7 MYTHS MOST WRITERS ACTUALLY BELIEVE

Thanks to both of you for your outstanding work and the content you provide this helpless noob. It's so insightful and inspiring and helpful and entertaining. Love your work. Thank you so much!

Regarding outlining, I came up with a what I call the "three lines rule". When I got an idea for a story, I begin by doing a chapter outline (or beat outline) detailing the major plot points in no more than three lines (Courier New, 10 pt) per chapter. Before starting a chapter, I do a similar outline for this chapter scene by scene (or plotpoint by plotpoint) for this chapter only, again three lines per scene / plotpoint. Once that's done, I start writing the book.

Note that this relates only to the plot. Everything else, like character profiles, world builiding notes, setting, research, what have you, I keep separate from outlining the plot. I used to do all of it while outlining the plot and found it convolutes things and makes a sleek and simple outline bulky and unwieldy and messed up. The three lines rule prevents me from focussing on anything but the plot.

I recently came up with a story idea I roughly outlined on a single page. Just the plot. I didn't even use character names yet but referred to what will become the charcters by their function like "protagonist", "antagonist", "love interest", "aide"... you get the idea. All that I do separately, and yes of course it will definitely influence the plot and make it richer. Only it won't change its very basic structure. Or then again it might, but that's ok, too.

Using this rule, I maintain my orientation as to where I want the plot to go but it kinda lets me drive by the bottom of my pants when I start writing. I know where I need to go yet can still figure out the best way to get there while writing,

Just like any art or discipline,
You practice the basics til they become 2nd nature.
You don't think the Basics,
You react with the Basics.

While I’m getting my book published, I'm not writing until editing has been finalized. Meantime, I'm going through my VGen page and displaying my concept sketches, adding background story, character profile. Then I can eventually display my commissioned artist as I update.

Thank You Kate and Abbie for encouraging me as well as the writing community. I'm getting my 1st book done, and can't wait to see it print.
My children's book is called, "Marna".

Making Pinterest boards makes you a writer? Remind me to never read anything you've ever written. I can't stand this procrastinative nonsense.

Someone can objectively be a good writer. In my opinion the people that can't see that are too immature to be unbiased enough to look at writing objectively.

Finishing my first novel at 52. I write for 4 hours every Saturday and Sunday morning due to having a sin in sports and a demanding career. I took a weekend off after finishing my first draft.

Agh, the outline!!!
I literally put off writing for 2 decades, because when I went to my teacher asking for writing advice or resources, the only information she gave me was to "create a plan". I guess she meant an outline, but having been 13 years old, and experience with just a 1-dimentional planning, like to-do lists, I could not imagine cramping my ideas into one "to-do list". At that time I could not imagine that the teacher could be wrong, and I had no other idea where to look for information (times without internet in my country). I have decided then and there that writing books is not for me. I mean, how am I supposed to know how my book is going to end from the get-go? Not to mention, that teacher made it sound more like a chore and another assignment than something to be actually enjoyed. Then, 20 years later, I find Brendan Sanderson's writing classes and I am ready to give it another shot.

On the idea of "satisfying your reader": there was a TV show some years ago that I loved the first season of. However, I was so satisfied with how that season ended that I've never cared to go watch any more. Continuing on with the characters feels like it would ruin the perfect ending I already got from the writers and performers.

good job ladies - very helpful

I love the channel and the advice you guys give. That their is not one way to do this

What about being too old to publish your first book?

I love your videos and thank you for debunking those myths! I feel validated as a newbe writer <3

I relate to your way of writing Kate! I am somewhere in the middle as well. Not really one or the other. Even when I plot, I change it up occasionally mid write!

Ahhh yes! I read so many books that have genres i like but dont make me feel anything, whereas there are books that i dont even like the genre but they make me feel something and i love them

Flip side of number 7… too old?
That’s how I’m feeling.

What aesthetics is the best (your opinions)? My story ideas (the MC's aesthetics): adventurecore, bloomcore, cyberpunk, fantasy/suspense or summer

yeah I think I believe that I am too young, too unexperienced to let the world see my work.

I dont agree with the: Characters dont have to be "likable". I strongly advise this though. Because Ive read books and seen films where the mc has internal conflict goes throughout a transformation and changes for the better in the end but they... Arent likable. And... I dont mean to be harsh but I'll take 100 days of sunlight as an example because its closer to you:
Tessa is very generic. I cant name a thing special or likable in her personality. Sure she has this thing of being "super-tidy" and being overcomplicated about certain stuff but it isnt that special or particularly likable. While Weston is full of quirks and likable traits that keeps you engaged like "waiting 5 sec to talk" or "asking about everything" "not thinking before speaking" are things that make him way more likable than Tessa simply because they were more emphasized throughout the book.

Hallmark movies all have the same type of plot but it's the characters who make it unique... you know how it ends but you watch it anyway...

I completely disagree with only writing when you feel like it. If I only write when I feel like it, I'll spend all my time playing video games.
I spent 5 years "not feeling like it" after my last book.
So now I spend at least 15 minutes every day writing. It keeps my story fresh and alive in my mind. And when I "feel like it" I write for a couple hours and I don't spend the first half hour rereading and trying to remember where I left off because I haven't sat down to work for weeks.

I think the myth about having to write an original plot is very common. I don't know how many times I've had people advice me to just think of a way to tweak classic stories to make them my own. If you can come with a good tweak that's great but what hasn't been done at this point? I think 600k plus books get published every year at this point... really all you can rely on is your characters, forget about trying to find something new under the sun.

Two of my sisters and I are trying to guess: Who is older? 😊🤔

Yeah, I just became an official teen, (which was kinda shocking for my friends cuz they thought I already was one cuz I act like it!) and myth number 7 hit me hard! I kinda blanked out when Abbie said it cuz I was like, "Can they see into my soul?????" Thanks a bunch guys. You rockk!

Oops. I'm a plot person and I don't like most of the MCU because of the same plot reason.

thank you

The ability to write prose absolutely matters, but the definition of 'good' is much broader and more fundamental than many new writers realize. Craft is necessary, style is subjective. (In case anyone heard that first myth and thought "yay I don't have to care about prose at all anymore.'')

"Write when you're inspired" can be unrealistic advice for the many writers who rarely feel 'inspired.' For most people, inspiration doesn't finish books, sitting down and doing the work does. Not that writing every day is realistic either, but there's a balance between writing when you feel like it and having the diligence to sit down and do it anyway. Professional writers don't have the luxury of relying on inspiration most of the time, and of that's where a writer wants to be they should get used to it now.

I’ve been writing thinning “I love this... but I don’t know if it’s any good.” Thank you for all of these myths!

Omg, i enjoy this! SUBSCRIBED!!!!

I agree. I don't write everyday. It's unrealistic to put that kind of pressure on yourself. That doesn't mean you aren't a writer.

I do the outline method that Kate does. Because I have an idea of one special thing about a character that's internal conflict and then I work on that. Usually I get an exciting plot idea on the way and then I just make a few plot point notes and everything in between I write out of the blue like a panser and I change the plot points a bit sometimes too.
And I like live the story almost as if it's in my own life. And I feel everything the characters feel as I like write scenes down that come up in my head. Like a plotter. Then I write the story like that. A total Hybrid. 😂

💖💕👍

I don’t think it’s important to be good at writing if i have great stories to tell ❤️
Everything comes with time
Btw love your podcasts💕

This was very helpful, thanks. I've been feeling disqualified lately. Btw, both of your shirts are adorable and I loved that you mentioned Marvel and Downtown Abbey ( I like those films, obviously lol).

Keep these podcasts coming.

You guys are cool. Are you looking for a bass player? I’d totally join your band.

I finished nanowrimo 2020 in 10 days. But I loathe the advice to write every day!

I dare contest that the unique plot of Tenet blew me away. But I like the characters too. But the plot was really cool I thought.

I also feel that you are never too old to write, I am in my 40's and I am loving it!

I don’t know how much I agree with this first one that you guys offer.... how many writers are out there making money because they know that accessible writing is the thing that will get people to buy? (I mean to be fair, how many writers are making a living, period, from their writing?) Not to say that there aren’t still writers who enjoy writing beautiful prose, and not to say that there aren’t people who enjoy reading that sort of thing. But it definitely stands to reason that people vastly tend to prefer clear prose, almost workman prose.

Frankly, stylists get very little respect in todays market, in comparison to those who just get the story out there.

I don’t really see your Edith Whartons or your Toni Morrisons or anything like that in the current spring of new writers.

Patrick rothfuss is the closest we have, particularly for the new crop of fantasy writers, anyway. And, well...

Rothfuss. 😬

I don't think forcing myself to write every day is a good idea - writing is my hobby, not my job... For professional writers, it can work, but not for us, who write only because we enjoy it.

I never understood this idea/advice that you have to write everyday. When I first heard about it, it irked (as I've been writing stories every since I could remember to form sentences) me as it didn't make sense to why I'll have to write when I might get stuck. Getting stuck then would cause frustration and possibly not me willing to write. Like you guys, I'll write when I'll feel it or when a scene nags at me that causes me to write with excitement and exploration when writing (depends on the story though as like you Kate, I'll see these visualizations over and over constantly in my head, even when I'm not writing). There have been elementary school kids who have published their children's books and even chapter books, so yeah, anyone can really write and publish at any age.

"People went through wars and stuff, they weren't writers, they weren't' spending their days Making PINTEREST BOARDS FOR THEIR "WIP. Something happen that made them NEED TO WRITE THE STORY" Amen Katie!

The part where you said your protagonists shouldn't be likable really made sense. Sherlock Holmes, very true. Even The Joker, Mafia's,...etc are examples too.

U R never 2 young. Well im 2 months old and publishing my book 1B3. 😂🤣

I really love this podcast! You two are amazing!!! Keep up the great work!

What if people tell me I am good but I think I am not? Also how do I connect with masses to get reviews?

Or never too old to write and publish. I’m only going to be turning 30 but still I’ve only just begun. But hey I sincerely found what I want to do with my life and it’s making tremendous improvements in every aspect and it feels great!

The writing every day myth has been my biggest obstacle as a new writer! It’s a sure fire way to burn myself out, and it’s taken me so long to figure out WHY I was struggling to write every day, day in, day out in the midst of part time work and full time school! So awesome to hear you guys bust this myth!