Uploaded June 2021 | Updated September 2026, 35 minutes ago
Q&A Part One: youtube.com/watch?v=rOCii9dkVcY&t=992s
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - Writing derivative works
2:26 - Being disappointed by a book/story's reception
3:47 - Your desert island books
4:48 - How are you?
4:54 - Should you outline characters or plot first?
5:21 - Balancing reading and writing
6:15 - Self publishing vs traditional publishing
7:14 - Sticking with projects you don't plan to publish
7:43 - Favourite classic
8:01 - Can a chapter have multiple goals?
8:18 - What was the first piece of writing you were proud of?
9:44 - How do you know if your story has enough substance?
10:10 - Keeping your editing process organized
10:54 - Favourite non-english writers
11:13 - Using MBTI for character development
12:17 - Balancing discipline and inspiration
13:13 - The value of ideas vs execution
14:47 - Writing with music
15:49 - How lockdown has changed my writing process
16:30 - Making 1st person sound natural
17:29 - Creating unique character voice
18:15 - Favourite line from each story
20:25 - Making description interesting
20:59 - Learning your writing process
21:40 - Which character would make the worst flatmate?
22:31 - Crutch words
23:01 - How do started/end a chapter
24:03 - Writing and submitting poetry
25:01 - How did you find your genre niche?
26:47 - Do you prefer short stories or novels?
28:29 - Favourite food?
28:50 - Using different prose styles for different stories
RELATED VIDEOS
→Psychic Distance: youtube.com/watch?v=HUwgJY_1LjU&t=372s
→Character Voice: youtube.com/watch?v=nKe4kYDD_ZU
→Writing Effective Description: youtube.com/watch?v=q5H8oPyQaPQ&t=560s
→BLM petitions, donations, and resources (updating list): blacklivesmatters.carrd.co / blacklivesmattercanada.carrd.co
→Anti-Racism Resource Guide: allyresourceguide.com
→Issues in the World (updating): issuesintheworld.carrd.co
MY SHORT FICTION:
☾I Will Never Tell You This - The Puritan: puritan-magazine.com/never-tell-you-this
☾Solarium - Minola Review: minolareview.com/shaelin-bishop
☾Barefoot - The Fiddlehead [print only]: thefiddlehead.ca/issue/282
☾Wishbone - PRISM international [print only]: prismmagazine.ca/2020/04/19/prism-58-3-sprawl-is-live
☾Wishbone - video reading: vimeo.com/420052282
☾Cherry and Jane in the Garden of Eden - The Puritan: puritan-magazine.com/cherry-and-jane-in-the-garden-of-eden
☾Hold Me Under Till I See the Light - The New Quarterly: tnq.ca/story/hold-me-under-till-i-see-the-light
☾Beautiful Animal - Room: roommagazine.com/issues/twine
☾Zugzwang - CBC [excerpt]: cbc.ca/books/literaryprizes/zugzwang-by-shaelin-bishop-1.5977031
MORE WRITING TIPS: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8-jsG6NG3oJsJ6LTZRtYtCHWi-5pjhQJ
WRITING VLOGS: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8-jsG6NG3oK35m9jtz_aR2t8Dssl6eqJ
WRITING CHATS & DISCUSSIONS: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8-jsG6NG3oLHy-zpu_yk7CfbJvrNc1O7
BOOK REVIEWS: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8-jsG6NG3oKlrHVFgs9UZCxJjB0Azqco
Check out more writing and publishing videos from me over @Reedsy!: youtube.com/channel/UCpo0MkTAyEl73PmIVs8CQvQ
OUTRO MUSIC: "l u v t e a [acoustic]" by Autumn Keys
SOCIAL
Tumblr: shaelinwrites.tumblr.com
Ask me anything: shaelinwrites.tumblr.com/ask
Twitter: twitter.com/shaelinbishop
Instagram: instagram.com/shaelinbishop
Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/5803057-shaelin-bishop
Q&A Part One: youtube.com/watch?v=rOCii9dkVcY&t=992s
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - Writing derivative works
2:26 - Being disappointed by a book/story's reception
3:47 - Your desert island books
4:48 - How are you?
4:54 - Should you outline characters or plot first?
5:21 - Balancing reading and writing
6:15 - Self publishing vs traditional publishing
7:14 - Sticking with projects you don't plan to publish
7:43 - Favourite classic
8:01 - Can a chapter have multiple goals?
8:18 - What was the first piece of writing you were proud of?
9:44 - How do you know if your story has enough substance?
10:10 - Keeping your editing process organized
10:54 - Favourite non-english writers
11:13 - Using MBTI for character development
12:17 - Balancing discipline and inspiration
13:13 - The value of ideas vs execution
14:47 - Writing with music
15:49 - How lockdown has changed my writing process
16:30 - Making 1st person sound natural
17:29 - Creating unique character voice
18:15 - Favourite line from each story
20:25 - Making description interesting
20:59 - Learning your writing process
21:40 - Which character would make the worst flatmate?
22:31 - Crutch words
23:01 - How do started/end a chapter
24:03 - Writing and submitting poetry
25:01 - How did you find your genre niche?
26:47 - Do you prefer short stories or novels?
28:29 - Favourite food?
28:50 - Using different prose styles for different stories
RELATED VIDEOS
→Psychic Distance: youtube.com/watch?v=HUwgJY_1LjU&t=372s
→Character Voice: youtube.com/watch?v=nKe4kYDD_ZU
→Writing Effective Description: youtube.com/watch?v=q5H8oPyQaPQ&t=560s
→BLM petitions, donations, and resources (updating list): blacklivesmatters.carrd.co / blacklivesmattercanada.carrd.co
→Anti-Racism Resource Guide: allyresourceguide.com
→Issues in the World (updating): issuesintheworld.carrd.co
MY SHORT FICTION:
☾I Will Never Tell You This - The Puritan: puritan-magazine.com/never-tell-you-this
☾Solarium - Minola Review: minolareview.com/shaelin-bishop
☾Barefoot - The Fiddlehead [print only]: thefiddlehead.ca/issue/282
☾Wishbone - PRISM international [print only]: prismmagazine.ca/2020/04/19/prism-58-3-sprawl-is-live
☾Wishbone - video reading: vimeo.com/420052282
☾Cherry and Jane in the Garden of Eden - The Puritan: puritan-magazine.com/cherry-and-jane-in-the-garden-of-eden
☾Hold Me Under Till I See the Light - The New Quarterly: tnq.ca/story/hold-me-under-till-i-see-the-light
☾Beautiful Animal - Room: roommagazine.com/issues/twine
☾Zugzwang - CBC [excerpt]: cbc.ca/books/literaryprizes/zugzwang-by-shaelin-bishop-1.5977031
MORE WRITING TIPS: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8-jsG6NG3oJsJ6LTZRtYtCHWi-5pjhQJ
WRITING VLOGS: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8-jsG6NG3oK35m9jtz_aR2t8Dssl6eqJ
WRITING CHATS & DISCUSSIONS: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8-jsG6NG3oLHy-zpu_yk7CfbJvrNc1O7
BOOK REVIEWS: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8-jsG6NG3oKlrHVFgs9UZCxJjB0Azqco
Check out more writing and publishing videos from me over @Reedsy!: youtube.com/channel/UCpo0MkTAyEl73PmIVs8CQvQ
OUTRO MUSIC: "l u v t e a [acoustic]" by Autumn Keys
SOCIAL
Tumblr: shaelinwrites.tumblr.com
Ask me anything: shaelinwrites.tumblr.com/ask
Twitter: twitter.com/shaelinbishop
Instagram: instagram.com/shaelinbishop
Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/5803057-shaelin-bishop
![Analyzing an experimental short story! [+ sharing your responses] UNITY OF FORM AND CONCEPT](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k4DfWTNRXlA/mqdefault.jpg "Analyzing an experimental short story! [+ sharing your responses] UNITY OF FORM AND CONCEPT
LINKS
→Unity of Form and Concept Video (watch first): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McJsYJ-TjKs
→Read the story (Ten Excerpts from an Annotated Bibliography of the Cannibal Women of Ratbanar Island by Nibedita Sen): https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/ten-excerpts-from-an-annotated-bibliography-on-the-cannibal-women-of-ratnabar-island/
→Interview with the Nibedita Sen: https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/nonfiction/author-spotlight-nibedita-sen-2/
→Your discussion responses!: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gP1ZFV4axwod2Aoyseq0O6c1cvm5jk2jmdEflpcFbrA/edit?usp=sharing
→READ MY SHORT FICTION: https://linktr.ee/shaelinbishop
→If you want to support my channel, you can tip me on ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/shaelinbishop
FAQS
→How old are you? - 28
→How long have you been writing? - Since I was 8
→What did you study at university? - I got my BA in Writing with a concentration in fiction and am currently getting my MFA in Writing, with a thesis in fiction.
→What are your pronouns? - They/them or she/her
→Where can I read your books? - None of my books are published yet, but you can read my published short fiction in my linktree (linked above!)
→Do you plan to traditionally publish or self publish? - Traditionally publish
→Will you read my book/story/chapter/mentor me? - Unfortunately I cannot accommodate these requests because editing/critiquing is a labour intensive task that I can’t afford to do for free and currently dont have time for.
OUTRO MUSIC: l u v t e a [acoustic] by Autumn Keys
SOCIAL
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shaelinbishop
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaelinbishop/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5803057-shaelin-bishop")
![SPECIFICITY | a writers most powerful tool [theory, examples, & exercises]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ketYQv1tJLg/mqdefault.jpg "SPECIFICITY | a writers most powerful tool [theory, examples, & exercises]
Exercises Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IlY0_lUFbbJIP7VX9gtst5matgkbZK7rOtjDY3zkTU4/edit?usp=sharing
LEARN MORE:
→Character Development Techniques: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2 p1cCbF9s
→Tone and Reality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s14EwGWmGAE
→Breaking Down Los Angeles by Ling Ma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78V7u067z6w
→READ MY SHORT FICTION: https://linktr.ee/shaelinbishop
→If you want to support my channel, you can tip me on ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/shaelinbishop
INTRO
Hi, Im Shaelin! Im a fiction writer and university writing instructor. Ive been writing since childhood and completed over a dozen manuscripts, and am currently pursuing traditional publishing. Ive also published over fifteen short stories, many of which you can read online. On this channel, I chronicle my writing journey, as well as chat about writing craft and technique! Everything I just chat about is just my personal writing philosophy, but I hope sharing it might inspire you!
0:00 - why specificity is such a critical concept for writers
2:26 - the powerful impacts of specificity on a story
4:37 - specificity is authentic
5:39 - specificity is realistic
6:22 - specificity is vivid
7:20 - specificity is interesting
8:55 - examples: specific vs vague details
10:53 - level one vs level two specifics
14:33 - the scale of specificity
18:33 - creating a convincing reality with thisness
20:24 - finding more compelling language
22:16: concretizing the abstract
24:40 - specifics as a characterizing tool
26:55 - revealing details
29:37 - hyperspecifics as satire
30:48 - defamiliarization
32:12 - creating atmosphere, tone, and reality
35:40 - specific sensory description
37:14 - jargon and the language of
39:28 - possible troubles with specificity
41:32 - exercise 1: filling in the blanks
43:00 - exercise 2: finding lived specifics
**I do not use or promote any AI writing tools or platforms - my writing process is 100% human and AI-free. Please do not contact me asking me to promote one.**
SOCIAL
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaelinbishop/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5803057-shaelin-bishop")
