5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Novel

[@paulrobinson9087]

It's good to hear advice from someone with professional experience and not just opinion.

[@waynetork504]

As a hobby I’ve read maybe 30 books on writing over the past 30 years. This video in 13:49 gives more practical instruction and does it better than anything thing I can recall reading.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Haha, I'm glad it helped!

[@DonnaBlack-pu1ip]

I've recommended your series to my critique group. I find your videos concise, on-point, and pleasant to experience. Thank you for providing such useful information.

[@Gnostic_Plague]

Thanks for these videos! I just learned that I’m writing my novel in 3rd person omniscience haha. The “what scenes to cut” video was really helpful too. I’ve been revising and editing a lot though I still have some small parts left to write.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

I'm glad the videos are helpful!

[@josephbarnett9116]

I love your videos, they help me so much! Currently I’m querying for my science fantasy novel, The Unblooded Heir, and writing the sequel

[@deidei_chan8]

What's it about?

[@mikefinley4367]

You just pointed out a problem of mine close 3rd and Omni. You just provided some clarity, thanks.

[@Ctayrroolne]

Finally, Saturated By Faith is finally selling on Amazon! Thanks

[@rodgilley64]

I recently discovered your videos. They are awesome! I have saved many to watch in the future already. I am at 45,000 words in my first draft of my first novel. This video in particular was very interesting as I use 4 different POVs in my story. I only have 5 people reading my chapters, but they all have eagerly asked for the next chapter. I wish I could get your opinion :) Thank you for your very helpful information.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Thank you for your kind comment! I don't have beta reading services, but if you'd like an editorial assessment or developmental edit of your chapters at hand, I am certainly available. Check out my website for a quote!

[@themikeshowlive]

I'm revising/re-writing my first novel. Working on embellishing a bit with descriptions and your tip about remembering the setting will be helpful. I also I am very much an amateur so I'm going to be paying attention to the POV to see if I am consistent to need to re assess it. Thanks for all your videos :)

[@MrZkoki]

Very useful advice. I am putting it deeply into consideration. I will definitely integrate it into my writing, as long as it feels natural and the right thing to do.

[@Redskirt]

Another great video, Alyssa!

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Thank you!!

[@LorraineCareyAuthor]

Total Boss Hints here. I always learn something new from this channel.

[@MrDanroche]

Watched and saved to watch again later. Almost finished with my first draft and will be needing this advice soon

[@AllenAdrianTompkins]

Revising is going well with the three novels from undergraduate and graduate studies. I will take your advice and apply it with consistency and attention to time and setting. I'm also trying to write some query letters and keep it simple like blurbs although I'm confused with the synopsis and book cover review...

[@anngrace5050]

This was so helpful! Your perspective is amazing. Thank you!

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@andyclark3530]

Very good advice. I am working through the fifth draft of my novel, which started in 2018! I meant to shop the novel after the last draft, but I fell into what I suspect is a common trap for fantasy authors. The first draft was around 80K words, but by the end of the fourth draft it weighed in at over 177K words because with each draft I thought of other cool stuff to add. So the novel was bloated, it also didn't have a clear tone, moving between serious and light-hearted. So this draft is all about paring down and maintaining a lighter approach throughout. I hope to get the novel under 120K, which is not terribly long for fantasy. Oh, and I'd have to say that I've committed each of the sins you identify at one point or another. The only place where I may see things a little differently is around naming minor characters. I tend to go ahead and give a character a name even if it's going to be present for one scene if it plays a significant role in that scene, or has a good bit of dialog. Also, in fantasy, names can be setting, so the founder of a city may come up even if that being isn't even a character. What I struggle with now is the humor portion of my writing. It's hard for a writer to really know if they're being funny, particularly after they've worked through multiple revisions and seen the lines many times.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Phew, you've been on quite the journey! I wish you the best of luck with your current draft!

[@gingerredshoes]

Helpful advice, this is right where I am in my process of revision.

[@rowan7929]

Thank you. Some good points when I finish my latest one after writing the first draft.

[@leovidal8482]

Alyssa you are wonderful 👏👏👏

[@ctrue3120]

Amazing tips, thank you!!

[@mileswhite4329]

I am currently doing another late edit, so these are very useful tips, especially the ones about setting (I have not developed place very well) and consistent POV. I have a theory that I wonder if you would agree with: With closed 3rd person, the POV scene should always follow the most primary character in the scene. I have 3 protagonists, but 1 always has the POV over anyone else in the scene, including 2 and 3, but 2 overrides 3, but 3 overrides any of the other characters. This seems to work in keeping the POVs clean and not getting them mixed up.

[@BandersnatchGlass]

Thank you again! 😄

[@peterheyes8552]

Question, please. 1. Do we write the pov thoughts in present tense with or without italics? Can you please explain how modern writers are expected to write inner thoughts in 3rd person past tense please. Thanks

[@samfowler2073]

Setting is another character.

[@MikeBates]

Thank you this helped a lot.

[@geologyjohnson7700]

I always struggle with swapping between 3rd person omniscient and close without even realising I'm doing it. 😅

[@mssheunderthesun.6722]

I am writing a short story in omnipotent narrator style. I am having a hard time with my tenses. Its mostly a current day story. do you have any advice how to keep my tenses correct?

[@zeldaschwabschwab731]

Can you ever combine close third person & first person? Can the first person voice be the thoughts of the main character in a close third person story? Any chance that ever works? Thanks so much for all the information & helpful advice!!

[@jayashreechakravarthy4949]

Alyssa matesic has access. Organised.

[@cjpreach]

RE: POV. I'm using both 1st POV and 3rd POV in my novel, but they are not "mixed." Is use 3rd POV for my 19th century story line and 1st POV for my 21st century story line. I did it in order to clarify for the reader whose story they are following.

[@Redskirt]

About the difference between close third person and omniscient... Thoughts and feelings are the meat of close third, but does omniscient have any of that? I've always thought "all-knowing" would encompass thoughts and feelings, but it seems like it doesn't work so well when I read it. Should omniscient POV stick with action?

[@AlyssaMatesic]

While omniscient can include thoughts and feelings, it can quickly become overwhelming, as knowing everyone's thoughts and feelings would take up a lot of space and room in the reader's mind. Being consistent and mentioning the inner thoughts of certain characters, or perhaps only mentioning certain key thoughts from any character in any given moment, can help streamline the overall narration. Thank you for your question! :)

[@nicksteiner5091]

After several rewrites and self edits, I found it frustrating when I unconsciously switched from closed third-person to omniscient third-person, and never caught it. I heard some refer to this as 'jarring'. What can you tell us about 'jarring'? If indeed that is the actual term.

[@mikefinley4367]

I'm laughing as part of me wishes you stood over me as I write giving me a smack in the back of the head. Unfortunately your not using your hand, ha, ha!