What I Learned From Writing A Light Novel In Like A Day

[@thomasdixon8656]

can't wait for the hard copy

[@secretcow4228]

I'd by it.

[@illliiiiillliii6265]

SecretCow42 nah im waiting for anime adaptation

[@CuteAnimeGirlsAreTheBest]

I'm waiting for Digi's daughter to make the anime adaptation so Digi can analyze it.

[@Statusinator]

It looks like it might actually happen now.

[@sasukekun1997]

@@Statusinator explain yourself! Please give me hope

[@shujin7024]

digi is that kid we all know that brag about having 60% to a hard test without studying

[@Trixiethegoldenwitch]

I literally did this all the time.

[@shujin7024]

well let's be honest studying for a test is for dumb people

[@98danielray]

shu jin I did this with like 80% and still do, but now university version and more than 50% lel

[@Zoran54321]

"well let's be honest studying for a test is for dumb people" Some /r/iamverysmart material right here.

[@freazeezy]

anyone who gets a B and says they didnt study, they studied. they lie to save face because they feel dumb for studying and not getting an A. So instead they brag.

[@TheGallingIce]

This Book has been drilled in my mind forever. This Book This Book This Book This Book

[@JenovaCetra]

You can dance You can jive Having the time of your life See that bro Watch that scene Digi the dancing queen

[@Flowtail]

YES

[@longwoolcoat2266]

When is the anime coming up?

[@Epicrandomness1111]

just wait

[@Woot831]

I would laugh if it was A-1.

[@VarionusNW]

Maso nah, it'll be A-2.

[@freshFerdinand]

Some guys on discord actually try to.

[@lizucavictoria]

This book was an interesting, unique experience. 9/10 would be confused again.

[@kennethcula822]

After hearing the audio book I got to applaud you for being so committed. I enjoyed all 2 hours even during the end where you gave up. Just waited on volume 2 :)

[@FreshNewtype]

'I wrote 25,000 words in a day' that is some output

[@FreshNewtype]

I'm often happy with 250 words in a week :v

[@2brosand1up64]

Nigga just says "This Book" like one hundred times in the end

[@muizzsiddique]

2 bros 1up: He wasn't talking about this LN.

[@arminengaming]

I'm impressed I can write 1000-2000 words in one sitting, and this guy can write fucking 25,000

[@FreshNewtype]

Even 2000 words a day is respectable - at 10000 words a week you could finish a first draft of a novel in two months easy. 25000 words a day is like ... well I guess Digi was the main character of eromanga-sensei all along.

[@SuperERTV]

YES! Write more fiction! Even if you dont think its gonna be good, your story concepts seem really interesting and i really feel you would be the only one to do them justice. I know i would totally read them.

[@JLCL01]

SuperERTV would this be a general advice for some folks who may feel the same way?

[@zachmontminy]

*This book*

[@TWOFACETORCH]

Zach Montminy this book this book this book thes book thes book thesbook thespook the spook babadook

[@gufishanemometer6450]

FUCKING SUCKS

[@sanjeetsingh3854]

one of my highlights, the change in inflections, monotony, pace changes, slurring, accents and coughing / choking killed my abdomen. btw that segment literally crashed my firefox browser.

[@RogeeRoger]

What I learned in boating school is

[@pooly5280]

THE

[@Irisverse]

BLANKETY

[@evangedeon2194]

BLANKETY

[@thenethralking6032]

RogeeRoger BLANK

[@리주민]

Boaty McBoatface?

[@galaxynext7285]

try to uploading it to syosetu,it would be funny if it got popular there, its where Rezero and quite a few others got big. It would be hilarious if anyone cared.

[@xyz-qh1bs]

I would love to see more fiction from you! The book was great. I found some of your scenarios and characters pretty interesting. (CoosGen, the magic school, etc.) The stream of consciousness monologues were very interesting as someone following your "character", so to speak.

[@manmaidmegane]

The Jorlosopher loved your video on this light novel.

[@joinixfy]

i will make a fanart fror the "this book waifu"

[@tea-stomach-cycle6385]

Glad ya went through with it.

[@thePANDEMlC]

I'm expecting a review by ThatAnimeSnob shortly.

[@nullavitasinemusica1]

thePANDEMlC 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@winterwackoreborn3864]

thePANDEMlC Oh yeah

[@ShionKenobi]

Better than his book /lol

[@justsomejojo]

I *hated* the Eromanga anime for even putting out the idea of being able to write a book in a day, simply because, as an artist myself(I do comics), I absolutely know the amount of work that goes into creating stories. I felt it was disrespectful and I'm confronted with it every time I take a job, because A LOT of people think it's so easy and can be done in a day, which in turn means NO ONE wants to pay up. Not just a problem for story writers over here, but creatives in general. Anyway, I applaud you for taking that outrageous statement and taking it to the extreme, heck, even trying to learn from it. I listened to the whole thing over the course of my Sunday (at some points it became too wild and I had to take breaks) and more than once during the first half I thought to myself "He came up with that many characters on the spot? That's amazing!". The musical slaughter scene especially stuck with me because the way it was written just put SO many awesome images in my head. I'd absolutely love to read/listen to more stories from you!

[@marthia8015]

I don't think it's fair to blame this on one source, the idea that a writer just has a spark of genius and writes a novel in a day has been around for a long time. For example, I remember hearing that the original draft for Eragon was done over one weekend, and that book is a hell of a lot longer then LNs are (I'm not sure how true this statement is, and how much of the final book was in the first draft, but the idea is still around). It's also not uncommon when someone talks about authors to cite their sheer content output like the number of stories they have written is the most important part. The other side of the coin would be all the jokes about G.R.R. Martin taking forever to finish A Song of Ice and Fire. And people are still surprised when they hear that it took someone several years to figure out the world building of his story before he even started writing, as if that's somehow out of the ordinary.

[@jayblade2000]

hell, I'm STILL trying to come up with a concept for a manga, much less characters, themes, development, likability, etc.

[@justsomejojo]

Yeah, it's definitely a multitude of sources, as far back as the very idea of "genius" for classic artists. And hell, when it comes to smaller projects or these sparks of inspiration, I even catch myself being highly productive in an absurdly short period of time. I think all creative people have those moments from time to time. So there's even some truth to it. It just isn't the norm, it's the exception. I'm just immediately set off when it's portrayed as the norm, because 1. I admittedly have short fuse when it comes to my work and passion, 2. it puts down people who don't work as fast and 3. having to explain to clients that it isn't that simple is annoying.

[@justsomejojo]

@jayblade2000 As far as concept goes, a go-to I have heard a lot in my college time was "if it's not able to be summed up in one sentence and sound enticing, it's not that great". Sort of the elevator pitch, but for comic/manga story concepts. That might sound hard at first, but in my experience, it actually makes it *easier* to come up with stuff, as you immediately sift through anything more complicated. The fun part is, that no matter how simple the premise, you can build pretty complex stories from them afterwards. Some examples(and yes, I choose the most ham-fisted mainstream series among others): Naruto: Ninja kids with painful pasts grow and learn to cope with them(note: the only reason why I ever started Naruto was this, godammit; it sounded actually interesting) SAO/Log Horizon: People get trapped in a VR MMORPG and have to beat it to get back.(note: while the "get back" part might not entirely apply to LH, see how different a similar premise can turn out?) Steins;Gate: A bunch of students build a microwave time machine.(note: I think it's exactly like this in the series synopsis btw) Summer Wars/Digimon the Movie: An internet virus tries to gain control of our technological world(note: similar premise, slightly different execution. I still see Summer Wars as the slightly grown up Digimon Movie)

[@BrainWitchSiv]

JoJoX200 People only see the finished product. It took four years to write the only 50k I have coming out. They didn't see the literal pages of content I deleted or the notebooks of rejected scenes. No, all they will think is that I wrote it all in a month like Ninowrimo or something.

[@We1mann]

The audio book was nice to listen to, but I think the novelty and "challenge" nature of it contributed to its reception. Doing those regularly probably will see diminishing returns. My favourite part was "this book" at the end (and that only really worked in the audio book version), because it kind of became a metaphor for how much variation can be had due to presentation in what is literally the same content being repeated over and over. There's a comment about pop culture in there.

[@Danny81887]

So, basically, you wrote this light novel to make a point, and ended up (sorta) proving yourself wrong. I mean, you did this to prove eromanga-sensei's idea that you couldn't write a good ln in a short amount of time, and even though you don't think the ln itself is very good, you still came out with the impression it was doable... Even were this not the case, you could still say that Eromanga-sensei inspired you to try your hand at fiction again, and came out liking the experience... I'm not sure how to feel about this...

[@jbark678]

Danny And that's perfectly okay. I would only be upset if he came away with nothing and didn't care.

[@airkns2026]

exactly, maybe in eromanga sensei's universe this is the kind of light-novel people love, then it is doable

[@Danny81887]

I meant that he intended originally to prove that it wasn't possible to write a decent ln in such a short time. The idea that he wrote a ln to prove that idea wrong, and still came out with a decent impression of his work, is kinda ironic. I mean, the fact that he wrote it would be reason enough to endear itself to him, but he was totally expecting the thing to be a train wreck (the video he put up where he read it said that he hates it, to some degree). The fact he had any sort of positive feelings toward it, beyond being the one who wrote it, is the interesting bit.

[@turtleboy1188]

There is literally nothing wrong with eromanga sensei

[@crisc1514]

I've heard that creative writing and analytical writing are opposed to each other​ with creative writing acting like an outward moving spiral, starting from a small area that is expanded on, and analytic writing being an inward moving spiral, traveling from a focused area and becoming more focused.

[@crisc1514]

Imagine creating a story about a rock. In creative writing you would build a world around the rock. However, in an analysis you would begin with the rock and then travel deeper into it's own existence.

[@poporopo913]

Cris C Well what if you made a story that is an analysis of something like. I Robot or Ayn Rand?

[@crisc1514]

poporopo913 I've only read a little Ayn Rand but I think what she did was create a structure then characters who analyze it, collectively becoming whatever​ critique she wants to express. In writing this I might alternate in analyzing, then creating characters to mirror or exemplify my own analyses, not just in thought but also in action.

[@bashamd96]

After going through the whole audiobook I can say I'd totally buy a book of short stories from Digi

[@Squalkl]

It's basically not even a novel, more just a light novel sized book about your random thoughts.

[@kavka3842]

Haven't seen digi this happy in years, I must say. Good to see.

[@peepthenudes5302]

Digi gives me so much hope and joy such a wonderful person thank you for doing so much for me even though you don't know

[@AshKittenn]

your "book" was very fun to listen to while drawing. like the sword art online hour long vid or the eromanga podcasts. im loving every second!

[@lilychanx]

you did it! at least you did it and you can check that off the bucket list

[@therobotchickenMLP]

Just over his shoulder you can see Sword Art Online Progressive 1-3.

[@TinyZu]

I'm not quite done listening to it, but some parts in the first 2 hours were hilarious for how insane or just fuck-off whatever they were in a highly self-aware way. I call this the Inferno Cop effect, where crazy ideas catch on, so I'm not surprised by the positive feedback.

[@NobleKensaman]

this book

[@EvilMastermindPeter]

This book this book this book

[@evangedeon2194]

this book this BOOK, this book this BOOK...

[@PabbyPabbles]

You having a smoke in the rain and thinking back of your time in the Philippines stood out a lot to me for some reason.

[@UmoLoco]

I really enjoy how much an inspirational high Digi can get from the feedback of his fans.

[@tomateunmate]

If you wanted you could do a monthly zibe thing. 2 or 3 stories by you, stuff from fans you ask for and find cool, a bit of fanart for ongoing stuff. On the "novel": It keept reminding me of High Fidelity. That book/movie had a cohesive story, fun characters, memorable lines and page after page of the narrator talking about his branch of pop-culture. It would had been more fun if you tried. Also, dialogues are a way to fill pages in autopilot, it does take some thinking about what other people might think tho :^) I still want to have your children. I love your delussion that light novels have thinking. It's all the unconcious mind puking what they saw/read a million times. In a sense it's a very sincere médium, not good, at all, but sincere.

[@Krataskull]

I'd love to see you start publishing short stories.

[@merrick2792]

Digi, here's an idea. While you're traveling around the U.S., you could write a short story related to each city that you stay in and limit your writing time to your time spent in that city. It seems like it could be a great source of inspiration for you (maybe???).

[@ByakuyaOfTheDreams]

I really admire you for going through with this crazy challenge and actually writing a full-length light novel in only a day. Even if it was mostly spontaneous stream of consciousness, the fact you could write 50,000 words in a day and get a full story out there really makes me want to get off my ass and finish writing the stories I've started as well. Like you I think I could put a few things to bed by writing about them in my stories, so it'd be both a fun and healthy thing to try writing a book in a day sometime.

[@mrbanks456]

Dear Princess Celestia, Today I learned that writing light novels is fucking rancid

[@-_soy_-888]

KEK

[@stormbringer2189]

Dear my faithful student, trash it. From Princess Celestia

[@HoodedLefty]

I really enjoyed the light novel, it was a good time. Listened to it while working on the script for a web comic I've been planning. Gonna try and make time to draw those demon twins. Keep up the good work.

[@dahakaguardianofthetimelin4780]

If you ever need inspiration or motivation for writing just read that one hilarious Narootoes fanfiction that's like over a million words long and was written in like a year and has next to no attention but whoever's writing it just keeps on updating it every other day. It is said to inspire people to never give up and BELIEVE IT!

[@nanamisuzuki7181]

Well I am writing one but I am planning to make it a series if I can. I don't know.

[@nightinthetwilight]

Really interesting. I haven't done a lot of writing lately, and I think that might have partially contributed to my growing dissatisfaction with everything regarding myself. I hadn't written for my fanfic or pretty much anything else other than roleplay in a year. And I lived for that roleplay. Finishing that chapter was like I had a burst of energy from somewhere. Now my friend is also writing a fanfic for the first time in years, and not only that but it's her first attempt at non-crackfic. Now you've written something in the timespan of a day and that's wholly impressive, dude. I struggle with NaNoWriMo's 50k in 30 days. My stuff is more longform. A Second Chance started off with 3k chapters and has now expanded to a more regular 5k. So much stuff happens every chapter with subtle transitions, and that's my writing style. So it's also interesting to listen to someone talk about their writing style and how it seems to be completely opposite of mine. But we both have this feeling of 'this is me''. If that makes sense. I am a writer. It's what I'm good at. It's what I'm passionate about. I love hearing stories about other people's writing experiences too.

[@UnNormieCualquiera]

For me reading and hearing you talking about batshit crazy random shit and doing stupid ass short stories is a lot of fun and really worth of my time. I liked the storie of the band/apocalipsis terrorist storie, pretty crazy, pretty fun.

[@AtenaHena]

so you saying eromanga sensei is aoty

[@unicep12345]

i wil say ive never listened to a light novel before but i do wanna say your first 5 minutes was more interesting then most ive read.

[@erilaz7449]

I found the "light novel" utterly fascinating. I would love to see more bizzaro stuff like that in the future.

[@nate1699]

Is that a sword art online light novel i see behind you digital boy?

[@BologneyT]

I almost finished that entire thing. Didn't get through the last minutes of *this book*, but I got through the first round of it and a little more after before I'd had it. XD That video was GREAT. XD 9.9/10

[@Patrick_BW]

Digibro what are your thoughts on aspiring young-authors who have been influenced by the anime industry?

[@thefinalday5858]

Gqz probably this BOOK

[@AtenaHena]

so you're saying...eromanga is good?

[@noobymonster]

When I was listening to the audio book in the background I remember being confused by the twitter flash fiction section because it was suddenly way more coherent. Now I kind of want to write out some short stories.

[@Gamsterjeff600]

I enjoyed it. My favorite part was the one where u made your world similar to durara and baccano

[@aragornk]

What I love is that this came only like, a week after the 'how I learnt to write gooder' video

[@LitPasta]

my favorite part was definitely the magic high school part, i wish that you had kept that going longer

[@TomatoFork]

What I Learned From Writing A Novel In Like A Day

[@uberdueler2990]

That wasn't a light novel. It was satire. A light novel is under the delusion that it thinks it's good.

[@justsomejojo]

If it exists, there's a definition of it. Rule 96, man, step it up.

[@Punisher9419]

How many rules are there?

[@justsomejojo]

As many as I need to pull out of my ass for plot reasons.

[@saucepirate8970]

If you think about it long enough, internet personas are a lot like light novel characters.

[@aarOuOn]

He even says it's not a light novel in the light novel. lol

[@LazyLee]

Author's analysis

[@TheElectricHobo]

I really loved the book. I listened to the whole thing while playing through Dark Souls and it became some sort of weird nostalgic transcendental meta adventure through every emotion in the universe. I feel empty now that it's over though. Please make more.

[@-_soy_-888]

Glad you could do this weird experiment and put it to work. I highly doubt I'll ever complete the first half despite its halariousness.

[@-_soy_-888]

Hope you do something more narrativly structured. Could probably get into it.

[@NytoDork]

This video makes me also want to create a book/story in a day. I wouldn't mind the idea getting more attention.

[@nicksanza109]

actually, there were 3 parts; meta, podcast, and 'this book'

[@UnNormieCualquiera]

I'd really like if you do something like this but with more time to actually think what do you want to write. I'm sure it will be a blast.

[@AlexAndriy1995]

I really like your stories, listening to them was a lot of fun. Would be great if you write some shorts that you actually made with care and polish (audiobook format is the best)

[@Mythra-ny1tn]

I loved it. I want to have a physical copy of it.

[@DeclanDSI]

Digibro, the guy who can praise his own work without shame.

[@FransLebin]

3:25 "The other sections are hard, because all I'm doing is writing this book" Double entendre!

[@Only_Habibi]

Where did he publish his? I need a platform for mine.

[@yendis902]

would love for you to write more fiction would love to read it.

[@nonevahed5559]

Frankly, I feel like a more proper comparison for your novel would perhaps be to Detective Pony. Of course, the central conceit of Detective Pony is that it is being edited by the fictional character, a fictional character from another work none-the-less, of Dirk Strider. With all meta material tying back to him; it is impossible to know how much Dirk is representative of the Author. But yeah, if you enjoyed Digibro's light novel, I'd really recommend Detective Pony. You don't even need to be a homestuck fan, I don't think. archiveofourown.org/works/2427119/chapters/5371283

[@austincase5081]

Every time I hear "this book" from now on, I'm going to have war flashbacks.

[@LumiaStargazer]

Ill look forward to the physical release

[@jamessmith-ek8rq]

i loved the chapter about the band, fucking halirious and actually sounds like something id listen to.

[@souperman72]

I wrote five 20-25 page research papers during my last month of University. I had to work 24 hours straight and then sleep 2 hours every day of that month.

[@TheoneandonlyDrops]

So is the anime kickstarter actually happening? Cause I'd def pledge! I personally think Shaft could turn it into something watchable (especially the start). Also is that how Americans pronounce 'Abba' ?

[@zackn677]

Where are you moving? Is Davoo coming with? Where is Ben going?

[@zander8347]

Yeah,i find it kinda disappointing.

[@zackn677]

I remember before radcon they spoke of all living near one another and making content together. I guess it's just too difficult to try and organize something like that around 8+ different people's lives

[@ethan37066]

Can you please timestamp where the part about Damian burger sandwich starts

[@LuisEdGm]

Start a "western anime" studio already JUST DO IT

[@HannibalHanslaughter]

Digi should write more stuff we need more stories about swamp monster girls and blue haired demon sisters

[@JJTheDev]

I'll listen to this later it's late, but I'll take it into account during my on day light novel thing I commented

[@JJTheDev]

ok, I think I will write a biography before my story, so that people will will know my influences

[@danielclaro6049]

I would really like to read some more fiction coming from you.

[@mrivera6975]

alright alright. I'm reading it/listening to this.

[@19Koty96]

Once in language class we had to write stories of about one page, 600 to 2000 words... mine had 6000 :| Which as a paradox is the biggest I can actually come up with.

[@severian8686]

You may be the pioneer of a new genre

[@jbark678]

It's kind of Absurdist Satire, similar to Rick and Morty, but it references Anime and LN as it's main focus.

[@calcadacorsova6725]

Digibro: People finished it? Me: *On 4th watching* This is my jam.

[@modalisk]

"I'm really good at making something that just gets an idea out quickly and it's over" ya okay

[@Jmannorway]

Will Cirno and Purple Steve get an audiobook?

[@Dimitriz5]

I actually enjoyd the first hour a lot, second hour was quite ok, the third hour was boring, but it was saved by the random one-off stories. I would actually enjoy another one of these, Thanks for the fun Digi

[@SuHAibLOL]

This makes me want to write a shitty light novel a week this summer each of 40K words and just pump it out.

[@poporopo913]

sato I've tried it. The stories sucked but it was fun. I ended up writing two stories every two weeks to let the ideas grow more, and I alternated between a sci fi world with different planets, and a magical war where i told different stories based on soldiers or spirits or whatever every other week.

[@SuHAibLOL]

Sounds awesome

[@sstkitm]

Will you include this commentary in the collectors edition?

[@Kuudere-Kun]

The Trans Magical Girl idea is what stuck with me the most. That's what the Mahou Shoujo genre needs right now. Listening to the Audio Book as a KZbin video is kinda like the experience of the film Blue.

[@johnsonseesit1652]

Odd comparison but; this sort of reminds me of Bojack Horseman when he releases the book which is so close and personal to him, warts and all. Then again Bojack also loves to drink and is obsessed with sex, so maybe it's a proper comparison.

[@ScrombIo]

I was sad when the last few pages were just a meme. I was listening and laughing throughout. :D

[@GrayderFox]

I'm partway through it, it's fucking ridiculous. X) I'd be happy to read more stuff from you.

[@victorysaber1608]

I've been doing alot of prep to a light novel but I run into issues. First off I want it released in japan not america. How do I protect my material from being stolen or used. Did you do any of these?

[@bayluNO]

The whole time while listening to the light novel audio book, I imagined a main character who is a desperate light novel writer who dishes out these questionable ideas he finds in his drawer but hates himself for even thinking about them while other light novel authors would have no qualms or even think they have come up with something amazing. I would love to see this as an anime adaptation - watching someone breaking down from trying to get on the same sheer dumbness level of a light novel that would get adapted by A-1 Pictures, succeeding at writing at that level but hating themselves because the quality of these ideas are just eating at him for them being so unbelievably stupid and sick and ill-minded. I would love to watch this as a deconstruction of the whole genre while oneself having to embrace it for success.

[@xjupiterchanx]

i am really wanting to write a light novel as well. i always write down short stories and basically anything that sparks my imagination. how do i get out there with a story i love? how do you publish a light novel?

[@xjupiterchanx]

where is a good place to post and promote stories? i use to make really good fan fics for people and was really popular bit i forgot my password for wattpad. i am just a bit scared of writing again ever since college. i was criticed a little harshly on my writing style. i write very humorously and they kept saying it was not formal enough for college. i had to deleted what i like to fix it to their standards. it was rough having to deconstruct my own works.

[@HIMMBelljuvo]

I like that chapter on the magic school and the one about the all girl rock band

[@Sarkhamy]

So I see in your background has a box anime/manga for Noein. I saw a DVD on sale for that show today, should I go pick it up?

[@idksomethingedgy2265]

CONTENT MACHINE

[@jayblade2000]

So from what I'm getting (because I don't have 3 hours to spend) is he wrote an SAO/Ass War rip off Light Novel in a day for the heck of it. That is actually kinda awesome

[@daddydingleberry8530]

I am not even kidding, if you make a hard copy of this book, I would buy it.

[@TheWizoid]

when's volume 2?

[@KittychanAndChinies]

I fell asleep listening to your light novel. Woke up a bit later to you chanting "THIS BOOK" and I thought surely it was my horrid imagination. Nope. 10/10 would consume again.