I Took Neil Gaiman’s Masterclass - Here's What I Learned.

[@Jed_Herne]

Write, finish, and publish an incredible novel that readers will love with my advanced Story Coaching program. Find out more & apply here: jedherne.com/coaching

[@forestgrumpy119]

would you be able to cover alan moor if you havent?

[@sebastiansilverfox6912]

On that last point about the "arrogance", I once took a class where the teacher took a line of dialogue and said to cut it. I was fine with most of her advice but that phrase was, in my opinion, important and even vital to keep. That said, if she said to cut it, I knew that something about the flow in that section must be off. I altered and restructured the entire section of the page just to keep that line. When I submitted the edit, she circled it and remarked that it was "much improved". It felt extremely rewarding because I had simultaneously "won the argument" by keeping the line but also greatly improved the quality of that section of the story. The challenge of the "amicable adversary" is one that is not only good IN a story, but great for writing one too.

[@ghostdreamer7272]

That’s a great example!

[@DrasticSkuba]

It also shows the mark of a great teacher that she didn't let her OWN arrogance/pride get in the way of you improving your writing based on her feedback word-for-word. A good teacher guides their students to learn more in a way that suits them, not tell them they are learning incorrectly. As an English teacher, I can respect this a lot from a teacher's perspective.

[@sebastiansilverfox6912]

@@DrasticSkuba She was a great teacher. Sadly, I didn't appreciate it at the time. MY arrogance got in the way. She had the habit of constantly "shrinking the box" (as I put it then). For a creative writing class, I found it repugnant because I was an outside the box thinker. I misjudged her actions and assumed she was trying to force the class further and further INTO the box of "cookie-cutter" writing. What I failed to see at the time was how her process separated the truly creative from the pack and allowed them to be stretched and challenged while the ones who were not never would have gained much from her class in the first place. I regret my attitude at the time and now see her not as an adversary but as she really was; a very good and gifted teacher who never got the respect from me that she rightly deserved.

[@narnia1233]

I was recently an editor on an indie video game for just a volunteer group. And well I can tell you after being an editor I have a new perspective. Because everything I said in my notes to the writers and team were not at all meant to be cruel. I actually had thought that I was being very neutral and encouraging. But, I learned after being an editor that essentially it’s impossible to know what the other person is thinking. And also that it’s important as an editor to attempt to always say something positive in every single edit. I still honestly don’t know really what more I could have done in some ways though-it’s actually a ton of work editing. And it’s a lot of pressure too. Because you’re the one who’s kind of the last line of defense so to speak before the piece is submitted to the public. And if you miss something you’ll essentially get the blame. I didn’t even realize how much work I was doing until I looked at the revisions made on one scene and saw that over time I had literally over 200 edits to it. (Fixing grammar, suggested rewrites of sentences or questions about the story to make sure it made sense….etc) That’s a ton of work. Well, the group I was in they literally bottled up all their feelings and didn’t tell me directly that they didn’t like essentially any of my suggestions. And it didn’t end well. Because one week when they overworked me I finally said hey, this isn’t my day job and they used that as an excuse to drop me from the project-just out of the blue. But then only a day later they had me finish up my work-which I agreed to-and then I told them that I will be quietly leaving essentially. Anyways, editors we are literally just here to help you-that is all. And we’re generally just very honest people-that’s why we’re editors-we spot things and speak up. So we’re actually cool with whatever you have to say. That actually can help us because our whole purpose is to try to get your story to be exactly as you envision it. In my project with the indie team I kept asking the head writer and director to tell me the details of the story but they literally refused to tell me. And so I had to guess during each scene what the intent was and it was really difficult. For example there were misspellings such as “expectation” used instead of “exception” and it was in a crucial sentence. Lots of stuff like that. And it was really difficult to get the context correct. I give myself a pat on the back though because usually I got it right. But it wasn’t easy.

[@narnia1233]

@@DrasticSkuba. True, but I have found after working as a non-professional editor for an indie video game for the first time that this automatic assumption that we look down on the writers is probably wrong. But, it apparently must be a very common misconception new writers have. Because after working on a project I literally had no ill intent whatsoever and really was just trying to be helpful but I had this happen to me too where the writing team had assumed my “voice” as they read my edits apparently in the most negative tone ever without ever directly talking to me. And I had no idea. When in reality I was basically going, “oh, hey this could come across like that. So you might want to do this instead.” It’s just a lot of effort to write out a response in an edit like that. So my edits were like, “Replace. Suggest this.” Etc. I learned a bit about being extremely extremely cautious when making suggestions. And to basically just always assume the other person is imagining you’re a villain. But yeah, it was my first ever editing for a group experience and might be my last.

[@bramderacourt9499]

"The best way to be an interesting writer is to live an interesting life " Welp, it's over. Dream was nice while it lasted.

Not really. You now know you have to first step out of your boring life and go on adventure to make your life interesting. You can start as easy as going on a short train trip. Explore the train. Watch the people. See the scenery. You will soon find yourself creating a story just there. Plus, you will be enriching your life. Carry a regular notebook and pen with you. Have fun!

[@candy6852]

​@ also talking with people and other writers! For my last story I went out for a few short camping trips at night either alone or with strangers. The notes about what it feels like to set up camp at night in a forest went to my friends. Tldr a lot of journey themed stories should feature a lot more stumbling and walking into cobwebs.

[@fionatsang9353]

@ great advice! Film director Hayao Miyazaki (whom Gaiman worked with on his English script adaption of Princess Mononoke) would drive to the studio with a camera in his car recording the view of his commute, and he would get ideas for films from that. Leading an 'interesting' life doesn't mean living a grand, impressive or outlandish life; it can be just finding the extraordinary in the mundane. It's easier to start with a baseline normal life and deviate from it into fantasy than to try to jump straight into the fantastic (both in writing fiction and in life)

[@GleamDrawz]

@ the problem is when you can’t; when you’re young, unable to go anywhere, see anything, when you’re cooped up in your room because of your lack of rights. When the world moves on without you because that’s how you’ve let it be, and now even if you wanted to change it, all you can truly do is wait. And so you sit there, dreaming about faraway lands with interesting people who went on these crazy journeys and had these exciting lives because that is what you can’t have, freedom.

[@KatieJames888]

😂😂😂 I had a similar thought as well!! I guess if anything though, maybe it can inspire us to both a.) get out and do more interesting things, in hopefully more interesting places, and b.) to look for what really actually IS interesting about what we may not perceive as such (yet). ;)

[@GabeAustin-ru2ou]

I'm currently writing two books at the moment. Your advises are really helping me

[@Philxia66]

33:50 - I'm glad he talked about subverting expectations in a positive way. So many poor examples today show that giving the audience what they don't want, in an unexpected way, is unsatisfying, almost insulting, and they almost always reject it. Giving them what they want, in an unexpected way, is satisfying. Which is probably the only way to keep them coming back for more. And what the audience wants is that the author follow through on their promises (aka the stuff hinted at with the hook at the beginning, as well as other setup/foreshadowing, etc.). You really have to be careful now, because trust is not so readily given in this regard anymore, especially to new writers.

[@wowkir]

I totally agree. And you can thank Game of Thrones for that.

[@jakeadlam9255]

I love the Snow White example that Neil Gaiman gives, purely because it reminds me of a meme I made when I was like 14, which was basically exactly this. It was a photo of the true love kiss scene from Disney's Snow White when she's lying in the coffin. The text I wrote read 'its not true love, it's necrophilia' and now Neil Gaiman has made 14 yr old me feel like a literary genius. 😅

[@Mattatronian]

Congrats on the 1,000,000 words! I'm on 56,000 of my first and writing is changing my life. Your videos have been invaluable.

[@DrasticSkuba]

A line from my own writing that extends on messages from media I've consumed in the past: "Being brave isn't the absence of fear. Being brave is feeling fear and facing it anyway. When you love something more than you love yourself, fear is just an obstacle."

[@leigh-anjohnson]

In Neil's lesson on short stories, I love the example he gave on the pirate queen Anne Bonny now hidden in polite society with her little girl Mary, and the possibility of Mary being put in danger and Anne having to become the pirate she use to be again to save her. I put that concept in my story idea binder

[@AnotherDuck]

One thing that struck me about the dragon/bully example was that it's something I've unconsciously written about as well. Way back in the first six grades of school there was this infamous troublemaker who started fights and randomly kicked people. Most were afraid of him when he passed by and he was difficult to speak with. But he never attacked me, and I could speak with him just fine. Despite being an introvert, I never had trouble speaking with people, regardless of what clique they belong to. And in stories when I write, I like to write characters who can speak casually with both the heroes and the villains. Didn't make the connection until now.

[@karenBarr-e1c]

I saw a video with Neil Gainman and he has friends who are other famous authors .Its great to have these masterclasses with them to learn from them. Its also great that Jed and other draw upon not just their own creations but sharing their experience as a writer. I am writing a trilogy of novels, I'm looking to get published in a few years. Its interesting because iIstarted as a pantser, then writers block happened. So I put the book down for 2 years. It took me this time to have 45 ideas that plays out like a film in my head. So I became an outliner doing more research, so now I was writing again. Now I flit between the two. The research I have to look into more is world building. It a wonderful challange.When you become a writer it changes you, you become more of a philosopher and observer of life. Asking questions that only you can answer as the creator of your novels.

[@jeffchandler8834]

Finally got around to watching this. Great stuff, Jed. I really enjoyed the three foundational principles of short stories bit and the key principles in developing dialogue. Both were very intriguing and informative! "Dialogue and character are the two legs a character needs to walk" is such a genius sentence. Neil is a treasure.

[@Jed_Herne]

Glad you enjoyed it, Jeff! Hope it helps with the book

[@krushingproductions4725]

Really appreciate you giving us the summary for the Masterclass. I've always considered using it. Great advice here. Working on a script right now and I'm slowly but surely moving forward

[@nolancapps8654]

Hi Jed--I'm a writer myself, and I've been loving your content! I agree so much about style and voice. It's not something to worry about, if you write long enough you're going to sound like yourself, and it's a waste of time to worry about your voice. Keep up the great work and great advice!

[@transvestosaurus878]

Gaiman's subverted/modernised fairy tales are similar to Angela Carter, her collection of short stories 'The Bloody Chamber' is incredibly influential, so check it out (also see Carol Anne Duffy and Shirley Jackson).

[@unicorntomboy9736]

I remember reading that book in university. I actually had to write an essay about it

[@transvestosaurus878]

@@unicorntomboy9736 the worst wolves are hairy on the inside uwu

[@unicorntomboy9736]

@@transvestosaurus878 I don't understand what you mean

[@PhoenixCrown]

Great video! I took his masterclass when I was just getting into writing a few years ago, and the ending piece of advice stuck with me as well. I love the complexity in his thought about rejection: You must both be humble and display an arrogance normally reserved for 7 year-old boys =P Love it!

[@escapematrixenterprisejacq7810]

The biggest thing here for me is when he hit on the 7-year-old, that's been me, I've held that position about it, about my writing..."the world shall see, they've never read before until they've read my story, it will change the world..."..wow...and he said it. I will hold onto this now stronger than ever. I used to find writings years old, writings I did nothing about, never fathoming I was the author, I tell you, I was elated and impressed by what I'd read! Blown away thinking, "It's perfect, it's stimulating," BUT I wrote it. Switch hits, death bells ring, and suddenly I am no longer the Reader. Whew! now I understand why it's so important to be both READER and WRITER and keep those distinct roles separate, this is an art in itself.

[@transvestosaurus878]

Lesson 1: don't finger the nanny on her first day

[@venwarrezo4313]

Jed I just wanna put this here, Thank you so much you're helping us and we appreciate your efforts...Also Neil is my favourite author i love him so much he always inspires me, as he said it's kinda scary to know that we don't know where the ideas are coming from.

[@Jed_Herne]

My pleasure!

[@sarahsander785]

Neil is so on-point with why authors react somewhat passive-aggressive when asked where they got their ideas from (in general). The general answer is always "I don't know" and that's the whole reason I hate the question. Ask me how I got the idea to some comcrete book and I can answer that. A dream, a story of someone else that left me empty after finishing it (I think I get my best ideas from "lost potential"), an overheared conversation at the bus stop, that strange bag of bread I sometimes see hanging at a neighbours fence, an open grave, a song, a poem, the night sky ... Thinking to say ideas come from an open mind is definitly true. An open mind and a never quiet three year old in it. The bad thing with my mind is, that I don't ever cannot come up with new ideas. It's always working. Sometimes it gets me up in the middle of the night to jot down a fully fleshed outline, so I can go back to sleep. I envy those people who ask sometimes, because I wish I had less ideas. At least when trying to focus on something ^^'

[@docbuni]

These days it is very important to know where you get your ideas and inspiration from. In a sea of pseudo-art created with AI generated crap, knowing what helped you create your work is what separates you from that sea of shit.

[@sylvesterpenn]

42:24 - Biggest Takeaway I've written this one down for myself, to remember.

[@fralou_sind_kreativ]

Cannot wait take this Masterclass myself!

[@12345gerrard]

I love the art of writing it's so zen

[@rianamcgovern]

This video is so good. Neil Gaiman has such an infectious confidence and goodness about him that just makes you feel like anything is possible. Thank you for putting this together. The strange thing is, a lot of the things he said in this video, are things that I have recently sort of "fathomed out" on my own. It's as if the universe is confirming what I was already starting to believe. Like just yesterday, I told myself that I must finish my first novel, even it's my worst novel. Because like Neil, I have reams and reams of half written stories, exciting little ideas that never went beyond 5000 words. I also think that humility is an important part of being a successful writer, not setting your expectations too high but just saying "Ok, I'll be happy if I write a mediocre story as long as I finish it". Thanks!

[@MSOTV-ug4ln]

🥱

[@irmanizajamal6132]

Im so glad to discover your video. Thank you for making it. It was thanks to Neil Gaiman and his works that I understood the meaning of favorite writer. Lol. Listening to his advice from the Masterclass followed by your thoughts has been inspirational and I know it might seem cliché but it's making me want to revive an old fantasy fiction that I started 7 years ago but has stopped due to 'writer's block'. 😂 Thank you again!

[@Jed_Herne]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@wowkir]

I took Neil’s Masterclass a few years ago. It was so inspiring, his was my absolute favourite of all the writing-related courses on Masterclass. I’m still riding pn the coat tails of that inspiration today.

[@RYDERBENABOUD]

You're the same age as me yet you're such an accomplished person! It's quite amazing!

[@alexsiGeo]

Omg,thank you so much ,you are a genius !

[@BrentGalloway]

Great video! I took Neil Gaiman's Masterclass as well. It's filled with so much advice and inspiration! I go back to it often for a writer's pep talk. Would love to recommend you also do one on N.K. Jemisin's Masterclass!

[@Jed_Herne]

Cheers Brent! Her class looks cool - I might have to give it a shot sometime

[@danbrooks2874]

I had a beta reader read one of my stories one time. He liked the story, but he scolded me about a certain line i had my protagonist say. By the time he had gotten that far in the story, he knew her better than I did. I kept the line, but had someone else say it. It was embarrassing, but I learned a lot. I've kept her truer to herself since then.

[@oscarmissionary7242]

Yeah, better without music. But great content!

[@ScottMunday]

The analogy "one brick at a time" to build the cathedral reminds me of the concept of writing "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott.

[@rubyseverinwhitworth9066]

I know this isn't relevant but like can Neil just read vaguely interesting articles to me this explaining voice is amazing. Listening to so much about writing is aspiring to thinking about animation.

[@lotuslake111]

Thank you for sharing! A lot of fantastic advice.

[@Jed_Herne]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@anthonywritesfantasy]

This video has convinced me to actually purchase this masterclass! There are some incredible insights in here, that are implementable.

[@Jed_Herne]

Enjoy!

[@V_2077]

Was it worth it?

[@Daneypastry]

On the topic of writer's block, calling it a myth is probably less correct than calling it a feeling or an emotion. In a lot of cases, what people describe sounds like burn out, and that's an important issue to address. Other underlying reasons for the feeling of writer's block could be insecurity, feeling overwhelmed, a lack of energy, just being generally unwell mentally. I struggle with my health. It's genetic, there's nothing I can do about it. I have bad days and good days. So while the "writing gods" never curse me, there are days where I'm just not up for writing, and that is out of my control. What I can control, though, is not beating myself up over it, which I think is a vastly more productive stance to take that also takes into account neurodivergence, chronic illness, and disability. Plus, every person can experience mental health issues and many most likely will, whether it be the most common stress, anxiety, depression, or something else. What I'm trying to convey with my rambling is that I think we're better off actually talking about the mechanisms behind writer's block rather than dividing into two groups who either believe it's real or don't believe in it. Because by dismissing the problem we don't solve it.

[@marticarreras]

Thank you for your videos, they are very motivating and help a lot 💜

[@Fig_Faerie]

I think Writer's Block is 100% real. If you're doing a mental and emotional labour heavy job like single parenting, or tip-toing around an unavoidable toxic-relation, you might be unable to tap into that part of your brain. Malnutrition and illness can also really fuck up a person's ability to think straight. For me, the writer's block was gluten-ataxia (brain-damage) that took four years to heal. Now the characters I write have all kinds of cognitive impairments (a lot of the people walking around visibly drunk/high aren't actually either).

[@djcalli7210]

I really enjoyed his class

[@Joerideabike]

“And have them want things that are mutually exclusive. Oh my God, that’s it. Desire and conflict, grappling each other, forever. There’s that myth two guys doomed to fight each other for eternity. The only escape is not defeat of the other but a change in both. It has to be both.

[@robertagriffin28]

Change the type font and size to help you unlink from your text

[@theonlysinoda]

First 😊love your channel and hopefully after I finish my first draft I can make my way into your coaching program

[@theonlysinoda]

Halfway into the video and it’s very helpful

[@Jed_Herne]

Thanks! Best of luck with the writing :)

[@Dontwantahandle111]

Thanks!

[@Jed_Herne]

Wow, thanks a lot! I really appreciate the support :)

[@patriciofernandez6500]

3:40 A Frieren Manga reference about Stark and his master.

[@blah914]

i gotta say i disagree with the "you gotta find it within yourself" schitck. Its an outright disease now for readers/critics to bash writers based on something their characters did. Oh they wrote it, so this must be their opinion. which is nonsense. As writers, we need to talk about the fact that we are not our characters.

[@docbuni]

Speak for yourself. My characters are, in many ways, all reflections of myself and my psyche and personally, I do not subscribe to separating art from its creator (which is one of the many reasons I believe AI to be a cancer to creative endeavors).

[@blah914]

@@docbuni AI is an entierly separate issue (of which i agree with you) but as for the rest, hell no. its seriously limiting as a writer to write with yourself as the starting point and center. Thomas Harris is one of my fav writers, but if he wrote Hannibal Lecter as a reflection of himself and his physche, that would be many degrees of fcked up. instead he wrote fiction. and we got some great books, great movies and a crazy tv show out of it. Id hate for him to limit himself the way you do.

[@TheVioletWolf]

I think the notion behind that is more about being the pulse of your story. We all have a shadow side, and using one's imagination to lean into it for the sake of story, absolutely comes from within the artist. Def doesn't mean they dismember people and shove them into an icebox in their spare time for kicks.

[@nickprocter1560]

More great stuff Jed 👍. Thanks and keep them coming! 😃

[@Jed_Herne]

You bet!

[@SummonerWarlord]

Thank you.

[@danconstanciojr8476]

Leniency… Regarding “Writer’s Block… Painted into a corner? Whom does your character(s) turn to? Got to be lenient to yourself (Author). Author… Listen to me… Give yourself a break. Everyone can do good, but doing better means you know how to collect yourself. Allowance to mistakes? Sure. You will make mistakes, Author. But, remember where you restricted yourself and what choice you made at a pinnacle decision. You can do it, Author…😊

[@jamesw8833]

The part that is hard for me is without some sort of outside affirmation that I'm not wasting my time righting, it's difficult to believe I should keep writing. I mean, if even those closest to me cant be bothered to read it, why would a stranger...

[@matthewhuntcrothers7491]

15:18 Honestly, I would automatically just go into director mode when it comes to storytelling, no I am not a director it is just a thing I do first I tackle the manuscript. first, I start off with a plot, then I start off with characters and then I tackle the plots for chapters.

[@jettsimmons7441]

As an aspiring writer, I love the crap out of this. But I also am scared...because with AI now being a thing. What happens if it takes you out of the job? I want to be a writer, and I want to create things. All I can do now I guess is just try and get there. To beat the odds and inspire people.

[@Jed_Herne]

That's something I talked about in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppK0pX-uoryNpZo. Tl;dr - I think people will still value the experience of feeling the connection with another human that comes through stories ... but it's also more important than ever to build an author platform so that you have readers who have that human connection with you. In short: there's always reasons to be scared. The radio, TV, social media, now AI - there's been plenty of times when authors looked like they were getting crowded out. Just write anyway.

[@ChronicaErys]

As a digital artist AI also scares me, but one thing that makes me happy is how people are pushing against it all, hashtags like #protectyourartist and art shares where AI is not allowed show how we can all help each other, and to be honest anything done by AI lack human touch, the little quirks of an artist's stable but human hand that sometimes make little mistakes that make it charming, a writer's style being recognizable in the way they form phrases or use adjectives. We'll be alright friend, don't give up on writing

[@Rain-nm1ee]

For AI to write a proper story with internal consistency and be more unique it would need to be self aware and that’s gonna be impossible for a few decades at least imo

[@alexanderellis-robbins4835]

Also if you look at Chat gpt whilst it is possible to jail break it, it only remembers up to about 1,500 words and there is a whimsical way that it writes things. Tbh it is better to use it to edit than write I think. I am writing my first novel and I am using AI to help me but the story is entirely mine.

[@blah914]

​@@alexanderellis-robbins4835 chat gpt is the best way to start the day. i give it a scene prompt, and the utter garbage it spews out makes my imposter syndrome evaporate 😂😂

[@themightypen1530]

I hate to be contrarian (that's not true I love it) but I don't really think a fictional story is a lie. A lie is meant to be a deceptive, where as fiction is meant to teach and entertain.

[@coffeewithstas]

Neil Gaiman videos should be prescribed instead of anxiety pills

[@Jed_Herne]

His voice is so soothing

[@benedettabellucci2179]

I always wonder if it's really important to have a notebook where put all the process of the story as Neil Gaiman and others authors do or let the story goes by itself writing it as Stephen King and others writers say

[@crstph]

i think it depends heavily on the person writing and the story being written. there is no one way to make good art yk

[@andrewmiller8410]

Yes! (#4) Writing ideas out tangibly is so useful and rewarding, I think. I see it and use it like sketching. When I translate notes into a digital doc, they are always getting edited or deleted after they are spent, and then it's like there is no record that the idea ever existed before. Often, my sketchpads are a mix of written and drawn ideas. I love it!

[@rustysm8080]

I minored in creative writing...and i did well...in a class setting, with reasonable expectations of length, subject matter, etc. I never knew if I was good, till the class had to hear one of my short stories.. read outloud. "Murder at 400 Tree Lane"...a children's story. Half way into the first paragraph, my audience was laughing and really getting into the characters and plot. Of course, Im sure SOME of that response might have been the delivery...and hopefully a good portion was the story itself. Do you find it useful to read what you've written outloud? Mine was humorous; a boy with an overactive imagination...and maybe too much tv, so the reaction might be more obvious in that format.

[@rustybrooks8916]

I see why I will never write a story that other people will enjoy or relate to, and I suppose that is just something I will have to live with. You see, I don't believe in writing stories that are "about" anything. I don't see life as being about anything. Things happen, and not for greater reasons. Creatures with minds may do things for reasons, but reality in general does not. I could never write a story and be comfortable with saying it represents something like "you can face your fears and triumph" or "never give up hope". I think the only story I could conceivably write with a meta theme would be the one that just points out that stuff happens, and it has no meaning beyond what you give it. Oh well.

[@crstph]

legitimate question: do you ever read books or consume any media that you enjoy? what is it?

[@mahfeelz4452]

If you would want to read it. Then there are others that would be so relieved to read it as well. Slice of Life stories exist for no other reason than - "A Thursday in the Mundane". I do not mean this to sound sarcastic or reductive. I do mean this to be supportive. If you would want to read it then there is an audience wondering where it is so THEY can read it. Even if THEY are only a few other people right now.

[@robertagriffin28]

It's Neil Gaiman, for gosh sakes we don't need the trumpet and drums!

[@Karen-J-Carlisle]

is that the Mortlock Library in Adelaide? It's an awesome space and a favourite of mine

[@Jed_Herne]

Sure is! I loved that place

[@HomeAtLast501]

Given his list of topics, he's focusing on so many things that are just basic, intuitive dimensions of the creative process for ANTYHING you might do, not just writing fiction. Why isn't he getting into the skills of crafting a story, and writing skills? Why isn't he breaking down the components of a story, and then on writing techniques? Does he not have those skills?

[@crstph]

outside of a workshop, the most useful way to improve craft by far is to just write. there’s teaching about point of view, and tense, and line-editing to cut weak words etc etc, but i would argue that THAT advice is actually fairly generic and standard pretty much anywhere you find it. the problem is what makes a GOOD story, in terms of advice, is pretty much never universal. that’s why workshopping and feedback is so vital; the most important advice by far is whatever makes you just write and keep writing, and looking back at your work to see where YOU need to improve. a masterclass for millions of people isn’t going to be able to be specific enough to help you with that

[@HomeAtLast501]

Here's an example of part of the "craft" that would be really beneficial to hear about, to get insight and advice on, to get a framework for thinking about. This is something that a lot of people might not ever figure out. Writing a party scene. I was writing a party scene for a novel I'm working on, and I figured out on my own how to structure it, and the mechanisms to use to create a party atmosphere. Then I reviewed the party scene in Gatsby and To A God Unknown, and confirmed that my framework was correct. Then I googled for advice online about party scenes to see how my insights stood up next to so-called experts, and I saw people who were giving advice who had no clue as to what the secret to a party scene is. I saw one article where they said their own instructor said party scenes are just too difficult to write, so just to avoid writing them. @@crstph

[@vinu3541]

❤

[@kriscorbett2419]

I don’t usually put shade on anyone online… but please reassure me that Neil is happy to have his Masterclass redelivered in such detail. You asked him right?

[@TyphanyGarcia]

I feel you gotta pray 🙏🏾 and ask God what is his will for your book?? I ask God to show me the story he wants told in the most earthly entertaining way,, even If that’s pain ,, show me how to leave a part of you on this generation and it last beyond my life,to glorify your power 💥

[@JaleaMagnetica]

Ah yes; my master and messiah Neil Gaiman himself. Thanks for this.

[@2ndai385]

How do you make good un relatable un empathetic characters/beings? Like things that are awesome in the literal sense

[@HomeAtLast501]

Asking where you get your ideas indeed IS a stupid question.

[@TyphanyGarcia]

I think 💭 writers block is a an invasion of mental peace, ( life happens) and getting up and chill out atleast one full day and just read works!! Life outside of building and making a world happens and I further believe lack of sleep, poor nutrition no multi vitamins contribute to writer breaks ( not calling it a block) 😅

[@bethbogert4300]

Ditch the music.

[@sallyhampson1170]

It is all great stuff but please why the cheesy hotel lobby music in the background it just so off putting distracting and just not really needed.....

[@SilvaMartins-q3k]

Dream was nice while it lasted.

[@HomeAtLast501]

Jesus, Gaiman is so full of it. I can barely listen to him.

[@emmaphilo4049]

Yeah, and he is boring too. Can't listen to him for too long. I found Alan Moore advice available for free on KZbin a lot more useful.

[@DABOSSEMPRAH]

everytime you said Neil Gaiman i heard New Gamer.... 😂

[@MacSmithVideo]

Sounds as useless as the masterclasses that i took lol, no offense. These things are mostly just celeb PR gimmicks.

[@matthewmichaelcrown3643]

AN IDEA CAN START VERY SMALL... - like - there once was a hobbit who lived in a hole...

[@mjolninja9358]

Mine started when an ant colony decided to become an ocean

[@husseinhassan6750]

Jed, I bet your friend Micheal R.Fletcher would like to disagree about the laying brciks part 🤨.

[@Jed_Herne]

You'd have to ask him, but I think he'd mostly agree with me

[@5Gburn]

I'm liking your content, but the backing track is distracting as hell. I want to hear Neil Gaiman--and I want to hear *you*.

[@eruiluvatar6688]

Nice ad

[@helixxharpell]

I'm sorry if this comment offends some people, (let's not all be so sensitive.) I lost some respect for Neil after finding out that he "allowed" (or went along with) how Sandman was changed in the Netflix series. It was interesting dgmw, but if I were Neil I would have said, "It's nice that you want my Sandman come to the screen, but I'm going to have the final say on any change you want to make." Someone out there may know more than what my opinion is based on, (please educate me here) but it just felt like Neil gave in to woke Hollywood politics. Neil may have thought that in order for his Sandman to reach a broader audience that he had to make concession(?) If woke Hollywood wants to make woke stories I'm fine with that but dont CHANGE ESTABLISHED GREAT STORIES TO FURTHER THE WOKE AGENDA. 😡

[@codyeasonBGR]

Your just going to steal his class and tell me or are you going to tell me your thoughts. This opening is not strong. To be clear I did Neils classes and was looking forward to your talk on the account I wanted to see if we found the same inspiration or I missed somthing.

[@ciaranlucas2878]

This seems a little shady, and kinda stealing from Neil's course a bit?

[@thecmancan]

Neil can handle it.

[@HomeAtLast501]

If ideas don't just come to you, then I would argue you aren't a native writer---you're rather in love with a romanticization of the idea, or image, of being a writer.

[@The_Gnome_Chomskee]

How much did he charge for this? This is superficial, surface level stuff that every writer knows. Was it made just to grift people who thought they could write?

[@emmaphilo4049]

For beginners or for people who needs motivation or 'company' (parasocial). But yeah I am glad I never paid for this type of course full of basic stuff.

[@heiker1351]

As much as I enjoy listening to Neil, I highly doubt you asked permission to use his teachings for your channel and clicks. It's embarassing, sorry.

[@diegooland1261]

I question the ethics of this. Mr. Gaiman does make money selling the master class and for you to take it and say, "Here's what I learned" aka here is what is in it so you get clicks off his knowledge reeks of theft.

[@jevonscantlebury9834]

The masterclass provides notes and exercises plus the videos are almost an hour long. This is barely a summary of the masterclass if it was theft or a breach of copyright he could not upload it.

[@V_2077]

Eh knowledge should be shared

[@diegooland1261]

@@V_2077 Yes but some make their living off of sharing and some take advantage of that knowledge.

[@zzgoober3251]

I seriously doubt Neil is strapped for cash lol

[@diegooland1261]

@@zzgoober3251 That's not the point.

[@valentina_fantasy]

GREAT! MANY THANKS INDEED.

[@joerogers6043]

Why do you talk out of the side of your mouth

[@V_2077]

Why do you bother writing?