How to Figure Out What's Wrong With Your Story

We've all been there: we know something is wrong with our story, but no idea what the problem is, or how to fix it. Often, the hardest part of editing isn't fixing the problem, but figuring out what the problem is. Here are a few key questions to ask yourself if you're trying to identify the root of your story's problems!
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:44 - Look at act I
1:50 - Compare internal and external
2:24 - Look for missing pieces
3:18 - Examine your plot
4:04 - Write a pitch
5:02 - What don't you like?
6:05 - Get feedback
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[@shubhamprocha5018]

Writing story is one thing. But figuring out what is wrong about is is really difficult especially when you are writer and editor yourself.

[@jackhaggerty1066]

Join a writer's group or create one yourself in a library or cafe : as trust develops you will get valuable editorial counsel and ideas. As a news journalist I worked with people who read in private and rarely discussed books; we never discussed on our approach to writing.

[@KauroraNoKokoro]

Wow, this was super helpful since I am now editing my manuscript. Thank you for giving me tips to look out for so I can keep my plot on track.

[@mrplatink]

Goodness, this is so helpful! I'm plotting my 2nd book, and watching this and taking notes will (hopefully) keep things operating smoothly. Thank you! I had to do a "scene by scene" rundown of my entire first book AFTER writing it. Cut out about 36,000 words in the process. Ellen Brock has a super tool called "How to Fix A Bad Scene," which is all about that inter-connectivity and cohesiveness of the structure. Causality, causality, causality!

[@pauline_f328]

I'm really GOOD at causality. I think I struggle to give stories a spark or be internally consistent symbolism-wise. It's always a hit or miss, and fixing it when it's a miss has gotta be the greatest pain in my ass ever

[@ghada.El.Khoury]

Very helpful, thank you for these tips, i am facing lots of problems with my fiction novel as i keep creating obstacles to my protagonist and i end up looking constantly for solutions/ way out… it’s sometimes frustrating as i doubt my imagination. Another issue i face is keeping the balance between external and internal conflicts. But overall the writing process itself is pleasant and rewarding if we don’t give up

[@shubhamprocha5018]

Thank you so much

[@jackhaggerty1066]

This is diagnostic, and will be of immense help to writers in trouble. Like any good diagnostician, you bring a great deal of experience; and you ask tough questions. What is the cause of the problem ? *If you have problems later in the book, that was likely introduced at the very beginning.* How many writers ever make that deduction? The problem (the writer cannot see it at the start) then takes root and spreads, leading to further problems. John Le Carre met his wife at a party, and when she told him she was a fiction editor he said, 'I have a novel in pieces and can't put it together.' Those broken bits of narrative on the floor are life, telling stories about itself ! And we desperately need stories as brave Salman Rushdie.

[@jackhaggerty1066]

And we desperately need stories as brave Salman Rushdie said.

[@cjpreach]

RE: Reedsy weekly Writing Contest. Do you guys think it is closer to a writing contest, or a networking contest? I'd love to hear your opinions. If the winners are derived primarily from the number of readers and likes for that particular story, then it is a networking contest.

[@ShermanBMason]

Great breakdown

[@ronaldwatson3862]

Thanks for the video

[@edwinleskin3112]

Thanks love it

[@Casca1997Berserk]

Excellent points made 👍 . Very helpful.

[@AggieC819]

Thank you. You explain everything so beautifully and simply, it's so helpful for a beginner.

[@thoreauaway876]

Aren’t there websites where you can find/pay a professional editor to read your manuscript and give you feedback? Like what’s a good way to get feedback? I ask because family and friends are mostly inadequate for that lol

[@Leonard1977ful]

Writing groups can help with that. I used to be part of one that was incredibly helpful for my writing.

[@PaulRWorthington]

Reedsy, publisher of this video, features editing services from vetted providers.

[@annaconsta]

Inconsistencies are one major problem of mine. A character lost an item in chapter 1, only for the item to be mentioned in chapter 3...

[@PhoenixCrown]

I struggle to balance multiple characters' internal wants vs. external needs and just the overall complexity of character. I'm just trying to focus on who the character is, their core, and then try to stay true to them as the events of the story unfold.

[@u_t_d_s_h-1_a]

. . .when you don't enjoy it ---or somehow know it isn't your best effort---yet . . .

[@juriaangoudsblom5878]

i feel like i am giving to much away on how my world works at the beginning, i show the world to them later on in my book, but i needed to set up a rebelling force against the world for the story so i feel like i needed to explain it at the beginning to set up arguments for this rebelling force. but i feel like i am giving to much away, does anyone have a tip for me?😅

[@adizutzler989]

As a noob myself, here's my tip: if you you find yourself explaining your wold/history/characters/etc... delete it! Delete it like your browser history after a drunken night! Just let your charakter explore and exploit the stuff you wanted to explain in the first place. 🙂

[@iosyntropy]

i love when the laws of the world are exhibited in the introduction. when in doubt assign an overheard news cast over tv radio or your world's future media platform.

[@juriaangoudsblom5878]

@@adizutzler989 thanks for the tip

[@milestrombley1466]

Plans do help.