Writing Fiction & Poetry : Writing Techniques for Novels

[pomeranian1018]

Do you think a writer can "force" a story to be novel-length or do you think some stories are meant to be short stories and some are meant to grow into a novel?

A writer with little experience may not know how to judge if his/her idea can fill a novel-length work.

[MissJoey006]

This video has only 1 dislike. Says it all really. :D

[1456pickles]

Great tips! I'm trying to write a novel, and I don't have an outline and I don't really want one, but I love the idea of making an outline of the stuff that's all ready written! So I'm going to go back through my 50 pages and make one! Thanks! :)

[pulpedpoetry]

I love this collection! =D truly amazing

[mrsmodest]

Thank you.

[MrSharan1997]

this dudes awesome!

[GeorgesBarras]

Now that I've noticed the pendulum in the corner ......

[eijemthegreat]

The real work is not in writing it's in the revising and finding the gems that are buried in that awful first draft.

[ssuz1]

That's a real writer's office, sir. Looks like mine. Love the creativity.

[ssuz1]

That's a real writer's office, sir. Looks like mine. Love the creativity.

[fellowtuber123]

"Feel free to write crap..." LOL

Seriously though, this is good advice. Sometimes I stop writing over long periods of time because I'm afraid a pile of rubbish is just going to come onto the page. But in reality, to keep on writing at least everyday is the best advice anyone could give an aspiring writer.

Great tips, sir. I've already favourited several of these videos.

[ssuz1]

@fellowtuber123 I know. I loved that line. He's so matter-of-fact. I love that.

[Xhannti]

"The real work is not in the writing, it's in the revising and finding the gems that are buried in that awful first draft." That makes me feel SO much better. :D

[iAmChrissable]

Santa! stop vlogging wheres my gift Christmas is coming!!

[Helsinki666]

The scene idea, I did that with my last novel. It was unplanned, but I found it effective and useful.

[Thelongmanable]

Ok he talks about revisions so exactly when do you send it to a publisher or a literary agent. I mean you do it when your content with the revisions or do you give a professional editor the right to pick what they want to see in a book. I would love to have someone read my book for any level of input to give me some idea of what they liked and disliked. It would make writing a hundred times easier. Oh its impossible to get friends and family to read with a honest opinion.

[rayalexander15]

he sounded like zinsser when he said to give yourself permission :P sweet

[TeddyRuxpinMomma]

Great advice this guy has, I wish he was my teacher.

[andwaaa]

Hey guys, working on my fifth novel- still in the early stages and would appreciate some feedback since I'm working out of my comfort zone on this one. Horror genre, anyone willing to read a few chapters and feedback, inbox me. (Ameteur and proffesional opinions welcome) Thanks.

[CrimsonAmerika]

Very helpful! Thank you, good sir!!!

[JurgisTamulis]

this video is helpful! I like it.

[dancesonpoles]

i love this

[trmptdreams]

I'd never thought of writing by scene before and that was a really thought-provoking video!

[richiebabe24]

A great piece of advice I was given once was "don't let the editor in you dampen the artist in you". In other words, don't edit as you write. Write first, then go back and edit it - preferably sometime later on rather than immediately.

[20MrBigmac]

I thought this old guy was pretty snazzy with his curled moustache. Then he added suspenders and now I think he's adorable

[moonspirit434]

Where have you been all my life? The teacher I always needed but I cant afford school =-)

[originaltbyrd]

write crap: that's what the internet is for

[freekibbledotcom]

"Feel free to write crap" Yay! I spend every ounce of my free time writing crap and I love it with all my soul so I'm glad u think that's not a total waste of time!

[yuwong1000]

I think his last comment was absolutely spot on. Writers and musicians are not paid to write but instead are paid to re-write.

[uncoverbrother]

thank u so much!  writing by scenes...never thought of that! and this comes from a true writer--if that messy desk is any indication! :)

[gabriel1118x]

And I think I know who sent you all those letters you keep on your shelves!

[gabriel1118x]

What are you doing usually around Christmas?

I have some suspicions :)

[z3ziman]

No......

It ain't true......

SANTA LIVES IN NORTH POLE!

[TheAdamsullivan]

@z3ziman Good point theres no internet connection in north pole so he couldnt go on youtube!!

[z3ziman]

He got sleigh that can go all over the world in just one night...... so isn't is easy to go find the nearest internet cafe?

[sillypinkjay]

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[Deathrowhiphop]

@gabriel1118x hahahahha

[joshdrock]

@gabriel1118x hahaha!!! 

[TheXesrex]

@gabriel1118x was my first thought upon seeing this man :)

[12thDecember]

I'm writing a wonderful POC (piece of crap) novel about a feral but beautiful shapeshifter and her charismatic hypnotist for the National Novel Writing Month challenge. 40,000 words done, 10,000 to go. Yes, lots of little gems in it, but overall it's crap, mostly because so far there's not enough graphic action (sex) and no one has died an ugly death. Well, except for the guy who was showing off to his wannabe girlfriend, jumped out of a tree and landed on the boulders, lol.

[madmethod21]

I really like this guy, he seems like he actually knows what he's talking about. Seems really chill and down to earth as well.

[quidproquo2004]

Try ywriter my fellow writers. It's freeware and tremendously useful for writing long pieces!

[millennialgirl]

can you give more detail about it?

[quidproquo2004]

Hey, google is your friend!

It allows you to separate out chapters, scenes, character bios, timeline, etc, in a very convenient way. It allows you to better handle such large pieces of writing in a much less befuddling way than by using MS word. Though I like to use MS word once I've finished my organizing and major revisions.

Good luck!

[FightingRight]

fantastic advice, tx.

[dverners]

spectacular advice, thanks :)

[DKC1011]

working title is "The survivor" i plan to change it at the end of the story

[Flaoither3]

pretty sure a title like that is already taken.

[DKC1011]

i know, that was just the working title, i wont tell you the completed title because it has to much to do with the story

[Flaoither3]

ok, ok, now you have me intrigued. adding you now

[DKC1011]

Lol.

[DKC1011]

oh yes and leading from my last comment... i am righting a book currently.

And my technique is I wrote this book earlier on in the year... it was way to short to be taken seiriously. so i decided one day i would take this basic outline and turn it into a long book/novel. im only on chapter/scene three right now. but im slowly developing the story on the side of animation. i showed the short copy to my friends and apperantly they enjoyed it. i hope to get it published when its done.

The...

[MomoTheBellyDancer]

You're "righting a book"? Wow, I can hardly wait to read it.

Anyway, I could listen to this man all day long, even if he would ramble about what happened during his fishing trip. He is like a kind uncle, cheering up all family gatherings with his stories.

[Yubel0]

I envy your ability to associate this guy with any of your uncles. ;)

[ih8makinusernames]

I fond my problem. Whenever i started writing i would think everything I was writing was terrible and was never going to be taken seriously. This guy really helped.

[GlobalDeen]

I saw this guy in real life, he had a taser in his back pocket

[dverners]

lmao...didn't expect this kind of comment

[DKC1011]

Now i dont exactly dream of being a great author but i sure as hell would like to get one released.

[wwwdotcomedy]

I want to be a writer when I'm older, and I'm sure I will find these videos very interesting!

[Madscientist115]

"Feel free to writer crap." A writer's creativity can really be put to use when the intimidation of critisism is put away. You can start with almost nothing and finish with a raw, rich, ore of words that can be refined into something with potential.

[totallymoah]

fantastic! this is very usefull information ,thankyou so much for doing this videos i'll be looking forward to see more! thankyou santa! lol jk thankyou sir :)

[silviafarfallina]

That stache is rockin' my world! :D

[SpektreKorps]

Hills like white elephants....my favorite short of all time...I have written at least 2000 pages of crap....the beauty is that I have refined the story to make sense. 15 years of hit and miss...I am not looking for the money as much as just sharing a story that has floated around in my head for the majority of my life...Good stuff Santa....

[ourerawriting]

Very encouraging and light hearted advice.

There's a lot of FUN to be had inventing stories, characters. Once you're 'standing in your character's shoes' the story often writes itself.

Keep on the look out for interesting ideas. A US friend of mine mentioned that there there once weren't ANY snails in American.

So I invented Colin and Mildred - two snails who arrive on America's East coast by clinging onto the crates of a ship!

Don't let consumerism win - get your creativity going!

[the26thhour]

I'm pretty sure the same can be said for Australia.

Having watched it on a cooking show, what we call the garden variety pest, is the exact species used for French quezine, though I'm not sure about the slugs?

[MyNameIsAshleyB]

What are the differences between a book and a novel?

[DrKoobie]

I think he meant it in the way that if you "outline" everything to the most minute details and dialogue, then you're really writing the book (novel) and not the outline.

[diLys360]

"Feel free to write crap!" One of the most awesome things I've ever heard. :)

He's very helpful.

[mikinomaster]

:D WOW! You're soooo clever- i never thought about it like that! thanks sooo much! i need to get deeper into my character's personality....