HOW WRITING WENT IN 2020 / WRITING PLANS FOR 2021 📚 Authortube | Natalia Leigh

[@hylabrookbooks]

all my writing and reading came to a halt. if any one reads this, it's okay if you couldn't produce the way you did and enjoy this year like you normally would.

[@kaylaortz223]

The smile you have while talking about potentially persuing van life is so wholesome. Best of luck with all of your 2021 plans, and I hope the rest of 2020 treats you well! Much love!

[@reneebarrette4514]

I know you'll have a better 2021, Natalia. You'll find the strength, somehow. I totally get how environment can affect creativity and I hope you find your magic while on the road in the van!

[@jordanobrien8915]

2020 was so hard for everyone. I'm glad that you're aiming to bring back your own creative writing in 2021. I run my own business too, and it really is a struggle. I just started creating writing vlogs to track my progress -- it really is so easy to forget all of the things you do in a year creatively while having a creative "real" job. Looking forward to WC!

[@nicolemarcinawrites]

This year has given us all the kinds of emotions. We can only hope for a better year next year. ❤️

[@quartkneek3670]

Oh, Natalia, I'm so sorry to hear about your painful wrists. My wrists used to ache a lot and I was on a fast track to carpel tunnel until my doctor suggested things like icing before/after writing sessions and splints to allow the muscles to recover. The number one thing that's helped me long-term has been switching to a natural/split-key keyboard. It allows you to keep your hands in a neutral position and has really improved my ergonomics.

[@JessicaGonzalezGibson]

I really hope 2021 is healing for you. Sending you so much love. ❤

[@abigailjoanna6139]

2020 has been my favorite year thus far! Every year of life means an extra year of experience. I hope everyone else also thought the same.

[@jeremyfee]

Great video. It's good to understand the writer's life and how things can so easily throw off a writing schedule. Good luck with the van life. That sounds exciting.

[@jessicaabbateyoung]

I love you guys , always have motivating videos 💗💘

[@sarahmatthews5878]

I loved my 1st apartment. When my husband and I first got together we lived in a 2 bedroom apartment that had a garage included for $500 a month, and because my husband and I took up doing maintenance around the apartment complex we were able to get our rent down to $400 and we didn't have to pay for water and the heat was a water furnace so all we paid for was rent, electric, and internet. So we saved a ton of money which helped us buy our house.

[@hanvanmeegeren3587]

I often think Natalia that your future is in Editing, and I'm thinking what is wrong with a career in the editing business? And now I hear and see you talk about going out of the city and how that will sparkle your writing again, I'm thinking: I hope so, girl. I see you glow when you talk about so I hope your dreams will come through in 2021.

[@aprilgosa5779]

editing is good to have but writing is her passion

[@dilatedbeholder3865]

Love your tree Natalia!

[@emielou]

Daisy is such a fantastic character. I was so honoured to be part of the Beta readers, one of my absolute favourite reads of 2021

[@janalewis3030]

Sounds like you have a good plan for 2021. I hope everything cooperates! The van living sounds amazing. Just remember to cut yourself some slack for this year. Yes, it may be 3 months since you 've written, but you were also building a business at that time, and that's huge. I had an editing business for almost 3 years (doing project management for publishing vendors only, so not copyediting or anything like that) and it was hard. Besides all the work, you have all the billing and payments, and taxes...it can get overwhelming. I am glad to hear it is working out well for you! May 2021 be full of happy surprises and also balance!!!!

[@HollyLyne]

I write series and yes, I re-read my previous books to prep for a new one :)

[@StephanieWhitson]

This is amazing to look back and see how the year went for you. I was an arc reader for pistol daisy and it was a great read! I look forward to reading whiskey city! It's funny though, I do line editing and proof reading part time and somehow I haven't had any projects to for that since I've been writing this year.

[@MandiGraceAuthor]

Yes! When I am writing multiple books (or even just a stand-alone, honestly) I have to be wrapped up in that story world or I lose all the nuances, the excitement, all the little threads....

[@megancastleman5331]

I really hope the van and travelling works out, I've lived in a place where I felt so drained emotionally and creatively that I totally understand the need to get out somewhere new

[@jazmingalloway3172]

I got the same tea in my Sipsby Box that is so crazy 😂 I thought it was good also! I am writing a six (7?) book series so I get the idea of revisiting the books I have written to get back in the world. I often also visit notes of my rewrites and added scenes to help me remember things I wove in, but rereading the books help the most. I think making personalized sound tracks, sitting in a certain area, drinking a certain tea or smelling a certain scent always helps me get situated in my novels. Otherwise just taking a minute to talk over what I want to happen and where I am helps. Good luck with your series and the van and getting the good energy back. I hope it comes to you soon. Okay last thing, I shocked me when you said you were thinking of originally publishing in December because I was also following that timeline. Published my first book in June second early December. So six months between all my books (it's quite fast paced and life has other plans) but good luck to you and yours. 🥰😊 Much love from New York.

[@mrandisg]

I'm in the same situation right now that you were in earlier this year. I have to move by the end of this month or I will be officially evicted, which is going to make it extremely hard to find a new place to live. I've been working my tail off these past few days, making phone calls to both places that might have vacancies and charity organizations that can help with expenses. I am currently on semester break from my tutoring job, which is both a blessing and a curse because I'm not getting paid for my time off (I'm only part-time), but at least I can devote my time and attention to doing what I need to do in order to move out by the deadline. Yes, I definitely go back and re-read what I've written to get back into the world of Midnight Daze! My co-author is currently doing the same at this time. A couple of months ago, I/we made the decision that, instead of trying to publish the series in book form, we are going to post it on Wattpad as a serial. We're both tired of how long it has taken us to get to where we are, and we care more about sharing our stories with readers than about profiting from our writing. Thinking about publishing and trying to make money from it was putting a lot of pressure on us, which was killing our creativity, especially mine. Therefore, we agreed to shift the focus of our shared goal away from the end result and toward enjoying and embracing the process. We both write because we love it, and I for one refuse to let negative thoughts and fear pressure me into rushing to "get it done." Whenever I felt that pressure, I always froze up, but anytime I focus on having fun and getting lost in that world, that's when the writing flows. Now that we're changing formats, we are currently re-examining our story timeline to see where and how we will split it into more manageable installments. We discovered that one of our biggest issues was the fact that as a novel series, the story is way too huge and overwhelming. However, we believe it will work better as a serial due to the shorter format, which actually gives us the breathing room we need to properly adjust our pacing and dig deep into the stories and our characters' lives. So sorry to hear about Tifu! I have been out of the loop for awhile and am slowly getting back into it, so I didn't know about that until today. I hope you are doing well, or at least as well as possible considering the circumstances. I get that feeling of being constricted as far as living in an apartment. I've been feeling that as well. I'm hoping I can move into a house or trailer instead of another apartment, but unfortunately, I'll have to take what I can get at this point. Best of luck with your goal of van living, and with all of your goals! And if you've read this far, here's your medal. You totally earned it! 🥇lol

[@sarahmatthews5878]

I am writing a huge epic fantasy novel. I've only gotten the 1st pov in the 1st novel written and I already see where I need to break the 1st novel in half because it's at 106,000 words and I'm estimating a good 40,000 words for Character B and 30,000 for character C. These characters are a must to the novel, so I have to add them. I might just push through and write the entire series at one time and then break it into separate books later, 1 for editing, and 2 for the sanity of both me and the reader. This is my first series. My brain already feels like a horse stall in dire need of mucking.

[@ScullyPop]

This is a wonderful booktuber.

[@DeeBlaregold]

Congratulations! I recorded a similar video. I have Pistol Daisy; I'll read it in January. 🙂

[@christinawhisler]

If you get a chance you should go to Tome Stone Arizona.