Organizing Your Story Ideas

[@leonr5378]

I've been binging your videos recently, and to be honest, I'm starting to think that a good portion of my enjoyment comes from when I pause the video to think of how I can apply your advice and seeing your face in an awkward in-between expression. I don't mean it in a bad way either, it's half the fun of watching expressive people in video.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Hahahaha!! I know exactly what you're talking about. It's always an adventure when I edit my videos. True story... I actually overlayed images to one of my videos last year just because the face I made at the beginning was *that* bad and I couldn't open with it

[@seriousmaran9414]

​@WriterBrandonMcNulty some good ideas but not everyone can use the same methods. I suffer fibromyalgia, means I will remember the overall story idea but scenes? Not much chance. Instead after a couple of months I get to read a story almost as someone who has only read the synopsis.

[@LarryThePhotoGuy]

Scariest thing? Coming up with the absolutely fabulous idea/scene that would be perfect in advancing your theme and story. Two seconds after you fall in love with the idea, 14 objections to it arise. Gives me the heebie-jeebies.

[@Vee_Macdonald84]

This was beyond helpful to me. Realizing that I don't have to write scenes from start to finish with everything in order is actually the most helpful advice I've learned so far and I've listened to many many hours of writing advice from all over youtube. Nobody mentions this. I havent been able to start projects because I wrongly thought I had to start at the start, and I coudn't think of how to start ..so I never started. Thanks man.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Thrilled to hear it helped! Best of luck with your writing

[@spacelinx]

OCD me struggles with this too because there’s this part of my brain that wants to write each scene in the order with which I want them to have. If I get stuck on a particular scene, I’m obsessing over it til I solve the issues before moving on to the next scene. It’s only been recently that I’ve begun to break out of this mindset and work on other sections or scenes to place at different places. Best of luck with your writing.

[@blackhagalaz]

I do this "scene hopping" all the time and it works really great so far. And the occasional "revisiting" of a scene often times gives instant new ideas. For example: I have a concept in my book where a certain group of people are not allowed to see the dead. So when my Mc ignores this rule and stomps into a place where the dead are kept and prepared I though to myself "Whait ... although this is common sense, wouldn't the elite put some signs on the building to warn of the dead? Or threaten punishment"? And just like that I was exploring thy crucial detail of laws and behavior around this scene and the world building just kept going. This brought me to a great scene of the "great exception" were this rule can be broken, and it fits the theme and the MC's journey perfectly. The really cool thing with writing in a non-linear order, is that you kinda get to explore everything together with your characters

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Yeah it’s a great technique. Has saved me a number of times

[@ringosimon1]

I have seen loads of Brandon's videos and the idea of writing the scenes you are passionate about is the greatest of many great tips. Makes writing so much quicker, as you get over the writers block and makes writing the other scenes easier as it signposts so much.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Glad it helped! I've been doing that with a current draft that I've been working on

[@vapx0075]

5:27 Wow, this is exactly what I'm doing right now! I've got an outline document and I'm filling it in from scratch. Soon I will be up to scene title and instructional level detail, and all from a solid backbone. Then I will 'take advice' from my third draft and fill in the story over again. Remember, the cool bits that don't fit your backbone; you can recycle into later works. Even if you've lost something, you've still learned skillz through the process.

[@djwarrior1421]

Public rejection is by far the scariest.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

You mean in a critique circle? One thing to keep in mind is that everyone in a crit circle has been torn apart at one stage of their career or another. Or do you mean reading your word in front of an audience and getting a cold reception from them?

[@alolikak5906]

This video finally gave answer to my year long questions and anxiety arising from me. Now i can sleep at night. thanks you so much..

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Wow--thrilled it helped that much! Best of luck with your writing

[@Wonder.house7]

this is honestly really good advice, i don't know why i didn't think of this sooner! thank you so much 😊

[@leodogg468]

This is some of the best writing advice I’ve ever heard great stuff man!!!

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Wow thanks! Appreciate the kind words

[@joshholladay4826]

This is great Brandon. I wanted to personally thank you for the video.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Thanks, glad it helped!

[@Louiseandtheart]

I’m new to / haven’t written anything in a long time so getting better at it can feel like a pretty daunting task - also since I prefer writing in English which is my second language (I just have to make it difficult for myself 😋). But I’m so excited about learning more! It gives me tiny confidence boosts when I watch your videos and realize I’ve been using some of the same techniques.. yay! As always thanks for the great content and I’m looking forward to buying and reading your books this month 😊👍👍

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Awesome, best of luck with your writing! And I hope you enjoy my books-thanks so much for checking them out! Please leave a brief Amazon review when you finish. Reviews help a ton!

[@tromdial7719]

Yes, wish I heard this advice over a decade ago. I used to get writer's block because I would write from start to finish, and the reality is like a painting, hit your story with broad strokes and fill in details later, you will get lots accomplished and ideas better fleshed out.

[@lauraroberts2250]

Thanks for this. I've been struggling with the 'too many ideas' problem. Scariest bit? Knowing when to stop fiddling!

[@juliusagh9038]

Awesome video Brandon. This address a major problem for me personally. Thank you for all the great content. God bless and keep up the great work.

[@RG066]

I've been wanting to write a story for fun since I have a lot of ideas for the story bouncing around in my head and I really want to get them on paper

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Start writing now! See where it goes

[@jose11032]

This is still awesome Brandon! Thank you

[@angelbear_og]

Seems like if you start somewhere around the middle/towards the end with your key scenes it would help you from writing yourself into a corner. You basically just retcon the beginning to fit the narrative, and like you said, implement the key scenes that get you to the others. Fascinating take! Also, beginning a story is about the hardest part, so why NOT put it off until later? 😁

[@Andrewtr6]

Great video! It didn't answer what I wanted to know, but I'm glad I found it. I'm currently sifting through all my notes for a fantasy story I've been working on and I'm trying to find tips for how to organize all the information. I use Campfire but even that hasn't solved the problem.

[@mattygunn3852]

Brandon, thank you so much! I am writing my first novel and love your videos, as I find your insights most helpful and educational. Your desire to help aspiring writers is obvious. This particular video really has helped me by way of allowing me to break away from the linear format and thereby breaking out of some good ol' fashioned writer's block. Gonna get into some of the scenes is foresee in my novel and not worry yet about how to get there or like them together in a linear fashion...that will come. Thank you Sir!

[@lenoraminogue6226]

This is wonderful advice. I was doing well writing sequentially, but then I hit a wall when that petered out. Then I tried to adjust my outline, but it just didn't click and connect. I knew the ideas I had didn't jive, but I wasn't sure how to fix that. Choosing to write a few scenes I was excited about was the key to finding the real connections I couldn't find before. Thanks so much for the tip.

[@impact2933]

Yo, these are some great tips man thank you!

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Thrilled they helped, Rambi! Haha I'm actually played DKC2 on Switch these days

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

What's the scariest part of the writing process in your opinion? Let us know!

[@opollitico]

THE FIRST DRAFTTTT!! super scary, it's like you're throwing in the dark. Great vid.

[@TrevorDuran3390]

Page 1

[@yourgirlvicky]

Just getting started on your first novel is scary enough on its own. I didn't realize there are so many things you need to make sure you do to keep the reader engaged (character arc, inciting incident, character development)... all of this is new to me. In my mind, I pictured myself as a pantser who just sits down, starts typing, and it all comes together lol. I'm glad that I'm learning about all of these puzzle pieces because I'm actually more of a plotter in my everyday life. If I can just get over fear of the unknown and the what-ifs, it'd be a beautiful thing. I love writing and did as a kid... I'm so determined to really dedicate myself to writing this year. Thanks so much for this video! Your videos are so helpful. Please keep doing what you're doing.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

@@opollitico So true. The first draft can be either the best or worst part of the whole process, depending on how the momentum's going

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

@@TrevorDuran3390 Definitely. Worst part of the editing process. I overthink my first line/sentence/paragraph/page to death every time.

[@drparadox7833]

I did not know jumping in the middle was a good idea gonna try it

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Best of luck with it!

[@drparadox7833]

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty Thanks

[@JB-bq2qj]

Ugh, ur advice is actually good, now what am I supposed to do... write?!?

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Haha only if you want to succeed

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

@Imperfect That's pretty solid advice... Basically get a clump of ideas together, then try to structure things out.

[@RenDrawsWarbirds]

Thanks for what you do, I found your channel quite recently and while I generally write comic scripts and screenplays rather than novels, your videos have helped me get back into my writing and I find them immensely helpful in my process. I tend to have the opposite problem though... I cut too many scenes, or find myself in need of fleshing out my stories rather than slimming them down. Have you ever done a video on that, or have any tips?

[@TheBluenyt09]

Awzum tips! The scariest part of the writing process is the level of one's grammar and the critiques of others 😎🤘🤘🤘

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Critques are brutal! But at the same time, if you can handle them, you always come out with a greater sense of self-understanding.

[@AnthonyLeighDunstan]

Actually the scariest part of writing a novel for me is losing my way amongst the ideas and knowing that at some point I will run out of interest juice (ADHD-er right here) and begin to resent it as an entity for not just being “finished”.

[@EboArmadillo]

Do not preach to the choir, my boy. Dont even get me started.

[@cameronayers2414]

Thanks for this video! Once I get past a certain wordcount I get overwhelmed, can't figure out what happens next, and in general can't remember or keep track of anything, so I'm hoping some organization will help. Will definitely check out that book.

[@markmarkel5120]

New writer, always great information. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. The big scenes in my book have given me the passion to write it. But having hard time making the rest enjoyable to read. I have a time line from 7 years of age till end at 25? Not sure how connect all the years and not make so long it bores the reader. But have to cover all the time? Thanks

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Focus on the events that are most important over that 18-year stretch. You can skip several years as long as you keep the main plot moving along

[@markmarkel5120]

Thanks

[@Histronow]

Awesome shirt :)

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Thanks!

[@AlessandroBottoni]

Coming from a software-dev background, I reached the same point: keep a "scene repository" somewhere (I use a folder full of single-scene files in markdown format) and fill it with every scene you *feel* you have to write (for whatever reason...). Later, pick the scenes you want to keep and put them in a logical or chronologica order. BTW: this is the way *films* are made. It is also the way big software projects are managed.

[@SakuraKahn]

Hi! I know I'm late to the party, but I've only recently came to your channel. I want to say that you made my day because I found out we follow the same writing technique! :D I have been writing (not publishing, yet) for years and this has been a technique I've followed for 2 years. I'm glad I wasn't the only one, considering that some people thought this would be a bad way to organize/plot your story, and I'm glad to have found your channel. Thanks again! -Kaitlyn

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Hi Kaitlyn, welcome aboard! Glad to hear these techniques work for you as well. I'm actually releasing an updated version of this video tomorrow. A subscriber requested that I do some videos on my novel writing process, so I'm doing a 4-part series that begins with finding your Central Idea and expanding from there. Keep an eye out for it!

[@Space_Writer]

I have a theme that may not be popular or acceptable. Exposing the plot for criminals, the theme of my series that I planning is basically sometimes it's okay to take the easy way out. One drawback from using this particular I feel like I have to work harder to implement conflict to make the story interesting. But it's still the theme I want to pursue. Taking the easy way out as an acceptable Asian. Have you particular theme being used? And if so can you give an example?

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

If you want that to be your story's theme, that's totally fine. Just make an effort to show both sides of the theme--the good and bad. Show how taking the easy way out can benefit your characters and also how it can harm them.

[@naomiuchiha0906]

Can you have several themes?

[@2003Kamber]

I often watch again and again your each single video you produce. Fantastic work, thanks. Can you please talk about short stories. For those writers whose English is a second language. I'm a story writer. Probably a very successful in my language but finding hard to write in English. Can you please make a vidio for non English language writers who wish to write in English Thanks, Zubi

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Thanks for the kinds words, Zubi! Thrilled to hear that my videos are helpful. I have done a video on short stories before. Let me know if this one helps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rH3KpJluhcqcbLM As for teaching English to non-English writers, is there a specific topic you're looking for? There is a LOT you can learn about the English language, so it would help if you could help me focus on one specific thing that's giving you trouble. Also, you might try copying down pages from your favorite English novels. I explained how to do this here in one of my older videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHm7oaWAnc6ksNU

[@aaronsaunders6974]

never heard of that book before. i was a linear writer scariest part: publisher rejection or it goes in trash like carrie

[@briansimerl4014]

I find as a Sci-Fi/Speculative Fiction writer, on occasion I don't know how many sci-fi ideas to include in one script/book. Too many and some may not be realized fully and wasted, too few and you haven't done your World Building. How many is enough, assuming they're all awesome new concepts?

[@fransbuijs808]

The scariest part is when all of that arranging of ideas is behind you and you say to yourself: okay, now I'm going to have to do this.

[@DawnFire05]

My only issue with the writing scenes by memory activity is that I have memory problems 😂

[@NancySherer-t9v]

Rewriting is the hardest part.

[@kerri-lynbryant293]

Will I actually deliver?

[@StevenJamesBeto]

Mr. McNulty, life is complicated. When you are hounded by two psychopaths and a nest of sociopaths you must ferret out their singular plan via critical thinking though it seem unbearably complicated. At the end of all that, and only then, can you proceed with the business of melting away that portion of Heminway's iceberg. It is amazing how much we do not know, and how little it takes to think we know enough.

[@gabrielagrestethethird277]

👍👍👍

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Thanks!

[@WOEGEE]

This is a GOOD problem

[@prathameshrana2099]

I wrote ideas in blocked WhatsApp number and now there are more than 1000 chats and I don't know how to organise them

[@leigh-anjohnson]

The scariest part of writing a novel is...writing it. I can outline, I can worldbuild, but tge actual writing is scary