Sometimes, when I need to recover the joy in a writing wip, I start with mini-ideas that won't go to the final product, but do connect me with good feelings so I can regain the hopes of it getting finished. Like writing concepts for a crossover of your characters with characters from other medias you like, or writing something with your characters making reference to something you like, or even exaggerating on my character personality to write a fun scene.
That's awesome. I have a real hard time writing stuff that I don't plan on including in the final draft, but I'd like to set my writing free in this way.
Oh me too. I write a lot of excerpts when I'm overwhelmed. I'm writing a book on and off for 3 years now and I'm pretty consistent now but I sometimes have to stop and just write down my fantasies and daydreams
Writing is a job. If I have a bad writing day, I treat it like a bad day at the office. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable because when you have a break through; it is golden!
FOR THOSE WITH A MAIN CHARACTER THAT DOES NOT SUFFER FROM ANY INTERNAL CONFLICT HERE IS MY SUGGETION: If the character does not change in the story, the character changes the world around them, the people around them. You can have a main character without a character arc: a static main character. I suggest watching "Writing Characters Without Character Arcs" by Just Write on RU-vid Great video as always, Abbie!
The first two questions are things I've been struggling with lately, so this session was super helpful. As I'm writing a 6 book series and have so many different moments happening at the same time, sometimes it's just hard to figure out how POVs are acceptable. Each day is a new day and each step is one step closer to my goal. I just need to remember that.
I get inspired by what my antagonists/villains' schemes and how they are going to challenge the protagonist to overcome them. If your story is action/adventure/thriller/horror than delve into your villain's schemes and all the plot twists that they will throw at the protagonist. What will the protagonist have to overcome physically and mentally to achieve their goal?
You can do this with dystopian, fantasy, mystery and intrigue too. I did it with all 4 in one book once 😄 No, actually. I'm editng a dystopiantasystoryntrigue I wrote (dystopian-fantasy-mystery-story-intrigue) at the moment. I haven't read anything like it before, so it's a bit of a challenge but also quite interesting, and I hope I blended them correctly (basically it's a fantasy world with wizards and stuff run by a megacorp with magical evil surveillance devices and they've also put a taboo on a girl's name and that girl's disappeared and there are tons of conspiracies and I don't think I can really explain it in one line). But you can put a lot of plot twists in anything really.
Literally perfect timing, Abbie! Have been questioning all day whether I should carry on writing after a bad writing session - I don't need to quit, I just need to do something else! Amazing! Always the best xx
You talk about working on projects you're excited for, and regretting spending time on some projects you weren't as inspired by while working... But anytime I feel a story flopped or it's worse than I remembered (projects from 6 months ago with melodramatic/poorly done angst... that I thought was spectacular) I stop and think about how far it's brought me. What if that 50k project I did back in Nanowrimo that I never finished the edits/second draft for... what if that laid the groundwork for my writing quality today? It could've pushed me to write in a different genre... taught me to write character voice better... even pushed me to write emotion filled scenes. Without that story, without all the stories I put down from two or so years ago, where would I be? So for all you who regret working on a project that seems like a hot mess, remember it helps you grow and improve. Even if it isn't the best, or your best, it's helping you become BETTER and maybe you taught yourself important messages from writing it, or maybe you taught yourself how to write stories better. Trying to write is better than completely giving up, is my point. So don't be hard on yourself-- Especially when I believe in you!
Great wisdom about not letting other people determine your happiness. And great suggestion about writing lots of first drafts. I have several book ideas in my head but felt I couldn't start writing them until I finish the current novel. I love the idea of doing a rough draft and having it there to work on when time allows.
A fellow Authortuber, Kelley Tai, has been struggling a lot with finding the passion for writing again. I think you'll help her a lot Abbie thank you! 😍❤
Very timely. I've been working on a fanfic since 2017, though I didn't start devoting serious time with the intent to publish it on one of the sites until 2019. Anyway, since I have a video game's worth of plot to follow, I often know what events are coming up. The hard part is sometimes finding a way to make the lead-up and execution of those events interesting. For video game stories, there's often the risk of just writing a walkthrough and putting story elements on top of it. That's not an entertaining story. Reusing dialogue doesn't bother me as much, but I'm always wowed when I see an author able to write new dialogue for established characters in such a way that it makes perfect sense. Anyway, sometimes I take a break from the main story - which is all one character's POV - and switch to one of her teammates for a bit. I don't usually get too far because I don't know them as well as my MC, but it's given me an idea for my next project, once this first one is done.
Wow, this really helped. I'm halfway through a book, but I took a week's break and got distracted by other ideas, and I lost motivation to keep writing. I just figured I couldn't work on 2 things at once, kind of like dropping a book halfway through reading it, but this helped.
I was struggling with this exact problem of "how to feel excited for your writing project" when you uploaded this episode of Ask Abbie Show.Thanks a lot! You always deserve much more than you realize you have it! thanks for always being motivator to make my author dreams come true! Lastly please reply me if you see this comment
So this is the best video in terms of my writing journey I think I’ve ever seen. The questions asked are all questions I’ve been struggling with. And Abbie always delivers on this incredible advice that helps me push through. I’ve been writing the same book since 2020 and January 1st of 2022 it finally clicked. And my book is FLOWING out of me. It’s beautiful and amazing and Abbie you’ve been a big help with that all. Love your channel always!
I heavily agree with you, Abbie about the comment section part. But if authors really, really want to improve their writing depending on the negative reviews. Just don't even try. There are and will be people who would just bash your writing, posting negative comments. You can read them but only look for constructive criticism. Not simply like "Oh your book is bad! This is offensive for anyone under ____ age." Like get a life. So keep on writing. Never stop and never hesitate to be an inspiration and be inspired😊❤🤘
Abbie, thank you very much for this video. These questions are very relatable. I personally feel that the answer to all the questions mentioned here and many other ones I've faced comes back to 'loving your characters'. When I get tired of writing occasionally, when I don't receive feedbacks that I'd wish to see, or when I simply become sad because of peer pressure (reading others' stories and think I should probably just give up), it is always the willingness to tell the story of my beloved characters that keeps me calm. I think this is a treasure to every story-teller, that you have a story (stories) to keep you accompanied and characters you love with every piece of your heart. So again and again it comes back to build a strong character.
Best book I know that has 4 POV's that flow seamlessly is Erin entrada Kelly's "hello, universe". Beautiful book. Great themes and the flashbacks fit perfectly into the story! Go read it!!!!! 📚
Every writing person that I looked to, for finding answers, and being confused about something, Abby always made it so much simpler than they were making it out to be, and she's really helped me grow my character development and setting the scene, and all these things that I got so wrong, and now I recommend her to all my writer friends because this is the best place to go!
"chasing creative butterflys" I NEEDED to hear this so badly. I've set a aside Dcemeber to work on writing the entire first draft of my comic script, but i was sort of dreading it and i accidently started writing a fanfic that was plotbunny (with the whole outline written out around 6 months-a year ago, but it was a *compleate* outline and something i could jump straight into writing chapters for) and let me tell you--i am P A S S I O N A T E for that story--i woke up every morning for the last two days with a *burning* desire to get it out of my head and into the world for the few people who will enjoy it, day one is 2,700 words, 2nd day is 3,100 words, and i'm dying to work harder on it because i know i can work faster and i love the story so much (ie, it's unique in the fandom and i wish it was something i could read) And this has happened before where i picked up a random plot bunny of a new, brief, hyperfixation that i got 17,000 words in just a few days, and then dumped (unhappiliy) to continue to work on my main project, so i know it's something i *have* to do in order to heal and reiguine my passion, my FIRE, MY DRIIIAVE TO PUT OUT INTA THE WORLD SOMETHING OF MY OOOOWN CREATION. Thanks Abbie, now i will go out inserch of the interenet to retreive those two fanfiction kwite videos and other mundane things i found insanly insperational/ [don't mind typos.]
Thanks to you i really started writing my stories. I wrote 2 stories and their first chapters. Just published it today on wattpad. I used to think about ideas and almost think about writing but would just end up not writing. Then i came across your video and it really helped me. It made me clear with my ideas and stories. Really really thanks a lot. Its all because of you that i finally have published two of my stories (just one chapters of each). Pls read my stories. Its named Dont blood it Past in the future Really thanks a lot. Really really thank you so much. You are really a great person. Really thanks Abbie
Hey Abbie! This is NOT an ask Abbie question. This is a video/series suggestion: How to Write Family Dynamics You could go through all the different types of family dynamics, from healthy to toxic, secrets to T.M.I, cold to lovey-dovey, etc. Sibling-sibling dynamics, parent-child dynamics, older relative-younger relative dynamics, yatta yatta You get the picture I’m giving you…right? Anywho just a suggestion 😁 Love your videos as always!!
hi abbie im your huge fan you are my inspiration and you are the reason im like good at these writing things niw i have written over 50 short stories just because of the determination i got from your videos lysm abbie cant wait to finish the whole video and learn something newww
This is just what I needed to hear right now, Abbie. I’ve gotten too preoccupied with a project, trying to perfect and finish it, thinking it was going to be the one to get out there first because it’s the one whose draft I finished first, but maybe I need time away from it. It might not be the one I want to push first, and time away will draw me back in eventually with a clearer idea of what it needs.
I stumbled upon your channel last week and I have been obsessed ever since! I don't necessarily write novels, rather my art form are screenplays, but the same knowledge and practices apply. Thank you so much!
It’s kind of like when you’re trying really hard to figure something out and no answer comes to you. But then when you’re mind is on something else or you’re driving or daydreaming, the solution will randomly pop into your head. You can’t always force your way through to a solution, sometimes getting your mind off of the issue is the fastest way to get un-stuck. This is something I learned about in a psychology class and that has historically led to inventions and the solving of all sorts of problems. I’m not sure what this “overthinking blocks the solution and taking your mind off of it allows the solution to show up” phenomena is called but I’m pretty sure your tip is backed by science, so yeah! Great advice!
Another question is, what is a realistic daily/weekly goal to set when just beginning to write? I have a 9-5 designer job, and it’s quite exhausting. And I want to balance writing with reading because I’m not very well read at all. And it will improve my writing automatically. So… taking into account that I want to read half an hour a day, how much time is reasonable to leave for writing? Also, as for now, my ambitions aren’t extremely high, I’m ’only’ writing a short story. But my dream is still to publish a book someday… So how the f do i start, and how much time do I spend on it? 😅
If you want set a goal it's better to set weekly than daily (daily goal it's more prone to fail due to outside factors). You can set time, word count or scene count goals, depending on how you work. > If you are motivated by deadlines, set time goal (estimate how many hours you can really have for writing). > If you need long time to catch the flow and/or enjoy binge writing (you dont't like making breaks or leaving unfinished work) set scene goals (estimate how long it takes you to write a scene and how many of them you can write weekly). > If you don't have much time and/or your schedule is quite fluid, so it's hard to predict how much and when you'll have time to write, set low word count goal - it can be about 200/250 words per day [and you can adjust that as needed], and every time you'll get anything more than that you'll feel good ^^. Also do not forget, that being writer is a job and treat it as such: 1. It is more than act of writing - you should count making research, learning, making outlines, worldbuilding, creating character personality, editing and so much more as your "work hours". There will be days, hell, weeks even, when you will not write a single word, but you will be researching some detail you need for your work or try to figure out how certain character will act in particular situation - and this will be time well spent 2. You need take breaks and do not overwork yourself. You have right to sick leave. You have right to adjust your goals to more reasonable ones - if you can see that you can't write x amount of words or you don't have that much time as you predicted, cut it! Keep goals reasonable for you, do not try to fit to someone's elses mould. There's no one-size-fit-all. And being frustrated because of continuous failing too ambitous goals does not help 3. Set long term goals along short term ones. Make yourself accountable - if you can, try to find some "alpha reader", it can be your partner or friend, who will check your progress - kind of "dummy boss" - but remember that your first draft will be a mess, and at this moment you don't need opinion, you need encouragement, so choose wisely (I've chosen my cat, XD) I believe in you, you will publish that book someday! (also, English is not my first language so I apologize for any mistakes) 🙂
@@miramari732 Wow you’re such a kind soul! Thanks for the well thought out advice. I think it all sounds very reasonable, and I’ll probably go for the time based goal OR the word count goal. Argument for choosing word count goal: when time is up, I can relax. I definitely am a ”bite more than I can chew” kind of person. Be it design, writing, studying… or life in general. I easily spend too much time on the prep parts of all sorts of projects. But if I have a time limit a) there is a sense or urgency and b) I don’t make myself burn out Then I could also argue that I should go for a word count goal, because what you say about researching and digging into the psyche of the characters being a huge part of the job - that’s where I’m at risk of spending too much time. I tend to want to perfect the basics, without actually writing the first draft because I’m scared it won’t be any good. And that’s a perfect reason to choose a word count goal because it forces me to spew something out. First drafts are supposed to suck, right? Or at least that’s what I’ve heard 😂 I’ll have to think a little more about which kind of goal to set 🧐 Also your English is great and it’s impressive enough that you master a second lanugage. 🥳 (English is not my first language either, my brain is set up for Swedish 🤓)
Negative reviews can be GOOD! I've found books before as a reader that say for example, "this had too much romance and not enough fantasy" well I love romance so I'm gonna buy it. Maybe a bad review will get you a sale, because what didn't work for one reader will be another reader's favorite thing! It also gives social proof, because a book with only 5 star reviews might seem fake, or that the reviews were bought/illegitimately posted.
When I first starting writing my Crescent Moon wolf series. It was my first time writing it. I had posted a few chapters on Wattpad. No one read them. I post my book in a writing contest and the host of the contest pretty much... well let's just say she wasn't very nice on what she had to say about my book. I was heartbroken about it. So I took my book down off of Wattpad and pretty much gave up on writing. Because I thought I wasn't good enough. For years this story sat. Then one day I decided to pick it up again and I started over from the being after watching your videos Abbie. You helped me a lot. I'm happy to say that I finished the first book of my series. This time around I am excited on how it turned out. Though kind of nervous to post back on Wattpad again. But I have to remind myself that if they don't like my book. That's on them.
Omg thank you so much! I've been binging your channel for about a month now and it's really been helping me get back in the spirit of writing. The negative comments question could have been a page out of my life story! My debut novel totally got mean reviews not just negative reviews and I been struggling to create ever since, even just on my blog! I trusted the wrong people with my money and they did a bad job editing despite me taking five years to write the novel, lots of rewrites and edits and people still left mean reviews about the writing but I still believe in the story and the characters especially. I'm excited to move on and put the past behind me. I was tempted for a while to write under a different name but I want to use my real name as my author byline. Luckily with the last name Smith I don't have to worry about it interfering with my personal life or work hahaha. Anyway THANK YOU so much for this video and channel! Keep up your amazing work! I brought your book on Amazon and looking forward to reading it! Cheers 🥂
Could you do a Final Draft tutorial? I'm working my way through your Scrivener course. I would like to see a Final Draft course! You explain things so well and clearly.
For the one about bad reviews, EVERY SINGLE THING will have a hater. In fact, I recently saw this book that takes all the bad reviews of national parks and laughs in their faces! It’s called “Subpar Parks” by Amber Share, and it definitely changed my mindset. If you’re facing fear of bad reviews just laugh at them! Or you can take it as constructed criticism and improve your next books.
At the moment I am writing my own book, and I am an editor for my sisters book. We edit each others books (and a trusted friend edits both of our books) my sister reads my outlines, and helps me form characters. She is basically a co-writer.
She { Abbie Emmons } Could just be talking metaphorical 🤷 , Although she Could { also } mean Literally , too & be willing to make up an ACTUAL " Bad writing day , resource kit " box 🧰 to market 💱 ?? ♑️✍️🇦🇺🇳🇴
Side note Abbie’s eyebrow game is very strong and powerful!! (sorry if thats weird lol it’s just the first thing I notice with every video and I gotta say, they look great!)
It's been a couple years since I sat down to write and I have ideas i just can never seem to write It's like I lost all motivation to write but I want to find the love i once felt for writing again
I'm creating some side characters for another book I'm writing but I don't know how to make their character template. Do I use the same character template as my protagonist or is there a side character template I can use?
I'm in a strange situation writing wise. I need some advice. I have been a long time fan-fic writer and last year I started a project that has been something I've wanted to finish for going on eight years. I've already put out over 130k words and I'm feeling very burned out. Yet I finally figured out what I'm doing with my original book, and I really want to start writing. I feel torn, because I made an promise to myself and my readers to finish that fan-fic project, but I really need to start my original and I honestly don't have the ability to do two massive projects at once. What's the right play?
I'll say take 3 or 4 days off from writing in general. Maybe even just a week to not writing that fan-fic. To allow your brain to relax and your creative flow heal for the time being. Since you said you are feeling burned out. I think as writers, we need to be honest ourselves of when is a good time to stop from writing from time to time. With burn outs, it usually means your body is telling you something is wrong and the brain can't handle this pressure. By not writing for a week, your brain will be happy to take a break. Giving you time to think with a clear head and a better focus as figure out for you and only you will want to do next.
@@marleymarss Thank you Marley, I do have a planned hiatus from the fic this month. But that is because I'm moving and I didn't want to add additional stress to that quagmire of fun.
I've been binge-watching your videos 'coz I had a break from writing. Actually, it has been a couple of years since I had typed a chapter or two. It was awful and it sucks after reading those unfinished chapters. I felt so conscious too because I have a friend who writes well, she inspired me to write though I can't be like her. English isn't my first language but I am dying to try to make a whole novel in English. I finished two stories in English but rereading it again makes me want to throw it on fire haha. So while at rest, I kept reading and reading and watching English films to make my vocabulary better, and I guess I have improved(?) I'm not really sure. Now, after watching some of your videos, I kinda like starting another novel I have been thinking for a while. I just hope I can make a better story now. 🖤
Nice timing on this, I find it hard to rest too, AND find it hard to work on something different even when I'm really excited about the different thing. My brain whines: BuuUUUUuuuut the other thing's not done yet.
One thing I do when I am in a writer's slump is created characters. I have my story in my head but I haven't found the way to bring it all out. When I write about something or someone I have to feel it I have to be there as if I was looking at the person or having a conversation with the person. Or playing out a scene. Periodically I play out a scene as if I was a director or being directed. Does that make sense to anyone?
There is a lot of terrible writers out there, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't write. Its what they are doing that matters, after all it is very hard to write so I give people credit for being able to write ten books at a time. Plus if a book is terrible enough, people will learn how to make stories better from it. So terrible books do serve purposes as well.
#askabbie. I have a writing project that I really got into that my friends wanted me to write, but now I'm just not feeling it. But, my friends are all expecting me to publish it soon. What should I do?
I am a part time story writer. Sometimes other work takes alot of time and I end sparing the writing time. I go without touching my stories for few days and when i finally get time, the flow of story will be gone. What can I do to get the flow back??? Or manage my time??
I currently have the problem that I get sidetracked a lot, mostly by the stories of my D&D characters and campaigns 😅 I pour all my creativity into those characters and my WIP seems to just lie there and nothing happens, even though I still love the concept and the story
Hey Abbi!! When are you going to post paperback formatting in word as you said you format your book in word. Can you please make it? Also for like making the paperback with beautiful bleed images for romance novels.
I am motivated to write but just don't get what I want to "paper". Every night before I sleep I play out all the possible things that could happen in my book, but I can't describe a single one without it becoming repetitive.
The question i would ask, if i had a budget, would be how many words is normal/average to write per sit down? I'm always getting distracted very quick and end up writing only a few paragraphs each time, and I'm in a place rn where I can't have quiet alone time with the energy to write a lot
Thanks for the video ate abbie, I learned a lot in your videos. And I also decide to finish my fantasy novel ❤️ thanks again. (Ate means sister in filipino language -tagalog-)
*TOTALLY THE OPPOSITE* with me { on that One } . She's not JUST giving writing #advice but life advice too. { What she said there : } It's about taking control of your emotional dependence & NOT relying it upon ANY external stimuli Or person . ♑️✍️🇦🇺🇳🇴
I'm writing my first draft now, and its so discouraging cuz I am constantly seeking perfection in every sentence and I know I'll never finish it like that, I just need to spill out that first draft and then I can edit all I want but my brain can't seem to comprehend that ;_;
Hi abbie, I know this video just came out but I have a big question about a book I am writing. So I am a really young writer (12) and I am writing s dystopian ya novel, and one of the characters (Mathew) is going to die, this sounds a bit wierd but I would love it if you talked a bit about how to make a character death sad in your next #askabbie -your subcriber, Lily 😁
I'm gonna answer your question, if you answer me this. Can robotic characters have an utility for a story ? The story I'm writing, besides serving as an introduction for a fanfic I'm gonna write in the future, also serves to represent my growth as a writer. Each chapter, the main character gets less robotic and the people she connects (literally connects by the way, like a computer that uses Bluetooth) with, also interact with her more naturally. Does this make any sense ?
@@ligiasilva5999 thank you. I wasn't sure, since people expect characters to be fleshed out from the very begining and even I admit the writing to keep the character robotic feels... unnatural and wrong. But I'm still starting on creative writing, so it's only natural I might get a few things wrong. Also, I think Wattpad is WAY easier to use, more practical and has got more style than other sites I've seen.
@@JabamiLain I feel you, but I found it very original and think you should keep working on it! I think that's the fun of it, being able to witness the development of these robotic characters and of course the challenges they'll face throughout the story ^^
