How I Accidentally Outlined a Fantasy Trilogy (a tale of chaos)

[@willtitone8844]

"It was a vague elemental magic system with no consistency". That line gave me flashbacks from my first attempt at a fantasy series. It didn't work for me either lol

[@ShaelinWrites]

oof so glad I'm not the only one

[@VibingMeike]

Yep relatable, I still haven't figured out a consistent magic system after... Let's say 5 years?

[@thomaspursel2382]

Don’t worry, JK Rowling has the same issue, and she became a fucking billionaire

[@Hello-hello-hello456]

These days it doesn't even have to be consistent to make you money, just become tiktok famous and you'll have a publisher in no time

[@KreativeHogwartsLegacyGUIDES]

@@Hello-hello-hello456 is that true? I know its true for many big youtubers

[@maya-gur695]

I'm so glad you're writing a fantasy novel as a personal project! Speculative genres are my favorite and it always brings me joy to see people enjoying them.

[@ovrair6340]

It's very hard to keep fantasy stories constricted into a single novel

[@ShaelinWrites]

truer words have never been spoken

[@loradawnable]

YES.

[@Shann553]

But whyyyyyy, I can never put my finger on what makes fantasy stories so different. Is it the worldbuilding? Is it multiple character perspectives? If I were to try to write a one book fantasy, what would be the biggest hurdle?

[@KreativeHogwartsLegacyGUIDES]

@@Shann553 maybe people would expect a second book

[@hollywinters3750]

Yes, please make this an entire series. I would love to learn all the little details. The fact that you love it so much and we love it so much makes it a perfect idea for an ongoing video series. Literally if this is all you talk about for the rest of the year I'd be happy.

[@jakebishop7822]

By the way my inspiration for that magic system and twin characters was Daniel and Henrik Sedin highlights, so indirectly your novel was inspired by the Vancouver Canucks

[@ShaelinWrites]

incredible

[@jonathancompo828]

As disappointed as I was when you announced you'd no longer be doing "all about my novel videos", it made complete sense. But as somebody who started watching this channel as a fantasy-addled highschooler (I think the dr****n t**r unboxing video was my first) who then grew away from fantasy only to come back to it--I'm thrilled by this development. I'd watch literally any content you put about Northbound.

[@ShaelinWrites]

i'm glad we've all collectively agreed to never speak or write the name of that cursed book bless you all

[@leech1355]

I can’t wait until I have time to watch this. I can imagine slipping on a banana peel and plotting one maybe two fantasy books. But a trilogy? Nah can’t see it happening.

[@ShaelinWrites]

I think it was a string of several banana peels that led me here

[@user-mr1qw2bl6w]

There's nothing that makes me quite as giddy as seeing someone else be giddy about their writing 😂

[@rev6215]

Shaelin doing more work accidentally than I have done in 2 years on purpose 😃😄

[@billyalarie929]

ha ha ha ha *laughs in this but 8~ years* *sobs loudly*

[@co273]

I’d honestly love a video of you showing how you formatted all your notes 🤔 because I also brain storm like crazy but the thought of making them neat terrifies me… like idk where to begin

[@c.r.60]

I honestly really appreciate you taking the time to give us this case study. I think there's a real pressure, especially for newer writers, to get it right from day one. That fear to like "mess up" or that willingness to "scrap a genre because I'm not good at it" is very real. The truth is writing a book is hardly linear, and like...I truly appreciate you sharing your experiences. Haha, I hope that didn't come out wrong. Thank you

[@AdamFishkin]

Hahahahaha harvesting old characters like bits of apricot for a salad. You're basically describing every project I've ever had. And now I'm walking to a corner to cry.

[@prinkidoodles]

Watching this video actually made me feel that I am not alone, but in an unexpected way, I think? I am currently writing my first webcomic, and I started writing it in January 2021 or something around that. I started by building up bits of the characters' lives and writing random scenes that I really enjoyed and only around September did I start taking it more seriously. And for a long time I've felt like that time was kinda wasted and I could have used it to develop my story more. However, this video helped me understand that it's okay to just have fun with it, develop it little by little, and make lots of mistakes and changes along the way. Only yesterday did I finish outlining the story (or finally got an ending and story progression that actually makes me happy you could say). But I also have designed the characters, defined what their wants, desires and fears are, how their past influenced the people they are now. And this video really did make me value myself more in a way. Thank you for that

[@alewrites7312]

I'm so obssesed with your videos right now, love your writing updates

[@sarahsander785]

You talking about world building reminds me of my "college career". I failed in geo science because of math, but I wanted to pursue a degree. So I looked around what majors might be the right thing for me and stumbled upon social anthropology. When I looked for a new major I basically looked for two things: 1) it would give me a reason to visit South Africa again and 2) it would help me become a better writer. BEcause of point one I didn't go into language, but learning about diffrent culutres intrigued me a lot because of a stale fanatsy porject I had lying around at that time. And it worked, not only for bringing fresh ideas to that project, but it helped me a lot with historical fiction, too. Getting access to all the data and publications around actually all things natural (through geo science) and sociel sciens (through social anthropology) was a godsend for me. Plus I really really loved my new major to a point where I good imagine working in that field as well. Well, now I'm a teacher. I need to make the best out of that really brought education that my math failing forced on me *lol*

[@greatperhaps7224]

Haven't watched the video yet but since I'm this early I just want to share something. Shaelin, thank you so much for all the work you do, your videos helped me to let go of so many damaging misconceptions about writing craft and to finally feel free in my own art. Not to mention all the technical stuff I've learned from you. If I'll ever be a famous author it's totally on you lol. And my new story's dedication totally goes to you!! (Sorry for not sharing it but it's in Russian plus it's a fanfic lol) Thank you Shaelin, we love you ❣️💌

[@IsabelA-hp9yt]

As a fantasy author who learnt a ton from you, I gotta say I really enjoy listening to you talk in depth about a fantasy project, even if I never get to read it. Also I’ve been here since the project that shall not be named. Writing projects have a mind of their own, and sometimes they just don’t work out the way we hoped.

[@tehreemhassan5627]

Lyra and Isel bumping into each other when trying to assassinate the same person: *cue spiderman pointing meme*

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

Do spill the details! This sounds like a wonderful project.

[@GenLiu]

Just a message to thank you Shaelin for your videos. I'm personally writing for fun with no intention to get published but I like to do things right and you helped me SO MUCH with your videos, you can't even imagine. My writing has so many weaknesses (descriptions, point of view, word choice...) and your content did a great deal to clean up a lot of my mistakes and make this mess somewhat better (or less worst, most likely but I'm far happier with what I'm capable of producing now than I was at the beginning). And btw, that topic was particularly interesting for me because my "book" is a fantasy trilogy made solely for the purpose of encasing all the thoughts overflowing my mind during my constant daydreaming. So, my situation is quite similar to yours and there are so many things I recognized from my own experience with what you said. The things you explain "because magic", the chaotic stream of ideas you have to dig through in order to find the right ideas and scenes for the story you want to write, the perpetual changes you apply to your story throughout the brainstorming sessions...I mean, I rewrote my entire story three times just because I have the bad habit of laying things on the page before deepening my thoughts (basically I do things in reverse: Find an idea, write it down, and then think about it and rewrite it completely because it just matured into something better in my head later on). Your experience with that book you're describing here is so reminiscent of my own it put a smile on my face. It was also interesting to hear about your strengths and weaknesses and reflect on my own. I'm personally very invested in world-building (to the point of OCD, in fact....I sometimes spend hours thinking about details of my world that I know for a fact I'll never talk about in my book XD) but I struggle with the technical aspect of writing which, despite what you said, you're a master at (I mean, that's my opinion. I read the short stories you occasionally link in the descriptions of your videos and I'm in full admiration every time). Anyhow. that was arguably the longer "Thank you" I've managed to write and so I'll leave it there. Keep having fun with your writing and producing interesting videos like this one. Keep being you, essentially.

[@halixmm]

I need to tell you that I feel blessed to have found your channel. The other author youtubers I watch are obsessed with outlining and goddamn annoying about it. You also have a great deal of unique advice and a clear way of describing it. Maybe it's because you've learned with other writers and writing educators....either way, godsend

[@kulaniwarner7262]

I think the reason you feel this way, as I do, is because she is the real deal. She has the intellect and mastery of the craft needed to create true masterpieces. She has ACTUALLY grown up intellectually and personally, therefore setting her leagues apart from the average writer/person in general. If you have any critical thinking skills, you can recognize she has mastered the skill and can trust her expertise. I’m not saying this from the viewpoint of a “fangirl”, although I do respect her immensely, but as someone who sincerely feels she is the genuine article, a true talent. Not many people have the mind, skills, and creativity she does.

[@xensonar9652]

Once I figured out that chaos was my method, I was more productive. I wasted a troubling amount of time trying to find a more organised system and forcing myself into a more regular and stuctured approach to writing. I learnt to accept that my occasional brain is just going to think of ideas the way it wants to, when it wants to, whether it's convenient or not. So I'll maybe write a bit of dialogue, maybe a hundred words here, then a hundred words at some other part of the story, then write notes about a new idea I just had while I was doing it, then some dialogue from an entirely different conversation that was suddenly going on, and so on, and then, by surprise, I've spent hours writing. I'm not even going to try and find a book in all these written words yet. Who knows if I'll even use it all. I'm just going to keep writing.

[@mookchie]

this is the perfect time for you to upload this lol! recently an idea for a fantasy novel popped into my head and i've spent the last week intensely world building and researching, but quickly realised its so hard to balance the world and plot. i think i was enjoying writing about the world and its system more than the actual characters and plot of the novel, so i might change the story

[@storyspren]

I can't speak for all fantasy writers but as a wannabe writer whose main genre is fantasy, this very much aligns with my process as well. Kinda makes me think the genre has something to do with it, maybe it predisposes us for being sporadic or something lol

[@valhatan3907]

Surprised to see this, because I don't recognized you as fantasy writer. I really want to read those trilogy now

[@emmaajean]

This was so entertaining and so similar to a project of my own that I’ve been brainstorming on and off for years!! I can feel myself falling into another few weeks of constantly thinking about my story after seeing your passion for your own work. Thank you for sharing :)

[@hannahnames2239]

A super short fantasy book rec for you! I just read "the empress of salt and fortune" by Nghi Vo. It's only 120 pages but manages to give a solid glimpse into a developed fantasy world. The story is partially told through objects being cataloged which I thought was a unique way to both speak of the character and the world. Overall, it's a short fun read with queer elements and a talking magical bird.

[@ShaelinWrites]

Okay that sounds incredible I am ordering it immediately

[@hannahnames2239]

​@@ShaelinWrites haha awesome! I have literally never finished an entire epic fantasy series (though have started many) so i've been on the look out for shorter fantastical books

[@susanbuckminster282]

Thank you!

[@lakeshagadson357]

I love the background with the books 📚

[@thesamsoupcomet]

the phrasez that you could be just be attracted to the idea bc it's yours, but don't have to write it, was an insight for me thank you so much for your videos and for sharing your experience!! i really appreciate it

[@LilayM]

I LOVE the deep dive into the creative process - there aren't nearly enough of those in terms of forming a story. Good luck, and I'd happily read the story if you ever want to share it - no pressure though.

[@billyalarie929]

your relationship with your brother is so pure i absolutely love it

[@jj-sc1kq]

Shaelin, listening to you talk suddenly triggered a revelation in the plot hurdle I was having with a story. I will have to explore this later to see if it really will fix the issues. but I wanted to say, thanks.

[@authorgreene]

I love the idea of a personal project. There's one book idea I have that I'm not sure I'd want to publish, but I do want to write it. I don't know why the idea of "personal project" never occurred to me (I guess I'm just publish-focused), so thank you for the notion. Good luck with your fantasy work & happy writing!

[@TheLightofAniu]

This is fascinating to listen to, especially when I myself am plotting and planning out a trilogy myself. I have always known that fantasy and fairy tale and weirdness was what I was always good at, and I have ventured out into realism and ghost story and historical, but I am very at home with fantasy, though it is not my primary source of reading. I read omnivorously, and that has helped a great deal. I’m currently working on a ghost story now, then I will be working on this trilogy. I have a sketchy feeling it’ll be close to 1000 pages when it is all done, but I am excited for it! I hope writing is going well for you, and best of luck!

[@leathehatless]

Ty for sharing this video. I had a project since 2017 as well, i decided I wanted a trilogy but always struggled on how I can turn it into a trilogy. But it was always in the back burner. This month I picked it up and while I was passing all the information on a new notebook I had a breakthrough and I was finally able to plot a timeline with the story bible I had. So weird how projects sit and all of the sudden you have answers

[@yessica5231]

Ok I'm so happy to have found your video!! I'm writing this fantasy/scifi-esque trilogy but they're technically standalones but they have the same-ish characters: )) it's set in an alternative dimension of the wild west (yes cowboys) but something that always trips me up are magic systems!!

[@deponensvogel7261]

@ All the parts of worldbuilding you said you know nothing about: I don't think you have to necessarily have to know or think about any of these things, even when publishing a fantasy book. Actually - at least that's how it seems to me - most fantasy books omit these aspects (or ignore them sucessfully) anyway, with no detriment to the story or the immersion. Also, I'd be down for the AAMN! For some reason it always motivates me to work on my own stuff when I listen to other people talk in-depth about their creative output.

[@thomascrump1165]

I always love Q & A but hearing more about your novel would be great too.

[@claudiacarcabaalvarez2573]

Clicked bc of the cool overalls, staid for the cool worldbuilding :D

[@mickeyzeckendorf3886]

yes yes we want the details!!!! all the spoilers!!!!!!!

[@N.Traveler]

"...and talking about how I accidentally outlined a fantasy trilogy." Me: I don't remember recording this video??

[@piathekitty]

i think it's part of the self-proclaimed "i am Never writing fantasy" writer experience to accidentally outline an entire fantasy novel the same way you would accidentally get adopted by a stray cat that has decided you are their person now

[@piathekitty]

i love videos like this because they end up motivating me to go work on my own projects. enthusiasm really is contagious ✨

[@piathekitty]

i am also very interested on what the magic system containing compasses would have entailed (or still entails??) because that taps an aesthetic in my brain i didn't know i needed 👀✨

[@kinga9148]

I like your passion for writing and that you work so freely! I also brainstorm with my sister sometimes and she too can come up with good ideas, glad your bro helped you too. Also, I would be glad if more authors cut travel time shorter in their books and make it faster xD If it helps you, you can brainstorm here on youtube, I'm interested about the story

[@Charlie-zp4mk]

Please spill all of the beans on this! I love hearing about it!

[@johnhaggerty4396]

Turning random & chaotic ideas into Story is where the magic lies: Kipling could hear the approach of his Muse almost by her footsteps. Pieces of Story shuffling & changing make for a dynamic, rather like DeepMind puzzles such as SpaceChem, our 21st Century Glass Bead Game. May I make a suggestion? Free yourself from all anxieties regarding the finished tale, whether it will ever work or find publication. Make connections that only exist for the Story: the loose ends of those connections are waiting to be found whenever you step outside or watch TV. Evan Hunter aka Ed McBain was surprised when writers told him they were blocked: he saw 100 ideas for Story when he sat in a diner in Manhattan. Henry James said, *Be one of those writers on whom nothing is lost.* Any collection of Haikus reveals connections which most of us overlook.

[@mikaylaleighann]

Please spill any details you want!!

[@sazmarie1281]

Love youuuu ❤️❤️

[@augusthawley5504]

oh my goodness, an all about my novel for this would be so cool. so much nostalgia.

[@ororogenese]

i would love an all about my novels vid about this series!! story time hell yeah 🎉 🙌

[@blueworldcomics7908]

I too accidentally outlined a series, although I'm not sure how many books it will take... My gut says five, but we'll see. But yeah, I started the outline knowing that my character needed to get multiple McGuffins, assumed he would be getting all of them by the end of the book, then he ends up with only one after a complete and satisfying tale (hopefully).

[@Jay-fj9eq]

I think I remember way back when you had a blank page for Northbound on your website 😅

[@samriddhinayak5675]

Great video.👍I had a question. How do you answer questions in a novel ? What ways do you use to get to the answers ? While writing a story, we come across questions(regarding character, conflict, etc.) which needs to be answered to move ahead. I wanted to know what techniques do you use when you are stuck in a story (by these questions) ? Thank you.😃

[@thomascrump1165]

I've learned so much from you and can't thank you enough. Such a great teacher it's a good thing you want to teach. But you've already seceded in that. I know many have learned from your channel. I have noticed you post less and less on the teaching aspect. Is this because of your job at Reedsy? I subscribed to them too a while ago. I still enjoy your videos but I was just curious. I hope all is well in your life and thanks again truly. Tec

[@ShaelinWrites]

I do hope to do more craft/teaching videos again! Tbh it's just been very hard to get them done because they take a lot more time to prepare, and I've been dealing with bad burnout and managing the scheduling of making videos here and on Reedsy is quite hard. I'm hoping to have more in the coming months but getting any content made for this channel has been a struggle recently (I've had a lot of issues with footage and not having any windows to film) so I just haven't been able to get the more complex videos done.

[@dada13771]

Funny thing I've never written an actual book. But I always liked thinking about famous stories and what-ifs and whatnot. Somehow I have come up with a grim fantasy story with a tragic ending and I just started outlining it and writing it down.

[@antonykinyua5731]

I'm on my third serie book. At first I had a hard time to weave them together but eventually it connected just like that. I've panned it out that could stretch to 6 or 7 books.... It might not be great but I'm enjoying putting my thoughts to paper; the trilogy name is witch slayer

[@surgeorosgo]

I am a writer looking for inspiration from other writers. I would love to read this series. Contact me through my channel if interested.

[@dukeofdenver]

Yaay #FantasyGang

[@Amaiguri]

Tell me more about Northbound. I would also love to see it as like... webfiction or something. A medium where it is understood to be in a rough form. But I also understand just having it for you and your friends

[@eviebernal2913]

I am on the second book of the trilogy, and now I have to come up with a really cool game at warlocks or necromancers play. Oh my god this part attack because I never wanted to be a fictional writer. But, I have to finish the trilogy!

[@SSSoto17]

Not to be dramatic but I would literally die for all these characters.

[@ShaelinWrites]

Not dramatic literally same

[@lilybennettnitsche6227]

Please do an all about my novel! I miss those so much! :)

[@ivanlagayacrus1891]

Since you touched on it, how do you feel about faster paced fantasy stories? I find myself struggling to keep travelogue sessions interesting and am often tempted to just summarize them in like a chapter or 2 when I feel in most series that might be a book unto itself

[@ShaelinWrites]

lol I totally relate to this!! One reason I find a lot of fantasy books hard to get through is because of the slow/dense pace, so if I can come across short/fast paced fantasy it's a nice change and better suited to my reading preferences. I have literally the exact same situation in my book, where I have a single chapter of a character travelling that could likely be an entire book if written by an author who wanted to fully play out the story in as much detail as possible. Since I'm writing the book only for myself, not to publish it, I'm writing it at a very fast pace, basically the fastest pace possible, since I'm skipping or summarizing anything that doesn't interest me to write and trying to progress from plot point to plot point as quickly as possible. But, I think that if your instinct is that a certain section isn't crucial enough that it could just be summarized, then it might be the best call to do that. Though it can be the norm in some fantasy books, bogging down the pace with things that aren't necessary is ultimately a bad thing, and keeping up an engaging pace (so long as you don't sacrifice depth) is probably a good thing!

[@chickenwithitsheadcutoff]

would LOVE an all about my novel on this book tbh

[@rueroxanne972]

i would love an all about my novels for this!

[@MantisToboggan2291]

Sorry, that was a very sappy comment. I am thankful for your videos.

[@coffeebreakhero3743]

Imaginary friends with a few extra steps

[@my.name.is.casablanca]

All I know about said project is the title, but I would love to hear about Lambs Playing God (I think it is)

[@ShaelinWrites]

That's a different project (not fantasy) but when I get to writing it, I'll talk about it more!

[@SeanDuranMusic]

I would like to read a novel you wrote. I'm on my 6th Novel, which originally I thought another book, I've started was going to be it. But things don't happen as we plan. I won't go into much of anything else, but that I plan to start an author tube very soon, and my 5th novel I'm planning to post all of it, for all to read. As I'm still editing my 1st Novel. I wrote my 5th novel for this purpose, and I have already made a book trailer, 'movie' for this Novel. But, you need to FOCUS: on the task. There's a story, the guitarist for motley crue, since I play music and many, many other things in my life. He said the producer had recorded 50 guitar tracks for this one song. Which is overkill. It's the producers to understand what a song needs to make it into a song, that's the producers role is to take an idea and turn it into something logical. You have so many ideals and things, your logic will be lost because of so much tracks involved in something your making complex, and doesn't need to be. I believe your heart is in this fantasy book and until you start just doing it, your going to keep overwhelming yourself. I asks myself when I write, since I write everything or try. What's the story I would like to read? And than with an ideal, small or big, I start writing. Beginning to tell a story, that I have no idea where it will take me. And it's that release, because I have to tell the story. But, you can plot and plot and everything. But your never going to have that release until you start reading your OWN story.

[@surgeorosgo]

I am a writer looking for inspiration from other writers. I would love to read this series. Contact me through my channel if interested.

[@alishanoel6358]

I could listen to this video all day I wish it was longer !!!!! PRAISW the L-RD JESUS

[@ckeithray]

have you read charles de lint's fantasies? mostly set in a modern Canadian city.

[@Skinniest_Kween]

That title is so wild 😂

[@billyalarie929]

I WANT ALL OF THE DETAILS EVER EVER E V E R

[@toleble7301]

I'm so excited for this video but I'm leaving this comment before I forget. Can you link the picrew you used because the art of your characters is cool 😭💀

[@ShaelinWrites]

if you search 'wervty picrew' you'll find it!

[@toleble7301]

@@ShaelinWrites thanks so much!

[@dan4606]

Currently trying to outline my fantasy book but I have a problem: I don’t know if the book should be a standalone or a series. I have most of the basic plot of this book thought out in my head and very vague concepts for the other 2 books (plan to do a trilogy) The plot of book 1 just seems so different from the others that I wonder if a series is really going to make sense to tell the story. Basically, I don’t know if there’s enough content in the other plots to make them books on their own but I also have conflicts and questions that can’t all be answered in book 1. Any advice?

[@linzlsleepy1627]

I know I’m not Shaelin, but I’ve had the same problem before and was given some advice that really helped me: just start writing the first draft. You can always make the decision later down the line. That’s the nice part about the drafting process.

[@dan4606]

@@linzlsleepy1627 that’s what I figured. I guess I should keep writing and see what I can do later

[@alyssahumphres1082]

Long time viewer, though silent. Wanted to let you know youtube unsubscribed me for whatever reason. Might wanna warn people

[@alishanoel6358]

Min 32…. Me me me literally’!!!

[@lakeshagadson357]

it's not easy putting fantasy and horror in the same story

[@billyalarie929]

>"It was a vague elemental magic system with no consistency" .......isn't this just called fabulism? *RIM JO- I MEAN SHOT*

[@axolotlinabucket1287]

super ultra unrelated but: how do you write character stakes in layed back more episodic story?

[@zetjet9901]

16:00

[@billyalarie929]

OOH i've never heard you say the fuck word uncensored!

[@somatoth1048]

Is there a "too late" to start writing?

[@ShaelinWrites]

Not at all! It's never too late to start!

[@somatoth1048]

@@ShaelinWrites Then I'll get to it :D

[@martybadin6127]

I had also outlined a fantasy trilogy by accident...

[@alanmanzanares3164]

No te entiendo nada pero creo que eres muy hermosa

[@Dayglodaydreams]

How do we get out of the trap of writing cookie-cutter fantasy?

[@ShaelinWrites]

I think expanding your pool of inspiration is probably the best way! If you read primarily cookie-cutter fantasy, it'll be hard to break out of writing it.

[@Dayglodaydreams]

I have not read fantasy since I was a kid. There is a way to write fantasy flash fiction believe it or not. The writing style is very different from epic high fantasy.

[@kotrena]

I also like writing fantasy and dislike reading it! I don't know about English literature, but most modern Russian fantasy books are so poorly written, it feels like nobody proofread them. And their settings are mostly carbon copies of Lord of the Rings

[@ericellert6979]

Blather and Nonsense.