What I learned from ripping up an old novel and starting over

Patreon: patreon.com/use...
Substack: lidiyafoxglove...
Instagram: / lidiyafoxglove
Read the books!
Amazon author page: www.amazon.com...
(also available on Apple, Google, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and other retailers and libraries)
I recommend starting with a book set in my main fantasy world:
The Sorcerer's Concubine: books2read.com/...
Doll Girl Meets Dead Guy: books2read.com/...
The Broken Queen: www.amazon.com...
Inquiries: [e-mail]

[@AuthorEnchanted]

"It's real wood!" I can't be the only one who cheered out loud about this, lol.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

Oh my gosh, it's such a score to find real wood, truly! Especially not even weirdly painted or dinged up, and only $35! The universe rewarded me for getting through the dental work!

[@PorschaWrites]

I audibly gasped then cheered.

[@wranglingdragonsstudios]

Always look forward to these videos since you offer practical knowledge and how that knowledge can change the more you write.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

Thank you!! I'm really glad this one was helpful, especially since I ended up tossing the script last minute and winging it!

[@ComedorDelrico]

This video definitely got me thinking. I kept having to "rewind" the video back a few minutes because I realized I'd drifted off into thought about my WIPs and how they related to what you were saying. Regarding your book, I love the theme of progress and change, embracing new and (sometimes) better ways, but also mourning and/or attempting to preserve what we've lost. It feels so relevant and important right now. I mean, every part of human history involves change, but we are living in a time when that change is happening extremely rapidly. More rapidly than it has been for most generations of humans. Just between the internet, AI, and genomics, the world has changed drastically in the last 30 years. I'm in my mid 40's and when I think about how different the world was when I was a kid, it kinda blows my mind.

[@BernieJourney]

Nice intro!! I'm glad I'm not the only one with a ton of TBR books!

[@thatvideogamelife]

Love your videos! I'd be really interested in a video talking about your favourite video games and their influence on your writing

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

Ooh that would be a fun one!

[@teresachaotic.corner]

I have a similar first book that I aged down during the YA 2010s trend period that I constantly think about rewriting/switching out the genres. Except, I look at my early books and think "how can I make this shorter? How do I make this 50K words or less?" I feel like our earlier books are the ones that we obsess over as they are the books of our heart. Love what you said about perfecting the overarching vibe of all your books as cozy adjacent and slice of life. If I could pick a vibe for all my books it would be "high concept soap opera" or as my husband would say "if Michael Bay wrote a rom com, these are the days of our lives" but you know... I wouldn't go around telling readers that I specialize in low brow entertainment and dress it up as high brow lol

[@brokenumbrella913]

These are my favorite videos from you, I think. Love finding a kindred spirit in the writing world

[@sarabreugelmans4859]

Amazing video! I have the same feeling with a fantasy project I put into the corner years ago for misbehaving, when I simply didn't have the skills yet to do it justice 😅

[@woodlandlady7011]

I love the story about you getting your wooden bookcase!!

[@hmadrone]

Thanks for this. Some of your thoughts dovetailed with a realization that I had about how fiction styles have changed over the decades and centuries. I've been re-reading a 45-year-old book that I have revisited repeatedly and I wondered why it is that modern books don't have much of what I love about books from that era. Late 20th century fiction has a complex environment with interesting characters and exposition that takes its time getting to a gentle resolution. Modern books are sparer, tighter, more focused, and they don't give the same experience of submerging me in their worlds. Then I thought about books written during the 18th and 19th centuries and how different they were from early 20th century and later 20th century books. The style keeps changing.The points you made in this video help me understand why modern fiction has less breadth than late 20th century fiction. It's not just that our attention spans are shorter and we're reading books on devices instead of dead trees. It's also the thinking of authors/publishers about how to craft a book.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

I'm curious which book you have revisited many times! I agree, my favorite writing style is usually around the 1940s. I love so many books from this time. But then I also love a lot of books from the 70s/80s. Modern books have many elements I like, such as more diversity! But the style is often really fast-paced and there is more access to writing advice, I think, which makes many things feel same-y. (Luckily, NOT always!)

[@hmadrone]

@@lidiyafoxgloveauthor I'm a serial re-reader, so I have bookcases full of books that I revisit from time to time. The individual book was Gail Godwin's _A Mother and Two Daughters_, but there are easily hundreds of books I'd recommend ahead of that one. I'm working on a series, and learning about modern forms, and you're helping me realize that I don't need to get stuck in them.

[@ChristianWright-t6l]

This video was so helpful. I sent you an early manuscript to look at, and many of the things you said made sense. It confirmed my thoughts to start over with the manuscript and rewrite it in a different setting and plot, but reusing some of the characters. I'm not that far into the rewrite, but I feel it's much stronger than before. I also had some betas talk about things that needed to be fixed, which helped me decide to rewrite it. I think learning to be a good writer is to realize when you need to rework something and start over fresh to make the story stronger. But it's tough to give up on something you put time and effort into, but you have to think long-term.

[@5Gburn]

Did she ask you to send her a manuscript? She's busy af.

[@RocamboleMan]

Really enjoyed this one! Thank you for the insights. definitely resonating. I'm thinking of looking back an old story I wrote to see if it can become something new. thanks!

[@autumnmiller9807]

Thank you for this video! It helped me see some issues I’m having with a current WIP. Very timely and thoughtfully made.

[@chillbaby5000]

Shirt is awesome. Odd question: as an introverted weird person, how did you meet your partnered introverted weird person? I am 40. The things I like to do are solitary things. Big social events risk a stress migraine. I have been in 2 adult relationships and we met by serendipity. Perhaps that is my only hope. Lol I focus on myself and my goals but to be honest mundane obligations are hard for me, and not only do i need connection and affection, but even moreso, i need a domestic helpmate hahaha someone to share earthly responsibilities. My time and energy gets swollowed by them. Do you know what I mean?

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

I met him at an anime club in the 90s. I...honestly...I don't think it's easy to meet people these days. Like, I can't find a friend worth a damn. I mean, I HAVE friends, some good friends, but usually they are a little too far away. Anime in the 90s was one of those niche communities where everyone was so excited to find more anime fans. I don't know anymore! But I wish you luck!! And my guy is disabled so still doesn't even share any domestic responsibilities, which is definitely less than ideal on a practical level.

[@chillbaby5000]

Perhaps i need to make peace with my ability to human...hahaha Your guy is lucky. Love knows no cleanliness standard. ;)

[@i.b.640]

I for one was grateful for getting to grab a copy of "the vengeful half". It was a fun read :)

[@i.b.640]

Also, since they were so young, the pace made sense, but I thought there might be More episodes in the future.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

The Vengeful Half was actually a little longer than Fortune's Curse! I guess I felt urban fantasy should be really briskly paced. I'm not sure which version I liked better, as I had a great time writing both of them, yet neither were really "right". Currently I'm just leaning in to my own style and not trying to make it trendy in some way, and it just...feels a lot better.

[@i.b.640]

@@lidiyafoxgloveauthor I am looking forward to the new version :-)

[@thebeaglebeagle]

Show us the TBR books! 🙂

[@annemorph]

Oh! I second this request

[@lauramiljevic3397]

I just came across your channel and I have watched so many videos. You give such great advice and I love your content❤

[@erikabows8905]

I’m so early! I love all your videos ☺️

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

Thank you!! 🥰