Ngl the advice you give makes me understand when people say. “There is no objectively to good writing but deep down we know there is something objective about good writing.”
Thank you so much for the feedback! I appreciate it so much. I’m definitely gonna take notes when editing 🤍 I’m so intrigued by Nightfall in Chains 💕 I’d love to read that sort of book
Excellent writing advice. Obviously, these aren't my works, but I'm definitely taking a few notes myself. Haha (On a side note, you do bring up an interesting point about the portrayal of historical Greece in fiction, in terms of how it's always portrayed through the lens of mythology. Conversely, ancient Rome which is "basically the same thing" as far as the general public is concerned, is almost always portrayed through a historical lens, rather than through a mythological lens, despite the two civilizations being so mythologically similar. I never really thought about it, but that is so true. And it makes me wonder why. It also makes me appreciate the first entry here that much more, and it makes me want to read it when it eventually gets published.)
Thank you!! Yes, it's so interesting how we look back on ancient Greek society through that lens. Also agreed on wanting to read the first entry when it publishes!
hi, Lynn. I'm an aspiring author and screenwriter. I am close to finishing my first script and I am currently (yes, as I am watching this video) writing my first novel. I am already 5K words in yeayyy!!! it's a horror novel and I feel so happy to just write it. hahaha. also goodluck to all of your ongoing projects too.
Oooooh, your critiques were insanely thorough! 😮 While they weren’t for me, I wanna use some of these points to strengthen my opening. I knew this day would come 😅 I hope you'll do this in the future Lynn! 🩷
this was really lovely! all the critique is really thoughtful and well done and kind and some very cool pitches hehe it makes me want to try writing a bunch of different openings just to test out different structures 😊
Here is my story its called "Rebirth of the Heart" its a pretty elementary fantasy triller plot. Here is the opening para "The sun had barely reached its zenith when a figure appeared at the edge of the village, emerging from the shimmering heat waves of the desert. The stranger, dressed in simple, worn clothes, carried a large sack slung over his shoulder. His face was partially hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat, and his eyes, though tired, scanned the village with a quiet intensity. He moved slowly through the narrow streets, a silent observer amidst the daily hustle. The villagers went about their routines, casting occasional glances at the newcomer. Some eyed him with curiosity, others with suspicion. Children, drawn by the novelty of the stranger, followed him at a distance, their whispers a blend of wonder and wariness. The stranger made his way to the market, where the scent of spices and fresh bread mingled in the air. He wandered among the stalls, occasionally pausing to examine the goods, but never purchasing anything. His presence was a subtle disturbance, like a shadow slipping through the sunlight. The merchants exchanged glances, their voices dropping to hushed tones as he passed. "
I'm currently working on an action thriller spy sort of novel. The thing that bombed me out was that almost all the writers or books I see are not even close to this genre. so for the longest time that prevented me from writing in this genre because I thought it wouldn't do well in the "market". But I got my priorities straight now and will just write this story despite it. Thank you for being inspirational :) I agree with you that the opening scene should be more intimate with the character because I think as readers we read a novel for them and what happened to them as a result of the plot instead of the plot itself.
I love your editorial style and the way you give feedback! It’s really interesting to listen to and watch! I hope you do more videos like this! It’s really insightful and your feedback is brilliant! Thank you for sharing this with us! 🥰💜
I loved your thoughts on the easel. Any time something happens, I want to know WHY. If a character hasn't been portrayed as absent-minded, but they forgot something, I want to know what took their attention away. Action >> reaction
the advice at 6:27 of taking out the pronouns just blew my mind. i had the hardest time pinpointing why my writing felt so clunky, and it's because i use sooooo many pronouns. i can't wait to sit down and practice this.
I'm in the process of finishing my first draft of my book, and the process of getting editors and an agent seems a bit intimidating. Still, I have hope for the future, and videos like this should keep me on the right path. Thanks for sharing
