false assumptions I had about writing my first book | what I've learned

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writer and creative, creating videos about storytelling and intentional lifestyles

[@woodlandlady7011]

I have never heard such truer words spoken about false assumptions between plotting and pantsing. Thank you.

[@gretarosevans]

I love your take on characters, I couldn't agree more! I just filmed a video last week about developing my characters. I don't think it's helpful to answer questions about what my character eats for breakfast or what their favorite color is, especially before I even start drafting and get to know them!

[@o.h.8337]

I love this! It's refreshing to see the beginning of a writer's journey. Most people i have seen have already published at least 1 or 2 books. I am just trying to get started on my own book and many of the fears you have described here are just like mine. Especially the one about knowing your characters extensively before writing. This fear, the fact that everything about the character isn't decided as well as many plot holes that I don't know how to fill are the reason that I haven't gotten past the planning stages at all in about 1.5-2 years.

[@graysonsbookmark]

as long as you keep going, you can't fail!

[@KaylaKempers]

🥰🥰

[@blakegrimes3557]

You have no idea how much I needed this video. Our writing journeys seem to have been very, very similar to each other, though you’re farther along in yours. Thank you so much!

[@KaylaKempers]

💛💛

[@kari888]

Hi Kayla, it’s Kari! My first comment on KZbin. I do not plot but I do write my ideas down. I’m always changing scenes if it doesn’t work out, but it’s definitely a hassle. I’ve changed my book so many times and I eventually burned out, but now I have learned from my mistakes, I can improve my craft. My first book was a nightmare and its second book is going really well. I always have the beginning and ending written out, but the middle is always the hard part. I’m content with my first book, but it’s not my best. I’m starting to read again to get better at writing. ❤

[@KaylaKempers]

honestly that's the problem I'm running into right now with my draft 😂 I've changed it so many times I feel like I don't even know what's happening anymore, but it's such an important part of the process. Goodluck and enjoy your reading and writing! 💛

[@kari888]

@@KaylaKempersThank you! I was on draft 24 before I self published the book on KDP. It took me two years to complete it but I wish you the best of luck! I’m still nervous about starting my own KZbin channel, but anyways, good luck, Kayla! You got this! My second book, 3rd draft, is at 140K words atm and it’s almost complete. Completely changed since the first draft.

[@madebymalayka]

"As long as I keep writing, I never technically failed." Yep, getting tatted across my forehead. That's a neat way of looking at consistency and creativity 😮🙌🏾

[@KaylaKempers]

🥰

[@StudioLindsay]

I used to feel awful whenever I abandoned a story, especially when I had spent so much time on it. But following my intuition and moving on ended up being the best decision for my writing. Thanks for sharing! 😊

[@KaylaKempers]

Yes absolutely! And it’s never wasted time, even the stories we shelve are an important part of building our craft and finding our voice :)

[@ursulaholm]

Great video!!

[@TiaLove28]

I am still trying to relearn that it's okay to skip around. I think because I'm such a heavy plotter, I'm afraid I'll miss something vital and the idea of multiple drafts trying to fix my mistakes sound so daunting. this is great advice though. writing is a journey and it's not meant to be "hard". I just want to have fun haha

[@LinaAshaybith1029]

I am struggling with that, too. For me, however, it‘s mostly because I write best when I feel what my characters feel (and create the best scenes and side characters like that), so hopping around actually makes it harder for me to nail the tone and relationships of the moment.

[@TiaLove28]

@@LinaAshaybith1029 yeah that was my biggest issue. i found it easier to do in the very beginning before the Setup since they haven't met yet at that point.

[@BlackHermit]

The thumbnail confused me a little, but in the end I got it.

[@xandriagb]

Hiiii! Do you think you could make a video on resources you have used (aside from college) that have helped you hone your writing? Not sure if you already had something like that out. Thank you thank you

[@KaylaKempers]

Yes I can absolutely do this! :)

[@xandriagb]

@@KaylaKempers thank you so much!!!

[@LoneHatchling]

The link for your book won't let me buy it, I'm in the USA and my guess is that the link is for regions outside of the USA.

[@KaylaKempers]

thank you for mentioning this! I replaced it with the .com link, it should work now :) 💛

[@LoneHatchling]

@@KaylaKempers YW. It appears that the link now works for me, thank you!

[@sophielafleche3803]

The more authors I follow, the more I hear about their 'debut' novel being in fact, the 3rd, 4th or even 5th finished manuscripts they have written. The word debut can be misleading for that reason.

[@KaylaKempers]

@@sophielafleche3803 I believe debut just refers to their first published novel. Most authors aren’t publishing their very first ever manuscript. It just means it’s their books debut to the world :)

[@sophielafleche3803]

@@KaylaKempers exactly - but many ppl don't realize that.