10 Common Writing Opinions I Don't Agree With 

Re: write even when you don’t feel like it & how this can lead to burnout! I saw this great tweet from Isabella Wang yesterday where they said “learn to recognize lack of motivation as burn out in disguise” and think this is so relevant! Rest is critical to creative endeavours (even though it can sometimes be difficult to commit to)! So smart!

"if everyone's special, no one's special" is a quote that reminds me of your tenth point. And it gets on my nerves. No. That's like saying "if every number is different, none of them are". Like, what??? There are an infinite amount of numbers, so they can all be different. And personally, I believe that the universe is infinite. There is no limit. We will never run out of stories. Language and time and culture and everything around us will continue to influence the stories we tell in both incomprehensibly big and small ways. assuming that there's an end to it... well, honestly, it's just depressing. But more importantly, it's illogical.

Personally, the "Nothing is original" advice was always comforting to me. Back when I first started, I'd have so many ideas and then I'd look for books with similar plots, and if I found one, I'd back off from the idea and never wrote it. I know people in my critique group who are insulted if they are told that their story reminds someone of XYZ. When someone sat down and told me that there are no original stories, just original perspectives, it freed me up so much to be a writer. I stopped caring if people could see my influences in my writing. I didn't worry about how "unique" my story was. I think that advice comes from a positive place. I teach English and Creative Writing and I do tell my students that because I've seen so many of them say "I have this really cool story idea, but I think it's too similar to *whatever their favorite show is*, so I'm not writing. I want to be original." And I've seen the pursuit of originality stifle young writers to the point of halting their writing dreams before they ever start. It's like the Raya/Avatar thing. Yeah, Raya the Last Dragon shares a lot of beats with Avatar and that's okay. I like both of them for their similarities and their differences.

I... when you said "kill their passions for writing" because of the job angle, I felt that. and I STILL feel that. I love storytelling but I have so many buried-deep messages in my head to the point where... I feel like I can't even write with a clear mind. I really do feel that a lot of these 'tough love' tips killed my passion for writing. They're def not inherently bad!! But having them presented so universally made me decide I couldn't be a writer by middle school. Now I'm in recovery, it just takes a while. But you've really helped me in my journey to find my own process and tell my stories the way I'd want to.

Hearing you describe your creativity around 5:20 was a really big eye opener for me. I have a similar trend of creative energy I think, where I’ll get HUGE bursts of energy and then totally lose interest once that energy wears down, and go on to work on something else I’ve found energy for. I’ve literally been talking about this in therapy because I always thought this meant I was flaky and couldn’t commit to the things I was passionate about. Hearing this style of creativity described so *kindly* instead of the mean, negative way I treat it in my head is seriously revolutionary for me. Thank you.

I heard the ‘don’t edit as you write’ advice over and over, but discovering your channel and hearing your process opened my eyes to the possibility of editing as you go, and it’s become my default mode of drafting.

My least favorite pieces of writing advice that I hear ALL THE TIME: 1. If you don't outline your story before you start writing it, it's guaranteed to suck. 2. Every protagonist needs a character arc. 3. Positive change arcs are the only kind of arcs worth writing. These are just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are more.

people say treat a thing like a job as if that's how you get good. no. we are motivated to get good at things we enjoy doing. not when we treated it like a job. a job is inherently coercive, you are there to do a task dictated by someone else to meet some arbitrary standards you have no control over. A job is to satisfy a boss in exchange for cash. not to enjoy the thing you're doing.

When it comes to the “don’t write multiple books at once” point, I tend to get a small yet exciting idea and I could say to myself “okay which book do I want to put this in?” And it’s just 2 books I’m working on. The idea could work in both books. And that’s my own little struggle.

This is great- I did watch your first video as well when it first came out and "write what you know" is still my least favorite because I realised I was being restricted by some individuals who read my work and said I shouldn't write a teenager as a character if I'm 12, or write unrealistic elements- that all my characters should only be my age and everything should be realistic. I took that to heart for years and I think that stopped my creative process for a while. Now I write whatev I want, mostly cuz I'm writing for me and it makes me happy; killer mermaids, giant talking cats, witches who steal colour from the world, a woman writing a letter to the wife of the man she's sleeping with, nothing is off the table. And I am the happiest I have ever been with my writing. A lot of that is inspired from you actually- because I've seen so many of your videos and heard your ideas and all of them seem so unique and interesting it inspired me to write whatever tf I wanna write and I feel free. Cheers xx

I decided to take writings seriously, i have a job, but i really enjoy writing, and these videos of yours are helping me, like, a lot. Greetings from Greece ❤️

Regarding number 9, I once saw a popular authortuber say that you shouldn’t use present tense because "you can't skip over the boring parts, you have to include everything" which is just... factually wrong lol

Here's some advice for the people confused over 'always use said' versus 'use strong verbs instead of said + adverb': 1. You don't need to write dialogue tags any time a character says something. It is often stronger writing if you sometimes leave them out. 2. If you leave out a dialogue tag, you can instead write what the character is doing, giving more strength to your scene, while also making it clear which character is talking. 'Yes, it's all true.' Vera fiddled with the zipper of her coat. 3. When you use dialogue tags, it often works well to use 'said' as default. In other words, you can use this tag more than others. It'll help the reader read more quickly and it'll put more emphasis on your 'strong verb' tags as well, since you'll be using them sparingly. 4. If you want to emphasize that something is said in an unusual way, it is often stronger to use a single verb rather than 'said + adverb', because this is concise and specific. Instead of 'said softly', for example, you could use 'whispered', 'mumbled' etc. This doesn't mean 'said + adverb' is wrong, just don't overuse it. Also, don't overuse synonyms for 'said'. 5. It also always depends on your specific book and scene. Write what suits your style, what sounds good, or what makes it clear what's going on.

Just wanted to say that your channel has been invaluable for me. Im older, severe adhd, started multiple careers, multiple degree programs in things I can’t stand, and I’m finally admitting that I need to stop chasing financial security as my life’s goal and just do what I’m passionate about. And that has always been making stories. Your channel and your positive message has knocked writing off the pedestal I always saw it on and made it something tangible. Thank you!

Masterfully done prose anchors itself into a reader's subconscious like nothing I have experienced before. When I read a book with good prose, it always feels like I'm walking and sensing through my own dreamscape.

I’ve learned the hard way that if I push myself to write when I really don’t feel it, it will be trash. Most of my writing happens in my head before it gets to the page; if my head’s not ‘on’, nothing on the page will be any good. Also, people say, ‘just write trash and edit it later.’ There’s a limit to that! I don’t want to waste a lot of time editing trash when, if I had just rested when I needed it, it wouldn’t have been trash in the first place.

Working on multiple projects at once is extremely good for me. The main benefit I see, apart from the attention span aspect, is that it helps you return to each project witha fresh perspective, which makes seeing your own mistakes in each project much easier. If you get too engrossed in a single project, obvious mistakes can start slipping by without a fresh perspective.

Another bad writing advice for me is to write fast. Like almost everyone in the writing community talks about fast drafting, writing sprints, writing an entire book in one month during NaNoWriMo. Sure it's effective for a lot of people, but it just doesn't work for me. If I try to do hour-long sprints, I could write only 100 words at best and those words are just awful. I haven't won NaNo even once. Fast drafting is just not for me. I realized I love writing slow, without pressure or time constraints. It's just how I function as a writer despite the writing world full of people insisting to finish a book as fast as possible.

Forcing yourself to write defeats the whole point of it for me. Bukowski said it best: "if you have to sit for hours staring at your computer screen or hunched over your typewriter searching for words, don't do it." The whole point of writing for fun is that its meant to be fun. Don't do it to be famous, don't force yourself to write. It's not a job. That takes the whole point out of it! The best writing is when it jumps out of you. When you have to write or you can't breathe properly. That's what it's all about. Everyone is forced to do enough things they don't like in life- don't make writing one of them.

You're hands down my favorite writing channel on RU-vid. Thanks for all the great content!

One thing that is often overlooked in thinking about writing school is whether or not the workshop model works for the student. I have an MFA in poetry, and two years of workshopping really killed my writing - I set it down for almost a decade. When I came back to writing, I found a community that yes, worked with prompts, but also didn't workshop in the traditional way (no silencing of writer, etc). My writing has grown more in a context of joy and play than it ever did inside the institution of the MFA. Honestly, it was part the workshop model and part that I wasn't ready for writing school. You have a good point about why having a common genre can support workshopping stories - on the other hand, historically literary fiction has reinforced a shared set of norms/values/beliefs about what is/isn't worth writing about - and that's problematic on lots of levels!

Shaelin, you are such a treasure! When I was younger I got completely toppled over by almost all of these advices that said you can't finish a writing degree, you can't write unless it's your job etc. So I stopped and I didn't write for 10 years. Now, I am 26 and I just picked it up again and it feels like I've lived with only half of me and now I can finally breathe! Your videos helped encourage me so much! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences! You are brilliant!!! 😊🥰

I've been (and participated) in authortube for years, and I just have to thank you for how you present advice. It's all in service of writers finding their own way, their own voices. I fell into the trap of trying to follow others' rules, and it killed my passion. Embracing the attitude you show here has reignited my love of storytelling, and it's made me happier than I've been in years.

i can't tell you how much i needed to watch this video. i have been struggling so much with my writing mindset and the points you've made here are so reassuring and refreshing to hear. i've been a part of the writing community for about two years now and i just listened to all the popular advice i heard and accepted it all as law, and almost none of it works for me personally, so i thought i was a bad/invalid writer for a while. i'm kinda learning to think for myself when it comes to my writing and it's doing wonders for me

I absolutely love this! The part about focusing on prose really stuck out to me, bc that is how I write! I'm a 14 year old writer who loves to focus on crafting beautiful words and sentences, and it actually leads into better plot for me and helps me find creative ways to tell a better, stronger story. I just love the vessel of how a story is told, the click of a tongue from the roof of a mouth, and the beauty that comes in the actual telling of the story! Love this video.

YOU KEEP OUTDOING YOURSELF this video has taught me soooooooooooooo much, ALSO the sass is on point.

I have to say, before I found your discovery writing video (and others) I was trying to grind out stories with no success. So much of what you said hit with me so I decided to toss everything out of the window and just write original stories the same way I write fanfiction--when I'm inspired and in any way I want.

"Don't Edit as You Go." Preach it, Sister! When I edit as I go, the story takes shape. For me "editing in progress" is part of my Discovery Process . . . until I type "THE END."

This channel is great! I'm coming from the opposite direction of most, beginning my writing career as a job and working back into something I enjoy and own.

Love your advice, always great, and you teach in a understandable easy to digest way. Thank you very much

Great video, as always! What I’ve learned over the years when it comes to the “write every day” advice is that it can be a good idea to try and push through even if your (procrastinating) mind tells you it doesn't feel like it but if it’s your body telling you, you should always always listen to it and take a needed break.

I can't agree more with your opinion on "don't edit as you write". There are times when i can't focus on writing or it just turns out really bad which makes me feel shitty about myself knowing that i could do way better than this... And in such situations i like to go back to editing what i've already written. It helps me a lot because editing is much easier for me than writing and if i can't continue working on the book by writing it, i can at least do something else to help the progress. Anything's better than wasting time and waiting for the so-called inspiration or the right mood...

Thanks so much for voicing these! A lot of it made something click in me and made me realize I also fell victim to the "traps" of some of this advice. Your video will definitely help me going forward with my writing!

Great stuff. Thanks. The multiple projects really spoke to me.

You are severely underrated! Thanks for all the tips!

Wonderful advice on bad advice, writing school, and tools. When I was in film school we had to pitch an idea about something in the news that we were passionate about. Then we were told to write a script and make a short film about the opposite point of view of the story. I hated doing that assignment at the time. I learned so much from that process because it taught me new skills that I use to this day. Decades later when I was teaching I assigned similar projects to my students. I then spent part of a class discussing what we had learned from the process. Freedom of process is so key these days. The rest of the world wants to see things in black and white while the reality is everything is in different shades of grey. One day you'll be teaching a master class in writing.

Your first debunking writing video was one of the best writing videos I had ever seen back when it came out

Your chill approach to writing inspires me.

Your channel has been so therapeutic for me in the last days. My desire to write has slowly returned after being gone for like 8 months. Thank you so much.

I appreciate your general message that a piece of advice isn't going to fit everyone and that as writers we all need to find what works for us. I've been writing on and off since the 80's and it only clicked for me a couple years ago. Now I'm writing every day because I love it and it's fun and so meaningful. I'm learning so much and when I figure out how to do something in a way that actually serves me (often in spite of advice to the contrary) I feel like I've won. Thanks for the balanced perspective.

Shaelin, I agree with everything you discussed in this video. Some writing advice can be detrimental to a writer’s creativity and happiness because everyone works differently. Our brains are wired differently, and therefore every writing experience is different. The world is based on perception, which is why writing advice cannot be preached as universal advice. If we open our minds to possibilities and accept our own way of working, we can create new forms of stories and literature and find love and connection in our journeys. I love how you allow writers to find their own path through your channel. I love you

There’s this saying that people draw the line of what’s acceptable and what isn’t just below what they do, and is funny how arbitrary some “writing advice” can get. The worst by far for me is one from Stephen King that there are “bad writers” that can become “ok writers” but only the “great writers” (innate?) can be really good. Such bs.

Greati video, Shaelin! It's funny to see that the people who gives these universal (and usually negative) advice, are the ones that, normally, are more occupied talking about writing instead of doing some actual work haha.

I have a dissociative disorder so the quality of my writing absolutely depends on my level of dissociation. Some days I just genuinely cant get anything good out.

You just knocked me out with first story of yours I just read!!! The story about Flynn! It's going to take me a day to recover. You write so well. I am stunned. God bless you🌹

Love these vids cause bad writing advice is such a pet-peeve for me. I'm also the kind of person that doesn't like slow burns and it drives me insane when some people think you have to be a certain way or you're not a "real" writer. *tw* I've also even seen people online write writing advice such as that you're not a real writer unless it almost brings you into commiting suicide and it's so toxic.

Just discovered your channel as I started diving in my first book writing (took long enough)and I love it. I feel sometimes when given advice it seems there is strict law in writing. This is bad you shouldn't do it and this is the right thing to do you should do this instead. And one other thing I find to be a misconception is it seems we need to choose a clear defined system amongst the ones that already exist. So you end up trying but nothing fits until you make up your own system, a puzzle of what works for you. It kind of sound obvious but often time I know I used to feel like because I couldn't thrive in a singular writing system or I wasn't applying all the writing rules like "write everyday" then I wasn't meant to be writing anything. So if anyone feels like that just take the time to find your own system, your own pace, what work for you is what keeps you writing, evolving as a writer and enjoying it 🌞😊 So thank you for all your insights and showing that all advice are not good advice for everyone and that you have every right to disagree with the one that doesn't work with you 👍

THANK YOU, Shaelin! More writers need to point out like you did that this is your opinion. Just because writing advice doesn't work for them, doesn't mean it is bad. It could work for others. Yet no one seems to say that. It is always bad advice.

Watching your videos makes me validated in my own quirky creative processes!

I was writing a hard scene and then this notified how could i nOT prioritize this

I hate the idea of having to write every day even if I don't feel like it. That's a good way for me to spend the next two hours on tiktok while the word document is open on lap (on my laptop).

I edit as I go because I have ADHD and sometimes writing notes, to edit a portion later I will not remember what I wanted to edit or fix. If the note is too vague, then I am not going to remember. If the note is too detailed, then might as well as edit it now.

"nothing is original" is bullshit. What I think these people actually mean is "nothing is FULLY original" which is true, because you will always get some overlaping elements and that´s fine. Also no two stories are fully the same, unless they are two copies of the same book :D bottom line, just write whatever you are excited to write

Here's a hot take: university demanding you declare a single major is the real culprit of subject elitism. While I will always encourage and support a person who wants to take part in the arts, I also tell anybody who will humor me long enough to tell me they want to go into the arts, "Find a backup." Because (a) you have more to write about, (b) you can get a day job in the meantime (full-time writers being rare and whatnot), and (c) you can more easily find a cross-platform niche if you... cross platforms.

Creative writing/storytelling is an amazing skill set for business, sales, marketing, design, visual art…. Such a great skill.

I just finished watching the old video. As soon as I clicked off it, this popped in my recommended!

Great video. I'm glad to know I'm not the only person who just can't get with the "don't edit while you write" crowd, at least not to the same extent at many others. I cannot stop myself from editing as I write!

I was going to school for drama because high school English killed my love for writing but over this past year I've been rediscovering my love for it. Now I'm trying to change schools to study writing! I still love drama and I still want to minor in it but I'm glad I got some time to rediscover what I love and what I want. Love your channel!

The best writing advice I heard is: There are no rules.

Thank you, this video was very informative and helpful for this new writer. I've heard some of these maxims before and as an utterly lost and overly self-critical novice I've been really concerned about whether I'm doing it wrong, which sounds silly after watching this video.

You really managed to put my thoughts into words. Lit fic is a fantastic genre to start writing in for the exact reasons you said.

Thank you so much for this. As a retired wannabe writer, I love that I can learn so much from people like you, with a more modern and yes, youthful, perspective. I think I agree with almost everything you said in this video and it makes me more excited about the project I've been working on as a hobby for years. In fact, I'll say this here because it will remind me when my ADHD brain tries to come back from whatever I will do after I hit the comment button on this comment. Your section on POV and. tense gave me an epiphany about a POV and character that I have experimented with writing in second person. I realize that the POV can be another character speaking to her in his head because she is his deceased twin and in his head is where she lives anyway. It gives the brother an opportunity to speak for himself that I don't give him anywhere else. Now I can move onto discovering this character, who is not the protagonist but is very central to the story I want to tell. So thank you again!

An excellent book about the craft of writing from the point of view of 67 present-day writers is To Be or Not To Be a Writer, published by Sweetycat Press. It can be found on Amazon. It includes essays about their personal experiences as writers and authors. My own essay is included, and I address the issue of feeling obligated to write daily.

on the topic of bashing writing degrees, it definitely stems from the fact that ppl project their own insecurities about not pursuing that path themselves 🥴I'm happy that I chose not to study writing (I actually like my day job! lol) but it's just simply NOT true to call writing degrees a "waste of time"! i mean your channel is the proof of that!! you're always so generous and insightful with your videos. i've actually seen your advice help me tangibly improve over the past year-ish, so as someone who didn't get the chance to study writing, I'm super grateful for that🌻✨

That was very eye-opening, what you said about why they have you write literary fiction in creative writing classes. I'd never had any idea as to why, but that makes a ton of sense now. The biggest thing that I disagree with isn't really specifically stated, but is kind of assumed. It's that writers either discovery write, or outline. People want to say that you're one or the other, the idea of doing and liking both is sort of ruled out. Though, I've never heard of anyone besides myself who actively likes both at the same time. So, that may have something to do with it. And I'd venture to guess that most people do one or the other. But, still. I spent years trying to make myself be one or the other, and it was only recently that I realized doing and liking both is perfectly fine. I can pants one book amd outline the next, and not have had to officially switched to outlining forever. I do whichever I feel like at any time.

great work. cool view on treating it like a job and validation

LOVE THIS VIDEO! thank you

I feel everything that you feel Shaelyn. That's so crazy. I'm a hybrid author when it comes to publishing and plotting. My creative brain has a mind of its own. 😂 I write as a hobby and for fun and when I want to because that's when my writing is good but also, when I motivate myself and FIND something to write that's fun then ultimately I write SO MANY words of scenes that are either just there and not for a certain story or for a certain story. I care about my characters even from just their name and the small inner conflict I give them and grow when I write them and I grow with them. I have the shortest attention span too. Well bitch I'd love to go to university too. 😂😂😂 even though I'm not old enough, I'm 15, I'd love to go one day. I don't write Sci-fi and not lot of fantasy, but I took Brandon Sanderson's free classes. They taught me SO MUCH about writing books even if their not my genre. I love writing more poetic and beautiful language that is clear, but some people just put that down. I don't foreshadow everything but in mysteries I do. I definitely edit as I write. Definitely boosts my confidence too. I have SO MANY drafts on Word that are just . . . A MESS too. Definitely I've seen so many POV drama everywhere and debates and stuff. 😂 See, I write contemporary romance that's first person present tense and ooh, that was supposedly bad so I had to change it to past tense. I DEFINITELY AGREE THAT THERE WILL BE MORE ORIGINAL STORIES. My story is something I've never seen before, though there are maybe a trope I've used it's SO DIFFERENT and yes, it's very down putting for people that think their story is amazingly original to them. 😍

i want to agree with you re: creative writing programs but honestly i had a weird experience with mine that's destroyed my love for the craft? idk exactly what happened, but on the first day my enthusiasm snapped to dread, and it lingers. the course itself is fine, and the professors are encouraging. still, i've hardly wanted to write anything in the last two years-and when i actually do, it starts feeling like a burden after a few short sentences? everything you've said about your writing program (in this video and others) sounds absolutely lovely. i wish i had a similar experience. mine was a catalyst for some kind of anhedonia-and, ultimately, a mistake.

Exactly that! I think the same, and I'm so glad a writer is validating it to me because the one I hate the most is definitely the first. "Oh, just write", "Write even if you don't feel like it" Why? So I would hate the process of writing? Whenever I try to force myself to write it comes out so bad I feel even worse than before. Why write something I'll feel so bad about and that I'll inevitably have to fix it? (Probably just trashing it and writing something else entirely?) It's a waste of effort. After so many attempts to try and force myself to write, losing motivation along the way, I finally conceded that it wasn't the way for me. I need to feel that I want to write when I'm writing. I need to enjoy the process. Yes, writing is hard, but it doesn't mean it has to be a pain.

This is seriously one of the best videos you've made! Really, really good. And I agree with almost everything. The frequency of writing: the rule about writing every day can turn bad really fast - like when you haven't written for a week and feel like a total faliure beyond all hope, just giving up. But it's also worth thinking about writing for your mental health. I've spent years without writing and it made everything worse. It's hard to find the balance between writing and not writing.

I tried for years to get myself to handwrite my first drafts. I kept getting stumped and kept forgetting things I wanted to write because I couldn't immediately make changes as I wrote. Typing my book on a computer is a must, because it makes editing as I go, and writing in general, actually accomplishable for me.

I dislike “write what you know” I write time travel romantic suspense - I write what I enjoy imagining

Shaelin is one of my subscriptions and her "teaching" has helped me a lot on the creative side. I will comment on some of the points. I do not write unless I feel like it, but I do write something consistently; I am retired still learning to write for fun, so it's not a "job"; I am scatterbrained I did work on multiple projects simultaneously. I like the change of pace. I've found elements of one piece of writing actually work better in another piece; I would hire a person with a creative writing degree because of their ability to see things differently. I can teach you how to do the work, so unless your job requires a specialized degree, like a C.P.A., you were on my interview list. One of my better hires in my Internal Audit world was a political philosophy major who thought outside the box. I do struggle with the no original stories. I am trying to write SF and having read all the best since 1965, I am struggling to be creative without plagiarizing, even though I have no immediate [plans to publish. Enjoyed this. Thanks for your hard work putting these vids together

Bold of u to assume I wasn't a subscriber long before your debunking video. Loved your new take on it, especially the discussion about being a creative writing major. When ever I mention that's my dream major I'm usually met with negativity. To be honest though, it's good to be cautious about it if you're going to be getting into tons of debt. I live in the states and a private school is just too expensive for me, and unfortunately none of the state schools have more than a minor in creative writing. I'd love nothing more than to go to a private uni and study CW, but it's just not financially viable. I'll of course still pursue it outside the classroom though ^_^

i 100% agree with the "edit as you write" one. i'm the exact same. i like to take my time with first drafts, but make them clean ones. i don't like to have to think about a million things that i'll eventually have to edit later. it feels overwhelming, just like you said. my personal most hated writing advice is "write for your readers, not for yourself" because when i was trying to publish my debut and editing it from feedback i got from publishers, that is exactly what i did and it made me hate writing. i stopped looking at what i wanted to write and only on what publishers and readers wanted to see, or what was expected of me to write. i found no more joy in writing and i actually stopped altogether for several years. never published that book, never wrote original fiction again. what brought me back to writing was fanfic, because it eliminates that end goal of publishing for profit by its very nature. i can't make money off fanfic, so the pressure of disappointing people who spent money on my words isn't there. if they don't like what i do and wrote, they can just scroll past. it's incredibly freeing, and it's allowed me to experiment with what people think makes a story. another piece of advice i hate is that you have to outline, and that pantsing results in poorly thought out, paced, whatever books. to me, outlining takes the joy of discovery out of writing. if i've already outlined the entire story, i've basically told it. there's nothing new to the process anymore and i lose interest.

5:00 I assume that advice can be useful to people who have trouble sticking to one work and never finish anything because they keep creating new stories - but sticking to it is a skill and is hard, just giving that advice out probably doesn't help much because they likely already know it's a problem. Additionally, I've been doing something that I found works better for me: I focus on one work, then when I hit a creative block for that one I go to my other WIP, then come back to it later. Or do some short stories in between working on a novel. Or some plotting. Keeping it diverse can really help keep it as fun as it should be tbh. I also take breaks of sometimes several months during which I only write when I feel like it, mostly during holidays bc I lose my writing habit since all my habits are messed with without a steady class schedule, but also bc if I've been writing 4 days a week for months I deserve a break just fine

RE: Literary vs Genre in college. Excellent explanation, Shaelin. KUDOS.

Ha, I’m writing my book in third person present tense, that’s funny. Love your videos, keep it up, super helpful

The last point may be a good thing for people who obsess over the fact, that some of the elements in their writing are inspired by other things (characters, places, cultures, etc), and if used for this situation it becomes liberating. It means you don't have to strive for something 100% never seen before -- you just have to mix what's already there well and give it your own spin for it to stand out. That's how I always saw that piece of advice anyway

Foreshadow is best when the reader can't see it as it happens. The idea is to set up coming story elements for the reader and set up aspects of the character so the character doesn't act out of character when the climax comes. Foreshadowing is best in small and broad ways whereby the reader reads through--it's tucked into a layer were other things are happening and is a natural part of the scene. FS can also setup or support character arc by showing needed changes and problematic flaws that will impinge the plot and thus providing the reasons a change is necessary.

20:57 Ok, I know this is totally unrelated. But, presumably if we have the technology to terraform a planet wouldn't it almost surely be easier to terraform a messed up earth instead of a planet that is completely uninhabitable to start with? I know not the point, but I couldn't stop my brain from thinking it.

I write a lot, and give myself a daily schedule, but I keep it flexible enough to stay in the realm of real life. Things happen beyond our control, so there are days I can't get to my daily goal. I always keep in mind- the rewrite process is there for a reason. Not saying it's the way everyone should do it, just that it works for me... get the story out first, and then fix what needs to be fixed. Do whatever works best for you. Don't be afraid of advice, but don't feel obligated to follow it if it doesn't help your writing.

Great video. I think we're in dangerous territory when we accept any piece of generic writing advice too readily. In terms of Literary Fiction, no matter how many times I see it defined, I still don't entirely know the boundaries. Is it possible for a piece to fall outside standard genres, and yet not be "Literary" - such as, if the writing style is relatively plain and accessible? It's difficult for me to know whether I can accurately place any of my writing in the Literary Fiction genre. If it isn't a contradiction in terms to call Literary Fiction a genre...! I would love it if you would make some videos about Literary Fiction, although of course, many of the craft ones kind of are, but more about how it is accurately defined. I don't read much modern Literary Fiction, so maybe that is part of my problem in understanding. I love the classics, but then go for Women's Fiction and Domestic Thrillers, on the whole. But I do also love poetry. ❤

I think it is worth just saying here that a degree for the sake of learning itself is a huge financial luxury. Student loans are unsecured and can really ruin you if you find you can't pay them off. Taking on a financial burden near the equivalent of a mortgage is not something you should take on without a clear and realistic (i.e don't depend on higher than average success when planning financially) idea of how you are going to pay it off while also paying for your cost of living. Debt is not the enemy, but it can determine the course of years if not the entirety of your life when poorly thought through. It actually feels like it should be a crime to have 17 year olds sign themselves up for that kind of commitment.

Hi Shaelin , Good To See You 😊

3:50 okay this unearthed a memory of when I was a first semester freshman in university and one of my professors straight up said that our final project was something she did in GRAD SCHOOL. And then she was mad when everyone did poorly and threatened to fail everyone like??? Ma'am???

Its sad that many writers (not including the ones who feel comfortable with them) are sabotaging themselves and their creativity with strict rules. I mean... if you know your grammar and your story makes sense... DO IT! Listen to and try techniques and advices from different authors, keep what works for you and throw the rest out of the window. You are one of the BEST youtubers who give honest and realistic advice when it comes to writing. No dogmatic stuff no "you have to's". Creativity doesnt HAVE to be anything but fun and creative. Otherwise its nothing but stress and work. And thats the last thing creativity should be. If I would want that, Id look for a 9 to 5 job.

Pretty prose actually works when it is pretty for a reason and says something for or to the reader. Purple prose doesn't say anything, it's fancy words with no meaning. If pretty means something, use it. If it's a distraction, forgo it. Serve the reader and the story before tickling your own ear.

I'm majoring in IR and Political Science for undergrad and I really... really regret not doing Creative Writing. I've been writing since I could barely make letters but I chickened out of doing it for real because of the whole talk about not having a job and not being good enough at it to make it, but I'm graduating next year in something I'm not that passionate about and I might not get a job out of the fancy degree Im doing now anyway. I took two Creative Writing courses in my first year as electives and realized I'm actually pretty good at this, and I could get a lot better if I took classes for it and practiced more often, but now I'm so busy with IR and PS and a part time job that I don't even have time or energy to write as a hobby anymore, and I can't afford to take a CW post-grad program for at least a few years. So really.... if anyone's considering taking CW, I don't think you should be scared of going for it. At least to me it's not worth doing something you don't like that much just because you're worried about your future, because you can't control your future at all. You can go the traditional education path and still land without a job, or you could not even go to college and have an incredibly stable and productive career, and maybe (probably) your happiness won't depend entirely on how much money you're making anyway. Idk, I really regret not going for what I've always known I love doing. Maybe I can come back to it a few years into the future.

"There are no original stories. Everything has been done before." The words of an uncreative defeatist person. These kinds of statements always irritate me. Unironically, the same people that make these statements are the ones that love to "take inspiration" from Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc. "It's okay to blatantly copy because nothing is original anyway!"

I didn''t take a lot of creative writing classes in university. But only one of them really emphasized just writing and sharing out writing with our classmates. And giving each other encouragement and pointing out how to make up for technical errors (like in the poetry unit sometime we didnt have the correct number of syllables). While the professor was kind of stand offish as a person he wasn't elitist about writing and what is right and what is wrong. At all of the other few creative writing courses I took, the professors let everyone know that they would never be as good as (insert professors' favorite authors) and the emphasis was always analyzing the writing of famous authors and how they were far superior to all the folks sitting in the class, not just in writing but as humans. That turned me off to writing and the idea of publishing. Now, if I ever get back to my happy scribbles, I won't care if its good or not or good enough to publish or not. I will just work at getting better and also enjoying the process (gasp! what a concept!). I just want to say I complete a few stories. I just like stories.

What does ”treat it like a job” even mean, considering that jobs are very different. Some jobs are 9-5, others are more flexible etc, not to mention the dramatic ways they have changed throughout history.

Yes to all of this!! ❤

As for editing/ not editing as you write, tricky : I see how you'd get overwhelmed by the messiness of your draft if you don't edit as you write. Alan Sillitoe said his first drafts were terrible so he must have been able to live with the messiness of his MS in the first version of the novel. I like spare hammered prose like Penelope Fitzgerald's or William Trevor's or Elizabeth Taylor's or Muriel Spark's or John Berger's *Pig Earth*. For years I admired the economy of *Tunes of Glory* a 1956 novel by James Kennaway, about the colonel of a Highland regiment in Perthshire. When I reread the biography of Kennaway by Trevor Royle, I learned that the early drafts of his novels were far from spare, and that he reduced the messiness of his first draft to achieve that taut, suggestive, pared-down effect. Rather like a chef reducing a sauce.

My own thoughts to these opinions! 1.) "Write when you don't feel like it" - Yeaaaaah, naw, if I force myself to write, it becomes a hot mess and I hate myself for it. Even if I don't write for months, I'll still hate myself for it but at least I'll get back to writing when I ACTUALLY have the motivation! 2.) "Treat writing like a job" - Welp, I hate this advice because the last thing I've ever wanted was to make any of my hobbies a career. I love that my actual job is unrelated to any of my hobbies. If my hobbies became my job, it would suck the fun out of them. So this idea people have just offends my very soul! 3.) "Don't write multiple books at once" - I honestly wouldn't be against doing this, but I've never really had the motivation to try. Everyone is different, and if they can write multiple books/stories at once, good for them! 4.) "The reader has to care about the character..." - Agree with you that a character is more interesting if stuff is actually happening to them! 5.) "Don't go to school for writing" - I have to agree with this for myself, because I took some creative writing classes and they were HELL. Just like with art class, it involved instructors telling me what I HAD to write (or draw), and HOW I had to write (or draw) it. I don't work well like that. I have to have freedom, and that's why writing (and drawing) is not my job. I definitely felt like I learned nothing from my writing and art classes. BUT! I agree with you that the stigma around people going to college for social sciences needs to absolutely stop. It's their life, they can get their degree in whatever they want! 6.) "Don't focus on pretty prose" - Very context-driven. For me it depends on the emotion in the scene or what I'm trying to explain. 7.) "Foreshadow everything" - I don't agree that everything should be foreshadowed, but I'm a sucker for stories with prophecies, dreams, visions, etc., so there will definitely be foreshadowing in stories that utilize these tropes. But it shouldn't be overdone, and that's the fine line I have to walk when writing those types of stories. 8.) "Don't edit as you write" - This is advice I wish I COULD follow, because while it helps me keep things active in my memory and keeps the manuscript itself fresh, it can sidetrack me from getting actual progress on the story itself. Whenever I have a large break in my writing (more than a week - sometimes I stop for MONTHS!!), I kinda have to go back through my story, and I inevitably end up making edits as I re-read it. 9.) "X POV/tense is bad" - Yeah...no, that's a stupid idea! There's room for stories with varied styles, because every writer and reader is different! I used to hate first person perspective until I started writing my current project. It still isn't my favorite POV, but I recognize it as being what this current story needed. 10.) "There are no original stories anymore" - Depends on execution. You can take the most overused, cliche story idea on the planet and still find a way to make it your own! I do have issues with remaking old films, but that's a different topic for another day.

Interesting to hear about your perceptions of writing classes, how the arrogance takes over sometimes not allowing individuals to grow.

It's weird, but I want to write every day. Since if I stop, even one day, I get anxious about it. Like I forgot how to do it or like, I lost my footing and I don't know how to get back without losing massive amounts of time. So I just found that when I don't feel like it, I just write a random scene that might not make it or I'll just take parts from it, or I will use all of it, who knows. (I am a discovery writer just like you) Even if it's one page or two pages. I just write something so that I can develop the characters, so I never leave the world if that makes sense. But I did experience burnout too, so Idk. I am writing my first book and because of you, I started writing a short story too, though it's more a novella at this point, I started a second one right after the first one just to take a break from the book, because of burnout but still wanted to write something, anything. It felt like flying during those few hours since there was no plot or characters that I already knew, it was all new. But I feel that if I don't write on the main book, I feel bad. Any advice on what to do with the guilt of not writing? I put off writing for years and now, I am at home, and that's my 'job' with no pay. That's all I want to do and yet, every day sometimes...makes me go: Nah, not today. and I feel guilty after. IDK why. I really wish I could go: yeah, well, tomorrow is fine. it's all fine but I am like yeah, now I won't be able to write for 2 weeks, I am behind again, I have to improve x and y, I am wasting time and I am in a privileged space with lots of time so what is wrong with me, this is what I should be doing and want to do, I am grateful, but like...ah...help?

i love writting and reading mostly reading and i like to look at storytelling also . thats if i get a job as a historian or as poet.

3.47: Writing is many things, therapy, a business, a job, a project, an exploration, a hobby, a side thing, happiness, a creation, an achievement, a style, an inner voice, a wordsmith, a creator, a builder,.