Just Get Bored, and You'll Write Better Fantasy Books

[@Jed_Herne]

Check out my Easy Writing Habits course here: easywritinghabits.com/ (There's a ton of student reviews on this page, which will help you decide whether or not the course is right for you.)

[@BolognaBuck6]

This actually makes sense because when you’re bored your brain seeks things to cure your boredom therefore making you more creative and writing better

[@Gaia_Gaistar]

Boredom is kind of what fueled my artistic endeavors when I was younger. I legit stopped pursuing them because entertainment is so readily at my fingertips. The power was out for me all day last week and I sat down and read half of Neuromancer. I haven't read that much in like two years.

[@kylejohns2288]

I know I’ve been working on a book for 2 years but still haven’t gotten around to writing as I can think of a way to start and every time I try I get distracted

[@dosuna10]

​@kylejohns2288 you start by just putting words on the page, you can do it!

[@bennusmagnus5277]

One night when I was trying to sleep, I started trying to figure out how various fairytale kingdoms could fit into one royal family line. After a ton of revisions, that idea became the founding idea of what I'm trying to write now.

[@anthonywritesfantasy]

"Boredom is the bedrock of creativity." This is one of my core principles! Love that you made this video, Jed.

[@talkswithsylvia3213]

I got so bored in 2020 i tried my hand at writing. Now, i have four published books on Amazon. Boredom works

[@dashfire3185]

My brain when not bored: "So yeah the villain is on a quest for power" My brain when bored: "HE IS TRYING TO SLAY ALL GODS AND BECOME LORD OF THE WORLD TO BRING PEACE AND STOP WAR" (essentially the plot of my new book)

[@jacobpeters7837]

Jed my dude, you nailed it right on the head. I got bored and tried to make a tabletop game. That did not work because I felt the story should come first. I had been working on the story for a long time and now I have published my first book. I Love noveling =D

[@ashurean]

I would split boredom into two types. The first kind is what you're talking about, where you're able to engage with your headspace and be creative. But there's another kind, where either the environment or an event has your mind occupied or scattered, such that you can't really use your headspace. In this situation, having something external to focus on can be helpful. It cuts through the mental noise and can help get you out of that state. I can't speak for everyone, but i find that when I'm experiencing writer's block, I'm also experiencing that second kind of boredom. And I need to do something else to regather my mind. In general, it's best to do things that occupy your body, not your mind, like doing the dishes, ortaking your dog for a walk, or, if you're a custodian like i am, just go to work. It's like a refresh button, it lets your mind run but can shake off whatever pattern your brain got into and allow you to use your mental energy productively again.

[@tripmracek1580]

I agree. Boredom is a very important thing. Gives you time to think.

[@raytrix1]

I deleted social media off of my phone in 2022 for mental health reasons, and as a result my attention span increased drastically. I thought I’d miss it so much, and that it’d be so hard, but it really wasn’t. Our brains don’t need that kind of stimulation to function!

[@Sarah_ZeCreator]

so glad 10 year old me started off drawing when i'm bored sure it ain't writing but now i'm 15 and planning on writing my first fantasy novel, with most of the characters already drawn and a massive world-building and storyline just chilling in my head rent free

[@kayceeisonfire]

These principles are exactly what I needed to hear, not just to help my writing but to improve my productivity in general. I constantly get stuck in a cycle of needing constant stimulation and then never having enough energy or will power to do the things that aren't as stimulating, but this video has given me so many good ideas on how to get better at that! Thanks Jed!

[@TheDoomKnight]

So as soon at this video finished, I put it to practice. I turned everything off and let my mind wander. After it played several songs and a full blown movie, my mind finally ventured into creativity mode. I now have a general idea of a new novel to write. Still needs tweaking, but that's one more story idea I can add to the ever-growing pile. Thanks, and I hope maybe one day, you'll read my book when it comes out. =)

[@MoonLightForevs]

How many ideas do you even have-? If you have too many, I suggest putting some together or just working on them before making another.

[@TheDoomKnight]

@@MoonLightForevs Quite a few. Surprisingly, I can remember them all, taking up valuable memory space that could be used for more important things. 😅

[@MoonLightForevs]

@@TheDoomKnight my memory space is taken up by my characters and very weird world building/lore/backstorys.

[@lod4246]

You went into creative mode without cheats! Respect.

[@wavetactics13]

Yeah, long drives or walks are usually the best times for me to come up with something. Usually I just let my mind wander around until I stumble on to an idea or character concept to toy with.

[@swiftsabre28]

Ive always walked without listening to anything and scenes just slip into my head all the time. It’s such a good way of being creative easily and painting a vivid picture of what you can’t normally visualise at home.

[@jerrysstories711]

11:44 At a school where I volunteered, an old visiting teacher tried to have the philosophy students do an exercise of sitting together in total silence and stillness for an hour. The younger teachers warned him they couldn't possibly do that, so he agreed to have them try just 15 minutes of silent stillness. The students was squirming constantly, and several had to be reminded not to reach for their phones. Afterwards they carried on about how awful and difficult if was. Later on, several with long hair or hoodies admitted they had to sneak in their earbuds. That was the first time I realized how bad things had gotten.

[@DavidTucker85]

One of my biggest hobbies is running, cycling and triathlon. I've never worked out with music and always use those long training sessions to just watch the world and think. My friends think I'm crazy but the amount of creativity I generate during that time is amazing

[@DanielleOutLoud]

I’ve never noticed this but it’s fascinating to think about how true it is. If I find myself with no music in the car I always wind up world building or plotting some kind of story, or daydreaming about a story scene. I need to give myself more room to do this.

[@EleanorCreative]

I was doing all of these except having a notebook at hand, I think I will buy one now and put it in my purse. I’m always wishing I had a way to record ideas. Thank you for the tip Mr. Herne!

[@DoctorInk20]

Low stimulation and keeping physical notes have made such a difference to me and my projects the past few years. Boredom, particularly, is so critical to many creative processes. The problem is that I'm naturally curious and a research fiend. Something pops into my head, I look it up and then that snowballs into absorbing way more info than I originally intended. I need to curb this a bit, 'cos otherwise I don't feel I'm actually writing prose as much as I should be. 😅

[@heatherkline6766]

Hey, Jed! In the past you have talked about varying sentence length, and using long sentences for more rapid action. Here is an example of that put into practice in the first draft of a novel I am currently working on. My character, who is narrating, has just received an emotional blow and is now running away from the situation. He is called upon to stop, and then I have the following paragraph: "I could not stop. I ran on, and the tears came. I cried, harder and harder; with each sob my feet slowed, until I finally collapsed against the wall, face resting in the bend of my arm." I have counted, and this is three sentences; the first is 4 words, the second has 7, the third contains 26. As the character begins to be bombarded by all that is happening, the writing speeds up. By the end (I think) it almost feels as though we have just as headlong an experience as the character.

[@JackMatthams]

This is a fantastic video. Fantastic. It deserves a lot more views, not just because of the value it provides to aspiring writers who may be finding the process difficult, but also because it is applicable to every element of life itself, not just creative writing. The concept of controlling and negating those small hits of dopamine apply to almost every aspect of life, from having a healthy diet to engaging and searching for proper relationships and friendships. I'll be sharing this video to many people I know, even if they aren't writers - I guarantee they will find it useful. Outstanding stuff, Jed.

[@LetsReadPodcast]

It’s funny because I saw a meme earlier of a guy comparing the feeling of being away from your phone for 5 minutes to that of Golem desiring the one ring. To imagine we’d never have such a masterpiece of fiction if Tolkien wasted his boredom on instant gratifications

[@blessedandbiwithahintofmagic]

The story idea is sooooo good, being a wallflower is such a fun hobby, getting into stories is so ^^

[@FractsidusHail]

Oh my word the relatability I feel towards this video is insane! I have subconsciously been doing some of these things already but I never knew it was because of boredom. The tips given here have been so incredibly helpful and I feel like I can genuinely do something more useful than just standing and scrolling through socialmedia. Thanks so much!

[@5BBassist4Christ]

I've recently developed a habit of thinking about my story at work. I will pick a specific scene and start entertaining different ideas while doing the more mindless tasks at my job. I have come up with many brilliant ideas this way, and have at times gone home eager to write down all the ideas I had been brain-storming all day. I also recently got a new tablet so that I can write some of these ideas on my break.

[@MM-xm8ot]

I do the same thing at work! Having a "menial" job is so beneficial to the creative process. It's also great because it gets you out of the house, and that time away from your story is ironically some of the most beneficial.

[@ukchanak]

I want to say that you made me also realize how stressed out I was, and how afraid I was of my own thoughts. I used to meditate where you see your thoughts, agree they exist, but let them pass, to find peace. I stopped, and I am now afraid of my own negative thoughts. I meditated to some music for the first time yesterday because of your video here, and it really helped me. I cried some, but I also had some ideas for my novel for the first time in a while. So thank you!

[@andeeleininger5968]

I love this video. As a kid, I spent many days on the back of a horse, moving cattle from pasture to pasture. When you have the cattle moving in the right direction and you have 2-3 miles left to go, you can do a LOT of daydreaming.

[@ElicBehexan]

I have been writing more or less since childhood. Granted, most of that stuff wasn't any good, but I did it. I just posted on AO3 my first words. I didn't talk until late, over 2 years old, but when I did, I told a story. I tell people that my stories are like my first words, short and violent. Eight words, 8 words! but it introduced a protagonist, had a location, had an action and had a conclusion. And my mother remembered it because I had not spoken before that. Now, my stories aren't that short, they aren't all that violent but I agree. I guess my biggest problem is I have a lousy memory, so if I have a great idea in the car, I don't have a way to write it down. I always have a notebook and a pen in my purse, and I have a tiny purse, but I have a way to carry a small notebook. I guess I just need to figure how to get my phone to take a note for me...

[@the_cringe_nerd]

1:22 Bro called me out so hard 😂. Yes Im watching this video instead of working

[@doloremmaximus]

I'm giving myself three options... write, do nothing, or rewatch this video. Great job! Thank you.

[@m.hannig5698]

I always drive without music when I need fresh ideas. It's basically free time without distractions. Great video and tips!

[@paralicular3927]

This is the secret ingredient for creativity. Getting bored is not a bad thing anymore, i look forward to it.

[@the_eternal_darkness_8436]

Literally have been struggling with this until about a couple weeks ago where I’ve hit a stride in my writing unlike any other. Wanna keep that going for when the well eventually does dry up. Thanks Jed, perfect timing!

[@Lunaleodrune]

Absolutely spot on, Jed. I have purposefully deleted all of my social media apps so I can concentrate on writing and being present in other things I'm doing, but it's tough. I wonder what all of this constant stimulation is doing to our brains, it cannot be good.

[@echiko4932]

Skibidi toilet is what

[@nettaboyar9870]

My most creative few hour this year were when I had a very bad cold and couldn’t sleep because my sinuses were throbbing from pain. I just sat in bed with tissues stuck hp my nostrils and wrote a whole song for a project I fantasize about.

[@aurthurpendragon1015]

11:45 I actually find I'm more productive when I listen to music, podcasts, or KZbin videos. I don't know why, but that works for me. With writing stories it's typically music, as I get tons of inspiration from music.

[@BologneyT]

I was thinking about that, too! Obviously, we can be even more creative when we have those things because they can be sources of inspiration for us. BUT! This advice makes a lot of sense to do sometimes. Think about all the little stories there are all around us or banging around in the back of our minds that would only get attention if all was boringly quiet. Also, I think a lot of us are trained to be paralyzed when we encounter total quiet, LOL. Like, I don't even know how many of us are even able anymore to just sit there and absorb the world that's immediately around us and start pondering random things.

[@Celeborn93]

I feel the same to some degree. When i listen to music, i imagine scenes and dialogue etc. that are inspired by the music. But as inspiring as those scenes in my head were, i have to also apply them to my story somehow. And it can be difficult to apply a "feeling" to your story. So in my experience, finding a way to be productive and write as much as possible can help flesh out these inspired ideas, and that's when this technique becomes relevant.

[@ajshiro3957]

This is so true. I wrote a lot when I was out of school and not working. I managed to work on three books and was going to write a fourth. then I got a job, and I wrote less.

[@AnotherDuck]

This is one of the things I don't have a problem with. I don't easily get bored, because there's always something to think about. I'm a janitor, which isn't exactly a highly stimulating job (but it basically cured my chronic back aches, which is the main reason I chose it). Gives me a lot of time to think about whatever. On my breaks is where I watch videos like this one, mostly to feed into something else I can think about. Creative writing videos are great for that, since those provide problems and solutions I can apply to my own stories, so they work well as prompts for what to think about (if I don't have something specific in mind). I have a bunch of those on my watch list so I don't spend the time searching for them. Nor do I comment. That I do at home. On my commute I have my dedicated reading time, since I always had it hard finding time to read before I started that. Unless I'm walking, which I do without added distractions. And that's some 35-40 minutes per day.

[@Gate_Music]

thats pretty sad, but its the truth. I watched the whole video without any distractions (almost), thank you!

[@Savage157]

Really hopefully to follow this channel to learn what's best for my story

[@rachelmarks796]

This is so needed by me right now… struggling with major distraction lately. Thank you!

[@creepypastapudding3531]

I was nearly a week without power, so with little to do while I was home (phone was saved for emergencies) i ended up with an entire story plot, beginning to end by the time the power came back. I saved me me so much stress.

[@iretomideolujobi8417]

True advice. In just an hour, I created a unique merging magic system plus an interesting, powerful antagonist for the book I'm planning out (i'm not even an adult yet)

[@brianedwards7142]

I take my notebook with me when I walk the dog. I often put something in there. I use a brass Kaweco sport fountain pen to make the act of writing a bit special.

[@ElaaraWylder]

Love this advice! I always have a notebook with me, often jotting down ideas and such, but on one occasion I half filled one with my ideas. I was sitting at Joondalup Courthouse, bored, lol. I wrote a half page, page... sometimes two page story about the people that were in the waiting area. Didnt know any of them, not even their names, I just based my story on how they looked and what they were doing. I have since used a couple of them as characters in a book (still in progress), and has also sparked an idea for a whole book.

[@TTSnim]

I lived with maladaptive daydreaming for years, not I'm trying to harness it as well as focus on the real world more. I'm never board when I am alone. But I sometimes get overwhelmed with ideas.

[@Xandycane]

Same. I didn't even know it had a name until last year. It's also when I found out not everyone has had paracosms growing up. Boredom isn't even a thing for me. Directing the daydreams, that's hard.

[@TTSnim]

@@XandycaneAbsolutely it's hard. I turned to drawing and writing to tame the wild beast. I'm working on several stories at once (Don't do this, focus on one, it will save you sanity) and there's hardly a quiet moment in my head unless I practice internal silence.

[@Xandycane]

@@TTSnim I've tried all forms of meditation just to get silence. But I end up telling myself how it's supposed to be calm. Or else a song. Something pops in. I literally fall asleep either reading or telling myself a story because if I don't, 500 other thoughts will invade. For other stories, I have a plot bunny journal. I write out the idea and tell myself it's there for later. It's actually been helpful to avoid to some extent, though I've had 2 stories warring since Thanksgiving, though finallypicked one because it wasn't as complex and the other would help build my craft to tackle the other. It's also helpful for scenes or random characters when I'm stuck. 😊

[@TTSnim]

@@XandycaneI just imagine wind sound and slowly turn down the volume. Practice that. I can do it while walking or doing dishes or anything really. It just doesn't last long.

[@Xandycane]

@@TTSnim I can definitely try.

[@danielharris5044]

I always bring a notepad & pen with me to work so I can write down any ideas I may have, even get ideas while I'm working as my mind wanders a little

[@welcometoeskastudios]

I didn't realize I needed this. Thanks for sharing mate 😄

[@jethalaalchampaklaalgada7927]

Jed ! just like me many others were inspired to become a fantasy writer because they fell in love with books like harry ppotter and lotr. Could you please bring up an analysis series of the whole harry potter books and try to take out how the whole master peice was written, Like what could be the struggles of rowlings while creating and plotting the whole stories.

[@XavierSchwindt]

This is awesome! I actually made a youtube short lest week that taked about this same principle. Thank you for farther educating me! Keep up the great work Jed! Blessings!

[@Genevieve-z7s]

Funny that you posted this, Jed. Two weeks ago, I put restrictions on all my social media because I wanted to be spending my time productively. I'd discovered a bunch of the habits you mentioned in this video through your other videos and applied them to my routine of writing the second draft of my book. And some of these habits I had naturally. Every day since two weeks ago, I have written 1,500 to 3,000 words per day, and have almost 30,000 words of my story down so far. Thanks for sharing, man.

[@Jed_Herne]

Great progress!

[@ttan2908]

I agree... I quit doing substances, got bored, and sought out a replacement, and it came in the form of writing. I wrote two books this year. A novel and a short story... Needless to say, I have way too much time on my hands.

[@paubanon]

I find It very interesting that what you are describing to write novels is the same process and prerequisites that I go through for my research as theoretical physicist

[@benjaminthibieroz4155]

Well... I wrote my first novel while I was forcibly stucked alone in a foreign country for months, exhausted by the searing climate and craving to talk with someone in my native tongue... From a writing point of view, it was a very productive time. I struggle a lot more to get it done these days. Kruger effect and depression mostly made it hard all right, but being overhelmed by so many easy-to-enjoy and beautiful things sure distract and makes you question your own quality.

[@StripesTiger-es4gz]

Your videos are great, well though-out, well edited, and provides really helpful advice in general. You are super underrated and deserve much more views and subscribers. I have to say that what I think is pulling your channel back from growing any further is the fact that your videos are more directed towards people striving to right fantasy books specifically. I think what will help out more is if you broaden your audience by directing it at writers in general (of all genres). I know this will work because a lot of your advice and tips work not only for fantasy but for most other genres. Keep your great work because I wouldn't know what to do without your content!

[@DunkSouth]

Thanks for the video, Jed. Mindfulness and focus are big struggles of mine, and unplugging + handwriting could probably help a lot.

[@joshuaparker7095]

This video was greatt Jed! I'm super passionate about removing distractions and giving ourselves time for introspection and random ideas, so it was really encouraging to hear you talk about this!

[@moneygrowslikegrass]

I'm a big fan of Elden Ring, and I've found that it really boosts my creativity, even though it's a video game. I think the reason why it's so good is the roleplaying aspect, my very first character ended up being the protagonist in a story I am writing.

[@the-chillian]

Glenn Cook, whose Black Company series revolutionized modern fantasy by bringing a gritty realism to magical warfare -- the series has been a perennial favorite among military and veterans -- spent his entire career working on an automobile assembly line. He says his productivity dropped sharply after he retired. While working, the monotony of it freed his mind to wander through his stories in progress while his hands did his work automatically. After retirement his days were filled with interesting, engaging activity and he found it much harder to keep writing.

[@Eldalynn]

I always enjoy watching your videos. They have helped me so much.

[@joshuam2212]

i always have a box fan running when writing or doing anything else i have tinnitus silence is physically painful but it helps me think and able to focus maybe it might help others improve their concentration im always thinking of stories writing is fun to me that is were i get my happy rush

[@heatherkline6766]

I have a similar problem. I find I focus better if the computer is running, even if it is not unlocked. Something about the fluctuating hum of the CPU makes it so much easier to keep on task.

[@brendangolledge8312]

I think this is good general life advice. It's not just for writing.

[@enyalieTheWriter]

I actually alway have 5 notebooks in my room and in every bag another one. I wanted to eliminate the options, where I cant write them down or need to write them in my phone. At first I thought I will never fill them, now I have a lot of handwritten books just full of ideas xD Nothing helped me more than this, when finishing my first draft last year!

[@AlixSnow1872]

I just discovered your channel and you have helped me improve my writing skills immensely! I have previously published before, but I wish I have discovered your channel sooner!!! I've been binge-watching your videos, and you helped me shape my (underdeveloped fantasy trilogy from years ago) and I am actually rewriting the entire thing into a stand-alone with a plot that makes sense based off the 3-Point Structure. Thank you so much! On a side note, I'm not sure how likely you are to reply, but where could I ask you to maybe look over my outline? I've been trying to search for someone who knows the ins and out of the fantasy genre, and I would really like to know what you think!

[@fiktivhistoriker345]

I also heard about the rats and the cocaine pellets. But i also heard, that the rats doing this were in an unpleasant environment. So maybe get yourself a pleasant, quiet environment and you might not need any extra dopamine as well aside the joy of creativity.

[@jerrysstories711]

4:03 The hardest part of distraction-free writing is if you live with a needy gf. My xgf said all the right words about I support you, I want you to write that story it's so great, etc. But they were just words. Every Saturday morning when I tried to write, in those prime hours when I was rested but didn't have to go to work, she'd be hovering over me, nagging me to chat with her or do chores for her. "Lisa, please me alone." "I just asked how you were doing, you're not even writing!" "I'm thinking." "Well, why can't clean the kitchen while you think?"

[@audiobooksforfree7857]

Hopefully this is just one side of the story. Hopefully.

[@jerrysstories711]

@@audiobooksforfree7857 Heh-heh. She and I had a few incidents where we'd fight and she'd tell her version of the story to more mature women, then she'd come home furious because they laughed at her and sided with me--after only hearing HER side! Eventually though she found a bitter spinster in her 50s who gave the advice she wanted to here, so they became fast friends and we didn't last long after that.

[@Suzoboro]

Thankyou 😊

[@HosseinKarimi-yg7uf]

A much needed videi for me! One of the best ines I have watched this year

[@katsandall3673]

The boredom of being stuck at home during covid and having nothing to do besides walk my pet dog is what helped me with my writing. As bad as the pandemic was, some good things came out of it too.

[@jethalaalchampaklaalgada7927]

And Jed! ( Definitely the last one!) Could you please ask JK Rowlings for an interview to ask how did she wrote the 7 magical books and teach us how to do the same. There are many interviews of rowling out there which are completely focussed on her personal and past life struggles but not relate to the story making struggles! Hope my request reaches you out mr JEd!!!!

[@gabrieleriva_bboykappside]

Might just be placebo effect or some kind of bias, but it's true, when I decided to write down my magic system by hand and the way it functions throughout the story to sum up everything I had both in my hand and my computer or phone, I came up with connections to explain things I didn't know how to make work, and I did that without adding anything else. And the reason why I was making a conceptual map by hand is I can manage the space and I have limitless ways to connect dots or create a mental flow while I'm reading the page, so that my brain knows exactly what I'm reading and doesn't get lost. Also I have an old computer and I'm too lazy to download apps or learn new method, I just use a very old version of openoffice writer and some paper and a pencil. But it works just fine as I'm not a professional. You can also easily consult the papers whenever you want, with no electricity or without having to turn on the pc. I use both methods because one is faster and having a slight form of dispraxia I struggle managing spaces, but it's still fun and useful to do.

[@Shinooobi211]

This video is so true. If I'm being honest, Starfield by Bethesda is what inspired me to plan out and eventually start writing my own sci-fi epic with rich lore and cultures, mainly because I found Starfield's universe so incredibly boring and the plot utterly soulless 😂 Im currently 65K words in if anyone is interested and it keeps on growing ;) Keep on the good work Jed! I am so glad that I discovered your channel :D

[@816DawG]

Hey Jed! Are you done putting these on audio form like a podcast? If so - bummer cause as much as ya pretty face makes me happy, I prefer audio as I work and have a family of 5 to take care of. So a lot of your tips are great digested via podcast like means. No worries if not, but thought id reach out all the same. Thanks!

[@Musikchic47]

I just always take a small notebook that can fit in my purse so when I'm a "watchful waiter" I can sit there and jot down ideas or passages I want to go home and add to my book later :)

[@jethalaalchampaklaalgada7927]

Hello Jed! This is a long one! I have seen too many videos of yours on different topics do you think all these topics were known by any other great fantasy writer like tolkiens, rowlings or any other great author you consider . Do you beleive they knew all these techniques? And if they did not what do you think how these people came up with so much interesting and complex stories which are today known as master peices!!

[@guillaumejoly6469]

Thank you Jed!

[@WinstonSaunders-m2c]

Thank you for another great video😮😊

[@Carawing]

I am currently writting a master's degree on the theme of boredom and its connection to creativity. Do you maybe have any articles or literature of stuff you talked about?

[@dangerbook4807]

It sounds like I have a bit of a problem: I was always a heavy reader as a child and brought a book everywhere. I had an aunt scold me in my early teens when I was on vacation in Florida in my grandparents' house and I was reading the Lord of the Rings rather than being amazed at being in a house in Florida (to be fair, I'm not sure what would be so interesting about hanging out in a house in Florida without even a pool). Now I can get to my reading material on a phone and it's going to be a hard transition to put that aside, however the incentive is good.

[@KALtheHighstorm117]

This is really helpful, and I have to thank you for all these videos. You've really helped me on my journey to become a fantasy author. I did have a question though, and it relates to your previous video on premises. You mentioned that when writing a multi-pov book, I could use something like you did for Jade City, where you tied them together. You also said that if I can't do that, then I might have a story that will feel disjointed and doesn't have enough cohesion. So, what would you say for a book like The Way of Kings, where Kaladin's, Dalinar's, and Shallan's stories are very distant. TWoK is a phenomenal book, and it doesn't suffer from a lack of cohesion, so how would you write a premise for it?

[@kommplot]

Add to the list: Reading! Reading makes me want to write :-)) One Chapter of Tad Williams oder Game of Thrones and I am in the mood.

[@jasminealeiah3860]

Tbh, a lot of my most creative ideas tend to happen either when I'm trying and failing to sleep or when I'm doing mindless tasks at work. Both of these things, of course, always happen to be in moments when I'm not allowed to pull out my phone.

[@jethalaalchampaklaalgada7927]

One more question! Like all the topics you teach one the channel ( they are gem by the way) , should they be applied while forming the story ( making the story fit in those particular criterias or tips), or a story should be created naturally and the way you like it in the first place and only then ammending it using those criterias to make it better?

[@arnoldfossman1701]

After posting my other comment it dawned on me that I should learn "two thumb typing" so that when I go places where I have nothing to do for extended times I can pull out my tablet and work on my stories (yes I have more than one going at a time) then sync the files when I get home. Is this a good idea?

[@darthenclave6946]

Great video!

[@girlypopgay]

I had. To drive. From us. To Alaska through Canada. I was without music or gps for three days, and once I got back to civilization I swore to never let myself get put in that situation again. (The car had no cd player, I was devastated to realize that) Also, no ideas came. But a road trip from mi to Texas had pages and pages and pages of ideas. So….

[@dannyleo5787]

Quick question my guy, for a curiosity for a fantasy setting. If you need the protagonist to be temporary cause you plain to kill him/her of to let say their child lead the past say mid, what examples would you set up to be sure the transition is still to the core of the stories overarching narrative

[@TabithaKJames]

If it's meant to be temporary, are they of value? If a character is not going to be around, they should leave an impact beyond their moment or why put them in at all?

[@constantdoodle32]

I used to get bored as a teen. There really wasnt anything to do. We had dail up internet and you didn't have netfix to sit in front of. I remember sitting in my room for hours drawing and writing stories lol. I get way to distracted nowadays.

[@BlazeCrafter606]

Better yet, I am listening to this video with background play while working

[@matthewmusgrave6673]

Moral of the story: Stay off your phone... Unless you're writing on your phone.

[@charliewaterton3263]

This video should be re-titled "The Real Reason School was Invented."

[@ryanhollist3950]

A psychologist talked about how boredom is actually an important experience to have regularly for our mental health. It helps give the dopamine-reward systems a rest, and gives us the chance to find intrinsic motivation rather than being pulled around by extrinsic forces.

[@notsubaru4464]

Right, I am getting more and more juicy plot for my webnovel through boredom

[@ekurisona663]

perhaps present, at rest, aware, receptive, passive - a state akin to meditation...?

[@BooksForever]

To be productively bored I read technically challenging nonfiction books about subjects that I want to learn more about. After each reading session my mind naturally erupts with creative output.

[@dukeofdenver]

This is very true. It is no coincidence that many people (including myself) got back into writing and reading books during Covid lockdown when they had so much extra time and ran out of things to do. Fun Fact: Isaac Newton made his discovery of gravity when he was quarantined in a house for two years because of a plague going around England. Boredom is powerful.

[@heatherkline6766]

According to my history book, he actually did not formulate his theory of gravitation, but discovered/invented calculus.

[@unicorntomboy9736]

Is being a freelance journalist a good day job alongside writing books?

[@writerducky2589]

One of the reasons why writers find going for walks so helpful, I'd suspect. One thing being the repetitive motion and positive effect of moving your body and getting sensory input from the real world. But most importantly, what else can you do but think?😅