Creative Insecurity

[@Mothsaam]

Adopt the unhinged fanfic writer philosophy: the story isn't written *for* the reader, it is *shared* with them.

[@LetTalesBeTold]

As a moderately unhinged fanfic writer myself, this mindset is actually where I struggle. If it’s fanfic, sure, it’s for my own amusement and hopefully someone else’s. But because fanfiction gets the worst rap (sometimes 100% warranted, don’t get me wrong), as something that’s “not really writing,” it gives the idea of writing some original book or script or whatever being more excellent, more important, more *necessary.* So when it comes to writing something original with more perceived gravitas than fanfiction, sometimes my enjoyment of the project makes me start to worry that it’s all just lazy self-satisfaction rather than competent standalone storytelling. My only cure for that so far is to remind myself that bad and laughable literature does exist (whether it’s due to poor quality or poor morals), and if those authors can not only write their books but also get them published, then there’s no reason why I can’t try, too.

[@flowerbloom5782]

@@LetTalesBeToldI mean I think people just get defensive with fanfic since it’s already playing with established stories. I’m sure if you make original no one can tell you squat cause that’s your book. Some may not like it but hey Harry Potter is Harry Potter. It’s not supposed to be anything else. I use to not like fanfics but there is awesome writers and that was a gateway from improving their writing. Do you

[@Mothsaam]

@@LetTalesBeTold I read a lot of webcomics and my favorites are the ones where you can tell the author loves their story and their characters no matter how out there it is and has no regard for what is "marketable" or "palatable." Sure, they may be a little rough in the technical/execution department but the passion that radiates from their work more than makes up for the "unprofessionalism." All this to say, I think you should channel your moderately unhinged fanfic writer energy into the Concept of your work and then try to be as polished in the Execution as you can. The passion you have for your project, even if it feels self-serving, is contagious and attracts a very specific audience that likes YOUR stuff, but typos and weird structure and easily avoidable errors do take away from the enjoyment of the piece sometimes. I'm slightly tipsy and rambling, lol, sorry. Create things that are uniquely yours because gods fucking know we're tired of the same old rehashed shit. Everything has an audience, even trash, even really weird stuff.

[@LetTalesBeTold]

@@flowerbloom5782 Yeah, that’s definitely a major reason. (The other probably being all of the… sensitive… material that a lot of authors post. 😅) I think it’s playing in established works, ones that took so long to polish with the skills of (usually) more than one creative mind in charge, that really screws me up. I need to allow myself more time (and maybe find some collaborators) to make something that feels half as deep as the worlds I borrow from as a fan writer. It’s not someone else’s criticism, it’s my impatience to have a highly engaging story in a fraction of the time the pros would probably need. If I want to write something that feels that same level of “important,” I gotta talk myself off of that ADHD ledge, lol.

[@LetTalesBeTold]

@@Mothsaam don’t apologize, I gladly welcome rambles and the advice in them! 😂 I agree on the polishing aspect, though; it doesn’t have to be as important if the whole product sings with passion, but it does eventually matter in keeping one’s audience. I’m an extreme nitpicker when it comes to grammar and spelling in my writing- not that I’m so knowledgeable and talented, but outside of my own stylistic rule-breaking, I try to be as proper as possible- so as my own editor, I think I slow myself down in the passion category… the editorial perfectionism kicks in and I lose my groove. Writing either feels choppy and joyless or, when I *am* having a ball of a time, like it might just be me trying to cherry pick the elements that manufacture emotion rather than keeping a competent story in mind. But you’re absolutely right- I have to write my own content and run with it in the end, because I’m sure not going to get anywhere and be satisfied writing someone else’s content!

[@keef920]

To lead the orchestra, you have to turn your back to the audience

[@aychazyt6987]

That's one hell of a quote

[@marcpaters0n]

This. 100%.

[@The_Lemon_27]

wow.

[@Kutsushita_yukino]

sheeesh

[@GayBrain]

Bars

[@IkariTheWraith]

Don't write what you want to show the world, write what you can no longer contain.

[@ichasedacrow2]

this really hit my heart just now

[@siegfriedmordrake3229]

Oof, that's brilliantly said

[@geologyjohnson7700]

Stealing that...

[@TalkingWeirdStuff24]

I feel this, and it's kinda my whole problem with a book series I'm working on. It sounds rather formulaic when I have to reduce it down to a sentence or two, but it's a fairy tale about 7 fairy princes who live with their evil mother, the Queen of their court. And the queen is my mother and one of the princes is me. I feel compelled to write and publish this story, I feel I can't "contain" it as you say, but if I publish it there is the very real possibility my parents will purposefully, intentionally destroy my life. No one seems to believe me, to believe that a parent would purposefully destroy their child's life, but if you knew my parents and my life like I do you could see how they would burn my life to the ground and stand there in the ashes patting themselves on the back for being such good parents. My intention with this comment is not to just yell into the void, if anyone reading has advice I'd like to hear it. I can't get a lot of advice from anyone I know because so few people realize how viciously evil and purposefully destructive a bad parent can be. They tell me things like 'be yourself!' or 'don't let them control your life!' but they don't realize the extent of the damage my parents have inflicted, continue to inflict, and could inflict in the future.

[@IkariTheWraith]

@@TalkingWeirdStuff24 This is really a much better question for a trained professional like a therapist. On the writing subject, the only thing I can offer is to flesh out the Queen as much as possible. You might discover something about the character as you write that changes your perspective.

[@IcyDiamond]

The Moral: Make things for yourself, other people liking it is just a nice bonus

[@upg5147]

Which only actually works if you don't want to be a professional or are already far beyond needing that.

[@Dave_of_Mordor]

@@upg5147 This makes me wonder if the people saying these things even have bills to pay. It's just so weird how they all neglect money

[@momomomocensoredbyyoutube9085]

For yourself does not mean for the sake of ideology. When you take focus away from the art to make propaganda you have failed as an artist.

[@YEY0806]

@@momomomocensoredbyyoutube9085 I mean isn't propaganda just what you don't like to hear or agree to

[@localscriptman]

@@upg5147The best thing you can do as a professional is to say “here’s my art, now how do I package/sell it” But those are two distinct stages, not one amorphous blob

[@AD-dg3zz]

To paraphrase Red from OSP, 'Writing for an audience feeling like ripping your heart out and submitting it for peer review'

[@amazinggrapes3045]

Ehhhhh.... a story is communication. Wanting the people who it reaches to understand it makes sense.

[@moonsparkle_the_magnificen3984]

Obviously writers would want people to understand their stories, but that doesn’t mean writers should cater to the audience. Comprehension is important in communicating a story - but that is baseline. What this conversation is about is the real art of story. I find the James Joyce conceptualization helpful - he differentiates art into proper and improper art. The part of that framework that is important to this debate is that proper art is art made for art’s sake - a process beyond the reach of consumerism that reaches from the artist’s soul and touches the soul of the audience in some way. You should take a literature class, if you’re on this video you are clearly interested in this kind of thing but maybe don’t have the language or comprehension to fully understand this subject

[@4xdblack]

It's about the friends we made along the way

[@localscriptman]

Too real

[@zapp770]

What is that friends thing youre talking about?

[@4xdblack]

@@zapp770 they're characters that only exist in your head.

[@feranks3211]

@@4xdblack so it's really about the friends we made up along the way

[@notmyrealpseudonym6702]

​@@feranks3211it's about the way we made up to have friends to make up

[@darthryking]

"all art is for an audience, but the first member of the audience is the artist"

[@mike_sauce]

"If you really want your audience to care, stop caring about them". Excellent.

[@Hiussay]

As a caveat I don't think "I wan't to make this character more hateable" is necessarily insecure, since it could be "I want the other characters to find this person more hateable" rather than "I want the audience to find this character more hateable". Presumably a good solution will coincidentally fix both.

[@localscriptman]

Yeah obviously the characters should respond to each other realistically, like emotions within the canon should be fully justified

[@siegfriedmordrake3229]

I was saying the same thing to myself. When I want to make a character hateable, or lovable, or whatever, I want to do it for the sake of the story. The audience responding in that direction just means I did my job correctly

[@abigailbartlett6084]

About the Bryan Cranston quote: I’ve seen far too many shows or movies where a character makes a quip, and they laugh at their own joke. It immediately de-funnys the joke. I remember staying up to watch a show and such a joke happened, and I was so turned off I went to bed at a reasonable time that night. Great video, btw.

[@terrylandess6072]

I've had funny thoughts about something I just experienced or saw and may begin chuckling for no apparent reason to others. If they ask - then I share. Others want desperately to sell it.

[@bigkspicy8257]

Going to bed at a reasonable time when you wanted to stay up late is the epitome of defeat 😭

[@Ht9ehtoom]

I think this one is genuinely good advice. i havent watched it yet, but it probably is.

[@littleredruri]

how i feel going into every local video

[@zetjet9901]

@@littleredruri me aswell

[@ultimaxkom8728]

Liking and subscribing before the video begins energy

[@cinderheart2720]

I don't worry about disappointing the audience, I worry about letting down my characters.

[@KateHolden]

I worked in kids media a bit, and it was soul crushing how many pitches and scripts I had to look at where people thought that if they just pile a bunch of tropes they think kids like, or things focus groups said kids like (really banal shit like "the girls liked that the design that has a bag", "the parents liked that the protag likes STEM"), and excecute a story they don't care about, but think will be popular by accumulation of market-friendly characteristics with zero sincerity, they could then say they've made the next Avatar the Last Airbender, Adventure Time or Steven Universe... Series which all were not similar anything popular in their market at the time and are deeply unique, personal and heartfelt. But of course... it was impossible to explain this problem to them, because businesses and publishers love "its like this thing that's already popular!" And it takes a really special exec to see the potential in a really gripping concept and story made with care and invest in that because it seems more risky.

[@LillLizzert]

I've always been told it's better to make something a few people will love to bits than it is to make something that makes everyone say "it's okay".

[@theConcernedWyvern]

Absolutely. I lost my love of writing for a couple years when I was desperately trying to make stuff that fit into what writing is "supposed" to be (3 acts, everything moves the plot, etc etc) but I hated everything I made with it. I had to stop caring about it and write what I wanted to and to improve it for myself, not for some imagined audience I would never publish to anyways.

[@katium9176]

@@theConcernedWyvern You sir, may have changed how I write stories now.

[@Trazynn]

That last minute explained exactly what's wrong with Disney.

[@siegfriedmordrake3229]

Disney is about making money, not making art. So in this regard their decisions are perfectly logical. It will change when people get bored of watching the same manipulative thing over and over again but we're not quite there yet

[@Trazynn]

Currently they're making neither.

[@chriswho4232]

I really dig just how downright scathing you can get without ever dipping into cruelty... It's exceptionally effective at making the point.

[@M0ssP1glet]

The one time I can think of when the "winking at the audience" method actually worked for me is the "Emperor's New Groove." The fourth wall breaking moments when David Spade Llama yanks the movie to a halt for his little wink wink Deadpool-esque meta-tirades happen mostly at the start of the film, and are obviously grossly performative and self-indulgent, just like Kuzco himself at this point in the story. However, during the low point of his arc he breaks his own fourth wall breaks and tells HIMSELF to shut up, and it doesn't come up again. The whole recurring gag serves as a quick method to show his character development while keeping in line with the movie's tongue-in-cheek tone and stops after it no longer serves a purpose.

[@rottensquid]

That's clever. I really need to rewatch that film. It's been ages. It makes me laugh when youngsters act like Deadpool invented talking to the audience. Bugs Bunny did it. Hell, Richard III did it.

[@TristanBakon]

I love when the script is local and delivered by this man

[@hikarifaith4502]

This video made me think back to the phrase "write what you know." People take the phrase to mean "write about things you know about in order to make the audience care," but I've found through the evolution of the story that's been bubbling in my head for years, combining with others and picking up new meanings, ideas, and details as my own life experiences gained further depth and complexity--a story I've only recently (within the last 2-3 months) resolved to create *at all*, that writing what you know isn't writing "things" you know about so much as writing what you care about and writing what makes you feel emotions (any emotions). If you care about your writing, so will your audience. The story I want to tell is deeply personal and draws much of itself from my own emotional journey and landmarks and hang-ups and it's only gained more depth in these last few months as I've taken the time to ask myself how the individual pieces connect to me and how they make me feel. It's why certain plot points *literally* brought me to tears the instant I had the idea to include them and why a cursory summary of the plot of just the first of the two parts to this story similarly brought a friend of mine to tears. Creative insecurity doesn't come from not having something to say, but instead from not caring about what it is you're saying--just like actors and voice actors trying to portray a character. A good actor can make the best of even the most half-assed dialog simply by putting themselves into the mindset of the characters and backing up their lines with emotion.

[@cbiscot2]

I say "Write what you feel."

[@Inyourwalls67]

Bro this helped me so freaking much. I got this recommended to me literally after just typing in the search bar, 'How to make the audience care about my character' 💀. These tips are super helpful keep it up!

[@thesunthrone]

This is why I dislike winks at audience and breaking the fourth wall, and why I love when a story just... does its thing. The author creates something that is fully self-sufficient and can exist outside space and time, rather than get instantly dated by trying to appeal to whatever is popular at the time of creating this story. And then it doesn't matter if it's a book from 19th century or a movie from yesterday, that confidence in the story makes it feel REAL.

[@wplants9793]

Garfield breaks the 4th wall all the time and it is absolutely great. I’m talking about the late 80’s-mid 90’s cartoon series. BUT the early 90’s was a time of post modern breakdown /ironic / wacky-ville

[@CapnNapalm]

Every time you’re worried about whether or not the audience will like what you make, just remember that there are people out there who like some of the worst stuff you can imagine. It’s not the worst to them and I highly doubt your stuff will be the worst to everyone

[@shade08538]

“There is no such thing as an objectively good story” YES

[@IcyDiamond]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5KofoaBr9Z6d8ksi=nzlSe_NpHZ_SkiCC

[@epicdotpngnotfound8857]

there is tho. a plot hole is a fundamental impossibility within the narrative, it's just that whether it impacts your enjoyment or not, and by how much is the subjective part

[@shade08538]

@@epicdotpngnotfound8857 a story can’t be objectively judged, but it can be objectively analyzed

[@siegfriedmordrake3229]

​@@epicdotpngnotfound8857 a story that is technically correct with no plot hole or other inconsistencies can still be boring as hell

[@null6209]

@@epicdotpngnotfound8857 Then technically Chess has the objectively best narrative ever since it has absolutely no plotholes

[@PosiDoesMore]

As an aspiring author, the current philosophy I am working in accordance with is that if one single person is positively touched by my work (even if it's myself) then I've succeeded. Excellent video. You have consistently been one of the most helpful writing advice channels on this platform.

[@dark_nightwing_xl2797]

I agree

[@boxoweasels]

Yes. The playing it straight thing is why so many B movies suck. Trying to do the "so bad it's good" thing on purpose. It doesn't work if you're winking at the audience.

[@shadowshade904]

From 5:34 to 6:27 I was just thinking, "YES, this is EXACTLY what I have been feeling about so many shows and movies recently!" I've never been able to put it into words properly, but you hit the nail on the head

[@minerman60101]

3:04 amazing how you so effectively communicated emotional meaning with some slap dash MS paint drawing

[@CivilDefenseEngineer]

LocalScriptMan saying what we all thinking. This is why we go through seasons of entire markets being saturated with angsty young adult vampire werewolf romances or something. Everyone is just chasing the algorithm.

[@terrylandess6072]

I'd rather be the creator of a cult classic than some flash in the pan disposable tripe.

[@kirbyppg]

The last Twilight film was over 11 years ago 💀💀💀

[@siegfriedmordrake3229]

This makes not achieving planetary success easier to deal with, tbh 😂

[@thegnome73]

@@kirbyppg and yet readers especially are not over monster romance

[@ryerye8083]

The insecure things are what authors usually say in their "tips", but honestly, that's what held back my writing for years now. Thank you that u had different approach in it, I finally realized what I should be working on

[@within_the_sky2356]

A larger thing I hate that's also part of creative insecurity is when people take something descriptive like ways of dissecting characters or stories and instead treat them like they're prescriptive, the easiest example is people who use the hero's journey as a paint by numbers formula to write a story instead of a structure to analyze stories Also just in general I dislike the hero's journey as it really is just a worse over complicated description of a character arc plus a conflict. It's worse because names like "the mentor" are bad as it implies it's a character when it can be literally anything(s) that inform the change in the character

[@terrylandess6072]

I often feel many writers don't want to pay their dues, instead of starting with short stories and learning to expand, they jump in at 600 page novels and lose sight, direction, and become lost at sea.

[@1d10tcannotmakeusername]

@@terrylandess6072 My grand vision would probably fill thousands of pages, but even I know to start with imageboard-esque greentexts

[@Unf0rget]

Its sort of like a lot of media criticism one sees on the net. The difference between constructive criticism (aiding someone in approaching the destination their project is aiming for) and what people insist is 'just critique' where people insist that making the media more appealing to their tastes is the only path to success. You can find your goal by consuming media and paying attention to your own feelings. Your responses. A lot of the people insisting an established franchise should just make a radical drift into their zone of interest should actually be going out and figuring out how to make a project and park it on that vacant spot themselves.

[@blakchristianbale]

Most criticism on the net is in the tradition of consumer advocacy, it isn’t supposed to help the creator

[@Unf0rget]

The word criticism can be applied to a lot of different things. I was specifically talking about artistic criticism where viewers can ask for something that directly contradicts the goals of the creator with full confidence that there is no other option and entirely unaware that their solution contradicts the goal of the media in question.

[@kinematics4999]

"When you’re 20, you care what everyone thinks, when you’re 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks, when you’re 60, you realize no one was ever thinking about you in the first place."

[@poormanchemist]

I think this is obvious by 15

[@Pntbllrfrk13]

I really like this. I wanted to add that sometimes it's worth pushing some novice writers to attempt to recontextualize their question, because the heart of it might not actually be aiming at being performative and meta. For example, I've been in conversations with other writers where this: "How do I make this scene sad? How do I get the audience to cry here?" Actually means this: "To me, this is an emotional part of the story. I can see in my head how it should feel, but I'm struggling to convey that feeling in a way that accurately portrays what I'm envisioning. It's not just that I want an audience to feel this, it's that I'm can't seem to write the scene in a way where I can even feel it." By encouraging a writer to recontextualize their problem, you can identify that what they're really seeking is help with something subjective that might actually have objective solutions. It also helps them keep the keep the correct frame when they're writing, to work the scene until they are feeling something from it rather than painfully retooling it in the hopes of milking reactions from the audience. There are definitely a ton of writers who do get stuck in that insecure space of just aiming at what makes others react in order to create something, but I think there are also a lot of writers that are frustrated with their writing ability and how they can't quite get the story in their head to faithfully connect to the page. I think that often leads to that "how the hell do I make people feel things" question, where what they're really after is "there's something I'm aiming at emotionally, I can't quite reach it". Love the videos amigo. Been really enjoying seeing more content lately!

[@hoopchristine5202]

I can’t believe I’m going to use a 40K quote to add someone else’s two cents on the subject, but this is from Better Angels by Ian St. Martin: ‘This demonstrates skill, passion, even vision. Yet it fails in the most critical of ways.’ Fails. The word from my gene-sire’s lips makes me go cold in an instant, like a knife blow to my spine. ‘I do not understand, lord.’ ‘You failed,’ continues the primarch, ‘the moment you created something for me, rather than something from within yourself. You sought to flatter, rather than inspire. The artist must create his works as though he would be the only soul to behold them, shards of his very self rendered into being. Otherwise he is simply an artisan, a merchant selling wares for coin at a market.’

[@MrMegaMetroid]

I also like to add: If you write for yourself, you will find your audience. "The audience" isn't just every single person enjoying your art medium, or every single person enjoying your genre, or every single person enjoying your type of story. The audience is simply people who picked up your story and liked it. those who picked up your story and didn't like it, are not your audience. Hell we see time and time again when established franchises like movies or games, try to pander to new audiences. the new audiences usually don't like it because its trying to be like something else thats popular in their focus group, but by trying to imitate that thing it is just a cheap copy. and the fans dont like it because, well it not what they grew up/fell in love with. As a long time halo fan i can write essays on this, but this goes for any and all franchises. You do you, and the people will come to you. And those who come, will stay, because tyey are here for you, not a facade you built. this goes for art and real life. you dont want those who want something else. those people hold you and your art back

[@rossdavidson5122]

Amen. r/writing is practically unusable due to this issue.

[@lvzyours]

I was thinking of this sub while listening! I’m like “should I post this in r/writing?” 😂

[@rossdavidson5122]

@@lvzyours I would, but it's fighting a losing battle

[@davidnance9462]

Yes, it’s filled with insecurity and permission seekers.

[@cyberdeathrat]

most art subreddit are like this, ive had to unsub from so many lol

[@einholzstuhl252]

Well...the people on r/writing encourage people to write for themselves rather then for an audience for the most part exactly because a lot of people ask: Is this OK to write? Etc.

[@Prototype_Kelvin]

The sound of pots banging means something entirely different for me now

[@nightelflevel5062]

I really liked how you visualized having the stick figure trying to be all the colors and so fading into the background! I didn't see any comments talking about it, so I wanted to point it out.

[@domino_201]

Babe wake up, new Local video just dropped

[@localscriptman]

Oh she knows

[@stm8872]

​@@localscriptman ayo what u mean by that?

[@zapp770]

Sus

[@zulqernein]

@@stm8872 real ones will know

[@CrimsonMysteryCake]

I feel like a huge reason why people get so insecure about their writing is that we are so trained to think that if our writing doesn’t reach the biggest audience possible, if we’re not making tons of money off of something meant to be mass-market appealing, then what’s the point of even creating? We’re surrounded by so many franchises and television shows and movies that all have a ridiculous advertising budget of millions of dollars that for the majority of people the majority of the media they consume is meant for as wide an audience as possible. We’re trained to think that if we’re not able to make a living off of our creation then that creation has no right to exist. I also think that analysis videos and critics haven’t helped this insecurity either. Inadvertently critique videos create the idea that there is a “right” way and a “wrong” way to create a piece of art or to write a story. The best artists create simply for the sake of creation. They create because they have an idea in their head that they want to see become reality. The best storytellers are crafting their story to communicate something that they are otherwise unable to say in words alone. It’s ok to want to be popular, natural even. When you’ve put a lot of work into something it’s ok to want other people to like it too, but what’s most important is to say what you want to say and to not be burdened by popularity, since that will only hold you back.

[@PrettyMuchBlack]

I’m loving the shorter videos, Lucas. Very concise and effective. It’s wonderful work you’re doing.

[@The_Lemon_27]

I love the message of this one: just don’t overthink it and write for yourself. I think everybody is secure at first and knows they’re writing for themselves, but along the way sometimes people forget that when they start to worry if their story is “actually good” or not. Another great video Lucas good job! 👍🏼

[@Rat-czar]

It’s good to remember that not everyone is going to enjoy my writing. In the end I just hope to write even if no one reads and/or likes it

[@onemoreminute0543]

I feel as if this insecurity of 'what will the audience think of my work?' partly held me back in my writing for a while. I had all these ideas of a story and characters in my head but, in many of the earlier drafts, I downplayed or censored things I was worried might be considered 'cringe' or wouldn't be as 'popular' with audiences. As a result, I felt a disconnect between what I wanted to write and want I thought the audience would like. So I tried to squash my specific characters into specific, popular genres they didn't fit in at all, all for the sake of my own creative insecurities. For a long time, I was trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. But eventually I just came to the conclusion that... I should just write what I want, and not feel held back by audience expectations that (as a novice writer) don't even exist for me. If you're going to be insecure about the thing you love writing about and feel uncomfortable about sharing it with a wider audience, then you may as well just not write. Writing the story that you *actually* want to tell... now that was definitely one of the most important lessons I've learnt.

[@nathanhunter5813]

This is a helpful reminder. I tend to have a habit of thinking about what the readers will think when writing my story, which stops me from actually getting invested in the story I want to create.

[@Ghosts_Channel]

One thing I think you should have tacked on at the end. It's not that you shouldn't necessarily "not care" what other people think, especially if you're just going to change to cuck yourself to them. I think it's important to understand a variety of audience's perspectives. For example, if you're writing a movie taking place during a modern warfare setting, understanding guns, military etiquette, orders, and phrases, and applying that correctly to the story can gain an appreciation from audience members who have been in modern war for getting all of those facts right. It's also good because it strengthens your own understanding of your own setting and story. Don't just toss aside the audience because trying to appeal to all of them is futile, focus on where and how legitimate criticisms of your story can arise, such as the modern warfare example. There's going to be people who just say "not enough _____", but some criticisms from audience members can be avoided before they arrive, and it can strengthen the internal consistency of your story as well.

[@localscriptman]

Real world accuracy would be a personal standard in that case

[@Ghosts_Channel]

@@localscriptman I guess you're technically correct, but I think it sort of downplays how reaching out to understand other people's perspectives can be used to improve your story.

[@theresnothinghere1745]

I would consider that in short writing for a target audience. You create an imaginary person and assign them values that you personally want the story to work for (even if its ultimately an extension of yoursef). So when you see criticism you first consider how it reflects on the values your imaginary person cares about. If their criticism seems to overlaps with the values of your imaginary person then it might be worth considering.

[@saint037]

"do you wanna pay bills?" this is the question that needs answers😂

[@evan11711]

Yoooo, love the videos, they’re a huge source of inspiration! Keep up the good work brother 🎉

[@localscriptman]

Thanks dawg

[@winzyyy-h8m]

Every few months I come back and rewatch your videos and I understand them more and more,,, ur fr helping my brain develop istg thank you

[@sophiaisabelle027]

I've always had multiple insecurities throughout my life. Most of the time I just hide and never come out of my shell. But always let your creativity and intellect flow naturally. You'll never fully know where it could actually lead to.

[@lp4336]

You do not find your audience, they find you.

[@NoiseDay]

"If you really want to make the audience care, stop caring about them."

[@BeastKing00]

A fun game I've been playing with myself lately is: -Rewatch a movie you thought was spectacular a long time ago; like many, many years ago. -Okay, now even if you still think it's good after rewatching it (you might find many of these aren't going to stand the test of time for you), go look up reviews of those same movies. Or books or whatever. -Examine how many of these pieces of media weren't well received by the general public even if you thought they were at least good enough for a rewatch. -Bonus points for researching how the authors of those things ruin what they make by trying to make sequels or changing the musical score or being d-holes. What I'm saying is what you like or love is extremely subjective. Your tastes will evolve over time, but there's a lot to be said for exposing your tastes to others before deciding to commit it to writing or whathaveyou. Some of the worst (and by that I also mean hilarious) things ever written or put on the screen were made by someone with an overwhelmingly solipsistic vision and way too much money, resources, connections, and support to do it. They thought making that sequel was really a good idea. Reality has proven otherwise, but perhaps they really liked it anyway. That could be you too; friends be damned! The real question to ask is, "why am I making this story?" Is it for money or fame or just to say you got it out there? Just be sure, if you care about the opinion of others, that you expose it to others and make the right adjustments based on their feedback before it's too late to change it. Lest you get Guardians of the Galaxy 2 or something. That movie should have never seen the light of day imo.

[@electri9621]

How I’ve always liked to think is that my goal is to “make a story I would want to read.” I believe if I am able to achieve this then other people being fans of my work is inevitable and I am also more resilient against critics since my opinion over the success of my work doesn’t bank on theirs.

[@kapanimations]

I think it’s also good to mention that this doesn’t mean you avoid showing anyone your story, it’s still good to get someone to proof read because they may bring up some questions and details you overlooked and may even give you some ideas to add onto your story.

[@TheBookNerd2]

Something I’m probably misremembering seems pretty applicable to this. It was originally said about music and it went something like this, “there are innumerable opportunities to the inexperienced artist, but to the masters there is only one.” I think it means that when you don’t know where you’re going, you’re overwhelmed by opportunities to go in a million interesting directions, but when you have a destination in mind you only need to find the best way there.

[@WarpSonic]

that ending was hilarious XD ngl i'm definitely still in the phase you mentioned where i don't have a keen feeling of what the best idea is sometimes.

[@supsup335]

I personally like to throw drafts at as many beta readers as possible and then look for which criticizms overlap. Then i look at my story and decide wether i want to change something according to the criticism (if it fits) or use it as a guideline (if it kinda does) or leave it and just adjust or slim it down, maybe. Then i repeat for the next draft, and try to replace half of the old beta readers with new ones.

[@DavidSantos-fu2ll]

What about ligma readers?

[@zapp770]

Hi Local Have you heard of the MICE thread method? Its a very flexible methed wich focuses more on good plot setup and payoff. Your stuff mostly fokuses on setting up good themes and characters, so I found this to be a useful adition, as it really helps if you want to order something with a lot of parallel plotlines without the story dragging on when resolving everything.

[@localscriptman]

I’m unfamiliar, I’ll write it down

[@zapp770]

The Way it works is that it differenciates between 4 types of Plot. 1 MIlleu: Starts by trapping the character in a situration/enviroment (usually tied to a setting) and ends when the character escapes it. (Related opstacles are ment to complicate set escape) 2 Ineurment: Fancy word for mistery. Starts by posing a question and ends with the reveal. 3 Character: Its a character arc (duh) 4 Event: Starts by disrupting a status quo and ends when new status quo is established. (Will the character reach his goal or not?) Hense "MICE" and each of these elements are referred to as "threads". Obviosly a longer story is going to have more threads in them and the density of threads will change how fast the story feels. The one important thing is, that if you start one thread and then a second one, you need to resolve the second one before the first one. If you start with a C thread, showing how much AANGST your Character has, before plunging them into your M adventure, you should make sure to end the adventure/exit the unfamiliar World/go back to Kansas BEFORE showing how they are the COOL kid now with less AAANGST. (idk. just roll with it) This also works on a smaller scale. A fight scene is en Event, falling into the trash compacter and trying to escape is a Mileu etc. Threads will start and end all the time, but you must make sure you only start concluding them in the OPPOSITE ORDER you started them. Its like different types of brackets. (C (M (E E) (E E) M) C) This works, (C (M C) (E) M) This is a mess with terrible Pacing without proper build up or a satisfying ending. Hope this is useful to someone.

[@RATZGobbler]

Essentially why “The Fans” are not a reliable source of criticism. It’s not that they don’t care it’s that they can only care about what they want to see.

[@connormccloskey7580]

This is pertinent across all mediums. I watch your videos to improve my D&D adventures. D&D content that is made for mass retail has the same air of insecure waffling as these questions. Then occassionally someone puts out something that everyone fucking loves, and the only really clear difference that stands out every single time is "The people who made this thought it was fucking cool". It even applies to dating. You want to work on yourself because you need to chisel yourself into the man you want to be? Everyone around you will eat that up. It's infectious. You want to start working on yourself to draw in the ladies? They will smell that insecure frame quicker than Script Man will sniff out your insecure question, and aren't interested in being lured in. Decide who you're going to be. Decide what you're going to create. Do it for you.

[@Charbird_Chickenheart]

I just finished a short film about an experience I had and kept thinking I have to bend backwards for the audience for the youtube algorithm etc.. for 3 years I struggled with the content and script. I finally said fuck it, I making it for me and my friends. I finshed it in October sent it off to a film festival and it won best animation. I havent posted it for insecure reasons. After a close friend of mine died a few weeks ago and never got to see it even though she asked for a screening, I decided to just finaly release it. this coming Monday. Insecurity and wanting to please everyone is the fucking devil.

[@steviegilliam5685]

this is single handedly the best advice ive ever had in years

[@calebbridges4748]

I guess I think more of my own audience related questions more like "can I make this understandable?" And obviously any given sentence or story won't be understandable to some people. But I suppose I'm really wanting to know "how can I make my narrative internally consistent while reaching these goals?"

[@SkyenNovaA]

Some people think of it like it's engineering, rather than self expression.

[@saint037]

the cons of being both an artist and mathematically inclined

[@jamesarcher1676]

I'm not usually one to brag, but this is one of my favorite Tube channels and I've been around since 3k subscribers. Originally brought on by the [REDACTED] video, as I'm sure many others were too, it's been so heart warming seeing a channel grow that truly deserves it. I feel like a proud father despite LocalScriptMan being older than me.....Keep it up!👏

[@localscriptman]

Thanks for your support, this little operation has come a long way

[@zapp770]

Im glad I was here from the start too :) Edit: I just realised I forgot to subscribe oops. Anyways thats fixed now

[@nobodyimportant4778]

You tripped me out so hard at 0:17. That exact species of bird makes that sound constantly where i am.

[@gctrek2]

Ace Attorney and LEGO is an instant like.

[@siegfriedmordrake3229]

Thanks, after 10 years as a writer I still needed to be reminded to NOT care about the audience for a few details in the story I'm currently writing. I loved the Lovecraftian analogy, it's so perfect

[@RelativelyBest]

You know, I don't watch your videos regularly or anything but occasionally I'll recall that you are literally the only person on this platform I've found who offers writing advice I consider worth listening to. Everybody else just be like: "Here's a list of twenty-seven things you should NEVER do when writing your story!" or whatever. As if you can learn to tell good stories by following arbitrary instructions rather than actually thinking about what you're doing.

[@tuckernutter]

I needed this video 15 years ago

[@hacim42]

I've started writing a game for a school project that's being developed over the course of the next few months. I'm the audio guy, but I've contributed greatly to the story (since we don't have any actual game designers). What's nice about this setup is that since the primary audience is our professors, who are industry professionals whose only concern is that we learn the technical skills and how to manage team dynamics, we get to create whatever story we want. I injected a focus on societal vs personal interests, as well as a critique of cult behavior. It was when I reworked one of the characters to represent a specific and unexplored perspective on the central themes that I realized just how much I've resonated with your writing advice. Also, thanks for introducing me to the "Earthquake, there's an earthquake" guy, I quote that video all the time.

[@michaeljordan5630]

I’ve alway keep saying the audience doesn’t know what they want. Audiences can give their option about how a story should bend but you can tell when it the creator intention in a story.

[@seatongrey315]

This video is a punch to the face and bloody nose to all those hyper-technical teachers who bang on about rules for this and that and do's and don'ts. I finished my book, and I got my first rejection letter. I thought to change my book. But now I won't. Yes we need skills and fundamentals but the moment your art becomes more about that than the work itself, you have snuffed out that single spark of madness that ignites the fire of passion....DON'T DO IT!.

[@snowpoint720]

This at least tells me I'm asking the right questions. I look over all my notes and say, "I know what I want to do, but how do I actually do it."

[@Ryan-zt4kd]

I love how you talk like this old jaded screenwriter "been doing this long enough" but you look, at most, 27. Seriously, I love it! Been fun watching this channel grow

[@childofathena9420]

This is so nice to hear as a person wanting to write to make/read a unique story but is a little insecure.

[@WMan37]

5:58 This seems like a perfect time to bring up how many people (including myself) I know bring up how much they hate the Joss Whedon-esque "well that just happened" type insincerity, like "Dude, half a city just got destroyed, yeah the way it happened is ridiculous and somewhat silly sure but the end result is the same, this is not the time to be making quips you sociopath.", there's just kind of an unspoken understanding from the audience that these only exist as a 4th wall breaking "Hey you're watching an action movie, don't take this too seriously". I would rather a character be hammy in how melodramatic they are about a situation because if they're taking something seriously I'm more likely to take it seriously or at least appreciate the consistency, even if it is _literally_ them crying over spilled milk, add the right soundtrack, the right emotional sincerity from the writing and acting, establish early on beforehand that the milk was the last drink they had for a while, and the audience will be like "Yeah it's ridiculous that spilled milk is a huge plot point but it genuinely affects the character so _I care._ Nobody winked at the camera and lampshaded that this is a literal representation of a figure of speech."

[@nightsabbess]

This is absolutely the best stance. Funny alien man (who is not an alien anymore) strikes again

[@himignicest1571]

gosh i love your videos so much LIKE, words cannot express how freeing and eye-opening your content is, good sir

[@AriaHarmony]

I know this is writing advice but this is genuinely good life advice in general. People can tell when someone is being a people-pleaser, and usually this makes them have an even lower opinion of said people-pleaser. In contrast people tend to be mysteriously attracted to the type that minds their business. My mother always liked to say "what you chase runs from you. Focus your mind on the task at hand and everything will come on its terms". It's ultimately about placing responsibility correctly. If you're an artists, your main responsibility is creating art, not pleasing an audience. If pleasing an audience was the priority, there are other ways to do it other than art. And if that is your priority, that's fine, but you have to acknowledge your real responsibilities that you are willing to shoulder, and then stick to them and don't mistake them for something else. Thank you so much for this video! It's an important reminder of a very valuable advice.

[@RayPoreon]

I like the metaphor(before any nerds point it out, it's a metaphor being used as part of a simile) of the audience being a lovecraftian god. I've sometimes described them as an amorphous pile of eyes and mouths, watching in all directions and bellowing a thousand comments for each thing it sees.

[@jacindamiller1694]

as someone who's going through a bit of an insecure episode of my life atm, i want to thank you for actually giving actionable advice instead of just saying "oh ya your ego issues are a problem you should fix that. :)" peak video as always my man!

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

I thin ppl have said this a lot on your channel but you uploaded it almost perfectly, this was just what I was really think about recently, and why I've stopped writing. There's this wonderful book by George Saunders called A Swim In A Pond In The Rain, it is very specific to creative writing and not always to scripts, but the gems it has are phenomenal. And like your channel, its tips and guidance are not rulebooks and instruction manuals that demand you write like the author thinks you should. I find it annoying how a lot of 'tips' or 'advice' on blogs or videos about writing is structured in that instructive, dictating, preachy way. And I get it, it can be very comforting for most writers to be like 'oh there's this checklist I fill out to be good, and ppl will like it then' but like you're talking about, you write for yourself and your own judgement and your own eye of what quality is, not to please an imaginary audience or critic. George Saunders talks about a lot of aspects of creative writing, but the most helpful for me was the way he explained how when you're writing, you have this dial, and when you look at a sentence the needle goes one way or the other, positive or negative, and you re-write, re-read that sentence long enough until the sentence works for you, and then you move on to the next. He talks about a lot of stuff but it all comes down to your own perspective and your own taste, thats the only way you write something you're happy with.

[@speedygoestohell]

"Everybody who heard it could apply it to something in their life, and it meant something to them but for a totally different reason. And it became such an important song for us, and I think it only had that power to touch people because it meant so much to me." ~ Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran I heard this quote regarding their song "Ordinary World" in the documentary they have on Netflix. It hit me so hard and took it straight to heart. I know that if I just put all of my love and soul into my work, people will feel it. And *THAT* is why people will love it.

[@lilimuyunda5030]

This has literally come at the right time.

[@loganwalks]

I excitedly shared the plot of my sci fi drama pilot to my best friend and he gave me one word that sent me through an insecure spiral: “uncreative”. He was referring to the names of the characters, but I took that to mean the entire story was uncreative, that nothing about it was good, and so I entirely rewrote the plot to change it, and now I absolutely fucking hate it :) don’t change for others, people

[@TicTacYo100]

This clicked with me on a level i can't describe. It made me realize there's a lot i love about my story and that i find it enjoyable. I enjoy the idea and premise. I don't need to be absorbed by the feedback that i receive.

[@madzapan]

Thank you, Local - this video came at just the right time for me. I normally create for myself, but since I've started the publishing process, I've gotten overly worried about consumers' psychology. Excited to get back to loving my stuff for the sake of it!

[@tannerbarnes7392]

I draw more than I write, and I've given this advice to fledgeling artists in my little circles for years: Other people can tell when you don't like your work, and they won't like it either. So, in art, you should do what you like.

[@lesflaya]

UHG SO REAL. you put it way more concisely than i could it my brain but as soon as i started GETTING THIS everything i make i KNOW is better even if i haven't 'released' anything yet. people may give me feedback in the future and maybe ill take those notes but i know now my foundation and fundamental cores of my stories are solid, and if they aren't, i change them bc they dont feel right yet. WOOOOO

[@coomstick]

5:00 I thought I was the only one who had this problem. The eldritch spoonman, not just crippling self-doubt.

[@probablynot6995]

i'm usually a size queen when it comes to videos but your short video arc has been so insightful

[@marcpaters0n]

This is absolutely the only writing channel worth watching.

[@DarkDeath3231]

lord lucas hath dropped his wisdom yet again for us unworthy ones

[@seangdovic4967]

It’s sort of weird, but as a narrative driven video game creator, I like to think of it like I’m making something for my future reincarnation. So, if I die and get reincarnated I can play a good fucking video game. In a sense, I am making it for the audience, because I’m not going to play it once it’s done (that’s the last thing you want to do after pouring your entire soul into it)… but at the same time I’m also making it for me. But like not actually for me, more so for people like me, who like what I like. As long as you like beloved things and have good tastes, there should be an audience for whatever it is you make (if it is well made). I know that I love video games so goddamn much and have faith that there must be others out there like me.

[@krampus7520]

When you flashed me the pirate slasher thumbail i realised how iconic Turner's face is

[@c1975stark]

This is my favourite video of yours fr. As an insecure writer I needed the reality check. xx

[@JonathanWymer]

All of this, the Rick Rubin backdrop to the theme of this video and Cranston's words on authenticity in performance, is in the zeitgeist of the screenwriting realm right now. I dig.

[@apolloniakageaki1711]

What a nice reminder :D it's always good to have that bumped up again, so I don't forget to focus on the things that bring me joy in my creations. Love you man