I finished my novel. Now what? 🖊

[@darckcyborg]

huge congratulatons! I only discovered your channel last week and am currently writing a first draft of my own high fantasy novel! great to see someone realise their ideas onto the page!

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Thank you!!! And congrats on tackling draft one of your fantasy novel! I'm so excited for you. 🙌

[@campfirethoughts4122]

Congratulations on your novel!! That is so exciting and takes so much work and dedication. I'm curious about how you develop and get to know all of the characters for your novel. Do you write separate backstories for each one? Or character bios that you keep on hand? I am also near finishing a novel but one of my to-do's while I edit is to expand on the characters more and make them shine in their own right. Like writing a novel, it's easier said than done though 😅

[@reghardtleroux7970]

Congratulations!! Can't wait to see what the book's actual title is. What is the book's word count?

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Thank you! 😁 It's currently clocking in at ~120,000 words.

[@eronblue3098]

Congratulations Olivia!

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Thank you Eron! 🥳

[@ellethoelke5373]

Congrats on finishing your novel and getting ready to graduate! I graduated with my MFA last year, and I remember all the stress about finishing on time and really working to show what I had learned throughout the program. For the Q&A, I would love to hear about the biggest changes you made from the previous draft to the current draft and how you went about making those changes!

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Elle, thank you so much! 💛 SUCH a great question; I'll add it to the list!

[@abby_x_art]

Hi Olivia!! Congrats and so excited for you to begin the next leg of your writing journey! For the Q&A, I’d like to know what inspired project amaranth and what about it keeps you so committed to writing and editing and seeing it through?

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Thank you, Abby! I love this question...adding it to the list now! 💛

[@lizipearlvlogs]

Congratulations on finishing your novel, Olivia! I'd LOVE to be a beta reader, I'll apply right now! I have fallen in love with your work through your passion for it and I am so psyched to have the opportunity to see it before you publish it and make it big! Edit: I might have missed the deadline for it, as I don't see the link in the description, but I'm still really excited to read it once it's published! Keep up the incredible work 😄

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Wow, thank you so much, Lizi! And thank you for being willing to be a beta reader! 💛 You can sign up for my newsletter (linked in the description) to get access to the form...I'll be sending out the application very soon!

[@AndreaHecklerWriter]

Congratulations!!! 🥳🎈

[@tessawritess2111]

Congrats Olivia! I know writing a book can be really hard process, but you made it through! You even helped me with my motivation to start moving up with my own writing. I'm trying to write a new adult contemporary story write now and the beginning is really hard at the moment, but I would love to be a beta reader for you as well! Your story sounds interesting and I love to read fantasy as well. Hopefully I will get to read it :)

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Tessa, it makes me so happy that these videos have been motivating for you. That's honestly the best thing I could've hoped for. Thanks for all your encouraging words, and good luck with your story! Beginnings are tough but you're tougher. You've got this!🥳

[@morganmoore6455]

Congratulations, Olivia! As a fellow writer and MFA student, I know the feeling and can only imagine your excitement. I love how passionate you are and how we can see your excitement for the craft in these videos. Keep up the good work! Congrats again! Regarding questions for Project Amaranth, I'd love to know if the protagonist is male or female and what POV the book is written in. :) Looking forward to the Q+A!

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Thanks so much, Morgan! You're the best. Adding your question to the list! 🥳

[@brendonmartin5664]

So keen to Beta read for project Amaranth. Your excitement for your work is contagious. Congrats on getting this far

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Thank you, Brendon! 🥳

[@juledestrad5641]

Congratulations on finishing your novel! I have loved watching your journey with the videos (I definitely binge watched from the beginning hahahaha) So excited for your future endeavors and definitely signed up for your newsletter!

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Ahhh, thank you Jule! This makes me so happy.😊

[@vdavi12]

Is there a love story in your book? How many books are you planning for the series?

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Thanks, Violetta! Adding these questions to the list. 😊

[@alomaalber6514]

good going! Get the publisher. If you need free copy edit let me know.

[@cassm12345]

Congrats!

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Thank you! 💛

[@sunshinejulie5687]

Hi Olivia. Congrats on finishing! That's the dream!!! For my question about Amaranth, I would like to know a bit about your main protagonist. What's their name and goal?

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Thanks, Julie! I can't wait to answer this one. 💛

[@currywebster]

Hey girl! I just found your channel (absolutely loved your video on fantasy drawing us to a different world!) and signed up for the newsletter. Is it too late to apply for the beta reading or have you not sent out the application yet? Just wanna make sure I didnt miss a monthly newsletter that had the application!

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Hey Curry! Thank you! I'm so glad you're here. 💛 I haven't sent out the application yet; it'll be coming your way in early August. Thank you for being willing to apply!

[@shemsguellouz4654]

Watching you write this draft has been so much fun and I feel very lucky to have been here from pretty much the start of these vlogs ❤Congrats Olivia, you should be proud of yourself and everything you've accomplished! 🌹 I signed up for the newsletter, fingers crossed (I really wanna be a beta reader!), but is it supposed to bring me back to your channel after I've signed up? I'm worried I clicked the wrong link or something. Also, do you think your MFA program (or similar ones) might be open to international students? I'm from Tunisia, North Africa, but I'm really interested in an MFA and the writer's residency vlog gave me heart eyes 😍

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Ahhh, thank you so much, Shems! 🥹 I love that you've been here from the start. Thanks for letting me know about the newsletter redirect; I just fixed it. It looks like you're all set! Thanks for signing up! 💛 As for the MFA, I'm pretty sure they love to welcome international students! I found a link on their website that might help answer some questions: www.pacificu.edu/masters-fine-arts-writing/admissions/international-students. The writer's residency is seriously one of the most soul-filling experiences; you should definitely experience it if you get the chance! 🎉

[@shemsguellouz4654]

@@olivia.grace.cook. Thank you so much! That's very helpful! I really hope I get to experience it ❤

[@abby_x_art]

Hi Olivia, watching all your writing vlogs is just so motivational to me and I’m so glad you’re going to continue making them! For the Q&A, I’d like to know what inspired project amaranth and what about it keeps you so committed and determined to write so many drafts and do so many edits and revisions?

[@76kilosofshade81]

Congratulations! Writing a book is so damn hard. Other than the MFA programme, what do you think were the keys to your success?

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Thank you so much! Great question; I'll add this to the list! 😊

[@xikies101]

Congrats on finishing the book! I have been working on writing my own first book, the part I'm struggling with most is the summary. Do you have any tips on writing a good summary for the book?

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

I know, right?! I have been having the same struggle. Writing the synopsis is, in many ways, harder than writing the actual book. 😅But I'll add this question to the list and share what I can!

[@NiveaK.]

What was your writing routine and how did you stay motivated to write consistently?

[@olivia.grace.cook.]

Great! I'll add this question to the list. 😊

[@MrRosebeing]

You could read it for years, publish it, or write another one. Just sayin'.