You're starting to feel like nobody is going to even like your writing. You're losing faith in your work. This is normal, and I think it's a form of writer's block. Don't let this feeling get you down. In this post, I'll explain why you're likely feeling this way, boost your confidence, and give you some methods to try to remove this feeling, like taking a break or changing your mindset. You've been writing or outlining your work for a while, but now you're starting to think it's not even any good. You are not alone. It's normal to have doubts about your ideas or works, but if we were to dwell on doubts instead of reach for goals, would we really accomplish anything? Get rid of this pesky Writer's Impostor Syndrome!
0 Comments
Do you fear publishing your writing? Do you worry about the judgement you might receive as a young adult? Don't let your fear hold you back any longer. In this post, I'll show you why you should self-publish, asap. I'll show you all the experiences and wonderful moments in life I've gained from doing so. Your own moments are waiting for you. Here is the mindset that helped me reach mine. As a young writer, you may fear publishing and readers' high expectations. Your fears are misplaced. Fear never getting self-published; fear never having the experience. The more experiences you have young, the wiser and more successful you'll be when you're older. Strive for wisdom, not perfection. Using my personal experiences from publishing at 17 years old, I'll show you why this is a motto to live by.
While "fantasy" seems pretty straight forward, and its definition quite simple, the word in the writing world is actually quite B R O A D. There are many different types of fantasy out there, and knowing which subgenre category your writing falls into will help you write and market! But, Erin, why do I really need to know about the different types of fantasy? Well, reader, that is a great question! When you learn about the specifics of fantasy, it can help your writing and marketing. You can read other works in the genre you write or plan to write in in order to get a feel for your book, and maybe even some ideas. When designing, you'll know how to make your work fit in but also unique! Furthermore, knowing the type of fantasy your work is will help you market to a more specific audience, which can help sales! So, without further ado, here's a list:
Maybe you have a great idea for the plot of the story, but you have no idea what kind of characters should belong in this plot. Maybe you’re just looking for ways to spruce up your character. Whatever the reason, when making a character, you need to consider your character's role in the story and what makes them human, unique. In this post, I give you lists on information to help you form your "children"! Characters need to appeal to your reader; they need to be human. Humans are unique, complicated, but also defined by purpose. They have a reason for their actions, usually anyway. And so, your character's reason is not just defined by their personality but also their role in your story. These are the two things you must consider when making characters: role and humanness. Making a very detailed character can take time, as there are many things to consider. Let's start with their role in your story:
The blurb is, arguably, the most important part to selling your book. And, arguably, it can be the hardest part to write. However, I have discovered a formula that reads well, and other authors seem to agree: the fishing pole. Like your blurb, a fishing pole needs a hook, a fishing line, and a reel; I explain each section of a blurb for you. Now catch some readers! The blurb not only needs to sell your story, but it also needs to tell your story. Many writers can find writing a blurb frustrating: "how am I supposed to describe my 200 paged novel in 300 words?" Well, this thinking is part of the problem. You don't have to describe everything, not even most things, just the VERY MAIN things.
How do you prepare before you write? Knowing what kind of organizer and planner you are before you write is essential. This way, you will find what works best for you while you're writing. You could organize too much and run out of your creative juices. Or, you could organize too little and not know where to start when you begin writing. How writers prepare before they write generally falls on a spectrum from pantser to plotter. A pantser is a writer who knows a few details and flies with them. They don't like to restrict their writing with too much detail from preparation. The idea of a pantser comes from writers who "fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants.” On the other hand, a plotter wants to know as much detail of their story that they can before they sit down and write. They outline the story, characters, scenes, locations, and maybe even more.
You should discover if you are more of a pantser, plotter, or even a "plantser," in order to most effectively use your writing time. This table should help you. As a young adult, you will face disbelief; this is a fact of life. Trust me, I wish it weren't. But believe me when I say, YOU ARE CAPABLE. If you hear "you're too young for that" or something similar, this article is for you. Young adults are generally stereotyped as naive and braggers, and this can be an obstacle when what we want most as writers is support. But life isn't always uphill, and that's okay! How would you grow if there were no challenges to overcome? Here's how you keep ageism at bay:
Do not sit around and wait for your writer's block to go away. There are many different methods to defeat one's writer's block (like changing the time of day you write or rerouting what you're writing). This post is a list of methods for you to try against your Block. Some may work for you, or maybe a certain combination of things will. Every writer's block is unique. Every writer faces writer's block. How it feels and how to fight it off is unique to each writer and can even be unique to each Block a writer faces. Don't just sit around and wait for your block to go away, instead try these methods until you find one or a combination of a few that work for you.
While you can jump "write" in to a writing project, it's always better to outline first. This way, you don't feel lost or lose hope on your idea. There are different ways to approach outlining, but I will share my method of outlining with you. I will also give some general outlining tips to help you outline your piece. Outlining is an important part of the writing process, no matter what type of writer you are. With an outline, you are less likely to feel stuck or lose touch with your work. Outlining may be what you need to finally jump into a writing idea you've been holding onto for ages.
The type of writer you are can affect how you outline, but I argue it always important to outline a work before completing the first draft. As you outline, you can brainstorm your piece's story arc, character development, themes, and more. To help you outline, I will show you how I outline and give you some outlining tips: |
Use the categories below to find a post about exactly what you need!
Categories
All
More InfoErin blogs because she wants to help other young adult writers and new writers. It's aimed to educate others on the writing and self-publishing process. If there is anything you'd like to know that she hasn't covered yet, please contact her! |