10 Common New Writer Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

As a developmental editor and writer, I’ve noticed patterns in the types of problems new writers often face. This video covers ten of the most common stumbling blocks, focusing mostly on big-picture issues and attitudes toward the publishing industry. In future videos, I’ll cover common grammatical errors and dialogue mistakes. We all have to start somewhere, and it’s through making mistakes that we can improve our storytelling as fiction writers.
You can read a text version of this video on Medium: / 10-common-new-writer-m...
Love my channel? Treat me to a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/quotidianwriter.
Behind-the-scenes notes for this video: ko-fi.com/post/Behind-the-Sce...
My Published Stories and Poems: www.quotidianwriter.com/my-wr...
Twitter: / quotidianwriter
Opening Animation by Vitor A. Dupont: www.behance.net/vitordupont
Title and End Music: “Clockwork” by Vindsvept - • Fantasy Music - Vindsv...
Background Music by Vindsvept:
+ “Keeper of the Forest”
+ “Skymning”
+ “Chasing Shadows”
+ “Illuminate”
+ “The Fae”
+ “Woodland Lullaby”
+ “Wildkin Glade”
+ “Voyage to Nowhere”
+ “Into the Unknown”
SOURCES
“What Is an Adverb?” by Grammarly: www.grammarly.com/blog/adverb/
“Seriously, What’s So Bad About Adverbs?” by Charlie Jane Anders: io9.gizmodo.com/seriously-wha...
“4 Ways Adverbs Weaken Writing” by Britainy Sorenson: www.bkacontent.com/adverbs-we...
“Learn to Identify and Write High Concept Stories” by MasterClass: www.masterclass.com/articles/...
“The Word Count of 175 Favorite Novels” by Broke by Books (Sarah S. Davis): brokebybooks.com/the-word-cou...
“How long should a novel be?” by Louise Harnby: www.louiseharnbyproofreader.c...
“41 Places to Find a Critique Partner” by Cathy Yardley on The Write Life: thewritelife.com/find-a-criti...
“15 Places to Find Your Next Beta Reader” by K.M. Weiland: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
“How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book in 2021?” by Reedsy: blog.reedsy.com/cost-to-self-...
“My Top 12 Writing Tips! | Advice That Changed How I Write” by ShaelinWrites: • My Top 12 Writing Tips...
“The Key Book Publishing Paths” by Jane Friedman: www.janefriedman.com/key-book...
THE BUSINESS OF BEING A WRITER by Jane Friedman: www.amazon.com/Business-Chica...
Neil Gaiman - Inspirational Commencement Speech at the University of the Arts 2012: • Neil Gaiman - Inspirat...
Introduction (0:00)
1. Treating writing advice as if it’s set in stone. (0:46)
2. Being unable to convey a cohesive story concept. (2:46)
3. Writing a novel like a bad movie. (4:17)
4. Creating inconsistent or undefined characters. (6:25)
5. Failing to make the reader feel the emotions of the story. (9:23)
6. Head-hopping, or not understanding the difference between third-person omniscient and third-person limited point of view. (11:43)
7. Unintentionally repeating plot points or phrases. (14:51)
8. Not knowing much about the book’s genre or audience. (18:27)
9. Being impatient and underestimating how much revision a publishable novel requires. (22:29)
10. Having unrealistic expectations about how publishing works. (25:14)
Final Thoughts (28:21)

[@sietsewijker1530]

My biggest writing mistake is not writing at all. I like the process, I like doing it. I cannot let ideas go. But actually sitting down to do it. It almost never happens.

[@uzytkownik15]

same here, sometimes I even start writing, do it regularly for a couple of days and drop it after 10 pages...

[@jjceno6813]

Plan for a quarter. Meaning: set up a plan to write daily for three months, each day. At the same time. If it's 15 minutes before leaving for school or work or whatever, that works. 3 months. A goal helps; a finished first draft of a short story or the outline of a novel, or even just a character's life. The key is to stick to it for three months. Then comes step two. But first...

[@nae7988]

You are signing to the choir!! I already have the ideas and the characters but when it comes to that first page - I blank.

[@Sky-Of-Amethyst]

A fun piece of Advice I follow is "Don't think, Just Write" It won't be perfect on your first go, obviously, so just have fun throwing your ideas onto the paper. After you've got your words and ideas are out there you can go back and refine it

[@dan-zr2id]

relatable.

[@hamothemagnif8529]

Helpful hint: get a text to voice reading software and a good voice. You can use this as a sounding board for your writing. It has helped me find typos, repeated words, and other errors. The voice lack a bit of intonation but it has still been a cheap and effective investment.

[@smol9363]

Wow, that's a great idea. Thanks!

[@flappetyflippers]

I never thought of that

[@undefinedvariable8085]

Software suggestions?

[@menace2society173]

@@undefinedvariable8085 If you use a Macbook, you can use it's text-to-speech. Apple voices are much more satisfying to hear compared to the free voices you'll hear from free text-to-speech apps.

[@menace2society173]

I tried this before, but I felt like I can use more speaking practice that's why I reverted back to saying my works out loud lol.

[@sindarpeacheyeisacommie8688]

I must not fear. Fear is the art-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration of my art and my soul. I will face my fear to make my art. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only my art will remain.

[@b_g_c3281]

Oh...My...Gods!!!! Why didn't I think of👆🏽Thisss??!!?? This superb variant upon The Litany Against Fear is something I NEED!!! [ [ .....And it's ALWAYS a delight to encounter a fellow fan of Frank Herbert masterworks!!! ] ] ] I MUST and SHALL employ it!!!

[@nelsonx5326]

It seems that is a quote. I'm an artist. I got my first set of oil paints 58 years ago. I don't have any fear of painting, nor of displaying my art. But I try to paint pretty pictures, landscapes, flowers and such. I like my paintings to be a place to relax the mind, like looking out the kitchen window in the country house while doing dishes. However, I wrote the first draft of a novel recently. Writing is a different art form. There are scenes with kinky sex in my story. I do fear people knowing I could think things like that. These scenes exist to set up for humor later. I can understand fear in writers. Hell, there is a fear of telling truth these days. The author of Harry Potter was attacked by the liberal mob for saying there are 2 sexes.

[@kacirigney]

@@b_g_c3281 0

[@JohnnyBear]

Cool changing Dune quotes to make it better for artists!

[@janefaceinthewind6260]

Well said. Also, the first draft is for making it exist.

[@Tutorial7a]

The most important thing when you're a newer writer is not to know how to write a good book but how to learn what you're doing wrong. You need to be able to look at what you make and figure out exactly what the problems are. Not just to solve those problems, but to get deeper and understand why you're making those mistakes in the first place. That's how you'll find your weaknesses as a writer, and that's how you'll learn to overcome them. Solve specific problems, not general ones.

[@21_jadhav_rajendra84]

Yes Correct 👍, I remember writting a story half way and thinking wow I made a masterpiece. Only to realise several years later , Shortcomings of my writing. It's fun to improve.

[@dubadduwariwari2033]

She really understands all kinds of writers and she really is making the future novel's better.

[@bookaholic1431]

When we needed her, she returned. I'm a writer, and I just love your suggestions Ma'am. Thank you for guiding me.🙌

[@zachdavidson5248]

Same but I’m 21

[@bookaholic1431]

@@lilylime77 Haha 🤟

[@bookaholic1431]

@@zachdavidson5248 ooo!! A bit elder but yay!🤩🤟

[@buu678]

@@bookaholic1431 I'm 31 and I love her too.

[@britkitt4084]

same but I'm 16!

[@nathanwagner5861]

My biggest mistake is giving up on stories before they're done; hearing some writing advice that my story lacks, or a finding a seemingly unfixable plot hole, and deciding the book isn't worth writing. But, the way I see it, the only way to write a book that's worth writing, is to first write one that isn't. So was it ever not worth writing in the first place? Thank you so much for your incredible insights and amazing videos! I hope your channel grows so more people can find this content- they deserve it.

[@mahilamohammed4843]

I've had the same problem, so to try and not give up on the idea, I would challenge myself to complete writing the story or to write many chapters till I stop at a place where I actually start to enjoy writing. Once I do that, I reread my story and make it better as I got my inspiration to write it back. Truly you cna never write a good story if you don't have it in your heart to complete it. I always love a good challenge and I don't like losing so I almost always end up completing my book. I hope this helps you!

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

JUST a word about that "writing advice" that's so prevalent online and everywhere. It's easy for that stuff to come across as "THE rules"... BUT that's not how it works with ANY art. THE rules only define THE TOOLS... It's up to YOU whether the particular Tool, and its effect, is what you want in this or that scene. Over-used, ANY of the "writing rules" are terrible... Love triangles are fine enough, until everywhere you look and everyone you meet is in some kind of love triangle... THEN they start to suck... If EVERY story in a given genre has at least a love triangle problem, it becomes a cliche instead of a trope. Tropes and Cliches are another point... Tropes are storytelling tools, a shorthand used so you do NOT have to fully describe something or someone, and the reader (having seen the trope before) already knows by context and trope what's going on... Cliches (on the other hand) are Tropes that have been overused to a point of tedium or annoyance, and without undermining the idea, may actually take away from your story when they're present... SO the next time someone agonizes over this horrible wordiness and clunky dialogue from it... The efforts to instantly distill all the excess words and hums and haws of clunky dialogue should NOT be your immediate reaction. You SHOULD ask, "Wasn't part of the whole point of this dialogue TO BE painful and clunky?" Because if that's the POINT of your scene in question, then you should do EXACTLY what everyone says "You can't do that..." That's the thing about ART... AND make no mistake about it. Writing IS art. Art doesn't ONLY get to be art because it's joyous and attractive. It's ART any time it SAYS something and achieves an immediate, powerful, and visceral reaction in you. THAT is what art's supposed to do, and it's not always comfortable or fun or happy. It can be angry as hell and agonizing. It can be uncomfortable and disheartening. It's no less art. SO remember those pieces of "Writing Advice" as a discussion of cause and effect. HOLD OFF banishing adverbs and adjectives from your draft, and bother to proof read. I know, it sounds like inventing work... BUT when you proof the thing, ask WHY you might want to say it quite that way. Did he just "walk arrogantly" or was it a "saunter"... MAYBE it was more of a "strut" or he was temperamental enough to STORM out arrogantly... insistent that he'd "won" an exchange that didn't amount to a winner/loser or "zero-sum" situation. How much like an asshole do you want to display this guy? What did he do to you??? hahaha... Maybe he's a weirdo and you'd rather he "sashayed" or maybe that was just because of the Marine Recruiter across the street... If you really enjoy the process... HAVE FUN WITH IT. There's nothing wrong with enjoying your work. ;o)

[@aceyourgrace]

"Success is not an escalator. It's pushing a rock up a hill, over an over again." Words to live by 👏

[@strandedgeek]

On advice 2: As Albert Einstein once said if you can't explain it simply then you don't understand it well enough.

[@violet9853]

Fantastic!!! Thank you 🥳

[@Romeo-le2ez]

I don't think he actually said that, nice try though

[@ZelphTheWebmancer]

"The quote "An alleged scientific discovery has no merit unless it can be explained to a barmaid." is popularly attributed to Lord Rutherford of Nelson" en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein#Misattributed On top of that explaining something is a different skill set to understanding it. While to explain properly you do need to understand the subject, the opposite is not true. Learning and teaching are not the same thing. Although teaching can help you learn.

[@OzixiThrill]

@@ZelphTheWebmancer If you learned it, but don't understand it, then your efforts to learn it were wasted. If you teach it, but don't understand it, then you are passing on fragmented knowledge, causing the above to happen more regularly.

[@ZelphTheWebmancer]

@@OzixiThrill If you didn't understand it then you didn't learn. I do agree with the second half on trying to teach without understanding it. But, the thing is, you can understand it and not be able to teach it.

[@rdjazzboy1944]

One of your very best. I chuckled reading, "It takes a village to raise a novel." Our characters are our friends after all...

[@MxZui]

This channel is so underrated 😔

[@jayeshchouhan1880]

Learned many things from writing and reading, but one important thing I learned was that fear doesn't have to be paralyzing. Every time I sit to write, a fear downs on me that this would just come out bad and nothing. But then, a leap of faith is all i need in the dark valley, a belief that I will just save myself, I start writing. I tell myself, it doesn't matter whether the piece comes out to be utter crap, my goal is to just write a comprehensive story.

[@lexyg1693]

I've been itching to get a few story ideas I have in my head out onto paper but everytime I sit to write I'm blocked. I'm paralyzed and over critical and I have trouble bringing my story to life.

[@trtlphnx]

As a Former FOX Staff Writer, I find Your material EXTREMELY Useful... Thank You, You Are Appreciated!!!

[@mrnoone6]

I wrote a "book" about 5 years ago, and recently, the fire to write and read in me has been reignited. I read the book I that I wrote, and I decided to learn it first before beginning to write again. I discovered your channel, and as I sift through your videos with no particular order, I realized that I made every single mistake and don'ts you described (that I know of) in that book. I told and didn't show, sometimes over described or under described scenes, a character looking at herself in the mirror and some more. But the worst one was, at the time, I thought I nailed it. And when I'd got rejected (Now I'm shocked that I even got few of those, most of them just didn't reply) I was sooo pissed off, I even got into some arguments with some low level publishers or beginner writers who got published on Twitter. I look back at those times and man, how is that even possible for someone to be so unaware about one's self while stepping on every landmine. Edit: I got distracted while trashing myself. Your lessons are extremely good and I couldn't find better suited type of explanation for learning writing. I'm sure there are good teachers of writing in the wild but for learning a specific concept or overall writing? You're my first choice.

[@undefinedvariable8085]

Looks like you've grown. How's the revitalised foray into writing going?

[@abhilasha9608]

I always get caught up in the setting. Am I describing it enough? Is too detailed? Too less? Am I using too many words for something that'll need only a sentence? I've practiced a lot in showing after watching one of your videos and my characters have gotten a bit more "life" since then. I'll understand my process of setting soon💪💜

[@yajats8675]

Same bro I write a LOT like if I need to write a 2 page story ,instead I write a 4 page story.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Maybe for setting the scene, you write any and every little thing you wish as it comes to you... Go ahead and let it flow freely. BUILD the scene completely... AND then set that "first version" aside as the "more than complete scene"... Use it for notes, and then work your scene. Keep in mind then, that ALL you really want or need in the finished book should be precisely seen from the Protagonist's view-point, described in their perspective and voice... unless you have a different view for a narrator (of course)... This gives you the chance (and option) of condensing down through the questions like "Would he really see that? Does it matter enough for him to pay attention to it? Does the reader care? SHOULD the reader care? Why?" AND you don't get rid of the notes. They're the work "under the hood".... AND should be kept in a separate place, be it a file on your computer specifically for all the world-building and setting specific notation (like a "World Bible") OR you stuff it into a separate 3-ring binder as your "World Building Compendium" with a title page and a marker of some sort for a little easier reference when you come back later for another scene written for some other purpose or time... I'm only a humble Game Master, but a forest is still a forest... a swamp still a swamp... and every sea surrounds a shrinking boat with a WHOLE LOT of water in some shade of grey, green, or blue... It can help when you're staring at "The great white bull" to get out some words and read one setting or another to start planting a seed... Even maybe you KNOW you want to put this scene in a grand old Manor at the edge of town, somewhere in the dust-bowl years in Mississippi... BUT for whatever serendipity, you opened the World Building Compendium, and your eye latched onto a long forgotten old boathouse you'd scratched together almost mindlessly for a writing exercise. It was shabby and run down and half the rafters were dangling under Spanish Moss into the water of a bayou... BUT there's just something kind of memorable about that damned old boathouse and you stick it on a jetty behind the grand old Manor you wanted to talk about originally... with the juices flowing and your keyboard rattling as loud and fast as a machine gun in the belly of a B-25 on D-Day... you, too, can be back on your way. ;o)

[@abhilasha9608]

@@gnarthdarkanen7464 this is incredibly helpful, THANK YOU 🙏💜

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

@@abhilasha9608 Happy to contribute. It's a trick I've developed from my early days as a Game Master, all the way back to D&D 1e. I'd get tired writing up "script notes" for places over and over, even just from one adventure or Campaign to the next... and I started saving them, so instead, add a few words... maybe create one or two "beasties" to toss in as well, or remove some stuff that it didn't need... and bullet-points were done, I could move on to the "meat and potatoes" of the adventure stuff... Sometimes it was nice to get a great setting together and have a truly remarkable Campaign come out of it, but then it was depressing if I didn't ever try that again, or lost the notes... SO I just made it a point of "lose nothing"... There's eventually a point of "critical mass" but with a little discrimination, you keep the good stuff and "real gems" while cycling out the relatively "utter crap"... Eventually you start to notice your dubious rankings of "utter crap" have risen over the years... a kind of a bonus, seeing how far you've improved with the practice. In any case, YOU are most certainly welcome. I hope it serves you as well as it's helped me out. ;o)

[@perymachado6374]

How I missed that final line! "Whatever you do, keep writing". Great advice as always. I remember writing my first novel at 15/16 years old a d thinking it was the best thing since War & Peace. It was pure cringefest, though I do remember some lines I still like from it. I had started reading for pleasure a year or two before and I was trying to imitate a couple of authors I liked, though it was a completely different genre. With practice, studying and a bit of effort, anyone can write great things. What holds many back is doubt about our own abilities, but believing in your story and your desire to tell it will help push those mistakes aside. I remember reading about how Bernard Cornwell got over his fear of being good enough by typing up C.S Forester's Hornblower book, a page or two, sticking it in a drawer for a month, then looked at it and found "mistakes" or things that he would change to suit his style, and he adored the Hornblower books. It goes to show that even our favourite authors can have things we would "fix" because of what we think is better style or content or whatever it may be. Writing is an ever-learning craft, one that we must keep evolving and fine-tuning. It's great content like this that helps a lot of us find the right tools to tune ourselves. Thank you!

[@Ruylopez778]

start of video: I'll watch this to reassure myself how much I've learned about writing and my process. end of video: head in hands

[@hamothemagnif8529]

“What do they want and why can’t they have it?” Asked a movie producer who had no time or patience for another poor pitch.

[@fitznchipz5090]

The QUEEN! The QUEEN IS BAAACK!!!

[@sindarpeacheyeisacommie8688]

No. 11: you don't know how to write a novel until you have written a novel.

[@freedomthroughspirit]

💯% Accurate!

[@jojorumbles8749]

This explains why I couldn't get into the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina show. She's a Mary Sue and carries no significant flaws.

[@Daniel-Clay]

Just as I was beginning to lose faith in my writing abilities, after becoming bogged down by the various and contradictory advice all over the internet, along comes this video. Thank you so much for your help. I write purely for pleasure, and nothing else, and you have reignited my passion and love for my manuscripts.

[@CedricsMom]

I love the advice to get busy being lousy at it. That's step one to being good. That makes so much sense.

[@stickman3208]

I actually think my first novel that I'm working on is turning out to be very noob friendly. I was a part of a D&D group for awhile, and eventually one person brought a really cool idea to the table. They shared it with everyone and it seemed really fun. We eventually drifted apart, but I saw their idea and I reached out to them. I'm writing that as a book and the reason it's noob friendly because a) most of the characters, including the main character and the antagonist are done and b) I have the end goal All I had to do was come up with the plot, some new characters, and write it out. And I am liking this because I am dipping my toes into writing, I'm enjoying it alot and plan to do more when I finish.

[@Master_Blackthorne]

Another bit of advice I can give is don't buy a book on how to write unless you're going to refer to it frequently, like Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style" (this is just for the sake of example, writing correctly doesn't mean writing well). Also, if your local library has a copy of a certain book, check it out, read it, and take notes. That way, you get the advice and your bank account remains intact. There are many books out there that have the usual writing advice, and you don't need a home library with lots of books basically saying the same thing. Stephen King's "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" is mostly autobiographical with just a small part of the book dedicated to writing. The book is interesting, and if you like Stephen King I recommend it, but you have to wade through his life story before you get to the part that's useful to aspiring writers. Remember: use library card, not credit card whenever you can.

[@OSleeperTactical]

"The contradictions that form a person's identity." On its own that made this video more than worth the 30 minutes. Everything else was good, but that was gold.

[@citizensguard3433]

There exists a paradox in the creation and viewing of this kind of video. It's a modern variant on the old Tyranny of the Blank Page. The more time many aspiring writers spend seeking out, or watching video essays on how to write, the less time they spend.... well, _writing._ Don't be fooled; the best thing you can do to improve your writing, is spending time writing. Reading is a tremendous help as well. Want to write better? Write more. Want to write even better than that? Read a lot. Want to write even better still? Write even more. Beyond that: revise, revise, revise. Because, dear friends, then you will understand what I mean when I tell you: "writing more makes your writing good, but writing less makes it even better."

[@iskhwa]

I wasn't expecting a lot from the title talking about new writer mistakes, but I think the video is great for all levels. I certainly took a lot from it. Thanks!

[@marvamason]

I find is so much value in your channel. Your suggestions and examples give me the opportunity to improve my writing. I am currently writing a fictional story based on true events of my grandmother as a young immigrant German girl in rural Texas in the early 1900s. In the early 1980s, before she died, she recorded all of her old stories for me on cassette tape which I have transcribed and using them as my outline as I re-create her stories.

[@QuotidianWriter]

Thank you for your kind words! That sounds like a great project, especially since you have a firsthand account that makes it an even more personal story. Keep writing. :)

[@cinthiacruzado2594]

Thank you for this video. My biggest mistake was to delete my projects and start a new one over and over again. Now I'm just going to save some of the drafts for when I'm motivated enough to get back to them. I want to publish my epic fantasy horror novel but I decided to try to start something smaller first. So far I plan my first novel to be a drama horror story about a 16-year-old Puerto Rican teen whose life spirals out of control after her sister's suicide during the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017. It's still a work in progress, mainly because I don't like to relive that memory but I feel like it's necessary for me to write it.

[@wilfredmoseti6648]

Diane, ever since I stumbled on your posts, your intellect on literature have been holding my hand in darkness. Thank you for awesome products fresh as morning dew.

[@eljaggerstanleynintendo917]

I love this video. Specially the ending. Writing advice can feel daunting and the whole process sounds overwhelming, but the video ends on such a positive and inspiring note that makes you wanna keep trying, even harder. Great video and great narration as always

[@jackmulcahy3976]

Excellent advice, Diane! I just wish I'd had access to this kind of advice 30 years ago! It would have save me a BUNCH of errors and self-doubt! Thank you for all your programs!

[@billyalarie929]

i appreciate that you used an excerpt of Neil Gaiman speaking when referencing his quote. his voice is everything.

[@juna8923]

This channel is a hidden treasure in this mundane social network.

[@QuotidianWriter]

You can find my “key takeaway” notes on my Ko-fi page: ko-fi.com/post/Behind-the-Scenes-10-Common-New-Writer-Mistakes-V7V64MMGJ A text version of this video is available on Medium: quotidianwriter.medium.com/10-common-new-writer-mistakes-and-how-to-fix-them-49b03b3ffc99 Here are the ten common new writer mistakes listed in the video: 1. Treating writing advice as if it’s set in stone. 2. Being unable to convey a cohesive story concept. 3. Writing a novel like a bad movie. 4. Creating inconsistent or undefined characters. 5. Failing to make the reader feel the emotions of the story. 6. Head-hopping, or not understanding the difference between third-person omniscient and third-person limited point of view. 7. Unintentionally repeating plot points or phrases. 8. Not knowing much about the book’s genre or audience. 9. Being impatient and underestimating how much revision a publishable novel requires. 10. Having unrealistic expectations about how publishing works.

[@bookaholic1431]

Thank you so Much

[@covu4746]

Thank you a lot for the summary. Really love this channel ❤️

[@laurelelasselin]

Thanks! As a young (incredibly young lol) writer and avid reader it was good to check if I was making mistakes with the fantasy book I'm writing. Number 7 really annoys me, by the way - unintentional repetition just gets on my nerves and I try hard to avoid it. Thank you again!

[@emmanuellaeledu]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@artzerial]

I like to give myself the idea that my writing is well detailed when its actually rushed, the same when I write in the comments section on KZbin. Lol

[@berryXjerry216]

These words always speak to my heart! "Whatever you do, keep writing!" Unfortunately many writers stop writing and that's because they are bored or didn't have realistic expectations.

[@sparklinglilsecret]

Very helpful ma'am! I don't know how this might sound, but I'm a new writer as well, and I unbelievably got a new idea for a story in the middle of watching this video! Wow! And it's giving me positive vibes! Thank you so much! I hope I can fix my problems with my new book!😊🙌

[@jonathanmoody1534]

Criticising ‘bad writing’ to myself drew me in to trying it for myself. Now ‘great writing’ has taught me my limited time probably shouldn’t be wasted. Self doubt continuously bounces off moments of inspiration. The lonely deleted words in the process really make me wonder.

[@alan8463]

As an amateur (I'm actually writing my first book ever) I really apreciate this, is an important an awesome experience and i feel actually seen, like this was one of those little pushes i need to keep going! One of my bigest mistakes as a writer is knowing what i want to write, who i want to describe, and the whole scenario, but lacking the words to describe such moments, or how to improve my actual Narrator voice and that problem of describe, don't explain, not understanding if i talk from just one perspective, how much i should describe of my world before it gets anoying or boring or how much of my characters i have to describe to make them feel human. I have this whole world in my mind! Put it in words is difficult, but at the same time is awesome when i manage to get it right, so for now i should keep on writing, hoping that one day, this book can became what i always dreamed, for at least the only part i mannage to get right is that: I wanna write this book, not for the money, but as a goal in my life, as one of my dreams is becoming a good writer, nothing beyond that, i just wanna be a good writer and give back to others some of those emotions many books have been given me my whole life. Thanks for reading through all this, and thanks for making me understand more about this awesome journey!

[@jhouserwrites]

I really appreciate the focus on being self-taught and finding good people and resources around you.

[@joeldrummond6058]

Diane! This video is bursting with useful, actionable advice and I LOVE your vocal characterizations! You truly are too good to us. We may not poop gold, but your videos sure do!

[@butteredcheese]

"We may not poop gold, but your videos sure do!" is such a funny analogy (or whatever you call it).

[@emilpetrov5001]

I love your work. By far one of the best writing channels I’ve found ! Could you do a video on how to communicate emotions to the reader ? I find it really hard to make a scene emotional, without seeming to force the reader to have these emotions.

[@nischalkarki2935]

In this pandemic when everything seems bleak your channel is one of those few things which provide me hope and a much needed motivation. Thank you so much. ❤ #allthewayfromNepal

[@aweetodd]

One of my major issues with writing is pacing. I think or hope I've gotten better but it feels like I'll write scene I'm proud of but while trying to get to the next scene i want to write i skim through the story like its a montage to get to a scene that should be a few chapters laters.

[@luciancorvus9992]

I've run into this situation and found a couple of techniques that help. Please bear along for a moment. In horseback riding, many people think that there are only 3 gaits ... walk, trot and gallop. However, there is also the pace called 'the lope' (or 'canter' for you equestrian purists out there) which is the pleasant rolling gait between the trot and gallop. In writing, I'll simply write the climactic (the fullout gallop) while the synapses are firing hotly, then go back afterwards to the foundational buildup (walk to trot) before and write where 'the lope' connects the pacing (kind of like the carpet from "The Big Lebowski"). If needed, I'll mark the space with > ^^^ < or > insert additional composition

[@aweetodd]

@@luciancorvus9992 I apologize if i am mis understanding you but what it sounds like what your saying is when ever i do skim through my story i should make a note so i can go back to it later? I have been doing something like this and it does give me a peace of mind. But since i haven't finished my first draft yet so I haven't really put it into practice yet. And thank you for the advice. I know "The Witching Hour" by name only so will have to check it out.

[@Gaywatch]

Thank you for the fully realistic description of what it really takes to self publish--I always see people emphasize the difficulties of trad while either downplaying self pub challenges or not acknowledging them at all.

[@owlpip8992]

Gosh, I was so excited to see the notification for this video!!! I've been binge-watching all your videos since I found your channel a couple weeks ago and they have been so helpful. Thank you so much for all the work you put into these!

[@SmokeScreenVids]

Extremely helpful as always Diane. Can’t wait to send you the finished product )

[@user-uu7cy4xk6c]

I am so thankful for you No one knows how hard the writing in my place is , no one care to read and no one care to encourage me , because this kind of things are not even exist in our culture, but I am continuing either way, no matter what happen because I have something to tell in my stories.

[@QuotidianWriter]

Your writing is an act of courage. Always remember that feeling when things get hard. Keep writing. ❤️

[@user-uu7cy4xk6c]

@@QuotidianWriter I will 🤍

[@cannonfodder4376]

Nothing gets a smile on my face than a new video from you. Ever since I discovered your channel last year, your musical voice and clear and concise presentation style is so informative as a reader who likes to analyze what I am reading.

[@mzcyberbat]

Scott sigler could be used as a great example for many of your points. His nocturnal book could never have been published if his infected series didn't sell. He republished his horror cave book years later as he wanted to make it better. He created a podcast to help sell his books. For a while you could listen to them all for free. He has said that when finishing a book he puts it away for 3 months before going back to it. As well as using big publishers he also self published the GFL series. He only made a profit once the third one came out. He learnt a lot and uses a business partner to help. This vid is fantastic.

[@jamestemple3269]

Practical, thoughtful, and thorough; You are a wonder! Thank you Diane!

[@Natalia-bf1vu]

I started writing more seriously last year (just for fun, but it's something I always wanted to do) and discovering this channel has been extremely useful and helpful!!! Thanm you so much for taking the time to put all this great advice together and share it with us!!! On a side note, could I ask for some advice to any of you skillful writers? I often get frustrated with what I'm working on because I get the feeling I always construct sentences in the same way. For example: "He/she + verb + adverb/verb in gerund form to add description to the action." Also, english is not my first language but I try to write in it because i want to reach some audience (I want to write fanfiction haha). What could I do to get better at sentence structure? To get more creative at combining words and no ending up with something predictable and monotonous? Besides practice, that is hahahaha Thank you in advance if someone tkaes the time to read this!!

[@QuotidianWriter]

Honestly, what has helped me the most is dissecting a paragraph from a well-written book and making a list of all the different ways the author opens a sentence! I would also track the variety (like "the author starts with 'The' and then doesn't start with 'The' again until four sentences later"). You can also count the number of words in each sentence to see how much variety there is from sentence to sentence for that particular author's style. Then, in your own writing, you can play around with intentionally putting a super long sentence next to a super short one, or strive to have a paragraph where every sentence starts a different way in terms of word choice and syntax. Basically, create miniature writing exercises for yourself. I hope that helps. Keep writing! :)

[@yaratheartist]

Another brilliant video that I will watch over and over again :)

[@manojsinha9959]

Thank you. You always make the time rich with your voice and advice.

[@heerupadhyay783]

Ever since I subscribed you I have always been checking my phone to see if you have uploaded a video and today I was like"SHE'S BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!" I'm twelve and I hope to be a writer and your videos are helping me a lot. Amazing. Whatever you do keep writing 💓💓💓💓 PS: Can you tell me the names of the Stories and novels you have written? Please?

[@QuotidianWriter]

I'm so happy to hear that my videos have been helping you! You can find my list of current publications on my website. :) www.quotidianwriter.com/my-writing

[@heerupadhyay783]

You replied to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for that BTW. *my dreams tonight* Diana Callahan replied to me......... *me smiling all night*

[@kathrynstubbs4519]

@@heerupadhyay783 Be joyful, my young friend. Be joyful!

[@heerupadhyay783]

@@kathrynstubbs4519 who wouldn't be!!!!!!!!!! :)

[@bookaholic1431]

Hello! Haha you replied on my comment so I just thought to reply on yours 😂🙌

[@watercolor.wyloeck]

This was such an amazing and educational video! Thank you so much. I've recently started outlining my first mystery novel, and your kind words are really inspirational! 😃

[@royrieder2113]

Thanks for sharing! Great video, as always ❤

[@janestorytime]

Really helpful video. I'm a very new writer. Never thought I would ever put pen to paper or, more accurately, fingers to keyboard. I have already edited my first novel six times. I have fallen down many of the usual pitfalls. I love reading but I hate books that are so literary they're really hard work. I've given up on quite a few books lately that come with glowing reviews but in my view were simply indulgent and boring. While I totally get the 'show don't tell' or 'describe don't explain,' I find myself skipping so many areas in a book because I want to get on to the next stage of the story. Is it just me or do too many writers become so wrapped up with their 'showing' their readers nod off to sleep? Maybe they're not doing their 'showing/describing' in the right way? I've recently finished reading 'Lessons in Chemistry' - a fun story, great characterisation, good writing, and a strong message but a really easy read - it left me wanting more. I'm currently reading John Le Carre's 'The Pigeon Tunnel - Stories from my Life.' I find his writing style superb. My taste in books is pretty broad. Will I ever publish - who knows. I've started the second book with the ongoing story of my protagonist in the first book and last week I started a new story with a different protagonist. My stories are based on my own experiences so should be true to life - I'm following the old adage, 'write about what you know,' - probably laziness on my part as I don't want to do too much research. My biggest challenge - Finding good verbs.

[@jackquentin1950]

I really love your videos. I'm taking the first steps to write my first novel and your videos are very encouraging.

[@Mara.O.Garner]

This video just made my day! I wish you could do those more frequently😍

[@ssghosh7728]

Patience is the key to tight prose. I always ignored this one and paid dearly for it. Love the video.

[@abhilasha9608]

If only there was a way you could hear how I screamed! I was thinking about you since a few days and you uploaded! The stars have aligned! I love your content so much! It's an inspiration 😭💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@freedomthroughspirit]

Another stellar video chock full of information - you really keep exceeding my expectations! Thank you.

[@keerthipavuluri2732]

This video pulled my lashes up,and things became plain and wonderful ❤️ If u can consider this, can u please make a video on how to know whether wt we are writing is not lagging, boring or cliche and how to revise the first draft effectively ❤️

[@brandy3198]

I have a difficult time with sentence fragments in dialogue. There are times when a fragmented sentence is the only one that works, and it drives me crazy!

[@quantumhelix8668]

Great video as always. Still writing. Still improving. Patience and study will win.

[@nocturnus009]

This is the Gestalt (from the 5 question of saturation in Betty Edwards’ Drawing on the Artist Within sense) we all needed & I am [Once again] cogitating in my happy place in your debt Diane!

[@jamlane]

So much useful information in one video! Great job. Thank you.

[@cheggs9]

Great writing advice, thank you! (And I really want to make candles now too 🙂)

[@alnahdia3353]

I loved the key pointers, god bless you dear! You add spice to my mood and awake the butterflies in my tummy! 💚

[@ricardonichols6109]

Awesome content as usual. I love these videos.

[@marcelocasanova2124]

Great video! I loved the part about characters, specially. Interviewing characters sounds like an amazing exercise. I will definitely try that.

[@dan4606]

One of the best and most helpful writing videos I’ve come across. Thank you Diane!

[@QuotidianWriter]

Thank you so much for your kind words! Keep writing. :)

[@Ozgipsy]

Your videos are really good. Thanks for putting in the effort. 👍

[@mohammedwaseem6162]

Oh wow! Was waiting for a video from you.

[@wennesmota3860]

This is such a fantastic and useful channel full of valuable informations. I’m revising my novel that I’ve written in my native language, Portuguese, and your lessons are helping me a lot. Thanks! ❤️📚

[@anussukeewijegunarathna4355]

Just what i was looking for... why is this channel so underated?

[@csb78nm]

Excellently done, and like any great advice, simply said but internalizing it and putting it into practice is the hard part. The most succinct advice I ever received (from a journalism professor) was, "Write right, write tight." Simple. Except the writing right part. That's been a lifelong journey.

[@QuotidianWriter]

So true!

[@a.c.2906]

This video is really useful and also really encouraging. A pet peeve I have with "Writing Tips" videos on KZbin is that they're often done by snobby authors who like to punch down newcomers. I liked how this keeps it about the mistakes and doesn't shit on the authors for making them. Thank you.

[@The3ART3]

Cheers for Quotidian and Diane Callahan. This is good/great/super stuff. Thanks

[@patrickfajardo7758]

I actually want to make a Manga but my drawing skill suck so I just gonna go with a novel your videos are very helpful thanks for your guidance.

[@kamimesa8443]

I wanted to write and u have help me a lot. Your videos are straight to the point, doesn't give a duck about average people mentality and give real ideas which will work if one does. I haven't even started writing, I am learning to how to write (by this meaning how to make people see what I want them to see). U are doing a great work simplifying things in manner one need thinking ability not listening which is the best part. Thanks a lot ma'am.

[@caesarjulius6058]

FANTASTIC VIDEO! Especially liked the second half with the "big picture" advice. I just now bought so many of the books that were shown in this video, too!

[@obakeng1140]

Yours is my favorite channel on writing🌌

[@polisp7813]

Im just here to thank you, thank you, thank you. Great content, so much love flows through your every word. Thank you

[@elenazamarro723]

Thank you so much for making this videos. I´m a spanish girl and I find hard finding this tipe of content in spanish. You help me so much, explaning everything so simple and with examples for us to catch the ideas

[@tubbalcain]

There are many channels like this, but this one is the best-->if you ask me.

[@lessar2721]

Never fails to deliver. Keep up the good work

[@stussy8309]

You're back♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@mrnnhnz]

Some excellent thoughts. Thanks for sharing.

[@AndrewRKenny]

What a great video. I don't do much fiction writing but I love engaging with it in all other sorts of ways. I think that one of the most beautiful things is how many tools and avenues there are to make a point or tell a story. And you realize as you use more that there are even more than you thought prior. It makes the prospect of finding the best way to say something on a micro scale engaging, and enables or supports (depending on your writing POV) the most exciting part of it all: how everything fits together. There is so much room for expression, and when you come across or create something that is so clearly in harmony with itself it's an amazing feeling. Almost sublime in the traditional sense. Stories of tallness where no letters in words run below their line (g/j/p/q/y). Stories about portraits inside of a framing narrative. There is so much possibility for beauty in the medium. Really great job expressing all of your ideas. A rare type of video.

[@josephkirn8887]

Thank you for throwing this bucket of cold clarification.

[@velvetbees]

This is one of the best, most useful videos about writing that I have seen.

[@alwaysapirateroninace443]

This is so comforting

[@sanityone649]

I totally agree...the more you receive feedback, the more you'll be able to tell if it's helpful or semi useless. I've been in a writing group for the past 4 years...and although I consider myself a pretty good writer now, and though I was then, a lot of my increased ability as a writer came from reading and commenting on other peoples writing and listening to comments from members of my group. Emersion is a great tool for finding what works and what doesn't. The best revelation here is, "you don't know what you don't know." That's where I was...and still am sometimes...now less than before.

[@alicjabartkowiak9625]

Amazing video! You introduced us to some harsh, but needful and helpful facts! I subscribe to your channel right away.

[@woodben1846]

If all writing advice are guidelines, then I take that as a guide line and all advice really is set in stone. Thank you for this revelation.

[@keerthipavuluri2732]

😍😍😍😍 thank you so much ma'am, u are my wonderful guide ❤️❤️❤️