i like that you tell the writer what they are doing well instead of just dumping all the bad on them watch this very popular book editor bragging how he tears the writer apart because that's the only way they will get better

@Bookfox

29 күн бұрын

Ew. Bragging about being mean? No thank you. I mean, I spend plenty of time offering constructive criticism, but do so kindly, and only after offering genuine compliments.

@judichristopher4604

27 күн бұрын

Excuse me... I can't take you very seriously, when you start out the sentence without a Capital... and "I" is ALWAYS a Capital. So... if you were an experienced writer (25 years here), you'd know NEVER us a lowercase letter starting a sentence... and Always Capitalize your "I". Ohhh... and while I'm at it... Please do not be rude and mean just because you can... This man took his time and money to make this wonderful video. If you do not like it... Move on. A (real) writer, needs and wants their editor to tell the truth. That is what they are paid for, to save the writer/author being embarrassed.

@MrsWasGehtSieDasAn02

26 күн бұрын

​@@judichristopher4604Honey, I think you misread their comment. They said they appreciate the constructive criticism, not that the editor should be mean to their authors

@RobertD55

26 күн бұрын

@judichristopher4604 How blind and conceited can you be? He was complaining about another editor and praising the guy who made this video. Either your reading comprehension skills are as small as your ego is grotesquely bloated, or you’re the kind of author who gets a pathetic high every time you catch someone in the KZread comment section daring to not use proper grammar in your presence. Well guess what, Miss Angela Martin from The Office: The comments section wasn’t made for proper spelling. Some people choose to use it but others don’t AND THATS FINE because it’s just for fun. Maybe just focus on your own flaws, hmm? Thank goodness you’re here to misread our comments and remind us how much better you are at spelling and bragging. THANK YOU.

@SalayaSkystone

26 күн бұрын

​@@judichristopher4604 I guess this is what the video meant with how writers are great at lines, paragraphs and dialogue and not so much the big picture.... Way to lash out so aggresively on a platform with people from all over the world.

writers who hire editors probably take feedback well. i ran a writers group for 4 years and i'd say it's 50/50 at that level

@squidpoequo7747

26 күн бұрын

Mentored a writing class for adult beginners and the ones to watch out for are those who have been working on their masterpiece for years and will take absolutely NO input on it that isn’t glowing. They aren’t there to learn. They’re there to be discovered which is like mentoring a brick wall.

@ottz2506

17 күн бұрын

@@squidpoequo7747Not excusing it but I can kinda understand the feelings. If you’ve already dedicated a lot of years to a project, you don’t want to feel as if you’ve potentially wasted a portion of your short time on this planet, especially so if you’ve heard people close to you saying that what you’re doing is a waste of time. You become defensive even of good faith criticism. You don’t want to entertain the idea that they might be right and you’ve been the problem. “If you hadn’t spent all that time on that book, you could have done x by now”.

Something tells me that you have been a teacher at some stage in your life. If not, then I feel you would make an excellent one. Well done, mate.

@Bookfox

23 күн бұрын

Ha! You read me like a book. 10 years teaching at universities like USC and Chapman here in California, before I pivoted to doing Bookfox full time.

it's so affirming to hear that structure is the hardest thing because in my scientific writing I'm made to feel like such a shitty writer because I "can't do basic structure" when I SWEAR my structure is actually fine. Hearing that the structure needs work, but it's okay, everyones structure needs work, is so nice to hear.

@Liz-wz8dh

26 күн бұрын

Same. I have always worried about structuring stories, for years.

@Bookfox

21 күн бұрын

Yep. You're normal. :)

This does indeed motivate me to continue writing...

@spicerc1244

17 күн бұрын

And hiring him… interesting…

don't write expecting to become a millionaire or have a lot of fans, write to make a difference in the world, it doesn't matter if you affect the life of 10 or 1 million people, it matters if you managed to make the life of at least 1 person better using only your words. That is what a successful author is. If after that you get rich an famous, even better if that's what you wanted, but don't make it your main goal or you'll be painfully disappointed, writers who can have those 2 things and are still alive are less than 1%

0:00 💡 Writers often misjudge their book's weaknesses, focusing on elements they excel at while overlooking major issues. 1:31 🤔 Writers tend to underestimate their own strengths, often needing reassurance about their talents. 2:01 🔄 Authors frequently underestimate the extent of revision required, needing psychological readiness for substantial editing. 2:42 📚 Authors often overlook point of view issues, which significantly impact narrative coherence and reader engagement. 3:32 🧠 Most writers handle criticism well, being open to feedback and eager to revise. 4:46 😊 Writers tend to be optimistically hopeful about their book's success, often envisioning grand outcomes. 5:45 💡 Execution is key: A strong concept is valuable, but the effective implementation is what truly defines a book's success. 6:47 🏗 Structural issues are common and challenging for writers to spot, necessitating external feedback for improvement. 7:52 🌟 Many talented writers exist, each with a unique story to tell, so writers should embrace their individuality and not feel intimidated by competition.

@charlessawyer96

10 күн бұрын

These time stamps aren’t…quite right. 🤨

@hannahm9083

8 күн бұрын

7:52 💀💀 the video is 7:44 max...

I’ve been a professor of linguistics and English for several years, and I finally decided to start writing my fiction novel. This past semester, I worked during my spare hours in my office and wrote many pages. I found that the production of language, the linking of all of the ideas logically and conceptually together for the various parts, and making the text fun, clear, and interesting page-after-page can be quite a collective challenge… yet, a welcome challenge! Thank you for your videos. I’ll be checking out more of them so I can stay better on track…

@Bookfox

23 күн бұрын

Congrats on starting your novel. Glad the work has been productive so far … and yet also challenging! Good luck with the rest, and I hope the videos I’m releasing soon help.

Thanks! I needed to hear some of this, because... man, we can get stuck in our own head sometimes (and that can be a dark and scary place)!

@Bookfox

Ай бұрын

So true ... glad I could serve as a bit of encouragement.

You sound like someone I'd like to hire. Of course, I'm writing a multi-book series and don't have the money, but I appreciate this kind of insight. It's still very helpful.

@Bookfox

29 күн бұрын

Well, I often edit the first book in a series for someone and the principles I teach them allow them to revise the sequels.

@shebreathesingold8043

14 күн бұрын

@@Bookfox That makes a lot of sense. I'll bookmark your channel for when I'm done with my first draft and look into your services. I hope you enjoy dark psychological thrillers of the FBI Agent/Serial Killer variety. ;-)

I'm glad you took the time to talk about #2. So many "writers" out there that have gotten at least 1 book out love telling you that "the first thing you need to learn is that your writing sucks". And then they go on about how much your editor is gonna mark up your stuff. I mean, on one hand I get it, but it's such a crappy way to deliver the message and so many people seem to love doing it. Gets a little aggravating after a while. That said, I have a deep appreciation for editors who take the time to highlight the things you did well. Learning from your mistakes is of course a great way to go, but not only is it nice to hear the "you did this well", it's also a learning experience. Nice to know when something didn't just "barely squeak by" and instead actually performed really well. I'm new here and not sure why the video randomly cropped up, but I'm glad it did.

@Murderface666

23 күн бұрын

You have to watch out for gatekeepers, saboteurs and swindlers. There's always going to be those throwing obstacles in your way, because they feel you're encroaching (gatekeepers and saboteurs who try to dictate what is a good and bad book based on arbitrary "rules"). The swindlers are akin to the Gold Rush. The people who came out rich weren't the miners. It was the people on the side of the road selling the pans and shovels to prospectors.

@dueling_spectra7270

21 күн бұрын

Hearing that positive feedback is crucial, because it you don't know what's good, you might mess it up by mistake when you go to "fix" the problem areas.

@asquirrelplays

21 күн бұрын

@@dueling_spectra7270 Exactly. It's good to know what NOT to do, but if you don't know what's actually good, you're still shooting in the dark.

I am addicted to writing short stories, moments in time. Moments count, because they add up to a life. I savor them for the same reason I snack between meals. Good, bad, or indifferent, it is just more gratifying than waiting for a table. A control issue, perhaps. The trouble is, short stories don't really get published, and are read mostly by people you hand them to. That's ok. Hand 'em out. Tuck them into the magazines at the doctor's office. Write a story specifically for someone who is struggling. Nothing more gratifying than someone who is not a writer coming up to you in person and saying, "Hey, have you written anything lately?" It can be terrifying, like when someone asks you to write a eulogy. If someone asks you that, you have arrived as a writer.

@BeMyArt

7 күн бұрын

This. I hate the modern publishing world for this. Best writer wrote short stories in old times. All my favorite writers, especially science fiction! How in world we came to popularity of tt but all books have to be NOVELS? Even collection you can publish only if you are already famous or no one cares😢 I published on Amazon a short story collection and story Narrator is about your idea about special written story. Check out if you have subscription. You can become second reader in a year🫠

@johnswoodgadgets9819

6 күн бұрын

@@BeMyArt I will check it out!

@johnswoodgadgets9819

6 күн бұрын

@@BeMyArt what is the title? I can't find it

i'm a writer and i know if someone read my work and gave me with criticisms that are not straight up bashing my book/plot/characters i would be so seated to hear what they had to say! feedback is so crucial and there's really not enough of it sometimes.

@neilo2323

21 күн бұрын

This comment needs editing.

@Levitatingmarsipan

14 күн бұрын

@@neilo2323???

I’m currently on the process of writing my first novel and clicked to this video seeking advice and not only did I get that but also found the coolest editor ever?? This was such an unintentionally good motivator for people to hire you 😭

Im in deep shock! Never saw the kind of advice youre giving in your videos around. Please, MORE!!!!!!!

Wow, this sounds like really profound advice. To No. 1. I tended to obsess with structure and dramaturgic aspects and did not manage to finish my long planned novel. When I did not know how to go on, I often tended to change plot lines etc.. Although this helped me to understand the characters better, I think, for a long time I thought too much about plot. Now I am going back to more focus on other aspects because advice No. 1 seems to be true to me. I should focus on aspects I tend to NOT think about. So thanks for that impulse! :)

I love how you douse every single point with so much positivity and encouragement to the authors. This is a great and fantastic 'boost-me-up' video!

This is such a great and encouraging video. Thank you for sharing it. As a writer who believes my story telling far outclasses my ability to write good prose, I needed to hear these things. Have a great week!

@Bookfox

Ай бұрын

You're very welcome! Write on!

I'm just going to say it. I am the author of a comic book that has been published and distributed in Japan. In December 2020, a total of three copies were sold on the first day. In fact, three issues were released in the series. The emotional reward of achieving X does not offset the monetary or laborious expenses involved in creating a book. I accepted the failure as my own and refrained from distorting it in any manner.

@Bookfox

28 күн бұрын

Well, it really comes down to marketing then. That's a whole skill set which a lot of authors aren't great at.

@R.L.Sutton

27 күн бұрын

@@Bookfox In this particular scenario, the Japanese publisher actively promoted the comic and achieved remarkable success in introducing other titles to the country. The comics' lack of success can be attributed to a variety of factors.

@ahobbit1273

23 күн бұрын

I wouldn’t call it a failure. You got a book published-that’s a success.

@R.L.Sutton

23 күн бұрын

@@ahobbit1273 The series has not made a 10th of the cost to make. I picked the idea, the art, and everything else. It failed. I own this.

@kauasantos8090

7 күн бұрын

Is there any place where I could read your comic book?

Thank you. I've been viewing many KZread educational videos on writing - lol - I wish I started here in my first book. This is the first time your channel popped up. I appreciate your style, knowledge and respect. I am looking forward to viewing more. I am a few hundred pages into my historical narrative novel about my grandfather who had a successful life before WW I, but was blown off his path. I have family anthology and many letters for material. My “success” will be to bring this incredible story to life - book sales are secondary

Thank you for your postivity. The hardest thing about writing is marketing.

@Bookfox

21 күн бұрын

Thank you! And yes, marketing is always super difficult.

People take writing a lot like magic, they romanticize it too much, writing is not different from painting and music, most of it is practice, having a wide horizon of references, experimenting, and so on. As a teacher, I am often surprised by how often you see people actually writing (or trying to) long texts, but know of and do a total of 0 basic writing exercises. I also feel that the illustration community is MUCH more open about the process of learning and creating than the writing community is (which people like you are doing a great job trying to improve).

@Bookfox

Ай бұрын

Yes, good point. I'm going to do a video on writing exercises soon!

@Hello-hello-hello456

Ай бұрын

Yes, you are spot on.

@courtneykleefeld7717

27 күн бұрын

I think it really depends on the writing community you're in. I'm connected to many different writing communities, and definitely in the best have seen people asking for feedback and giving helpful feedback, talking about the process of writing, etc. However I do sometimes see newer writers post things like "Hey I finished my first book! How do I get it published?" without thinking about editing, and people have to tell them that just because they finished a draft doesn't mean it's ready to publish. Generally, the people who are newer to writing are those who have not been plugged into a writing community for very long or have not read books on writing, haven't been to writing workshops, etc. etc. Which, there are a lot of people out there who fall into that category, but they're usually not really connected to writing communities yet which accounts for much of their being in the dark so to speak.

@passwordyeah729

25 күн бұрын

@@Bookfox Subscribed, looking forward to the writing exercises ^^

I appreciate your positivity. Too many writers in the communities I'm in are focused on "an editor should only tell you what you do wrong", or "if you enjoy hearing positive feedback you're not really committed to being a writer" sorts of mindsets, and it can be really exhausting and disheartening. You seem very kind, and I find your words very encouraging.

God i needed the revision talk. Ive had to scrap SO MANY WORDS

@Bookfox

28 күн бұрын

"The Revision Talk" ha ha. Like it's the bird and bees talk. But yes, It's oh so normal to scrap so many words. I feel your pain.

What a very encouraging post. Terrific advice and - I can see - so warmly and patiently given. Your writers are very lucky to have you helping them in their orientation and execution of their work. Thanks for taking the time to share.

It's so refreshing to hear some original advice. This video was really helpful, thank you!

5:09 Couldnt agree more. My favourite manga Ive read this year so far is My Broken Mariko. The main character goes on a journey to spread the ashes of her best friend who died of suicide. The story is very simple but the way it was executed made me loved the book. Some panels were drawn like it was a comedy, with the characters being off-model and then the next panel would be a heart breaking scene. My favourite scene from that book was when the MC had a poignant conversation about suicide on a beach but the panel was focused on a sign that said "Suicide isnt illegal but littering is!"

This is such a reassuring video to watch. The idea of reaching out to editors is daunting, especially with so many people saying how critical editors will be and how they'll dump your book if the first line isn't grabbing them or they'll tear it apart and make out like you've made garbage, it builds this idea that editors are these miserable, borderline sadistic critics who do it just to tear people down. But this video is a reminder that editors are just people wanting to help, and can only do so much. I'm not at the point of reaching out to an editor just yet, but its assuring to know its not quite as grim as it seems.

execution vs. idea/concept is gold. i find in the reading that usually, the concept kind of BLURS anyway. it's not as clear and prominent as a movie usually unless the book is unusually movie-like. it's in the moment to moment flow and maybe how it performs in the single scene that really gives me a sense of whether the book is good or not.

Great video! Love the optimism and positivity here mixed with the advice. As an unpublished writer, I've been looking for some kind of validation that my writing is ready. I've decided to take the plunge next year and sometimes that seems daunting. A little positivity, even indirectly goes a long way

Such an educational video. Thank you.

Thank you. I’m a new writer and I needed this insight

Love this and love your energy thanks 💚

also, about that last topic, don't worry about other writers, yes, you're competing with them for people's attention, but you're competing with no one to write your book, because youe book is unique, no one else has the specific set of knowledge, personality, life experiences, memories, language and skills to write your story, literally only you can, if you stop to worry about competing with other people that's a story that no one will ever know or read and the world will be a worst place because of that. Chase your dreams, it doesn't matter if it's hard, if it looks impossible, if people don't believe in you or think you can't do it, prove them wrong, because they are wrong. Maybe YOU can't write that book, but future you, with more experience and practice and knowledge can do it, and it's your obligation to get yourself to the point you become that person.

This video has sound advice and a wholesome way to deliver it, what a great video man

How was this so simultaneously challenging AND encouraging at the same time. Thank you for your work and explanations. I had a lot of takeaways and I look forward to applying what I've learned here.

@Bookfox

25 күн бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@ThestralGlow

25 күн бұрын

@@Bookfox NOW, to finish the novel

This video was just awesome and what I needed right now. Thank you!!!

@Bookfox

28 күн бұрын

You're welcome!!!

Awesome video ... in every single respect! Thanks! You have a happy new sub.

Very inspiring! Thank you

After 2.5 years, 3.5 drafts, 2 beta readers (One of whom fell in love with the story and used her creative writing degree and skills as an English teacher to edit my book), I have really enjoyed your video. Especially about the execution of the concept being 95% of the book.

This was a great video.👍👍

Hmm. Good stuff. Thanks a lot for being so nice. Writing is inherently a scary proposition. One of my dearest friends and I had a conversation once about telepathy in which I expressed my belief, a passing thought not a conviction, that if we could just see what each person was thinking during interactions the world would be a better place to live. He strongly disagreed and suggested that such a scenario for him would be a nightmarish violation. I didn't share my first thought, because I didn't want to discourage him, but I couldn't help but ruminate later about the fact that , as we are both perspective writers, that having someone read our work was essentially the same thing. Perhaps it is curated and one sided but it is still letting someone else inside your head to some degree. Even if we make an effort to avoid those places inside we don't wish others to see our values, hopes, dreams and principles and whatever part of our imagination and effort we pour into our work will be there. To say nothing of those things our readers infer from our work, correct or not about who we are! So to hear an editor say how largely positive they find their interactions with novice writers to be is both validating and comforting.

I really appreciate this video. All of this was such good information.

@Bookfox

20 күн бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

your attitude and accentuation of the positives is inspiring, thank you for putting out these tips, as well as the reassurances so many of us need, especially after having been turned into human cream sauce by the ptb's of publishing..

Thank you for this video.

true, honest and very encouraging words. Thanks for that! Especially while going through a phase of self-doubt. 😂 Too bad that english isnt my first language. I would love to give you my book to look at when its finished. My first draft is currently "resting" for a few months so I can look at it with fresh eyes and go through my first revision. I hope Ill find a nice guy like you when I give it to someone else to look out for flaws that slip my eyes. 😂

You are cool😊 and thanks for the advice. I will try to think about them while i attempt to write my first novel ❤

This was great - thanks!

@Bookfox

20 күн бұрын

You're very welcome.

Excellent! Thank you!

Brilliant topic!!

Fantastic tips right here!

@Bookfox

26 күн бұрын

Glad you think so!

dude i love this so much! hopefully someday I can get an editor as amazing as you! :)

@Bookfox

17 күн бұрын

I hope so too! Good luck and thank you.

This is so nice!

I love how positive and really encouraging you are about this! It's inspiring to see!

The way i messure my success is pretty much like, i want a bunch of ppl, young and old, to feel the need to reimagine my work, to be part of the world i created, if a person comes to me and says "i made an OC based on your story" that`s it, i made it

I’ve edited and revised my book so many times, I’m on the seventh - ninth version, and I had to give up. I’ve given it to an alpha reader, just to see if I’m on to something or not. This video was great in keeping my spirit up!

thank you for the video

@Bookfox

21 күн бұрын

You're welcome 😊

A lot of this rings true. I was really worried about my ending but my beta reader seemed to really like it. Her only critique was it should actually be longer. It was the middle she complained about. And the middle happens to be the part I’ve revised the least. Which gets to your point about revision as well as your point about structure.

I love editing my book. I thought I'll hate it after ending first one but I start and it was enjoyable 😅 People surprised whenever I'm saying this 😂

One of the best rejection letters I got said that I had a strong and unique voice and to keep writing. That was a nice sprinkle of inspiration on the burnt toast submission. Crunch, chew, and get to writing. The Atomicas series...check it out.

Sir, that is a truly splendid shirt!

Excellent video! Gaining objectivity towards your creation is probably one of the most difficult skills to learn. I was really lucky, I had two awesome teachers in high school. One was our creative writing teacher, but the one who I think did more towards helping me develop the ability to view my creations objectively was my art teacher. She would have us turn the painting upside down, walk across the room and study it analytically. It made us disengage from what the image was and allowed us to see if the structure underneath was working, or if something needed to be moved, added, or adjusted. This also gave me lots of practice at disengaging my emotions and my sense of self from the thing that I was creating. I find this skill incredibly useful for gauging my writing strengths, weaknesses, and even structure. However, you can't turn your manuscript upside down doesn't have the same affect of bestowing instant objectivity...it takes other interventions: 1) Letting your manuscript rest so your brain forgets what it thinks should be there so you can actually see what's on the page. 2) Keep your first pass through as not an editing pass, but an assessment pass: reading it like a reader. Write down what happens in each chapter, along with any issues you think may need to be changed. (Some things you think are problems will often be resolved in the subsequent chapters.) If there's any place where you feel like setting the manuscript down, and getting through it is a slog, there's likely an issue either with pacing or stakes. It may be a scene that isn't needed, that could be glossed over, or that needs to be made more dynamic. Having that written record, decreases the cognitive load and sense of overwhelm that hits when we think of the whole manuscript that needs to be fixed. I also use it for if I need to fact check canon with later books in the series, I look at the notes to see which portion of the manuscript I need to re-read. 3) Learning about different aspects of writing craft. We are often oblivious to writing problems until we discover that facet of writing craft. We can't see them until after we know about them. The process of how you have to unlock this knowledge can depend on your personality and strengths. Some of us can read a book on craft and be able to turn around and apply it to our own writing. Others need the feedback on their own writing to learn. A third method is alternating between reading awesome writing with amateur writing. 4) Re-framing your attitude and relationship with "failure." Much of our mandatory education systems encourages pass or fail, right or wrong, black and white thinking. And getting feedback that you got that answer wrong on a quiz is a neurological trigger for learning, if you seek out the correct answer after, and keep reinforcing that knowledge by using it in the subsequent weeks to follow. We don't, however, get opportunities to develop and practice creative problem solving skills. The cycle of trying something, see if it matches our expectations, assess, then try something else, until you do get the desired result. Instead, we try something...and if it doesn't match our expectations right out of the gate, we've "failed" and our self worth plummets. A big part of moving away from this conditioning is paying attention to our inner monologue (our self talk) and being strict with ourselves that we're not taking those craft issues we find and using them as an excuse to beat ourselves up. It's really unfair of us to do so because, when we're at our creative zenith, and words are flowing from our fingertips, different parts of our brains are active from when we're editing. Activity in the prefrontal cortex will actually go dormant, which is where a lot of our analytical, judgy processes take place. (Also will power, so keep your phone and unhealthy snacks our of your line of sight, while you're writing. That loss of inhibition is a major contributor to the creative freedom we enjoy in that state.) ____ Even with all of those interventions, some of us will be able to pick out story structure, and others will be oblivious to it. They'll help with all the other aspects of craft, but story structure is weird. It's an abstract construct in the form of a shape, that some brains need to process consciously (plotters) while others engage with as a subconscious process (pantsers).

@Bookfox

20 күн бұрын

I think changing the font is the writing equivalent of turning the painting upsidedown (great lesson by your teacher, by the way).

@dueling_spectra7270

20 күн бұрын

@@Bookfox Sure, for line editing and catching typos where we're looking at things at the levels of sentence and words; but is it still effective for developmental edits or continuity errors? (She was an awesome teacher!)

On the "right expectations" part, I will say that is spot on. Last year, I published my master's dissertation around the work of one of the big early fantasy writers, Eric Eddison, and I had to study his method a lot as part of my research, and one thing he used to say was (paraphrasing) "I prefer a couple of hundreds of people to read my books several times, than hundreds of thousands shallowly and just once". If you are more worried about fame than your art, your art will suffer, that is what I think. I also believe this in the context of money. There is nothing wrong wanting to live off a trade that you love, but when the thing that you love becomes your trade, your relationship to it will change, no way around it. There is space for both, professionals that live off the money they earn writing, and people that do it for fun as a side thing, but professional writers often miss out how much they would profit from doing some projects for their own sake, that is where the experimentation really kicks in.

@Bookfox

Ай бұрын

Yes! A small group of devoted fans is better than a large group of so-so fans. Great quote by Eddison.

About #4: One problem that might not be obvious (but is glaring to the reader's unconscious mind) is veering from limited POV to omni, and then back. It's OK to swerve toward omni under certain conditions (done subtly and gradually for a true purpose), but it's a point of no return. That is a doorway that is then locked. Once the author swerves toward omni, there is no going back, bc it makes no sense that the narrator of the story knows or tells only limited things (things that reflect focusing on one character's thinking), then slowly gains a more omni viewpoint (yeah, that can happen), but then all of a sudden is limited again (bc they can't unforget what they know or pretend to know, believably). Moving back to limited makes zero logical sense, and reveals that the author is all over the place. Readers might not see that (many authors don't), but readers will feel that something does not make sense, bc it doesn't, and they then lose faith in the author's credibility. So the recommendation? Don't try to do that. Need an example of limited moving toward omni? A famous book that handled limited to omni correctly is The Secret Garden (by Frances Hodgson Burnett). It starts out in limited 3rd-p, and about halfway through drifts subtly and gradually toward a wider, more omni POV. In the last two chapters, it goes even more omni. It takes an incredible amount of skill to pull something like this off. For the purposes of that story, what she wrote and how she wrote it works just fine. What it does not do, and can't do, is drift back toward limited. That, does not work. Once you go there, you can't go back. Budding authors make the mistake of trying to go back, all the time. About #8: I could not agree more. When I began, I could write scenes well. I could make the line-by-line work. What I did not know was how ultimately important (and difficult and initially overwhelming) structure and order would be. That is the hardest thing to learn, but ~8-9 years of nose to the grindstone (or 10,000-20,000 hours), if done properly, can get you there. Eventually, you get where you can see the big picture.

What makes me second-guess my writing has nothing to do with self-confidence but is mostly because I am burnt out from writing, revising, editing, etc. I become numb to my writing and simply cannot tell if it is good when I'm at the point of reviewing it.

I been worried to write the book ideas i wanted to do because i have been so worried it won't be good. But this gives me a bit more confidence to start this year so thank u... also is it a good thing or bad thing if you do loads and loads od reseach on what u want to write about or include in your writing because i am always doing loads of reseach

@thac0twenty377

Ай бұрын

granmarly my man

I often feel paranoid towards the editors for stealing my unpublished manuscript.

Sorry about my lack of capitalization i was running on little sleep after being injured but i was warned some of the book world was very petty good to see not everyone is like that

Thank you for sharing this! My goal for my debut book that releases this December is to sell 200 books! 🤞 I would be ecstatic if I could get to that number!

I want that shirt.

Great video! But I have to ask: did you ever come across a manuscript that you felt was too problematic or extremely subpar to be a successful story?

@Bookfox

Ай бұрын

There was never a manuscript that couldn't be revised, no.

I'm sort of curious about how many of those books got published and whether any of them became best sellers?

In my view, the ultimate success is longevity. If people are reading your book in 150 years, you've succeeded, regardless of if you hardly sell any copies in your lifetime. Melville was a true success, even though he died feeling like a failure. It's a kind of success that you can never observe directly.

I need you in my life!

One piece of “advice” I’ve heard floating around goes along the lines of “everyone has a story inside of them. With some, sometimes inside of them is where it belongs”. It’s been stuck with me for years because I keep thinking “oh my god, what if I’m one of the some people? Should I bother? What if I become one of the authors who is technically successful but for all the wrong reasons? Maybe writing this holds a lot more risk than not writing it at all” The “wrong reasons” being that your book is generally mocked as bad and an example of bad writing that is solely used to demonstrate what prospective writers shouldn’t do. I remember also reading a review about someone’s book and it said “great idea, wrong person to write it”. If I had a review like that, it would haunt me for so long.

@Bookfox

15 күн бұрын

Flannery O'Connor used to say that the job of writing schools should be to prevent most writers from writing. I've always thought that was unnecessarily harsh. Bad reviews are inevitable, but you get to choose how to process them -- and whether to focus more on all the positive reviews.

I see your content is directed toward writers (excellent content by the way) personally I would love some guidance from you on becoming an editor! Took a BFA in creative writing to learn I prefer editing other's work.

2:29 if I'm writing a novel w multiple MCs, a blend of omniscient and limited 3rd is more-or-less accepted, right? (I know mind-hopping is generally frowned upon -- I really try to stick to 1 POV per chapter)

@Bookfox

28 күн бұрын

I'd actually recommend you do limited 3rd for each of them or omniscient across the board. Otherwise you're varying the psychic distance, and that can feel confusing. If you do choose to do this, then you need a book that serves as a model -- maybe someone else can suggest one, but one doesn't come to mind for me.

@LosAnggraito

27 күн бұрын

​@@Bookfoxsorry, allow me to elaborate. I'm referring to when my main characters are all in the same scene. Is the occasional mind-hopping okay (since the characters carry the same weight), or will it feel convoluted? GoT comes to mind when I think of multiple POV stories, but I can’t really remember how Martin handled scenes where the MCs were all in the same room.

Thanks algorithm for sending me this vid/channel

@Bookfox

20 күн бұрын

Welcome!

This video is such a breath of fresh air. Thank you

I’ve been perusing your website and I can’t find any info on what genres you accept for editing?

@Bookfox

Ай бұрын

Hi, I've been inundated with so many manuscripts that I now do more of a selective process for editing. Feel free to pitch me your novel concept at John at Bookfox.com and I'll see whether we might be a good fit.

@Exayevie

22 күн бұрын

@@Bookfox I appreciate that, but I was asking because I want to know what genres you're interested in _before_ I pitch you, because I wouldn't want to spend the effort if you're not a good fit for _me!_ Of course I understand why this info might be limited if you're already innundated though haha. Thanks for the response and for the fascinating video.

In the spirit of constructive feedback: Maybe it's me (probably just me), but all of the clicking and pinging noises in this video were very distracting. I was trying to focus on what you were saying but couldn't. Next time maybe only have the transition sounds but leave away the typewriter clicking?

@sarahpowell671

22 күн бұрын

I found it almost unwatchable because of this. Like the video was distracting me from itself. I may have ADHD though.

@Vanbedda

22 күн бұрын

@@sarahpowell671 I may have ADHD too (like seriously), but still it's good to hear I was not the only one who found it distracting.

@jonathankey6444

2 күн бұрын

I also have adhd. I didn’t have any problems with the noises, didn’t even notice. It’s a pretty common trend these days, especially for a short, concise video

Quick question, if you have the time. Should I find an editor and hire them to work on my manuscript, or should I find an agent and let them get an editor?

@Bookfox

28 күн бұрын

Most authors hire developmental editors before trying to find an agent, because finding an agent is so competitive. And only some editors at houses will do developmental editing -- it often goes straight to copyediting.

@bronzedragon3702

27 күн бұрын

@@Bookfox Thanks for taking the time to answer my question!

I have a question. Should I look for and hire an editor before seeking a literary agent or is that something handled by the literary agent or publishing company?

@Bookfox

20 күн бұрын

Well, getting a literary agent is extremely competitive. So many people hire a developmental editor to improve their book before sending it out, to give themselves a better chance. If you can get a literary agent, then they usually have revision notes as well. The publishing company tends to focus more on copyediting and proofreading, although on occasion they offer developmental edits as well.

I assume you’re for hire? Hope to need your services in the near future. I appreciate someone who knows what they’re talking about. I’ve written several non-fiction books and working on my first novel.

@Bookfox

15 күн бұрын

Sure, reach out when you're ready.

What was the quote writing a book is easy good rating is making it look like you knew what you were doing all along

Can you help me on my project to write a novel. English is my second laguage and I am not good at grammar and construction but I have all the thoughts and ideas already. I just need to put into words. Thank you

"Thumbs UP" ...People!!!

0:41 that sound effect shows that’s not radar, but sonar. Maybe something to edit 😂 sorry, couldn’t resist ✍️

Man, we want to be best seller and movie because we want make living by writing! It's not ambitions - it's love! I would be so damn happy to write all day, publish and get money on my account. But the publishers working only with network. Online writing is cheap thrills, just satisfaction of low level needs like entertaining or sex. No one wants existential crisis🤷‍♀️😆 And you have to be marketing expert, youtuber or other *** to get any sales anyway. This 200 to 2000 won't be granted.

Where can writers reach out to you for editing?

As a book editor, do you charge by the hour, by the number of words, or on a per-project basis?

@Bookfox

11 күн бұрын

Per Project. Usually modified if the book is longer than 100k or shorter than 70k.

@lutecia4398

11 күн бұрын

@@Bookfox Thanks, that’s useful to know!

Dude. That’s 4 1/4 book per month. That’s so much

This is an obvious ad for your editing services and workshop. Half of your takeaways were about just how AMAZEBALLS writers are. You couldn’t have been any more heavy-handed. Goodness.

@Levitatingmarsipan

14 күн бұрын

Amazeballs, really? Look I’m not gonna pretend to be completely stupid, like I can tell that he’s promoting his editing service but cmon, a man’s gotta make money and there were some genuinely good tips.

@spicerc1244

14 күн бұрын

@@Levitatingmarsipan Any tips that were not kissing up to wannabe writers were too vague to be of any help. You seem to agree with the man crux of my comment, so I know I'm not wrong. But if he has a spine, then he'll explain in detail how he helped a specific writer flourish or get published. This subliminal brown-nosing is swindling.

@Levitatingmarsipan

14 күн бұрын

@@spicerc1244 I mean I guess, well if nothing else I personally at least found it quite motivating. I dunno mate

How many of these 51 novels got published in the end?

How can I aquire your book editing service?

Do you still edit? I don’t see link to your editing services

I think 'structure' is precisely the reasons writers should start with stories first, then move on to novellas, then only when they're comfortable structuring a 20000-word novella should they go on to proper novels. There is no reason to rush straight into writing novels and certainly not series of novels like a trilogy before a sufficient amount of experience.

@Bookfox

20 күн бұрын

There is a steep learning curve if you start with novels. Of course, sometimes writers learn short story principles too well, and then it's difficult to forget those lessons and adopt the novelistic strategies.

Inspiring and helpful, thank you.

I can’t even get a paragraph written. Pretty sure my dream of writing a fantasy novel is just that; A dream. The more I watch these type of video the more I realize how unqualified and uneducated i truly am.

I am writing a book right now. I want to sell it in different languages, one of which is English. How do the other writers reach you? 🤔