations.
Not really. Magical realism isn’t just magic that happens in the real world. The magic is also “realistic,”. Items don’t float or transform in front of your eyes. A lot of times it can be explained as “coincidence,” or some other way, because their generally aren’t bold “effects.” The tv show Bewitched (or movie), for example- isn’t magical realism. It’s urban fantasy. Magical realism makes magic feel real and doesn’t generally appear to break the laws of science or fiction. If you’ve seen the movie “fools rush in.” It’s got a touch of magical realism because Isabel believes in “signs” and towards the end, the other main character, Alex begins to see these signs as well. And the belief that these signs are meaningful move the plot forward. A lot of things labeled “magical realism” are more on the line of urban fantasy. Such as for example the tv show Charmed- which takes place in the real world, but the magic is not “realistic.” Or the movie “Escape to Witch Mountain,” which is fantasy because again the magic is achieved by special effects. The Good Witch is usually magical realism because the magic is almost all the kind that makes you think “wait… is that magic? How did that-“ rather than something spectacular manifesting in front of your eyes.
I have a history of setting different goals for the books I read. In one year I read more than 50 comic novels. And one year I tried to read a lot of classics. It didn't go very well. I also try not to choose always white cis straight men books. I won't list everyone separately, but the book gets a good thumbs up if the author are for, example other gender (not man or woman)/ transgender, other sexual minorities, not neurotypical, exercise disability, etc., BIPOC (I try to read at least one book written by a Sámi). Also I try to read every year from one to three classics and comic novels. I have read for the last 4 years 50 books a year. This year my goal is only 10 books. I have took a part for a last 6 years for Helsinki library book challenge. This year I plan to do unfinished book challenge.
I have read Convenience store woman in 2022. Alltough I had to learn "masking" (I don't know is it the right word in english) in my life, I haven't had to organize my life like that. It's probably because my neurotypicality is different.
Thanks. Looking good. I like to think in 4 acts rather than 3. I think it gives the midpoint the importance it deserves. After that the tone changes, especially for the hero. Love and light.
I enjoy watching your progress. Diet is very important in maintaining mental energy. It's not easy, but cutting sugar, starchy carbs, and processed food, and eating the rainbow does help. I'm extreme. One meal a day, healthy keto, and my energy never drops. When I was your age I eat nothing but junk and had no energy in the evenings for anything but TV. So many wasted years. Love and light.
Congratulations for the new job! 😊 (And finishing the second draft! That sounds like huge amount of work. I personally strugle with the first half of the second act and it's just a zero draft.)
Thank you :) It was, and yet here I am starting on the third draft! My 2nd draft is still a mess, but at least the story makes sense now. my weakness is the final act. It's just a mess :/
Congratulations 🎉 So happy for you. I hope you will be happy in your new job. You already look like a big weight has been lifted from you.. You look brighter... Lovely news....
After watching second time (becuse I noticed that there haven't been new video for a while) the beginning of this video, I had a flashback from my 5th grade english class. My english teacher was a weird about my pronunciation. Well I said "monday" at the same way as you did. After that I payed attention that I didn't. Well, she wasn't judgemental, but that much attention for my pronunciation was a bit too much that I started paying attention to correct pronunciation of others. But I hope you are okay.
Pronunciation is interesting. That does sound like an unpleasant experience with your English teacher. And pronunciation differs across English anyway. We have quite a few debates over the 'correct' way to pronounce a word like scones. :D Anyway, thanks for the comment. New video up tomorrow explaining why I've been absent. :)
Not being able to get out of your home is ridiculous. Such a safety issue. My dad used to give us a plan if there was a fire and we were in our bedroom. Tie the bed sheets together. Smash the window. Throw the mattress out of window. Tie the sheet onto the dressing table leg and shimmy down the sheet. Considering I was about 10, I've no idea how I was meant to do it 🤣 Glad you're feeling bit better than last week.
This a great vlog post. The lock on my flat is the same design. Jumping out of the window and doing a combat roll on the grass doesn't look fun. I spent a few hours playing with some free AI image generators and every week they get better.
No, I didn’t fancy jumping out the window 😬 especially being on the first floor 😬 I have yet to experiment with AI. I’m not quite sure how I feel about it 🤔
For some reason, I decided in my head you were from the south of England. I've lived down the south coast and in Scotland but now I'm in Birmingham, on the edge of the green belt, away from the city. The only clue from this video I heard in your voice was the way you said "stuff" and I thought of Stoke. 😂
Sending loving-kindness. Here are some things that work for me but they won't work for everyone. We are all too different and complex, not cookie-cutter beings. I've stopped taking meds, eat once a day, and I'm on clean, organic keto. No sugar and low carbs. Definitely no grains. Gut bacteria have a hand in mental well-being so I ferment kefir and sauerkraut. Vitamin D3, K2, Iodine from kelp, cod liver oil, and magnesium. Lo-Salt to improve my potassium-Sodium balance. A light box during the winter for an hour every morning. Lots of sun in the summer. Avoid tap water and fluoride. Try not to let your desires and wants cause suffering. Find things in the now that make you happy. Much easier said than done. Love and light.
I'm glad you've found some things that work for you. I know some things that help me, and some that don't. I think finding things in the now that make you happy is a really important one, and the thing I struggle with the most. Some days it's easier, some it's harder. Hope you're doing okay. :)
