Editing Tips for Underwriters | When Your Book Is Too Short

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What do you do if your novel is too short? How do you add more to a book? You're done with NaNo and you have 50K--but you need 30K more. I'm sharing tips for what to do if you are an underwriter/lean drafter.
Sorry for how long this one is... I tried to include examples, but also ultimately it's hard to discuss structure without getting too deep into structure!
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
01:46 Internalization/emotionality
03:37 All A Plot, Lacking B Plot?
07:09 Underutilized Characters
12:17 Complicating Characters
14:43 Skipping "Boring" Scenes
17:20 Lacking Description
21:11 Starting in the Wrong Place
23:07 Act 2 Light On Setbacks
25:46 Rushed Midpoint to Climax
26:44 Ending is Rushed
27:44 What is Confusing?
30:25 Narration Overabundance
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Опубликовано:

9 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 287

@Sarah-fr7wi 3 года назад

Alexa: "Are there characters that just disappear?" Me: o.o stop calling me out like this

@Someone-fn3ij 3 года назад

so relatable xD on my 5th draft im like "oh i should bring back that main character's friend uh"

@writingwofl5836 2 года назад

I just killed him off lol

@SpaceCadette7653 3 года назад

As an underwriter I have to constantly tell myself to slow down because I have my beats figured out and I want to get from point a to point b and sometimes I forget to build up between them.

@NatalieSBG 2 месяца назад

Agreed 😅

@shelleestories 3 года назад

Ah, the video I’ve been waiting for. *Stares blankly at 29,000 word “novel”

@shelleestories 3 года назад

@@dodapictures2141 I have specific publishing goal word counts Im trying to meet. However, in my personal diary I live on the edge and write what feels right.

@mariokarter13 3 года назад

Find every contraction and decouple it. That should add a couple hundred.

@josefkainrad 4 месяца назад

Please do not do this. Good lord.@@mariokarter13

@erlindasali156 3 года назад

Me: I'm getting a little insecure because my book is too short Alexa: Say no more

@valeriacpla6320 3 года назад

1 feelings, reflexion, wants, needs, flashbacks 2 add a b plot / c plot 3 bring back side characteres 4 add new characteres that create conflict 5 change something that was too easy 6 write the boring parts with a twist 7 Fix white room syndrome

@dchen8874 3 года назад

I think writing too many essays made my writing stiff and too straight to the point lol. I used to be able to write much longer stuff...

@TerryeToombs 3 года назад

I feel this! After years of working as a technical writer where I was constantly scolded for "adding too much description," I now find it difficult to add description to my science fiction stories. :D

@fkdjdjcmckdjdjf3728 3 года назад

maybe it's a mindset thing? not like "oh youre so weak just don't do x" but maybe you need to put yourself instead of in one "writing" headspace, a "technical/academic" writing headspace and a "creative/descriptive" writing headspace. that way you can get good at directness without getting worse at descriptive ness at the same time

@dchen8874 3 года назад

@@fkdjdjcmckdjdjf3728 lol one of my friend told me my writing has become too explanatory instead of letting the readers infer things

@alexisdorris272 2 года назад

Late to the thread here, but I'm the opposite. I've alway been an underwriter, so my teachers always told me I had to do *more* Now I'm at the point that I've got both problems: I'm so self aware of my underwriting that I overcorrect and OVERwrite in the wrong places. 🤣

@lukesahagian 3 года назад

“You wrote your book and it’s ‘only’ 30,000 words” 😳

@ace_of_cups4096 3 года назад

Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap.

@SysterYster 3 года назад

My first draft was 350 000 words. XD XD I've cut it down to 310k now. XD I'm such an over writer. Here, take my words! I have too many!

@lukesahagian 3 года назад

Oh my god, I wish I could write that much!

@SysterYster 3 года назад

@@lukesahagian I wish I didn't. XD And it takes ages to edit it all.

@lukesahagian 3 года назад

Oh god I didn’t even think of that. But that’s a huge achievement, to have that much creativity you can write that amount for your story. Well done!

@VocaloidThalia 3 года назад

Me: Is DEFINITELY and overwriter Also Me: Tips for underwriters! The exact video I needed!

@Supvia 3 года назад

In my second draft, my 70.000 words became 90.000 words. I fixed a lot of white room syndrome and I had a poor character, whose perspective I wanted to add, but she did not grow in the plot, she stayed the same. So I made her more desperate and let her steal something. It was great 😁

@lightquest2 3 года назад

I just finished my entire fantasy draft at around 50k so i definitely need this 😬😭

@mbilmey 3 года назад

Heh, same bc nanowrimo

@abbyjdunn 3 года назад

ahh same!! my goal was 70,000 and i can’t get passed 55,000 😔😔

@lightquest2 3 года назад

@@abbyjdunn right?! I was like “60k at the least” but I couldn’t even reach that 😭

@downtowords9806 3 года назад

Oh my god! Wow! Gratz! I am 1/3 in with 40k!

@downtowords9806 3 года назад

@@PianoMan-hx3ev and also, a wizard is never late. He arrives precisely when he needs to❤️

@devynwolff5201 3 года назад

This is such a useful video because I’m an underwriter when it comes to the stories I want to tell. I really relate to the fact that 70k might not sound short, but if you’re telling a complex thriller, then that might be short for what you’re actually trying to do. Skipping “the boring scenes” is exactly my issue, so I appreciate you touching on that!

@michellecornum5856 3 года назад

Currently, I can soo relate. I've been bouncing from one "exciting scene" to another. I haven't even wanted to daydream about the less interesting bits.

@campwriter9289 3 года назад

I’m an underwriter. I basically do a zero draft which is mainly dialogue (my strong suit) and then my first draft is basically filling in the blanks..

@keavs4564 2 года назад

Maybe this is what I should do. I always go back in the middle of my drafting and am like “No. This is boring.”

@Vickynger 2 года назад

omg i do it the same way. i love writing dialogue and then i have to go back and figure out all the rest lol

@Imagineitwrite123 3 года назад

My 1st draft is usually under written. Once I have the bare bones story written I can go back enjoy the story and expand. I have the most fun going back fixing, adding or subtracting things. Building out the character and setting better scenes with more detail.

@andreannelavoie660 3 года назад

I'm the exact same! Even though I don't write much details in the dirty draft because it doesn't come intuitively, I love edit and adding all those missing details and seeing the story come together

@rebeccatrusty7003 3 года назад

This overwriter/underwriter series was perfect! I overwrote my last thriller novel and am currently underwriting my NaNo novel. Hopefully these videos can help me land in the happy middle ground. Thanks!

@user-yu4rh6zj9x 3 года назад

I've finished watching all of alexa's videos and the waiting for more is torture

@OldCountrySeeds 2 года назад

always a good plan to then go and write about that torture. ;) great practice!

@notarose9497 3 года назад

Oh I definitely needed this! I just finished the first chapter and it's barely 2k words

@eleanorjones26407 3 года назад

*depressed laugh*... mine are about 700 words lol

@katherine1304 3 года назад

god i relate to all of this so hard

@hannaholmberg3054 3 года назад

A chapter being around 1500-2000 words is totally normal though. Mine are usually around that length, but I guess it can depend on the genre too

@zynel413 2 года назад

@@hannaholmberg3054 from what I've heard 4000 to 5000 is the normal amount.

@havvaalexander9520 3 года назад

Thank you! I legit wrote “SO BORING “ after several scenes in my draft today. Your tips will help me. I’m working on my favorite trope but not in the genre I normally write!

@madmadame1508 3 года назад

That NaNo realization damn near crushed me. I'm still working on expanding my first successful one.

@elizabethhaynes5908 3 года назад

Oh my gosh, the thing you said about the forgetting about characters later on is SO ME.

@cassandranelson3597 3 года назад

I need to give you the BIGGEST thanks, I was trying to figure out why my work was so fast paced and i ended up watching this video. Turns out my book was only action, there was no internalization

@clickers8049 3 года назад

I don’t know if this is a problem for other people, but something that I do is write from a really limited POV. So if I’m writing in first person, I literally only write things that would occur to the character in the story. This is great bc it keeps me from over explaining a lot of things, but it also means that a lot of plot points/characterisations are confusing to the audience. To fix this, I go back through and try to find the places where my character just assumes that everyone can figure it out and flesh those out

@skyler.christine 3 года назад

As soon as I got the notification, I thought yes!!! This is what I need! I need a button that shows me Alexa videos I haven't watched yet 😂

@JennsCreativityCorner 3 года назад

Yes! Especially as a pantser, I just throw the plot on page as it comes along and then realize I have to beef it up later.

@jeremyfee 3 года назад

I wonder how many finance people clicked on this video thinking it was about a different type of underwriting. LOL. Great video, as always. Peace!

@N317V 3 года назад

I, on the other hand, was puzzled by a lot of underwriting videos that weren't what I was looking for at all. :-D

@haleylampley1056 2 года назад

I am a notorious underwriter. I often just let the first draft be skin and bone and then go back through and apply all the tips and tricks to write more.

@mhill88ify 3 года назад

I came away from this realizing I had so many great opportunities for more character development, subtle world building and description, several ideas for sub plots and plot detours... This was exactly what I needed to get my head in the right place. THANK YOU for your awesome practical advice Alexa.

@ShellyflowersReadsandWrites 3 года назад

This came right on time. I’ve been underwriting for a while now, and you’ve brought up so many things I still need to consider before I “finish” my book.

@e443productions9 3 года назад

Definitely an overwritter but love hearing advice for the opposite lol

@SysterYster 3 года назад

Same. My book is still over 300k and I've cut 40k from it. XD

@Colonel_Chloe Год назад

This has been the single best video I have ever watched to help me understand how to craft and develop a story from my initial idea. I haven't even written it yet, but just having this in mind and taking notes as I watched has me feeling so much more confident about where to start, where to go, and what needs to be included for a well-rounded story. I'm going to check out the overwriting video next. Thank you very much!

@biblionerd 2 года назад

I'm an underwriter, but I LOVE descriptions. (I had to cut out a full page because I was literally just describing the process of a character getting ready to leave.) The thing is, I feel like 80% of my novel needs dialogue to show character motivations, growth, etc. and I find the first go-around of dialogue extremely boring and cringey. I know how to spice up everything, but I need to push myself through finishing my draft instead of editing every minute detail.

@user-yu4rh6zj9x 3 года назад

oh i could listen to this woman forever

@Maelstrom-Fenrir91 3 года назад

Both these videos are so helpful. I've both underwritten (not enough reflection and some white room syndrome) and overwritten (too many scenes mostly) my fantasy novel.

@ajmastel 3 года назад

Yay! I’ve been waiting for this one!!!

@VanessaMarieBooks 3 года назад

Love this! I'm totally an underwriter. I think my biggest issues are lack of descriptions (though that's kind of on purpose, I tend to use a lot of placeholders in my first draft just so I can keep the story moving), underutilizing certain characters (which I'm working on now), and all A plot-lacking B plot. Great tips.

@Kelly-ib1hf 3 года назад

Worldbuilding! I'm writing a sci-fi and have thus far completely neglected to sprinkle in fun, contextual-but-not-plot-critical details.

@dropsofchae7230 3 года назад

Earlyyy, I love your writing tips! It really helps alot

@coreyoz 3 года назад

this came right on time. Just finished my first novel - an action thriller - clocking in at 61k words. It's in the hands of beta readers right now. TY so much

@jukori 3 года назад

Guilty of emotion-hopping. It's my biggest mistake while writing and it's kinda hard to detect on your own cause it's so obvious to me what the characters are feeling that I often forget to write it down. For me, it helps to make emotional outlines: pick a scene, write down the basic plot and add for each character in the scene how they feel towards each plot element. It is kinda painful to do but it helps highlighting when emotional change occures and where to focus or at least when to drop some hints viva bodylanguage

@augabachoo 3 года назад

This is awesome advice! Ideas began popping into my head as you gave advice!

@samyboynton6129 3 года назад

Yes!! I've been waiting for this video! My NaNo project needs mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

@ourunboundlife5654 3 года назад

Thank you for this video! I know I struggle with this and you’ve offered so many tips, I’m excited to try these ☺️

@endlessteatime4733 3 года назад

Thank you, Alexa, for your videos! No matter what they're about, they never fail to give me motivational boosts. It must be the "happy writing" wish at the end haha!

@blairewilde 2 года назад

I didn't even realize I needed this but now I see that I SO did!! Thank you so much!

@emilyrafter6460 3 года назад

Thank you!! I really needed this! 😊

@tappkalina 3 года назад

My prayers have been answered.

@alavinsky 3 года назад

I've come back to this video several times. It's a nice touchstone for anyone who tends towards starker early drafts. Thankyou.

@animinasian8779 2 года назад

I always knew I was one of those writers that was more likely to need to add content to the first draft than delete but I never knew there was a name for it! Very enlightening, and especially helpful as I tackle my first novel project. 3rd week of NaNoWriMo and I've been worrying where the next 20K+ words are going to come from--now I know!

@LiteraryAviatrix 2 года назад

I know this video has been up for a while, but it's exactly what I needed right now. Thank you!

@issyolfert2673 Год назад

Wow, this was exactly what I needed. Thank you so much for the advice!!

@QuwapaQuwapus 2 года назад

oh my god I'm so glad you made this video lmaooo my first chapter for my book that was multiple scenes long was only 5 pages _after_ I bumped the font size up. . .

@rmsiever9137 3 года назад

Very helpful video. Working on the third draft of a novel, and this is exactly what I needed to hear to get me motivated to help me bring my wc up.

@sumalmashal3378 3 года назад

Thank you so much, Alexa, this video was a lifesaver! I consider myself an over writer in terms of descriptions, dialogues and monologues. I’ve never considered that an under writer can also mean one who’s story lacks plot points or conflict. That is something I struggle with a lot, especially coming from writing short fiction. I’m already starting to nail down some of these I’m seeing in my WIP. It’s making me eager to start edits. Great video!

@mojop5408 3 года назад

I have been waiting for this one! Hardcore underwriter here and I usually start the fix by describing the room/setting. I’m seriously guilty of white room syndrome. Thanks for the video!! You are awesome!!

@elizabethgracefashion 2 года назад

This was so helpful, thank you so much!

@ruthrouse 3 года назад

Oh white room syndrome is such a problem for me, but hey, now I know that I can fix it. You're right, this does go very well with the overwriting, this lets you find the scenes you are missing and then you use the overwriter tips to tighten them up.

@bookchickcity 2 года назад

I LOVED this video, it was like a light bulb going off in my head - thank you for all the tips. Looking forward to actioning them into my novel :)

@PanicPixie Год назад

This is EXTREMELY helpful! Thank you!

@candacehardy100 3 года назад

Thanks. I’m definitely an underwriter. I’m returning to my beat sheet first, but now I have more ideas to get sufficient meat on the bones, quickly enough for NaNo.

@amberzakfilmsuk 3 года назад

I am usually a screen writer, where you have to be so tight with your writing, and there’s no room for anything you can’t see (like moments of reflection). So I’ve found I’m a massive under writer for novels. This is helpful.

@JDMcFarren 3 года назад

Thanks for this video. It's very time;ly for me for the novel I am working on which I KNOW will be too short. Very helpful.

@magdalenaduras913 Месяц назад

Great advices, I think so far the best underwriting tips of what I've watched. Definitely coming back to this video whenever I need to remind myself of what to look out for, thanks.

@tiff8683 3 года назад

This advice is fantastic!!! Really admire your smarts on these topics and the way you deliver the advice. Super helpful :) Sincerely, an underwriter

@deannascorner8112 2 года назад

Today is one of my writing break days but just you explaining this makes me excited to go try write and build out my WIP more ⚠️ definitely taking tips for tomorrow’s writing day! ❤️

@natdominguez8557 3 года назад

love all your videos you are such an inspiration

@mikaylamarks7361 3 года назад

just wanna say, I think you've been so helpful to me on my journey with my books.

@sallyalter6003 3 месяца назад

You gave me some good tips to be going on with . I don't know how to introduce some conflict, though, that will take a lot of thinking about. Thanks, Alexa.

@user-bg2ud9fv4b 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for this. I just had my manuscript edited and you just reiterated every part of the critique. I just started with my edit and already have added 5K words.

@JonathanSanchez-kk1lr 3 года назад

Finally! I've been waiting for this. Time to plug in some earphone and listen to the sweet dulcet tones of Auntie Alexa lecturing me!

@kellygillette5852 Год назад

Very valuable stuff!

@absolutelycitron1580 Месяц назад

You for sure did. I need to elaborate on my characters' internalization

@alexiacerwinskipierce8114 Год назад

That's funny. I'm always worried my writing is way too much internalized thought.

@jimenagarcinuno5271 3 года назад

This is so good. Thanks for sharing!

@blumammu 3 года назад

Exactly what I needed! Brb going to create some more conflict for my characters :D

@deannascorner8112 2 года назад

Such a great idea and it’s funny that I just made some notes in my outline to use secondary characters more! Apparently I knew to use this method without realizing it! I’m glad I’m on the right path to build out my stories!

@flyingwind66 3 года назад

I have trouble with underwriting, this video was totally for me 🖤

@mrs.psstories1764 3 года назад

Thank you so much! I now have a good idea of what to go back and look for. I'm only about 10k words short of the sweet spot and I have and idea for a new scene to add but this video helped me add to that! Secondary characters! Great!

@NateReadsDiversely Год назад

Thank you so much for this!!! I've always been an underwriter. It was a struggle to get more than 50k out of my YA Contemporary and now, I'm attempting to write a YA Sci-fi.

@Gnomleif Год назад

I think this was one of the most helpful videos I have watched, as I'm definitely an underwriter. Definitely lack feelings, reflection, wants and needs. My main story also has something like 98% A-plot, a whopping 2% B-plot and not much else. I do add characters, but they aren't a source of any major conflicts, so that needs some work. And I know I rushed parts, because I was in a hurry to get to the next exciting thing. Functional filler is definitely an area that can be improved, although I _think_ I'm not terrible with them. Lastly, white room syndrome is a bit of a hit or miss for me. I tend to do ok, but I know I slip up more times than I like to. A friend of mine, who I have actuall co-written a story with, is much better at making the surroundings feel alive than I am, so I believe it's time to go re-read some of his work with this in mind.

@kerrybridle6811 2 года назад

Your advice is spot on

@cecemozz 3 года назад

yay new video!

@viralbuthow000 3 года назад

thanks for this. exatly what i was looking 4

@monoman2000 3 года назад

This is the video I needed right now.

@haleyferru9098 2 года назад

You really should make a video on A B C plots! Was struggling with ideas, remembered you touched on it here, and it helped bump me along!

@frankbruno9499 9 месяцев назад

Thank you Alea, after 24 years as a video editor, it was ingrained in my mind to hunt for material I could toss on the cutting room floor to make room for more commercials but now that I am writing, this is a whole new ball game to fatten it up. Great tips. I'm in my 2nd rewrite and making her lost at sea, 3rd husband return! And this is a musical.

@jodiirwin9989 3 года назад

Awesome video! I’m definitely an underwriter and thus really helped me understand how to fix that. Maybe you could make a more in depth video just about subplots and a b c plots in the future? Keep up the great work!

@melissamichaelsurbanfantas6965 2 года назад

So helpful. Thank you.

@StellaDonna88 3 года назад

Such helpful tips. Thanks!

@chiliechxrry9110 2 года назад

This helped so much tysm

@deezxc 2 года назад

You got me in the first 5 minutes. I wrote a mystery that rounded out at 55k at the end of my first draft. Watching this has been very useful. Everything you said was spot on; things played out too easily, making better use of secondary characters, adding more conflict and MC introspection. Looking forward to a meatier second draft.

@Syine 3 года назад

This is the most useful videos on "underwriting" I have ever seen.

@tamimnoory2023 3 года назад

this video is on point i have disappear characters which Im planing to use them on midpoint thank you so much alexa your wonderful!

@carrieandginnyking2166 3 года назад

You’re videos are so helpful :)

@michaelrauch8629 2 года назад

This is beyond helpful

@vic70ria 3 года назад

Just wanted to say. This was a quality video. Thanks

@LizaLauf 2 года назад

Definitely have this issue, skip from one beat to the next without developing the stuff in between, so that it doesn't even make sense. Great advice! And have been called out too many times by this video haha

@IsabelA-hp9yt 3 года назад

Awesome, I’ve been waiting for this since the overwriter-video, because I definitely underwrite everything. I wanted to add though what you just touched on during the last two minutes: characters. Most advice out there is for plotting, but I found out I come from the perspective of characters. I need to get to know them, and when I finally do it’s more fun to imagine different smaller scenes for the readers to meet them as well. I want to showcase their layers, and their connections with other characters. So characters solve my connective-scene-subplot-problem. Also, I write really condensed, perfectionist prose, so all my scenes are stuffed to the brim with conflict, detail and characterization, and they work beautifully in themselves-but to work in a novel, they need to be unraveled a little, so instead of three things finding a resolution in a scene, I’ll limit myself to one or two max and carry the third through a couple scenes. That way, I get loads of smaller arcs to flesh out the plot, and some become bigger by necessity.

@campwriter9289 3 года назад

Great advice! The ‘boring scene’ point I had to learn the hard way! I just cut the first four chapters of my fantasy because I was like, if I don’t like these scenes then readers won’t either. (It’s more that I couldn’t wait to get to the exciting parts, so I decided why not start there!🤦‍♀️

@Neil-writer-author 3 года назад

Thank you for this video

@MarcoGalliafr 3 года назад

Thank you for your tips! I am definitely an underwriter and find it very useful

@mare2723 9 месяцев назад

I really enjoy authors who describe weather, wallpaper and textures of fabric and color. I believe these things are especially important in audiobooks. I like to see the colors and since feeling the textures when I read❤