Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What do you do if your novel is too short? How do you add more to a book? You're done with NaNo and you have 50K--but you need 30K more. I'm sharing tips for what to do if you are an underwriter/lean drafter.
Sorry for how long this one is... I tried to include examples, but also ultimately it's hard to discuss structure without getting too deep into structure!
RELATED VIDEOS
Tips for Overwriters: youtu.be/7ambrQGtxuI
Narrate vs. Dramatize: youtu.be/RiA6t7MOYVs
White Room Syndrome & How To Fix It: youtu.be/6RnMSC8U4Qk
Must Know Thriller Beats: youtu.be/ymjt75htlAw
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
01:46 Internalization/emotionality
03:37 All A Plot, Lacking B Plot?
07:09 Underutilized Characters
12:17 Complicating Characters
14:43 Skipping "Boring" Scenes
17:20 Lacking Description
21:11 Starting in the Wrong Place
23:07 Act 2 Light On Setbacks
25:46 Rushed Midpoint to Climax
26:44 Ending is Rushed
27:44 What is Confusing?
30:25 Narration Overabundance
Preorder The Ivies from your favorite book retailer!: bit.ly/3mkxyYj
Add The Ivies on Goodreads! goodreads.com/book/show/48896122-the-ivies
+BUY MY BOOKS+
Buy The Stars We Steal from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): bookdepository.com/Stars-We-Steal-Alexa-Donne/9781328948946?ref=grid-view&qid=1603728315664&sr=1-3
Buy Brightly Burning from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): bookdepository.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/9781785659423
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING on Amazon: amazon.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/dp/1328948935/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1500334638&sr=1-1
Get Brightly Burning on Audible.com! audible.com/pd/Brightly-Burning-Audiobook/B07H41CPVC?asin=B07H41CPVC&source_code=AUDOR2220912189OII
+LINKS+
Goodreads:
goodreads.com/book/show/35065031-brightly-burning
Twitter:
twitter.com/alexadonne
Instagram:
instagram.com/alexadonne
Newsletter Sign-Up:
alexadonne.com/newsletter
Website:
alexadonne.com
Wattpad:
wattpad.com/user/alexadonne
+FILMING SPECS+
Camera: Canon t6i
Mic: Rode VideoMic Go Light
Lighting: Limo Studio Soft Kit
Editing Software: Pinnacle Studio 22
What do you do if your novel is too short? How do you add more to a book? You're done with NaNo and you have 50K--but you need 30K more. I'm sharing tips for what to do if you are an underwriter/lean drafter.
Sorry for how long this one is... I tried to include examples, but also ultimately it's hard to discuss structure without getting too deep into structure!
RELATED VIDEOS
Tips for Overwriters: youtu.be/7ambrQGtxuI
Narrate vs. Dramatize: youtu.be/RiA6t7MOYVs
White Room Syndrome & How To Fix It: youtu.be/6RnMSC8U4Qk
Must Know Thriller Beats: youtu.be/ymjt75htlAw
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
01:46 Internalization/emotionality
03:37 All A Plot, Lacking B Plot?
07:09 Underutilized Characters
12:17 Complicating Characters
14:43 Skipping "Boring" Scenes
17:20 Lacking Description
21:11 Starting in the Wrong Place
23:07 Act 2 Light On Setbacks
25:46 Rushed Midpoint to Climax
26:44 Ending is Rushed
27:44 What is Confusing?
30:25 Narration Overabundance
Preorder The Ivies from your favorite book retailer!: bit.ly/3mkxyYj
Add The Ivies on Goodreads! goodreads.com/book/show/48896122-the-ivies
+BUY MY BOOKS+
Buy The Stars We Steal from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): bookdepository.com/Stars-We-Steal-Alexa-Donne/9781328948946?ref=grid-view&qid=1603728315664&sr=1-3
Buy Brightly Burning from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): bookdepository.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/9781785659423
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING on Amazon: amazon.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/dp/1328948935/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1500334638&sr=1-1
Get Brightly Burning on Audible.com! audible.com/pd/Brightly-Burning-Audiobook/B07H41CPVC?asin=B07H41CPVC&source_code=AUDOR2220912189OII
+LINKS+
Goodreads:
goodreads.com/book/show/35065031-brightly-burning
Twitter:
twitter.com/alexadonne
Instagram:
instagram.com/alexadonne
Newsletter Sign-Up:
alexadonne.com/newsletter
Website:
alexadonne.com
Wattpad:
wattpad.com/user/alexadonne
+FILMING SPECS+
Camera: Canon t6i
Mic: Rode VideoMic Go Light
Lighting: Limo Studio Soft Kit
Editing Software: Pinnacle Studio 22
